Page 67 of Suddenly Beck

I already know what I feel for him is in no way casual. I don’t want to put a name to it, I don’t even want to think it. I never thought I’d want to be in another relationship after what happened to me in Florence, but Nat just snuck right in there under my radar, and I know if I was ever going to take a risk with my heart again, I know it would be for him.

But it’s not that simple. Things are never that simple. Nat has too many things he needs to figure out. He’s not out to his family, and they don’t even know where he is. I don’t even know if he’s going to stay in the bay after the summer or if he’ll move on again. After all, he ended up here on a whim and a stroke of luck, so there’s nothing to say he won’t get restless and move on again.

‘Hey.’ I look up to see Nat watching me. ‘Those look like serious thoughts.’

‘No.’ I tilt my head as I look at him. ‘Not really.’

He leans over the counter and brushes his lips lightly over mine, not caring who might be watching, and my heart kicks up a notch the way it always does when I’m with him.

‘Stop frowning,’ he whispers with a smile. ‘If the wind changes your face will stick like that.’

‘I’ve never understood that,’ I huff.

‘Me neither.’ He grins as he pulls back and picks up a pan, giving it a like shake and a sizzle. ‘Carmella always used to say that to us when Pia and I were children.’

I’m about to open my mouth to say something else when a large, older gentleman sidles up to the counter. He’s rather smartly dressed in a tweed jacket, checked shirt, and ruthlessly pressed trousers. His hair is almost all white, and he has an impressive handlebar moustache, merry blue eyes, and ruddy cheeks. He has that kind of old boy look about him, and I wouldn’t at all have been surprised to hear someone call him Brigadier.

‘Can I help you?’ Nat smiles warmly.

‘Yes, lad,’ he rumbles gruffly as he waves a leaflet at him. ‘I’m staying at the holiday park up the road, and I have a voucher for ten percent off a meal at this place, thought I’d give it a whirl. I snuck out when my daughter and son in law weren’t watching,’ he guffaws. ‘They wanted to put me in senior’s bingo, for heaven’s sake. I swear sometimes they treat me like a bloody dim-witted five-year-old. I’m not dead or demented yet.’

Nat grins widely as he wipes his hand on a blue and white checked teacloth and leans over the counter extending his hand.

‘I’m Nat,’ he introduces himself.

‘Bernard.’ The old man shakes his hand firmly.

‘It’s nice to meet you.’ Nat grins even wider. ‘And I have the perfect person I’d like to introduce you to.’

‘Well, lead the way then, son.’ Bernard chuckles. ‘I’m not getting any younger, a fact my daughter reminds me of ten times a day.’

Nat shakes his head in amusement. ‘Hayley, hold the fort for a moment,’ he tells her as he steps rounds the counter.

‘You got it, Chef.’ She nods.

‘How are you enjoying the bay so far?’ Nat asks as he leads him away from the counter toward a corner booth close by.

‘Splendid,’ Bernard replies jovially. ‘The location is splendid, but it’s the company. My daughter is insisting on cutting up my food, and I’m surprised she’s not bloody chewing for me too. The next thing you know, she’ll be putting it through a liquidiser, so I don’t choke.’

Nat throws his head back and laughs loudly. ‘Molly, my love.’ He beams when he looks at the old woman he’s become fast friends with. ‘I have someone I’d like to introduce you to.’

I watch with interest as Molly looks up from her small glass of non-alcoholic wine and smiles at Nat fondly.

‘Molly, this is Bernard,’ he introduces them. ‘He’s escaped from the holiday park down the road. His daughter is insisting on coddling him, so I thought you could give him a crash course in advanced rebellion for seniors.’

‘Oh, I’d be delighted to,’ she giggles as she holds out her hand. ‘It’s nice to meet you, Bernard.’

‘By Jove.’ His eyes widen as he takes her hand and lays a very gentlemanly kiss on it. ‘If you don’t mind my saying so, you’re a fine-looking woman.’

‘Oh, stop.’ She flushes, fluffing her hair and glancing up at him artfully from beneath her eyelashes.

‘May I?’ He indicates the seat opposite her.

‘Of course.’ She smiles. ‘I know what you mean about children though, my daughter isn’t much better sometimes, and they seem to forget we’re the ones who taught them how to wipe their…’

‘Why don’t I have Juni bring you over some drinks while you order,’ Nat offers.

‘Excellent idea,’ Bernard chortles. ‘Nothing alcoholic though, lad,’ he says as he pats his slight paunch. ‘Got the old acid reflux to think of.’