Ebb Tide

by Leah Murray

  `Okay.’

  Will sat down then stood up again, overcome with a nervous energy he could only dispel by pacing the room. A fat white Persian cat stalked in after a few minutes and jumped onto the window seat. He wandered over to pet the cat and glanced out the window, watching with annoyance as a black station wagon did a U-turn behind the Land Rover and narrowly missed a silver hatchback he presumed belonged to Jo.

  `Will?’ she suddenly said from behind him and he turned to see her clad in a black knee-length skirt and navy T-shirt, her hair tumbling loose around her shoulders.

  He felt another tug of attraction and smiled. `Ready?’

  `In a minute, can you please help with the sling?’ she asked, her cheeks suddenly flushing red.

  `Oh, yes. Sure,’ he said as she turned her back for him to adjust the strap at the nape of her neck. He moved her hair aside and tied the knot. `There, done,’ he said, stepping away hastily and reminding himself he was thirty-four and not fourteen.

  Jo turned to face him and smiled. He tried not to notice that she wasn’t wearing a bra, supposed she didn’t really have a choice when she couldn’t move her shoulder, but the sight was driving him crazy and it took every inch of self control to keep his eyes on hers.

  Bloody hell, he was probably going to need that cold shower after all.

  CHAPTER 3

  WHAT ON EARTH WAS SHE doing? Jo sat in the car waiting for Will to come round and help her out and told herself it hadn’t been a bad idea to accept the lunch date.

  Date.

  She felt a nervous rush in her stomach and tried to convince herself that that was not what this was. He felt guilty, that was all. Was treating her to lunch in reparation for the accident.

  Of course that’s what it was.

  Then why was her heart beating triple time, why were her palms clammy with nerves and why did he have to be so damn attractive?

  She’d sworn off men. Promised herself there would be no involvements for at least a year. And now … and now she was trying to take her mind off what had happened at the beach, attempting to regain her sense of safety, prove that she would not be cowed. This is what she told herself but when the car door opened and Will helped her climb down, his hand on her waist sent a rush of energy through her that did nothing to help with the nerves.

  `Come, I’m starving,’ he said, grabbing her hand and leading her across the road and up a short flight of stairs into a large room. There was an old wooden bar to her right, the kind that had seen decades of use and was treasured by collectors. In the middle of the room were a number of tables and chairs and against the walls numerous red leather booths. A huge flat-screen TV was angled at the far corner.

  Inhaling the sweet scent of polished wood, she walked over to the large bay windows and gasped.

  `Wow. That’s an amazing view!’ she said, turning with a smile.

  Will grinned. `I agree. Particularly from where I’m standing.’

  Jo flushed, knowing very well he wasn’t referring to the harbor, and wished she could think of a smart retort. It wasn’t usually a problem but something about him left her annoyingly tongue-tied.

  `Smooth, very smooth,’ was all she could manage. How had they moved from the awkward silence to this steady banter so quickly? Who was this man?

  Will laughed and headed towards the bar. `Would you like a drink?’

  Jo hesitated but the nerves won out. `Yes, please. Wine would be great,’ she said.

  `Red or white?’

  `White, please.’

  Will went round the side of the bar and reached into a fridge, pulling out a bottle of Chardonnay while she settled on a stool. He’d just finished pouring the glass when a stocky, red-haired man appeared from a doorway behind the bar.

  `Hello, hello what have we here?’ he asked, pausing as he saw Jo.

  She smiled and glanced over at Will.

  `Ah Jo, this is Gus, my business partner. Gus, Jo,’ Will said as Gus came over to Jo to shake hands.

  `And what happened to you?’ he asked, pointing at her sling.

  `Actually I’m afraid that’s my fault. I ran into her with the car,’ Will said, handing Jo the glass of wine. She took a sip as Gus gave an astonished guffaw.

  `Lad, I can see she’s a looker but don’t you think that was a rather desperate means of attracting her attention?’

  Jo laughed, felt herself relaxing. `Actually, it was probably more my fault. I wasn’t really watching where I was going.’

  A movement behind Gus caused her to look up and she returned the smile of the woman who stood at the door. She wore her long, dark hair in a ponytail, the tip of which brushed her waist, and her eyes were the same bright blue as Will’s.

  `Hi Jules. Jo, this is my sister Julia,’ Will said and Jo smiled again as Julia waved a hand and came round to take a seat next to her.

  `What’s wrong with your arm?’

  `Ask your brother. He ran her over with that monster car of his,’ Gus said.

  `What? Will!’

  `I know, I know. Why don’t you call Hayley and let her in on it and then you can all have a go at me and get it over with,’ he replied.

  `Get what over with?’ asked a short, plump blond woman as she joined the group behind the bar. Jo assumed this was Hayley. She was rather surprised when Gus introduced her as his wife; they were an oddly matched couple. Hayley turned to Gus with her hands on her hips when he told her about the accident.

  `Let the poor boy alone Gus. You can see he feels badly about it already,’ she scolded. Then she turned to Jo with a wicked grin. `We don’t want to go embarrassing him in front of Jo, now do we?’

  Jo laughed as Will groaned and laid his forehead on the bar, where he had pulled up a stool.

  `It’s a bit late for that,’ he said, sitting back up. `Anyway, we came to get something to eat. She’s been in hospital all night and hasn’t had anything to eat all day.’

  `Oh, you poor thing. What would you like? I can rustle up a chicken salad?’ said Hayley.

  `Thanks, that would be great,’ said Jo.

  Hayley started towards the back room.

  `Hey, what about me?’ called Will and Hayley turned and pointed a finger at him. `You, young man, are three hours late to stock take. I would think you could come and help me in the kitchen to make up for it.’

  `So much for being the boss,’ said Will, groaning. He got up off the stool. `I’ll be back in a minute,’ he said, following Hayley into the kitchen, leaving Jo to face Gus and Julia.

  `Well then, what a nice introduction to my family,’ said Julia. `Is it broken?’ she asked, pointing at the sling.

  Jo took another sip of her wine and shook her head before replying.

  `No, I’ve torn some ligaments but hopefully it’ll be back to normal in a few weeks.’

  Julia nodded, looked puzzled.

  `Where are you from? I can’t place the accent.’

  Jo smiled. `New Zealand.’

  `Really? I’ve been wanting to go there for ages. I’ve been nagging my husband to take me there ever since we saw the Lord of the Rings,’ Julia said and Jo grinned.

  `It’s not quite Middle Earth but there are some amazing landscapes. Especially in the South Island. You should definitely take a trip.’

  `South Island?’ asked Gus, who had been stacking glasses in the corner. He came over to join them now, leaning his elbows on the bar as Julia helped herself to some nuts in a small bowl in front of him.

  `Oh, yes. New Zealand is made up of two islands. The top one is called the North Island and the bottom one the South Island, funnily enough,’ Jo replied.

  `So where are you from?’ asked Julia.

  `The North. My parents have a dairy farm in a region called the Waikato, but I’ve been living in Auckland the past few years.’

  `Isn’t that the biggest city?’ asked Julia and Jo nodded, taking another sip of wine.

  `What kind of work do you do?’ Gus asked.

  `I’m a vet.’

/>   Gus grinned, nudged Julia.

  `She’s a vet, her parent’s own a dairy farm and she’s tall, blonde and beautiful. I’d say your little brother’s hooked.’

  Jo flushed, tried not to choke on her wine.

  Julia swatted at Gus. `Leave her alone’

  She turned back to Jo. `Don’t mind him. He’s just stirring. So … when did this accident happen? Will didn’t mention it when he was in yesterday.’

  `Oh, it was yesterday afternoon. He took me to the clinic then came to see me again this morning in the hospital. Gave me a lift home.’

  `Thoughtful of him,’ Gus put in, laughing and stepping away as Julia slapped his shoulder.

  `What do you do?’ Jo asked her, eager to change the subject.

  `A bit of everything around here really. Cook, manage, waitress on occasion. I’m the general dogsbody.’

  `And you love it, stop pretending you don’t,’ said Will, reappearing from the room behind the bar, a plate in each hand.

  `Want to sit outside? Escape this lot?’ he asked.

  `Um, okay,’ Jo replied, sending an apologetic smile at Julia and Gus, very aware of their eyes on her as she followed Will outside.

  `Speak to you later Jo,’ Gus called out and she smiled as Will scowled.

  `Sorry, I didn’t realize the whole troop of them would be here. We’re supposed to be closed for the day and I forgot all about the stock take,’ he said, putting the plates down on a table near the balcony, which overlooked the beach.

  She shrugged. `They seem nice.’

  He smiled, left to get a beer as she pulled out a chair and sat down. She couldn’t help but look out over the beach, scanning it for some sign of the man from the previous day before turning her attention to the food.

  Will returned, started eating with obvious relish and she took the opportunity to study him closely, noticed a narrow scar that snaked down from his eyebrow to his left cheekbone and wondered what had happened.

  He looked up and met her gaze, smiled and she looked away quickly, unnerved by the intensity of his stare.

  `So why Looe?’ he asked after a moment.

  She frowned. `Why did I move here you mean?’

  He nodded.

  `I wanted to be somewhere near the coast but also not right in the middle of things. Cornwall seemed to fit the bill. We came here a few times on holiday when I was a child and I liked it. So I found a job and a house and moved.’

  `That easy, huh?’

  She met his gaze, knew what he was asking.

  `Yes. I don’t have to answer to anybody else.’

  He nodded, took a swig of beer before speaking again.

  `Why did you want to move in the first place?’

  She swallowed. `That’s a bit of a personal question.’

  He raised an eyebrow and she let her breath out sharply.

  `Sorry. Touchy subject.’

  He didn’t reply and she shifted uncomfortably. `I broke up with a boyfriend, okay?’

  He grinned. `No need to explain. I didn’t ask.’

  She glared at him.

  He finished chewing, obviously amused and she rolled her eyes, shoveled in a piece of chicken and stared out at the sea.

  `How are you liking it, then?’ he continued, not in the least ruffled.

  She sighed, looked back at him. `I was enjoying it until yesterday.’

  `Sorry to ruin the party.’

  `Dammit that’s not what I meant.’ She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, the agitation rushing through her. God, she was usually cool, calm, controlled. What had happened to her?

  He laughed, reached out and squeezed her hand before returning to his meal. `Relax will you? I’m just making conversation.’

  `I’m trying but you just … argh, I don’t know. You’re just annoying.’

  He laughed again. `Why thank you. And here I am trying to win you over with my wit and charm.’

  She couldn’t help a small grin. `Okay, maybe not that annoying.’

  He leaned back in the chair, laced his hands behind his head.

  `I could try telling you you’re beautiful and sexy and I haven’t been able to think of anything else since the moment I met you but somehow I don’t think that will go down very well.’

  She was in the process of taking a sip of wine and paused, startled at the blatant come on, met his gaze before swallowing.

  Dammit. Why couldn’t she think of a smart reply?

  `See? No response. How about I get back to annoying you and you can be comfortable again.’

  She glared at him. `Stop trying to chat me up.’

  `Why?’

  `Just because. It won’t work. I’m immune to your charm, much as that may be novel for you, it’s the way it is.’

  He laughed hard this time, leaned forward, and she felt him move a leg between hers under the table as he grabbed her hand, ran his fingers up the inside of her arm, his eyes locked on hers.

  `I don’t think so Jo. And you should know, for future reference, that saying something like that is nothing but a challenge to a man and is unlikely to get the response you were looking for.’

  He reached up and ran a hand down the side of her jaw as she sat, frozen. `Unless this was what you were after,’ he continued, his voice low.

  She felt her breathing grow unsteady and managed to drag her hand away, unnerved.

  `Stop it.’

  He sat back again, smiled and sipped at his beer while she stewed.

  Damn arrogant male. Why was she reacting like this? Why couldn’t she control herself? She never had this much problem brushing guys off. Okay, so she didn’t really want to give him the brush off but there was something dangerous about him, she could feel it. An undercurrent. And the effect he had on her just made it worse. She couldn’t escape.

  `Jo?’

  She looked up, shook her head when he squeezed her hand again.

  `How’s the meal?’ he asked, obviously trying to lighten the mood.

  `Great. Hayley’s an excellent cook.’

  `How do you know it wasn’t me?’

  She laughed at that, felt herself relaxing again. `I don’t know but it definitely wasn’t. You just don’t seem to belong in a kitchen.’

  He grinned. `Okay, you’ve got me. I merely filled Hayley in on the gossip while she did the cooking.’

  Jo nodded around another mouthful of salad. `I thought so,’ she said as she finished chewing.

  `Have dinner with me.’

  `I can’t. I need to get home, call Ian and let him know what’s happening. Figure out what I’m going to do for the next few weeks.’

  `How about tomorrow then?’

  Did he never give up?

  `Okay fine.’

  `Don’t sound so excited.’

  She felt her mouth twitch, amused despite herself.

  `Don’t push your luck.’

  He grinned, reached out and pulled on a curl at the side of her jaw.

  `Sorry, I’ve been wanting to do that all day. See if it would bounce.’

  She shook her head.

  `I refuse to let you get me riled up again.’

  He laughed. `Jo, remember what I said about challenges.’

  She sat back in her chair.

  `I do. Perfectly.’

  `Ah! Then let the games begin …’ he said softly, tracing a finger along her bottom lip. She took a deep breath and turned her head away, hoping to God she wasn’t playing with fire, knowing she was. But the temptation was simply too great to resist.

  CHAPTER 4

  `Damn.’

  Jo dropped the mascara wand at a sudden loud knocking from downstairs and stepped back into a puddle of water near the shower, grabbing at the door with her right hand to keep herself standing upright.

  She took a deep breath, told herself to calm down and ran a hand through her hair, tugging at the curls to try to straighten them by sheer force of will. Not achieving the intended effect, she stared into the mirror ruefully then gave up and
went downstairs, forcing herself to count to ten before opening the front door.

  `Hi.’

  God, he was even better looking than she remembered.

  `Um, hi, come inside,’ she said, stepping back to let him in, the butterflies in her stomach fluttering into a frenzy that left her feeling slightly nauseous. Or maybe that was the wine. She’d had a glass to calm her nerves. Or maybe it was two. She couldn’t remember.

  `Jo? You Okay?’

  `What?’ She looked up, saw him frowning at her in concern.

  `Oh, yes. I’m fine. Um, do you want to sit down? Have a drink?’

  `Sure. You have any beer?’

  She nodded, thankful that the long walk to the shops that afternoon had been worth the effort.

  She started towards the kitchen, paused, suddenly dizzy.

  `Jo are you sure you’re okay?’

  `Yes. Wine doesn’t mix very well with painkillers.’

  `Maybe you should sit down.’

  He grabbed her elbow, led her to the couch. She leaned her head back and after a moment, the dizziness passed.

  She sat up, opened her eyes to see him crouching in front of her, the faint glint in his gaze suggesting barely suppressed amusement.

  She frowned. `Oh blast it. I’m fine. Momentary lapse. I’ll go get that beer.’

  He stood up, pulled her to her feet and for a second she felt him along the length of her body. Groaning, she pulled away and walked to the kitchen, reached into the fridge and grabbed the beer.

  She stopped at the sink, closed her eyes again and tried to take a deep, calming breath. The calm disappeared when she turned to see him leaning against the door jamb, grinning.

  `You really are very entertaining Jo,’ he said.

  Not sure what to say she glared, thrust the beer at him and then stood still, unable to move as he was blocking the exit.

  `God, you’re infuriating,’ she muttered when he didn’t move.

  `Nice to see you again too.’

  `Look, let’s start again. Pretend this never happened.’

  He laughed, took a step towards her. And then another. She felt her back hit the kitchen bench and tensed as he reached out, put the beer on the counter and stepped closer. There was barely an inch between them now.