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“I was. I just came back here to shower and eat some lunch. Are you hungry?”

“Yes.”

“Sit.” He pulled out a stool before placing the omelette he just cooked in front of me alongside a knife and fork and a glass of orange juice. Next, he grabbed a platter of chopped fruit and set it on the counter. “Dig in.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll make another,” he said, going to the fridge to grab more eggs. “I’ve been keeping some groceries here, but I’ll have to clear them out before we open next week. Might as well use them up while I can.”

I cut into the omelette and found it perfectly fluffy and crispy. It tasted like he’d cooked it in butter too. I didn’t think it could get any better until he opened the grill and pulled out a plate of bacon he’d been keeping hot. He smiled when I immediately stuck my fork into a slice and lifted it to my mouth.

“This is so good,” I said as he cracked more eggs into the pan. He wore a pleased expression as he continued cooking up a second omelette. He joined me a few minutes later, the two of us quietly eating, and it felt so natural to just co-exist. Was this what a relationship with Tristan would be like? This easy companionship?

“I like your chain,” I said, the words out before I could properly think them through. Tristan’s eyebrows did a little jump, then furrowed. “My chain?”

“Yes,” I motioned to his neck, and he glanced down. I started to flush.

“Right,” he grinned, glancing up at me as he toyed with it a second before letting it drop. Something in his expression told me he knew exactly how sexy I found that little piece of jewellery. “My mam got this for me for my thirty-fifth birthday. My sister has a matching one. That’s the hazard of being a twin. Not only do you have to share a birthday, but sometimes you get matching gifts too.”

I laughed. “Really? Like what?”

“Hmm, let’s see. When we were seven, our aunt got us both Toy Story pyjamas for Christmas. Nuala was so disappointed because she’d been hoping for one of those doll heads that you could practice hairstyles on.”

“Oh, I remember those! I had one but I could never figure out how to style it. I’ve always had curly hair so most styles don’t normally work on me.”

“Your hair is incredible,” Tristan said, a gruff note in his voice.

I flushed very faintly, tucking a stray curl behind my ear. “Thanks.”

He cleared his throat. “Then on our tenth birthday, Nuala asked for a candle making kit, and there must’ve been a two for one sale because I got one as well. It was a disaster. You have to boil up the wax and we ended up ruining one of our Mam’s expensive pots.”

“Oh no,” I chuckled. “I guess I’m lucky having a sister who’s seven years older. We’re so far apart in age, there was never a chance of anyone doubling up on gifts.”

We ate in quiet again before I asked, “Do you go swimming every day?”

“No. Normally, I only swim once or twice a week, but being here at the hotel means I can head down to the beach on my lunch break. It’s supposed to hit almost thirty degrees tomorrow, so I’m going to head out early.”

“And you really enjoy it? What about all the jelly fish and seaweed?”

He chuckled. “Well, I typically avoid swimming on days when the jelly fish come in, and I’ve never been squeamish about seaweed. Besides, it’s a great adrenaline high. I love it. It’s not like swimming in a pool where everything is controlled. Out in the water, you have to keep your wits about you, be aware of the current and the tide, the strength of the waves.”

“Sounds a little scary.”

“You’ve honestly never tried it? I would’ve thought you’d love swimming in the sea since you live right by the beach.”

“Hey, I’ll dip my toes in for a paddle, and sure, I liked swimming when I was a kid. I suppose it’s just not something I make time for anymore.”

“Well, you should make time. Why not join me tomorrow? I can give you a beginner’s lesson.”

“I can’t. I don’t have one of those fancy wetsuits.”

His smile heated. “A normal swimsuit will do.”

My heart gave a swift thud, and I couldn’t deny that the idea of going for a swim with Tristan was appealing. And I did really love being by the sea. I was just so caught up with work all the time that I rarely gave a thought to doing things purely for enjoyment.

“Okay, then,” I allowed. “But you better ease me in gently.”

A devilish look crossed his face that had my belly fluttering. “Of course.”