‘Yes . . .’ She flinched, waiting. His fingers gently lifted her foot out of the water. Pleasure and pain mixed as he rolled the foot over in his hand until he saw the puncture.

‘Not too bad. I don’t see a spine.’ He looked up. ‘Brace yourself.’

She tightened all her muscles as she waited. He was going to squeeze her heel more. Digging her nails into her palm, she felt the pain but also his fingers on her skin. She was breathless when he rested her foot back on the side of the bowl, blood trickling down.

He went into the café and came back with clean water and soap. With great care he cleaned the puncture mark. Then he rinsed it again. Her foot throbbed and her leg tingled with his touch.

Taking the two paracetamol tablets he handed her, she washed them down with the tea. He placed her foot on her towel while he cleared the bowl and the soap. She began to shake and held the sweet tea with two hands.

‘Right, let’s see if you can move.’

She put the cup down and took his hand to help her upright. She swayed, and his other hand wrapped around her back. ‘Lean on me.’

She wanted to cry out but held it in as she hopped along, relying on Alex’s strength until they reached the gate leading into the garden.

‘The steps are a bit slippery. I think it would be easier if I carried you.’

Before she could say no, he had thrown her over his shoulder in a fireman’s lift. Winded – and more than a bit indignant – Lottie prayed that no one would see this. When they reached the top of the steps, she waited to be put down, but he continued striding across the lawn.

‘You know you can put me down now?’ She focused on the passing grass so that she didn’t study his legs.

‘Easier this way.’

‘It might be, but I’d prefer to be upright.’

He stopped. ‘Fine.’ He bent slightly and let her slide down his body. She put a hand out and steadied herself on his arm.

‘Thank you.’

‘No problem, but best to buy yourself some surf shoes if you are sticking around.’ He raised an eyebrow. It was a question really. She was about to reply but stopped. Rather than speak, she nodded. Any answer would provoke more questions.

‘Cat got your tongue?’ He looked up from her foot and a slow smile appeared on his mouth. Her breath caught. Stop, she lectured her racing heart. He was history. For all she knew, Alex had someone in his life. But his smile had had that effect on her from the moment she first saw him, when he and his mother had moved back to Porthpean. He was such an angry soul then, but Gramps had taken him in hand.

‘Can you walk without help?’

She took a few steps and wobbled. ‘No.’