and said, ‘Why don’t we go for a swim in the moonlight, Leo?’
There was silence and she felt colour rise in her cheeks. He’d asked her round for a meal, not to go down to the beach.
He had come to stand beside her and into the silence that had followed the suggestion said, ‘Yes, why not? I’ve done it before, and no doubt will do it again. It’s a fantastic feeling. If you pop across and change into your swimming gear, I’ll do the same and will meet you out at the front in ten minutes, OK?’
When they met up again he was carrying a beach bag containing a bottle of wine and two glasses, and with her thoughts still out of control she said, ‘You are doing this because you’re feeling sorry for me, aren’t you?’
‘Er, no,’ he replied. ‘I’m doing it because watching you in the water is something not to be missed, and it has given me an idea.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Ronnie the lifeguard was saying the other day that he needed some help in the evenings, that the guy who shares the job with him is on long-term sick leave and the council is dragging its feet at finding a replacement. He said that just a couple of hours in the evenings would be much appreciated. At this time of year it’s the busiest part of the day down there when folks have finished work and are ready to relax.
‘Does the idea appeal to you? I’m sure there would be no problem with the authorities, as long as you were able to do a quick lifeguard refresher course. It would give them time to find someone permanent and it would help Ronnie, who is the father of Maria the young nurse at the surgery.’
Amelie didn’t reply immediately. The idea appealed to her immensely, yet what she felt was behind it didn’t. Leo had taken note of her comment about her evenings being empty, and to get himself off the hook had come up with an idea that could solve the problem. If she was down on the beach in the evenings as a lifeguard, she wouldn’t be hoping that he would fill the gap.
But why should he? The man striding along beside her past the headland and down the steps that led to the cove where the last stragglers were beginning to wind their way upwards must have lots more interesting things to do with his kind of looks and personality.
‘I wouldn’t mind giving it a try if the authorities will allow it,’ she said in a voice that told him she thought she’d read his mind. So what if she did?
Amelie had no idea how much she was getting to himwith her uncomplicated outlook on life and absence of coquettishness.
He felt sure the powers that be would agree to the idea, and he knew Ronnie would when he saw her perform. If he and they knew she’d been involved in rescuing the two young girls from the sea cave just a few days ago, he imagined they would jump at the chance of a temporary replacement. If Amelie was serious about what she’d said, he would start the ball rolling on Monday.
Not a lot moved in local government on Saturdays.
The tide was coming in less vigorously than it sometimes did and as they swam in its unaccustomed gentleness, with moonlight throwing shadows on the rocks and the sand that the sea hadn’t yet reached, there was a tranquillity that they could both feel.
Amelie was so entranced by the magic of the evening that she fantasised about her role as temporary lifeguard leading to a permanent position if they didn’t require her any more at the practice when her time was up. It would be one way of staying in Bluebell Cove, something she was increasingly keen to do, still saving lives but in a different way than at present.
They’d come out of the water, and were sitting on the rocks, idly watching the waves skipping over the sand towards them when Leo said, ‘You being a doctor would fit in with the lifeguard role very nicely. Immediate medical assistance on the spot if needed, much better than simply having the required First Aid certificate.’
‘Yes,’ she said slowly, and almost told him
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