A Perfect Cornish Escape by Phillipa Ashley Page 0,71

know I said I wouldn’t dig anything up on anyone in Porthmellow, and I haven’t – not on anyone you like anyway. But I did spot an opportunity in the St Austell area recently that was too good to miss.’

‘St Austell? Oh God, what have you been up to?’

‘A tip-off about a councillor who used to be involved in a lifeboat crew until he was asked to leave. I heard via a solicitor who knows him; she’s one of Cream of Cornish’s ad clients … I pursued the story and it turns out he’s been harassing women – including this lawyer. They haven’t wanted to say anything because the councillor’s firm was one of their clients. It’s a tangled web, but she put me in touch with more women he’s alleged to have hassled, and he’s been suspended. I felt duty bound to mention it to a contact in London.’

Marina blew out a breath. ‘Wow. I’ve been at fundraisers with that guy. I thought he was creepy but I’d no idea he was such a shit.’

‘Dirk seemed shocked. He only knew the man slightly but he was disgusted. He said “the bastard deserved everything he got”, and he wished he’d known about it before.’

‘That’s good, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, but … he didn’t say anything explicitly, but I think it reminded him what my job is and that in spite of everything, I love doing it – if I’m ever allowed back.’ She paused, letting her eyes rest on the horizon as if, Marina thought, the answers to anything concerning Dirk could be found in the deep blue depths.

‘Which only reinforces the fact that he and I both know I won’t be here forever,’ she resumed. ‘I love Porthmellow and I could – if I let myself and was extremely foolish – fall very hard for Dirk. Despite his reputation, you know yourself that there’s a kind, loving guy under that craggy, moody exterior: a man who wants to trust someone but refuses to ever open up a chink of vulnerability ever again. I even think he rather likes me, and we’re certainly compatible when no words are required.’ Tiff smiled. ‘But as for committing to anything long-term, or letting myself fall any deeper, I can’t let that happen.’

‘Oh, Tiff. This all sounds so bleak.’

‘Not at all. It’s merely self-preservation. I’ll admit when I go back to my wicked ways in London, I’ll miss Porthmellow, I’ll be heartbroken to leave you and I guess it will sting a bit to say goodbye to Dirk …’ She heaved a sigh. ‘But I have to survive, financially and career wise. I can’t imagine settling down here, fixing Dirk’s dinner every night when he comes home from the station, smelling of engine oil and shouting “Hi, honey, I’m home!”’

Marina could hardly reply for giggles at Tiff’s version of an American housewife.

‘That’s rubbish! Dirk would never expect you to do that. It’s like something from the 1950s and, anyway, you can’t cook.’

Tiff nodded. ‘Good point – and, actually, when he smells of anything, it’s either salt water or Creed … anyway, I digress. I can’t see a way for us to be together long-term.’

After that Tiff changed the subject and Marina backed off. Tiff was a grown-up and, after all, she had her own love life to focus on and Nate’s anniversary to get through. Hopefully, the evening at the beach would go some way to helping her put the past behind her for good.

Chapter Twenty-Two

The evening sun broke through the clouds as Marina and Lachlan strolled around the coast path from Porthmellow and down into Seaholly Cove for the Pie on the Beach event. There were around a hundred people booked in, and Sam had told Marina that she’d had to turn more away.

The van was parked at the end of the track right above the cove and Marina could have found her way by the delicious smells emanating from it alone. People had already set up their camping chairs and picnic rugs as the tide was going out and the sun sinking lower in the sky.

Lachlan spread the rug on the sand a little way from the busiest part of the beach and Marina unloaded the plates and cutlery from the picnic set. They joined the queue for the van, where Sam and her assistants were dishing up the pies, accompanied by large helpings of salads.

Marina recognised many of the faces in the queue and on the beach: Scarlett and her boyfriend, Jude Penberth,