Page 59 of The Seaside Cocktail Campervan

It took Jack somewhat longer to get settled. He found his heart was hammering away in his chest. Being so close to Lucy was doing strange things to him. He began to worry that she might be able to actually hear it. Or, in fact, feel it.

Stop. Stop it! But his body wasn’t bloody listening, was it? He managed to create an extra couple of centimetres of space by backing up as near as he could to the tent lining. If she got wind of any of this response that was going on, she might well be out of there like a shot, and he really didn’t want to think of her sat in a lightning storm in her truck like a sitting duck.

He lay there with his thoughts and, rather awkwardly, his nether regions buzzing for a while. He could hear her breathing slow, and the little sausage dog’s snores begin. It was comforting and unnerving at the same time. He hadn’t been this close to anyone in a long while.

It was calm and still inside the dark-blue vinyl of the tent. Morning light filtered through the material. Jack could smell perfume and skin … feel the warmth of another human beside him. Tendrils of Lucy’s dark wavy hair were tickling his cheek. What? Those curls shouldn’t be anywhere near his face …

Jack jerked his head upwards as he came to, just as she turned to face him. Phew, the sleeping bag was reassuringly still between them, as was the small sleek body of a dachshund, who was contentedly snoring, Jack realised. And what he also realised, was that he’d actually been spooning Lucy … and even now, they were still that bloody close that he was actually looking into her dark-brown, rather beautiful eyes, and if he moved just one inch towards her, they might as well be kissing.

Lucy jolted back with an, ‘Oh.’

‘Oh,’ Jack echoed. ‘Awkward …’

‘Yes.’

‘Sorry.’

‘Hmm.’

‘Yeah, I was asleep, before,’ he muttered. ‘Just woken up.’

‘Right, well … I suppose the causeway must be open by now. The storm’s definitely blown through,’ Lucy blurted out as she sat bolt upright, waking Daisy as she moved.

It looked like Lucy couldn’t get out of there quick enough. She’d already managed to wriggle out of the sleeping bag and was scrambling into her still-damp clothes, Daisy giving a humph at being disturbed from her cosy nest in between them.

‘Umm, hey look, do you fancy a coffee?’ Jack said tentatively. ‘Might warm you up a little. I’ve got my little camping stove and a cafetière?’

‘Hah, you do?’

‘The cafetière comes in handy for the espresso martinis. And the stove, well that’s always left in Ruby.’

‘Ah,’ Lucy paused, her tone softening, ‘yeah, alright then.’ She managed a small smile, seeming to relax somewhat.

As Jack poked his head outside of the tent, he’d never have guessed they’d just slept through a summer storm. Apart from the odd puddle and patches of mud, everything looked calm. It was really early, only 5:30 a.m., and the crimson-gold of a new dawn was already melting away. Jack slipped on his T-shirt, shorts and trainers, and nipped over to Ruby to fetch what he needed, soon setting up outside the tent, lighting his little stove and putting a small pan of water on to boil. He loved to have real coffee. Those warm, rich flavours – the instant stuff just didn’t hit the mark.

Lucy pulled on the rest of her damp clothes, the denim shorts clinging to her hips, and came out to join him, bringing Jack’s blanket from the tent, to give them a little protection from the sodden ground.

He passed her a blue enamel tin mug. ‘No milk, I’m afraid.’

‘That’s fine.’ The coffee aroma was gorgeous as it was.

The view out across the sea was glorious. Shades of azure and pewter, catching golden beams. A sky that was patchy with light cloud above them. A brand-new day. It made Jack feel hopeful.

Sat together, knees hunched, coffee hugged in mugs, with a view that was serenely beautiful, they were silent for a few moments, each caught up in their own thoughts. The world would soon be waking, joining them, the stage hands packing down all the gear, litter pickers clearing debris from the night before, and the revellers who’d camped in the field behind them slowly coming to. They’d all too soon have to head back to their vehicles, head back home. And despite Lucy’s instinct to bolt, she found herself a little reluctant to break this early morning spell. Just a few more minutes, sipping good strong coffee, watching that calm and hopeful horizon. A few more minutes.

‘Come on then, the sea looks gorgeous.’

Jack was standing up, suddenly swooping off his T-shirt, his shorts. ‘Dare you!’ He was laughing as he ran off down the field towards the water in merely his boxer shorts.

Lucy wasn’t a sea swimmer by any means. But the surrounding water looked calm and cool, and after a night cooped up in the tent … it was calling her. Despite herself, she was also drawn by this handsome male; his muscles sleek as he charged down the hill.

‘Come on, Luce!’ His call came loud and clear.

‘What are you doing?!’ she shouted after him, shaking her head.

She stood up and watched as Jack pelted towards the water, revelling in the beauty and energy of a delightful seaside morning.

‘Going for a dip, of course. It’s glorious!’