What Happens at the Beach... (12 page)

‘Natalie, hi. Now if you'd just like to sit there in your bikini looking sexy for a few hours, I'm sure you'll encourage lots of stray men to come into my restaurant and spend their money.'

‘Don't mind him, Natalie, he's a Frenchman. It's in their DNA.' Dominique had come out behind her husband. ‘That is a very sexy bikini, though. You're not wrong, Alain.'

Natalie looked up at the two of them and smiled, rather wishing she had put her T-shirt on before sitting down. ‘Well, even if I wanted to sit here like a mermaid luring mariners to their doom, I can't. I've got to be back at the house by six and I'm dying for a drink. Any chance of a cold beer?'

Alain went in to get the drink while Dominique stood in the shade of the umbrella and chatted. ‘How's your grandma?'

‘Great. I hope I'm as lively when I'm ninety, if I ever get there. I've just seen Rémy and he's bringing me a lobster for her tomorrow.'

‘Ah, so you've seen the hunky Rémy, have you?'

‘Just from the shoulders up. We were in the water.'

‘Well, it's the bits below the waterline you need to look out for. I don't think I've ever had a waitress working here who hasn't fallen for his charms. Don't say I haven't warned you.'

Natalie glanced round. They were alone. ‘All the waitresses? What about Laure? Is she in the queue as well?'

Dominique nodded her head. ‘I get the impression she likes the look of him, but she hasn't done anything about it. I feel sorry for Laure. She was with the same boy for three years, and she's only twenty-four, but he went off and left her a little while back. I keep telling her she should find herself another man, but she's like you; not bothered.' Dominique's tone made clear what she thought of a girl not wanting to get hooked up with a man.

‘Poor girl. I didn't realise she'd been through a break-up, too. I know how she feels and I understand. What's that expression about once bitten, twice shy?'

‘That makes no sense. You girls these days haven't got a clue.'

‘Dominique. You and I are almost the same age.'

‘Yes, well, but still, you can't fight it. You and Laure will soon find yourselves men, you mark my words.'

‘Not until I've found myself a job.'

Just then Alain came out with the beer. ‘Dominique, I'm afraid you'll have to come and help me now. The mussels need to be cleaned and rinsed.'

They had only just left when Natalie had another visitor. She was just lifting the bottle of beer to her lips when a cold wet nose touched her on the thigh, making her jump. She glanced down to find Barney. Looking back up again she was delighted to see that he was followed by his master. Mark gave her a big smile. ‘Great minds think alike. I've come in for a cold beer myself.'

He was in his swimming shorts, a towel over his shoulder, seawater still running down across his chest. Her eyes were drawn to his strong stomach muscles and sculpted chest. Suddenly she became awfully conscious that there were just two very small bits of cloth between her and total nakedness. She caught his eyes on her body for a second before he turned and headed for the bar, calling out to her over his shoulder as he went. ‘Anything I can get you?' She was interested to note that he appeared to be blushing.

She shook her head and, as he disappeared from sight, made a desperate dive for her T-shirt. By the time he came back out again with a bottle of beer, she had at least covered her top half.

‘Mind if I join you?' She moved her shorts off the seat and he sat down. The dog collapsed onto the floor between the two of them, his wet head landing on Natalie's feet a few seconds later. Mark's strong chest was now only a few feet from her, in her direct line of sight. She took a big mouthful of beer. She needed it.

‘So, how was your grandma when you got home? Not blind drunk and singing, I trust.'

‘No, she was fine, thanks. Taking a bath. I've just ordered her a lobster for tomorrow. She was so taken with the meal you and I had in Collioure, I thought I'd treat her.'

Mark sipped his beer. ‘Ah, that tastes good.' He put the bottle back down on the table. ‘So, your grandma, is she mobile?'

‘Yes. She manages to walk about the house all right. She just gets tired if she tries to do too much.'

Mark nodded. ‘Well, I was just wondering. Do you think she'd like it if I invited the two of you out for lunch or dinner somewhere? Maybe back at the same place in Collioure if she wants. She could have lobster or whatever.'

Natalie smiled at him. ‘That's really sweet of you to offer, Mark. I tell you what, I'll talk it over with her and I'll tell you when I see you again on Friday.'

‘Great. So maybe at the weekend. Anyway, see how she feels and let me know.' He tilted his head back and finished the beer in record time. ‘Now, Barney and I have got to rush off. I've got a video conference thing scheduled for six-thirty and I'd better get showered, shaved and get a shirt on before that.' He stood up and gave her a last smile. ‘See you on Friday and thanks again for today, teach.' His hand brushed her shoulder as he left the table.

She couldn't help following his strong, elegant figure with her eyes as he and the dog set off back up the hill. She took another, bigger, mouthful of beer, but it didn't help. She could still feel the touch of his fingers, however light it had been. Mark Markeson had the ability to reduce her knees to jelly and yet, somehow, she got the impression he didn't even realise or, if he did, there was something, or someone, holding him back.

Chapter 7

Next morning dawned clear and bright. As she was sitting outside on the terrace of Alain's restaurant, enjoying the warmth of the early morning sun, Rémy the fisherman arrived. Anxious not to appear too shameless, Natalie had pulled her T-shirt on over her wet bikini after her swim. She glanced down to check her appearance as he came up the steps towards her and saw, to her horror, that she now looked as if she were competing in a Miss Wet T-shirt competition, the damp white cotton sticking to her body rather too snugly. From the look on Rémy's face as he approached with his basket, he pretty clearly appreciated what he saw. Natalie felt herself blushing.

‘Good morning, Natalie. You're looking particularly attractive today.' He set the dripping basket on the table and removed two fine lobsters. Their claws had been tied with elastic bands and they looked rather pathetic. For a moment, Natalie debated whether she should, after all, tell him she didn't want them, but then she remembered that these were her grandmother's treat. She thanked him and asked him much he wanted for them. He told her a figure that, while high, was still a lot cheaper than she would have paid anywhere else. She took the money out of her shorts and paid him. She noticed that he added the notes to a healthy-looking wad that lived in his side pocket. Clearly, the fishing industry in this little piece of France was doing well. Natalie gave him a big smile. ‘Where did the lobsters come from?'

Rémy pointed a powerful arm out to sea. ‘Not far from where you saw me yesterday. One of these days I'll show you if you like. In fact, I'll be down here again this afternoon if you have time.' He produced a plastic bag from the basket and, not without a struggle, managed to slip the lobsters inside, tying the handles together in a knot. For a moment he hesitated, looking strangely uncertain. ‘Erm, Natalie, do you know if Laure's here working today?'

Natalie caught his eye and detected more than casual interest. So that was it. Could it be that Rémy had a thing for Laure? Natalie shook her head. ‘Not this morning, Rémy. This evening, I expect.'

He nodded awkwardly and then gave her a wave of the fingers before going inside to speak to Alain. As he walked off, Natalie returned to her coffee, trying not to look at the movements in the plastic bag.

Her grandmother was absolutely delighted when she saw the lobsters. She was even more delighted when she heard Mark's invitation to dine with him. ‘I'd love that, darling. I'm sure I'm strong enough, as long as the restaurant's got parking close by.'

‘Excellent. Well, he said we could go back to
Les Vagues
in Collioure if you like. The car park's right beside it. If that's what you want, I'll tell him and we can go at the weekend.' Her eyes strayed to the plastic bag on the table. ‘Erm, I'm going to need help and a bit of Dutch courage before I despatch these two lobsters.'

Her grandmother laughed. ‘Don't worry. Leave them to me.'

Natalie took her grandmother's car down into town and went shopping at the weekly market, returning with all sorts of food and delicious fresh bread. They had a splendid lunch. Colette was true to her word and she had no trouble in boiling the two lobsters until they were a bright red colour. They were then left to cool while Natalie prepared a mixed salad and garlic mayonnaise to go with them. The result, washed down with some cold white wine, was excellent. Ignoring the doctor's orders, Colette drank a couple of glasses of the wine and then, unsurprisingly, went off to bed for the afternoon. Natalie cleared up and washed the dishes and then went to her room to check her emails, ever hopeful that a lecturing position might have become available. Alas, there was nothing.

She went back downstairs, out through the kitchen to the terrace and sat down at the table, shaded from the hot afternoon sun by the canopy of vines, her feet resting on the low stone wall that bordered the terrace. She leant forward, resting her face on her hands, her eyes half-closed, listening to the sigh of the breeze in the high branches of the umbrella pines. All around on the hillside were broom bushes, their bright yellow flowers producing a powerful, cloying aroma that attracted innumerable bees, whose buzzing formed a constant background hum. Close by was her grandmother's rosemary hedge, now covered in delicate blue flowers, whose perfume drifted past her on the breeze.

She felt happy and pretty relaxed. Compared to how she had felt three weeks earlier, she was a world away from the lonely, sad little creature who had arrived on the flight from Stansted. The extent to which her hunky fisherman, her
charmant
Frenchman or her generous millionaire employer had contributed towards this was hard to say. The only thing standing in the way of her complete happiness was the ever more pressing need to find a job and she knew, with complete certainty by now, that this took precedence over any considerations of a romantic nature. Men could wait until her career was sorted out. She was still mulling that one over when she heard the soft pad of approaching footsteps. Her head jerked up in surprise. She relaxed when she saw who it was.

‘Oh, it's you. I wondered if we'd see you today.'

The Labrador came trotting over to her and stood up on his hind legs, resting his front paws on her lap while his tail wagged furiously. She had to be very persuasive to prevent him from climbing all over her. ‘No, Barney. Down. I said, down. There's a good boy.' The dog got the message and dropped back onto all fours, his big brown eyes still fixed on hers. Natalie reached out and ruffled his ears. ‘Well, it's very good to see you, too, Barney. How are you managing without your master?' Thoughts of his master reminded her of his offer to take her and her grandmother out for a meal. Mark really was a very nice man.

She sat there for quite some time, the dog gradually slipping down onto his haunches, then his side, then his back, all four legs in the air, making contented canine grunting noises. Natalie sipped her drink and stared down at him. He was absolutely gorgeous, she loved him deeply and he was happy to offer uncomplicated affection, no doubt helped by the provision of a dog biscuit from time to time. As for his master, he remained an unknown quantity.

By the time her grandmother's carer came along at five, the dog had had his biscuit and disappeared, presumably back to Madame Lenoir at the chateau to await the return of his master. Natalie picked up a towel and went down to the beach for a swim. The sea was calm once more; the previous day's waves had vanished without trace. There were a few more people on the beach today, but it still remained a tranquil paradise.

As she slowly swam out towards the mouth of the bay, Natalie found herself for the first time wondering what would happen to the house when her grandmother died. Assuming she inherited, as Colette had led her to believe, she knew enough about French death duties and other taxes to know that in all probability she would have to sell the house to pay these. The idea saddened her greatly, partly because she would no longer have this wonderful beach almost to herself, and partly because the house represented a link with her parents and grandparents. She was feeling quite melancholy when her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of an outboard motor. She looked up and saw Rémy coming in from the open sea in his little boat. He slowed down and killed the engine when he saw her, letting the boat float to a halt alongside her. He leant over the side and gave her a smile.

‘Why the long face, Natalie? Something wrong?'

She summoned a smile in return. ‘Not really. I was just thinking about my grandma and how she probably won't be around very much longer.'

‘I know what'll cheer you up. I've just been out fishing and I haven't eaten today yet. If you want to have a few anchovies with me, I'm going to make a fire on the beach. Come and have a bite to eat and a glass of wine with me. That'll sort you out, you'll see.' Natalie reached up and grabbed the boat with one hand, her smile broader now.

‘Well, I had a whole lobster for lunch, but I'd be happy to join you and maybe taste one of your fish.'

‘Do you want a lift?' He leant over with both muscular arms towards her, but she shook her head.

‘No, if I'm going to do more eating, I'd better get a bit more exercise first. I'll be in before long.' She let go and drifted away from the boat as he fired up the motor and headed for shore.