Never Too Late

by Alyssia Leon

  “Now that sounds nice and boring,” Nan sat forward as Molly carefully took the pie out of the oven and placed it on a cooling rack. “That one’s for Nate. I thought I’d add a dash of his wine to it. It’s a little surprise.”

  The pie was deep ruby red and its crust more bubbly on top than the others. It smelled pungent too, like fruit that had ripened too long and developed a sharp alcoholic edge.

  Molly eyed it dubiously. “I hope you didn’t add too much. You know how strong that stuff is.”

  Nan chuckled. “And it’s extra strong this year. He gave me a bottle a few days ago. My goodness, I barely needed a drop to send me off to sleep for the whole night. You could’ve lined all those builders up outside the cottage and had them doing a jig on those infernally loud machines of theirs and I wouldn’t have stirred.”

  The timer on the second oven beeped and Molly went to take the last pie out.

  “I’ve never seen the house look so good,” Nan mused. “Not even when I first arrived here. I’d hate to see it go back to being empty and quiet after all this effort.”

  It was true. Barrowdene was barely recognizable from what it had been before. Even the old kitchen had been reworked. Gone were the rusting ironwork and the grey stone counters, and in their place stood a modern kitchen diner complete with a carved oak table big enough to seat at least ten. The counters were polished granite, the floor a gleaming cream-swirled marble, and the equipment and brand new range cooker installed would have done any hardworking restaurant justice. Nan had surprisingly taken to it like a rabbit to a burrow, even going so far as to learn how to work all these ‘newfangled thingamajigs’.

  “I don’t think Jake intends for it to stay empty,” Molly said, placing the pie on the rack beside the others.

  Nan nodded. “I thought not. And the way you two have been these past few days, and the look in your eyes whenever you mention him. He’s planning to stay on here, I take it?”

  Molly froze in the middle of pulling off the oven mitts. “Nan… it’s not like that.”

  “Now tell me. Are my old eyes deceiving me? You do love him, don’t you?”

  Molly stared, at a loss what to say. But no matter what Jake felt, she couldn’t deny her own love. She nodded.

  “There, I knew it,” Nan said with a triumphant smile.

  “This isn’t what you think!” Molly threw the oven mitts down on the counter. “He’s not in love with me.”

  “Men don’t talk about love, Molly. You have to watch what they do. Jake’s taken care to bring out the best in you. I’ve seen how your confidence has blossomed since you began working with him on Barrowdene.”

  “No, Nan, he’d do that for anyone. That’s what he’s like.”

  “If that’s so, then why go to the trouble of pulling together a party just so he can show off your work in the house?”

  Molly frowned. “What party?”

  “Now don’t fret that he told me first. He called about a half hour ago, and he only gave me a few details, but I’m sure he’ll tell you everything when he gets back.”

  “What did he say, Nan?”

  “He’s planning an open day at Barrowdene tomorrow evening, and he wanted me to tell the ladies of the committee today. Well, I told him to prepare to be swamped. I’m sure every nose in Appleby is twitching to see how the house looks now.”

  Molly’s frown deepened. So that’s what Jake had been doing today. But why not tell her before? Had he thought she might object to his plans? “But the house isn’t ready. The bedrooms upstairs still need painting. I thought it would take another week.”

  “It’s all mostly done. And it’s a smart move to do this early. Get everybody on side right from the start. If Francine had done something similar, she’d have had a much easier time in Appleby.” Nan eyed her. “You’ll be centre stage tomorrow. Why don’t you wear that pretty turquoise dress you bought? It looked lovely on you.”

  Why? To make a fool of herself again with another man who didn’t want her? “It’s not really my style,” she muttered.

  Nan shook her head. “As you please.” She made to stand, and Molly was immediately by her side, but she waved away Molly’s supporting hand. “There’s no need, child. My leg’s fine. I have to get those pies packed up.”

  “I don’t think you should be going today.”

  “I wouldn’t miss the meeting for anything, especially as all the talk is going to be about Barrowdene and Jake’s party tomorrow.” Nan picked up Nate’s pie and handed it to Molly. “Now get this to Nate before he disappears down the pub.”

  Molly found Nate in Barrowdene’s back garden, admiring the neatly trimmed and manicured grounds that looked like they’d sprung straight out of a princely estate’s brochure.

  He grinned and gestured proudly at the garden. “That’s a grand sight, that is, and you can bet yer eye-teeth I’ll be keeping it like this.”

  His lanky hair was disheveled and his overalls streaked with sweat and dirt, but he stood as tall as he could, his chest puffed out with the satisfaction of a job well done.

  She smiled and handed him the pie. “Something special from Nan.”

  “Thank yer, Nan, gal,” he said, bringing it to his nose and sniffing appreciatively. “Just what a man needs after a day like this.”

  “Are you going down the pub?” she asked as they walked back towards the house.

  “I’ll have a bite to eat first. Guinness tastes better on a full tum.”

  “I’m sure it does.”

  “There, I near forgot.” Nate stopped in his tracks. “Yer Martin was here about half hour ago.”

  She stared at him. “Martin? Where is he now?”

  “Buggered if I know. He left. He were looking for you, but I figured you’d gone off with his lordship, seeing as how the pair of you are as thick as thieves these days.”

  Heat scorched her cheeks. Nate’s nickname for Jake had caught on with the other villagers too, and no doubt Nate wasn’t the only one to notice how close she was to Jake. “Nate, did Martin say where he was going?”

  “Nope. He were babbling on about some gal.”

  “Belinda?”

  “Wouldn’t know through all the bawling.”

  She gaped at him. “Martin was crying?”

  “Ha! The man was a right state. T’was all I could do to shut him up. I gave him a good slug of wine in the end. It took half a bottle to do the trick, but he were as happy as a babe in a manger after that.”

  “Oh good god! You got him drunk and then you let him go?”

  “I weren’t gonna babysit him, now was I? I had work to do.”

  “No, of course not.” She stared into the distance, perturbed. The thought of Martin staggering around boozed up on Nate’s cherry wine was worrying. Hopefully, he’d gone home. Where else could he go?

  “I saw his lordship’s car up by the house a few minutes back.” Nate’s sly voice broke into her thoughts.

  “Oh, Jake’s come back?” She glanced at the house. “I’d better go find him.”

  Nate grinned salaciously. “You do that.”

  “And as for you,” she said, scowling. “Don’t overdo it at the pub.”

  “Yes, m’lady.”

  His salute was mocking, and shaking her head, she walked away.

  M’lady. Huh. Did everyone around here think she was angling to marry Jake and become lady of the manor or something?

  She rubbed her brow with a weary hand. Any other time and she would have searched out Jake and flew into his arms, looking for the peace and happiness she always found there, but now with Martin finally deciding to surface, and Jake planning behind her back, the sense of the sky about to crash down on her head had returned with ominous force.

  17

  Molly pushed open the door to Jake’s bedroom and walked in without bothering to knock first. They were well beyond those formalities now. But the sight of his toned torso as he pulled off his t-shirt had her hesitating just inside the doorway.

&
nbsp; Grinning, he tossed the crumpled t-shirt on the bed, and with a few steps, pulled her into his arms and claimed her mouth in a deep kiss.

  She kissed him back with all her heart, pressing herself to him, tiptoeing up and winding her arms tight around his neck. Their tongues danced and their breaths mingled as they explored each other, unable to get enough of the other.

  With a grunt he broke the kiss and pulled back a little, his breathing harsh as he studied her face. “Hell, I need you too much,” he muttered with a shake of his head, and abruptly releasing her, turned away and stalked to the wardrobe, ripping open the brown belt of his jeans along the way.

  Trepidation curled in her belly as a wall of remoteness she hadn’t seen in the past nine days shuttered down between them. She cleared her throat. “Jake… are you planning an open evening for tomorrow?”

  He glanced back over his shoulder as he stepped out of his jeans. “Yes.”

  All of a sudden, she had to fight the urge to avert her eyes. He still had his boxers on, and for heavens sake, she’d seen him in far less. But just then, in the chill of uncertainty that had crept into the room, it was as if she didn’t belong here in his private space anymore.

  The jeans joined the t-shirt on the bed and she breathed an inner sigh of relief as he grabbed a pair of dark trousers from the wardrobe.

  “That’s… um… rather sudden,” she said. “I didn’t think the house was ready.”

  “The bedrooms aren’t in such bad shape, and they’ll only take a couple of days to finish.” He pulled on the trousers and turned back to her as he buttoned them. “It doesn’t make sense to wait.”

  “No, I suppose it doesn’t.” There really wasn’t an argument against it. Besides, it didn’t look like he was going to give her much say in it. The party would go on. “Nan thinks it’s a great idea, but there will be a lot to get ready for tomorrow, the food, the drinks…”

  He came to her then and caught hold of her shoulders, circling his thumbs over her bare skin in a soothing massage. “It’s sorted. Don’t worry your pretty little head about it.”

  “Sorted? How?” she asked with a frown.

  “I’ve arranged for a catering crew tomorrow, and the pub landlord will be supplying all the drinks.”

  “You have been busy,” she murmured. “And I bet you’re a hero down at the pub now, giving them a contract like that.”

  He laughed, his hands tightening on her shoulders. “I’m definitely flavour of the weekend.”

  She gazed into his amber eyes that sparkled with amusement, and placed a tentative hand on his chest. His muscles contracted beneath her touch.

  His eyes softened and stepping closer, he raised a hand to cup her face. “I want everyone to see what you’ve done here, Molly. It’s your vision that breathed life back into this house.”

  “Don’t tell people I was involved in the renovations, Jake. It’ll only complicate things.”

  “In what way?”

  How did she tell him that each and every person in Appleby would look at her tomorrow and condemn her as a gold digger circling him like prey? Why pour fuel on that fire? She wanted nothing more than to hide from the spotlight of innuendo that was about to shine on her.

  His gaze hardened. “You’re done taking a back seat, Molly. I’m proud of you, and I want everyone to see it. Barrowdene needs a fresh start. It’s been isolated for too long. The people in the village need to know it’s a part of Appleby and that they have you to thank for it.”

  He was right. Barrowdene stunned. It was a modern family house now, and her touches had seen that its Georgian heritage and charm had been woven into its new ultra-modern comfort. It deserved to be seen.

  She nodded. “I’ll do it.”

  “Good,” he said, swiping a swift kiss over her lips before returning to the wardrobe and pulling out a black shirt.

  “Are you going somewhere?” she asked as he shrugged it on.

  “London.” His back was to her as he did up the buttons. “I’m meeting some people there.”

  The black cotton stretched across his broad back and he tucked the shirt into his trousers, then casually rolled the sleeves to his elbows.

  “Tonight?”

  He turned to her, looking like a dark angel ready to grace the trendiest of nightclubs. “It’s the only time to catch these people.”

  “I see.” She fought to keep any hint of clinginess out of her voice.

  “I’ll be bringing a few of them back with me tomorrow.”

  Tomorrow? Just in time for the open evening? In a flash the jigsaw pieces fell in place and the cold light of clarity hit her. “Are any of these people buyers for Barrowdene?”

  He shrugged. “Maybe.”

  She wanted to scream and cry out. Everything he was doing, for Barrowdene, for the villagers, for her, was purely in the service of finding a buyer as soon as possible. It was all a performance. As soon as his demanding buyers walked into Barrowdene tomorrow they’d be greeted by the sight of happy smiling locals ready to welcome them into their quaint little village, with Barrowdene displayed like a rare crown jewel in the middle of all the countryside charm. Nan was right. It was a smart move.

  But when had he ever promised more than this? He didn’t owe anything to her or Barrowdene. She was the one who’d overstepped the mark and brought in love where it didn’t belong.

  “I hope it all goes to plan then,” she said, conjuring a smile. “You’ll be wanting me to see to the caterers tomorrow, won’t you? What time will they be here?”

  Was that a flash of relief in his eyes? The ever efficient secretary role came naturally to her now. It was her armour, a rock for her breaking heart to hide behind as it bled.

  He came to her and cupped her face again, the softness she craved back in his gaze. “I’ll be back before you know it, Molly.” And pressing a kiss to her trembling lips, he was gone.

  * * *

  Jake glanced into the car’s rearview mirror at Barrowdene house receding into the distance as he drove down the driveway. Sometimes Molly would stand on the front porch watching him leave, but she wasn’t there now. Clenching his jaw, he pulled his gaze back to the road ahead. She made him weak with need. Too weak.

  The car reached the end of the drive and he eased it on to the quiet main road, then switching gears, he let the engine enter a smooth cruise. He’d stayed at Barrowdene longer than he’d planned and it should be relief to leave, but he battled the urge to turn the car around and go back. With a grunt of irritation he pressed a button on the steering wheel and music drifted into the car. Cool jazz played from the surround speakers and he relaxed back into the soft leather seat trying to keep his mind on the beautiful countryside scenery slipping past.

  The mellow evening sun sprinkled the green trees and rolling fields with gold dust. Sheep were dotted like fluffy little clouds across the fields, and the occasional horse flicked its tail and raced along the expanse of rich grass simply for the joy of it.

  A couple of hours would see him in the middle of the rush and hustle of London, a world away from the quiet calm surrounding him now. In the past, London had always beckoned with equal promise of business and play wherever he’d been in the world, but now he was returning and only emptiness filled him.

  Glancing at the vacant passenger seat beside him, he frowned. It had taken all his willpower not to ask Molly to come with him. But that would have been a mistake. He focused back on the road. Only the occasional car passed him on the other side, barely causing a ripple in the quiet evening, as if he and they were the only ones to have discovered this stretch of undisturbed country. The peace reminded him of Molly. After months in turmoil, he’d found strength and rest in her arms. She helped him forget. But she made him weak too, made him crave more from a relationship than he knew was good. He had to get out now before either of them got in too deep, because she didn’t belong with him. She was a beautiful country flower that would wither and die if it was plucked from its surroundings, and he’d b
e damned if he allowed that to happen again.

  The sun was lower in the sky now, casting flame colours across the wispy clouds and longer shadows on the ground. It was the same light that had spread over an open bar on a penthouse terrace in New York when a dark-haired, light-eyed, Italian beauty had noticed him and he’d noticed her. Sienna had been new to the city. She’d come to find fame and fortune as a model in the cut-throat world of fashion. He’d wanted her to soar high, to rise, and was so proud of her when she did. But at the same time he’d cherished the innocence that had drawn him to her. And then it all crumbled. She hadn’t been strong enough to survive in the world of wealth and pressure he’d helped her enter. Maybe if he had tried harder, maybe if he hadn’t been so deliberately oblivious in the end, she’d still be alive. He gritted his teeth. It wouldn’t happen again. Not with Molly.

  He pressed lightly on the accelerator and the BMW sped forward, leaving Barrowdene far behind like a distant memory. He’d lined up meetings with potential buyers, people with enough money and interest to maintain Barrowdene as a family estate. He’d meant it when he’d promised Molly he’d take care of the place. He’d also take care of them. He’d see to it that she, Nan, and Nate were well provided for before he left.

  * * *

  It was quiet outside as Molly walked through Barrowdene’s grounds to Rose Cottage. The sunlight was dimming into deep golds and oranges, and the trees stood still with not even a hint of breeze and only the occasional bird’s evening twitter breaking the silence. Not a soul was about. The gardeners must have packed up and left, and that meant Nan must be at the church hall. Even the stables were silent as she passed them, with all the horses safely inside.

  Friday evening, and everyone had a place to be. Her place was dinner for one in the cottage, while the person she most wanted to be with was enjoying his time with others tonight. She should be stronger, but for the life of her she couldn’t bury the clamouring in her heart for Jake to return. What would it be like when the time came and he never came back?