She did feel guilty helping herself to Harry’s kitchen, but he had said – quite a few times – she was to treat his place like her own. Men were so much more laid back about these things. She used to have a fit – internally, unable to bring herself to say something – when Connor helped himself to stuff out of her fridge without asking. It seemed rude. It was okay when they’d been together for a while, and he moved in with her, but at first, new into the relationship, it had struck her as odd.
She was making Harry dinner, though, as a repayment for tidying her garden, and taking her to Padstow, and basically being the perfect gent. Connor had usually left it to Maddy to mow the lawn, put the bins out … Lazy bastard. What had she seen in that man?
She poured the pasta and sauce into a Pyrex dish, sprinkling some grated cheese and slices of tomato on top, deciding to cook it in the oven as a pasta bake. This way if Harry took longer, she could leave it in the oven.
‘Seriously brainwashed with his sweet talking early on,’ Maddy mumbled to herself angrily, thinking about Connor and his faults again. ‘I blame myself for being young and naive.’
‘Are you talking to yourself?’
Maddy jumped and turned, holding her oven-gloved hand to her chest. ‘Don’t do that!’
‘Sorry, but I thought I’d tell you I’m jumping into the shower.’
He needed it. Sweat beaded on his forehead. His body was covered in flecks of dirt and sweat. Maddy imagined joining him in the shower and helping him scrub all the dirt off his muscular body … She moistened her lips.
‘Have I got time?’ Harry asked, unaware of exactly how hot he looked.
‘Oh, uh, yes, yes. Plenty of time. Twenty minutes at least.’
‘Good.’ Harry disappeared up the stairs. Maddy waved a tea towel to fan herself. It was hot in the kitchen due to the oven being on, and it was warm outside. Nothing at all to do with Harry.
But all the windows were open, and the patio doors. Harry’s house was actually quite cool.
Okay, it was definitely Harry. Get a grip.
As Maddy laid the table, opening another bottle of Stella for Harry and placing a glass of iced water on the table for herself, her thoughts strayed once again. She imagined Harry, all fresh from his shower, coming up behind her, brushing her hair aside and placing a kiss on her neck, and giving her a squeeze. She’d had affectionate boyfriends in the past. Even Connor when they’d first started out had always had a way of wheedling her back using a show of affection, and it dawned on her how much she missed the intimacy of someone close by and holding her. It had only been four months since she’d ended the relationship with Connor. Was she ready to start again? Or should she remain single a bit longer? Valerie had advised her to live a little, and find her inner strength. Let her heart and mind heal.
But living under the same roof as Harry, albeit only for a few days, had reminded her how she liked to be in a relationship, to be part of a couple. Did she want to start something with Harry, or was it because she was living under his roof, was that messing with her head?
The timer on the oven beeped and as if on cue, Harry tramped down the stairs his hair still damp. He wore a tight T-shirt which didn’t leave much to the imagination when it came to his broad, muscular physique. He grabbed the bottle of Stella and took a swig. Maddy dished up the dinner. It was as normal and relaxed as it could be for two neighbours living under the same roof. Harry was her neighbour, and now a friend. She should forget any romantic intentions. She couldn’t think about things like this now — she had enough to contend with in her life.
Chapter 13
Arms folded in front of her, Maddy stared into her coffee. She’d taken the day off. She would give Val the day off tomorrow. They still had time before the busy season started and they’d need to be in the gallery practically every day. The gallery was quiet, and she still felt tired from yesterday’s hangover. Or maybe she was just fed up. One thing was for sure she wasn’t in the frame of mind to paint. Maybe it was her time of the month due? She usually suffered the ‘blues’, as her mum called them, a couple of days before. Or became murderous. Whatever, she felt down, and couldn’t shift the mood. There was a dark cloud looming over her, stopping her from thinking straight, weighing on her shoulders and pushing on her breastbone. Today, thinking about her fire-damaged house depressed her. Additionally, she worried about living with Harry. She didn’t want to abuse his kindness, plus with the mixed feelings she had for him … Was it healthy to be under the same roof?
She was afraid.
She needed to think about eating something for lunch soon. She’d done nothing with her day off, still waiting for news from her insurance company, the police … What a mess. Life had been running so smoothly before all this.
And what a waste of a day off. But she didn’t care.
Maddy heard the front door bang shut, giving her a start.
‘Hello!’ she heard Harry call. What was he doing home so early? Maddy gave her head a shake trying to shift her gloomy reverie and plastered on a fake smile as Harry entered the dining room, where she sat nursing her now cold coffee. He was smiling, his eyes bright and he was giving off a positive vibe in the way he greeted her, which bounced right off Maddy. She was that fed up.
‘Why are you back so early?’ Her forehead creased with a frown, unable to keep her smile in place.
‘Done all my jobs this morning. Got a couple I can do later when it’s cooler. Thought I’d pop home for lunch. What have you been doing?’
She shrugged her shoulders. ‘Nothing.’
He raised an eyebrow, his expression etched with concern, his chirpiness deflating momentarily as if gauging how he should approach her. With caution, Maddy thought she should warn him. ‘I know what, why don’t we go out for lunch?’ he said, resting his hands on the back of a dining chair.
‘I don’t think I’ll be great company today.’
‘Nonsense. Come on; I’ve got the perfect idea in that case.’ Harry gave Maddy the once over where she sat. ‘You’re wearing shorts. Perfect. Let me get changed and we’ll be off.’ He was tugging off his gardening polo shirt as he went up the stairs.
Wearing linen shorts and a vest top, with her hair pulled back into a ponytail, Maddy didn’t think she looked perfect. Far from it. She dumped the remains of her coffee down the kitchen sink, leaving the cup there to be washed up later. Next minute, she was being ushered out of the house by Harry who had donned a blue Salt Rock T-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts, filling the side pockets with his wallet, phone, keys as they were walking towards the high street. Maddy was practically jogging to keep up with Harry’s long, energetic strides. She almost wanted to tell him to leave her behind. A moment of dread filled her, thinking they’d return to the pub and he’d come out with red wine. No more alcohol. You drank your weekly quota on Saturday night. But they walked past the Molesworth Arms.
‘Where are we going?’
‘You’ll see. How hungry are you?’
‘I’m not.’ She folded her arms in front of her, pulling a face.
‘You will be when I’ve finished with you.’ He beamed at her. Why was he so bloody happy? He strolled off faster than Maddy, heading towards the Lidl store. Was he going to grab something out of the supermarket? He could have done that and left her at the house.
With her nose to the ground, gazing at the pavement, she hadn’t seen where Harry had gone. She stood around, her thoughts bleak. Where was he? There was a new cafe open next to the bike hire shop. Maybe he’d gone in there. She hated the thought of walking in on her own, her face probably looking like thunder.
She was about to enter the cafe when Harry appeared with two bikes from the hire shop next door. One ladies and one gentleman’s. He also carried two bike helmets.
‘You said lunch, and they’re not very edible,’ Maddy said, approaching him, folding her arms truculently.
‘It’s the easiest way to get to Padstow.’
‘Padstow!’
�
��Yes, now hop on. You’re not arguing with me.’
Maddy snatched her bike off Harry. She really didn’t want to do this, but with everything Harry had done for her lately, she had to play nice and stay polite. What she wanted to do was scream … or cry … Yes definitely PMT.
Harry handed her a helmet. ‘It should fit.’ He put his own on and fastened it under his chin. Maddy did the same. ‘Ready?’
She nodded, then with her right foot she pulled the pedal into place so she could push off and follow Harry along the pavement. They cycled along a stretch of car-free road, then onto the Camel Trail to Padstow. It was once an old railway line, from Bodmin to Padstow, with Wadebridge in the middle and now was a cycle path. If you wanted to cycle the other way, you could ride to Bodmin from Wadebridge, but Padstow tended to be the more popular option with the tourists.
They passed a sign which told them it was five and a half miles to Padstow. Maddy hadn’t ridden a bike in years. She hoped she wouldn’t fall off. That really would make her day.
‘This way you’ll be hungry when you get to Padstow.’ Harry cycled along easily beside Maddy. With his hands gripping the handlebars, she could see the taut muscles of his caramel-tanned arms. She seemed to be cycling more than Harry, her legs spinning faster. She was already feeling her heart rate and breathing quicken. At this rate, she’d be worn out before they got to Padstow. She adjusted her gears on her bike so that she was doing less work and still keeping up the pace. ‘And I get my exercise in for the day,’ he said, still smiling, flashing his white straight teeth at her. But his smile wasn’t working on her today. He’d need to up the wattage.
‘Could you not have done this without me?’
‘You looked like you needed cheering up. And exercise is the best way to get you out of your funk.’
‘Funk?’
‘Well, it helps me keep the mood swings away,’ Harry said, though Maddy wondered for a moment if she’d caught a glimpse of the expression that showed he feared he’d said too much. ‘Healthy body, healthy mind, isn’t that what they say?’
‘If you say so.’
They fell silent, and Maddy observed the scenery to her right. The tide was out, so there were sand banks along the Camel Estuary, only a narrow river flowing. It was a beautiful day, the sun warm on her face. She’d never actually done this before and had forgotten the cycle path even existed. The views were beautiful. Another possible scene to paint.
‘I thought this would be fun to do before the schools break up. It will be so busy in the holidays, and not so much fun.’ They did meet other cyclists, and some walkers, but Maddy could well imagine when the summer season really kicked off, it would be much busier and they wouldn’t be able to cycle so fast, which Harry was making her do.
‘Wow,’ Maddy said, as they approached a metal bridge that trains would once have travelled over, and to the right they could see a miniature Padstow on the horizon. She stopped, setting her feet down so that her bike wouldn’t fall and took in the view.
‘Beautiful, isn’t it? I never tire of it every time I run this track,’ Harry said.
‘It sure is.’
The blue sky, the whites and reds of the buildings raised against the green hues of the hillside and the cerulean of the river meeting sea — another composition idea she could add to her collection. She loved Cornwall; it was forever giving her inspiration for paintings. She got her phone out and took a picture. Then she snapped one of Harry standing beside her, one foot resting on the ground. Then he insisted they take a selfie with Padstow behind them.
‘Race you!’ Harry said once she’d put her phone away. As he got going on his bike, he stood on his pedals and pushed, his calves bulging. He raced away from her over the bridge.
Damn him.
‘Hey, not fair!’ Maddy, too stubborn to let him win, gave everything she had into pedalling the bike. Head low, hunched over the handlebars, she started to catch up. Her calves and thighs burned but she didn’t care. Harry was stronger than her, but she wouldn’t be too far behind him, she was determined.
Whether he’d deliberately let her catch up or not, they were both laughing by the time they’d come to the end of the trail and reached a bike park. Their brakes screeched and squeaked as they came to a halt.
Harry winked as he locked the bikes up together. ‘I knew this would improve your mood.’
Maddy faked a scowl. ‘Who said it has?’
‘Well, if it hasn’t you’re paying for lunch, Moody.’
Maddy laughed and punched him lightly on the arm. ‘Actually, I do feel better, thank you.’
‘You’ll feel better with some good food inside you too.’ As they walked, Harry wrapped his arm around her shoulder and gave her a quick squeeze, then let go. The brief hug took Maddy by surprise. For a second there, she’d wanted it to be something more, something intimate. She knew he was just being friendly, trying to cheer her up. And he’d succeeded.
It had been breezy along the cycle path, keeping them cool. Now the sun was hot on her skin as Padstow, tucked round away from the ocean, was protected from the sea breeze. They ambled through the town’s main street which circled the harbour. Even though it wasn’t holiday season, the town was busy with tourists. In a couple of weeks, it would be even busier.
Harry led the way, occasionally touching her elbow, or letting her go first through the crowds. He clearly had somewhere in mind and Maddy was happy to follow. The cafe was up on the hill. It had a crazy golf course, which had a couple of young families playing with children under school age. Harry chose a picnic table with an umbrella, and Maddy slid along so that she was in the shade. She’d forgotten to put sun cream on – not realising Harry’s intentions to cycle to Padstow – and at this rate, she’d be burnt redder than the lobsters she’d spotted in some pots they’d walked past. Harry sat opposite. He had some shade, but his back was in the sun. The sun almost created a halo around him. Maddy really was in a strange mood, now thinking of him as some guardian angel. But by God, he was gorgeous.
Stop thinking like that.
But Maddy couldn’t help thinking envious eyes were upon her, sat there with this gorgeous specimen of a man. She should add paranoia to her list of moods today.
Harry passed Maddy a menu and then perused his own.
‘Hmmm … I’m thinking a cream tea,’ he said.
Scones, jam and clotted cream. Maddy’s mouth watered at the thought. ‘I will join you.’ When she looked up from the menu, she met his blue-eyed gaze. The way he looked at her, gently smiling, made her nervous. His eyes had a way of penetrating her soul.
‘What?’ She brushed her top down and made sure her appearance was as good as it was going to get. She should have applied some make-up or at least brushed her hair more neatly into the ponytail. She dreaded what her hair looked like having had a helmet stuck to her head.
Harry shrugged his shoulders. ‘Just noticing how different you look without your scowl.’
She pulled a face. ‘Go on, say it, I told you so. I know you want to.’
He was right. She was feeling better. The gloom that had shrouded her had lifted.
He grinned. ‘I didn’t like seeing you down and had to do something about it. This is fun, admit it.’
Before Maddy could, the waitress approached the table, fetching a notepad out of her apron. ‘Are you ready to order?’
Harry turned his smile to the young waitress, who started to blush and look flustered by Harry’s good looks. ‘Yes, I think we’re both going to have the cream tea.’
‘Would you like tea or coffee?’
Harry looked at Maddy for her answer.
‘Coffee please,’ she said to the waitress.
‘And I’ll have a tea, please,’ Harry said.
‘Anything else?’
‘No that’s all for now.’ Harry handed the menus to the waitress.
A comfortable silence fell between them. Or at least Maddy assumed it was comfortable. It was for her. She looked out o
ver the fence they were seated beside and down into the harbour. She watched people walk through the town, some licking ice-creams or devouring pasties, cars trying to drive along the roads crowded in places by tourists. Harry pointed out a cheeky seagull swooping over an old man eating a Cornish pasty. In amongst the familiar sound of squawks and cries of seagulls, the rigging on the sailboats moored in the harbour rattled and chimed in the breeze. Out on the sea, the sound of a motorboat rumbled and revved, taking passengers on an exhilarating trip around the bay. Maddy soaked it all up.
Harry stretched out his legs underneath the table and brushed Maddy’s knee. ‘Oh, sorry,’ he said, moving them back. His touch hadn’t caused discomfort, in fact, it felt very much the opposite. Not that she’d admit it.
Maddy shifted over on her seat. ‘It’s okay, stretch them out. You’ve got longer legs than me.’
Soon the waitress arrived with their drinks, followed by the scones, with pots of homemade strawberry jam and fresh, thick Cornish clotted cream.
‘That’s sacrilege,’ Harry said, eyes wide, as he watched Maddy spoon jam onto her scone first as he spread cream first on his.
‘I could say the same about you.’
‘That’s how we do it in Devon.’ Harry bit into his scone and his expression showed delight. ‘Cream then jam.’
‘I was taught jam then cream.’
Harry screwed up his face, making Maddy laugh. ‘That’s the Cornish way.’
‘I forgot, you’re a Devon boy.’
‘What’s your excuse, you’re from Bristol?’
‘Val moved to Cornwall when I was a kid, so when we visited we’d always go out for a cream tea. Ed, my brother, and I were guaranteed to eat it.’
They laughed and chuckled, licking sticky fingers as they ate their scones. To keep Harry happy, she spread cream on first then jam, and couldn’t really tell the difference. Comfortable and relaxed, they squeezed in a slice of home-made cake, and sank more tea and coffee before walking back through the crowded, quaint streets of Padstow, to where they’d locked up their bikes.
Meet Me at Wisteria Cottage Page 12