She shut the door behind her and hurried straight into the cottage, listening to the sound of the Range Rover engine heading the short distance up the hill to Clifftop House.

Chapter Seventeen

Chloe loved Porthmellow in the evening sunlight, even if it did come with a ‘breeze’ that rattled your teeth. Walking along the quayside on her way back from her Zumba class to the Crow’s Nest she passed the Tinners’. Locals and tourists mingled outside, sinking pints on the terrace.

The Zumba class had been fun and a relaxing break from work. It was a shame Sam hadn’t been able to make it, but she’d had a shift in Stargazey. Thankfully, Chloe knew almost all of the other dancers by now and they always had a laugh, getting tangled up and bashing into each other. No one took the class that seriously, unlike some of the gym bunnies at her Surrey health club, which suited her because she had two left feet when it came to any kind of dancing.

In the weeks since, she’d thought about the after-meeting get-together in the pub many times. Sandwiched between two not unattractive younger guys, chatting with Sam and the other committee members, she’d really felt her spirits lifting. Gabe had been funny and charming and while it might have been a professional persona, Chloe didn’t think so. She could see exactly why Sam had fallen for him and thought it sad they’d split up.

Gabe was even taller than he looked on TV and it had to be said, way more good looking. He had thick dark hair and eyes the colour of burnt caramel. Yes, he was gorgeous, he made you want to look at him and listen to him … and yet, funnily enough even with a heart throb TV chef paying her attention, she was drawn just as much to Drew. She wondered what he’d think if he knew her real age … Argh. She was going to have to come clean, sooner or later. Either that or hide her birthday cards before the party.

‘Hi there!’

Drew’s shout came from somewhere nearby. Talk of the devil.

She glanced around her and he called again. With a smile, she peered over the quayside to find him looking up from the deck of the Marisco, a rope in his hand. Maybe he was lashing something down. He needed to, because the wind had risen very quickly while she’d been at Zumba.

‘Hi!’ she yelled, but her words were snatched away by the wind. He waved and she waved back, but left him to his work. The last thing she wanted was to get close to him while she was all hot and sweaty.