Page 62 of The Seaside Cocktail Campervan

‘Cheers.’ Lucy raised her glass, with a broad smile.

‘Cheers.’ He grinned back.

He’d gone all out with an Italian theme on the canapés too – tomato bruschetta, the cheeses were mozzarella balls and gorgonzola on crispy bites of toast. There were Parma ham and cantaloupe melon chunks on sticks; sweet, refreshing and salty bacon-flavoured all at once. Everything was so tasty, and evidently thought through.

‘This is lovely, thank you.’ The champagne was slipping down nicely, and Lucy found herself starting to relax. Jack really had gone to a huge effort on her behalf.

‘Is this for anything special?’ she quizzed, coyly.

‘Nope, just the chance to enjoy good food, good drinks, the best table in the house … and good company, of course.’

‘Aw, well it’s just fab.’

Being sat mid-beach on a summer’s evening with full table and chairs, they did get a couple of odd looks from passers-by, as the two of them sat chatting and eating. A spaniel arrived excitedly at the scenario, having spied the dachshund there too, stopping to cock its leg for a quick pee against the table; its owner arriving seconds later red-faced and very apologetic. Lucy and Jack laughed it off, no harm done. Lucy was just relieved that it wasn’t Daisy up to mischief for a change.

The last beach visitor was an old lady who paused to say good evening, adding that it was a wonderful sight to see such a handsome young couple enjoying themselves. Lucy felt herself blush a little. After all, they weren’t a couple at all. Then the last of the walkers went home, the beach was theirs alone – give or take a couple of seagulls – and the sky began to soften into pastel watercolour shades of gold, peach and grey.

They chatted about the music festival, and the storm that night, neither of them mentioning the fact that they’d ended up sleeping only inches away from each other.

Then Jack created a gorgeous champagne cocktail for her. Lucy watched as he mixed the sparkling wine with Amaretto and fresh orange juice, decorating it with a stylish curl of orange peel.

‘Sunset amaretto fizz,’ Jack announced. ‘Perfect for watching the sun go down with.’

‘Oh, thank you. And that is delicious,’ declared Lucy after taking her first sip. It tasted like a warm summer’s evening, and was golden-orange like the sun that was starting to set. ‘You really are spoiling me.’

‘I just wanted to make this evening special, that’s all.’ His smile was tender.

Lucy looked at him, her heart beating nervously. ‘Thank you.’

Liam had never done anything like this for her, not even on the night he’d proposed. That had been a formal affair in a very nice, traditional restaurant, with a very nice traditional ring. Typical of Liam, in fact; measured, all done with quality in mind, and she had to confess to feeling happy at the time, but there was nothing that was very magical or even personal about it, nothing that had strayed outside of the well-presented box.

Tonight, even Daisy had been catered for with her own portion of mini sausages, as well as Jack having brought a water bowl for her. He’d definitely softened towards the little dog lately. Towards them both, if this evening was anything to go by.

This seemed very much like a date, like she was being wooed. And Lucy still felt that familiar conflict between heart and head rising up.

‘Jack, this is all very lovely, but … what are you wanting from me?’ Her tone was blunt; she didn’t want to get caught up in any of Jack’s charming playboy act.

‘Well, I wanted to give you an evening to remember. And yeah,’ he paused, looking her in the eye, ‘I have to admit I would like to get to know you more. Not just when we are working.’

Lucy wasn’t sure what to say.

‘Hey, let’s just roll with it and see,’ Jack continued. ‘That is, if you want to meet up again, outside of work …’ He suddenly sounded less sure of himself than usual; the mask of cocky, confident Jack sliding as his feelings were put on the line.

Did she want to meet up again? Becky would bloody well kill her, but all that was years ago. For Jack to go to this much effort … The way she’d felt lying next to him in that two-man tent … How much she’d been thinking about him ever since. It was time to give him a second chance.

Lucy took a slow breath, and found herself saying, ‘Yes.’

‘That’s cool.’ He smiled, with warmth and tenderness. ‘And now I have dessert – well, cake. I made it myself.’

‘You’ve made me cake?’ This man, dressed in a tuxedo on a beach, needed a medal, or perhaps a kiss at least.

‘Yep, gin and tonic cake, in fact. Well, the recipe looked good, and more importantly, easy … to be honest, my baking repertoire doesn’t stretch to much! It’s either that or rock cakes – and mine did actually turn out like rocks at school.’

‘Hah, well thanks.’

He served her a slice. The cake was gorgeous; a loaf cake, drizzled with gin, tonic and zingy lime juice.

The sun was setting and night began to draw in gently around them. Lucy popped on her fleece and settled to watch the sea and sky soften with an infusion of peach and gold, deepening into a cornflower dusk.