Ebb Tide

by Leah Murray

  Jo frowned. What was she doing? Why hadn’t she reported what had happened on the beach? She felt a sudden surge of rebellion and realized what it was. A need to prove to herself, to Jack, that he hadn’t won.

  ‘Jo?’

  She glanced up to find Will watching her with concern. ‘I’m okay. Lead the way,’ she said.

  Will nodded.

  ‘Why are we so far from Looe?’ she asked as she followed him past a row of cars and down a walkway.

  ‘It’s not that far. Only about twelve miles. My parents’ place is on the hill there,’ Will said, gesturing behind them.

  Jo turned and saw a large house on the opposite cliff. She wondered if Will meant that house in particular or simply the area but she didn’t ask.

  ‘We grew up here,’ Will said, turning to face her. ‘When I moved to Looe I didn’t see the point in moving the yacht. Now, here we are. What do you think?’

  Jo glanced behind him at a white and blue yacht named Escape.

  ‘How apt,’ she said drily.

  Will grinned and turned to her. ‘Come on then, she’s not going to hurt you,’ he said, grabbing hold of the rail with one hand and offering the other to Jo. She hesitated then grabbed his hand and clambered aboard the yacht.

  Will climbed on board after her and headed down into the small cabin. Jo followed him with some trepidation. She could already feel a slight rocking motion and as she stepped into the cabin she could see the horizon tilting slightly through the narrow windows that were set above the bunks on either side of the main walkway.

  Will busied himself with the marine radio while Jo glanced at the small kitchenette and the various navigational charts pasted along the walls.

  ‘I’m going to kill you for this Will. I swear it. When this is over I will pay you back,’ she said as he finished with the radio.

  Will laughed and handed her a bag. ‘Why don’t you unpack the snacks while I get us underway?’

  Jo nodded and set about unpacking the bag as Will headed back out on deck. Then she sat on a bunk and rubbed at a temple, trying to stop herself shaking with nerves. She could see Will’s surprise when he came back into the cabin.

  ‘You really are scared of this, aren’t you?’ he said. Jo could only nod. She could feel tears burning at the corner of her eyes and she desperately wanted to avoid embarrassing herself further.

  ‘Try trust me okay? I know what I’m doing. I would never put you in danger,’ Will said. ‘All we’ll do is go out on the harbor and I’ll stay close to the shore so we can head back if you are really having a bad time of it. Okay?’

  Jo nodded. ‘Okay. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. If I have a major panic attack it is on your head.’

  Will smiled. ‘I think I can handle it.’

  He motored out standing with his hand on the tiller while she sat beside him, hands clenched and avoiding looking down into the water. Will waved a greeting at a shout from one of the yachts moored a few yards away then turned to her. ‘Come over here,’ he said.

  Jo shook her head. ‘I’m not moving until this thing is standing still.’

  Will laughed. He checked his course then let go of the tiller for a second to reach over and grab her hand, pull her to her feet. He settled her down next to the tiller not particularly gently.

  ‘Have a go steering. It will take your mind off things,’ he said.

  ‘You are a bully Will,’ she muttered but he merely laughed and placed his hand over hers on the tiller. ‘Couple of pointers,’ he said, explaining the basics.

  ‘How the hell do I know if I’m heading into the wind?’ Jo muttered. She could feel the faint sheen of perspiration on her forehead and her palms were clammy.

  She did however manage to relax after a while and begin to look around. It was a beautiful part of the coast.

  ‘We’ll anchor soon,’ Will said. ‘Have some lunch and enjoy the sun. I’m quite impressed. I was expecting you to either be huddled in the corner crying or hurling over the side.’

  ‘I’m still petrified but it is peaceful too, I admit. If you can just forget about the fact that you can fall overboard and drown.’

  ‘So is it the boat or the water you are afraid of?’ Will asked.

  She glanced down at the dark water below and shivered. ‘The water I guess. Being this far out and falling in. I don’t like deep water and I never go further than my waist when I swim in the sea.’

  Will was silent for a moment but she was aware of his gaze on her as she studiously avoided his attention. Suddenly he stood. ‘Right, well we will anchor here,’ he said.

  She followed him down into the cabin and was instantly reminded of just how small the space around them was. She couldn’t help but be aware of him, of just how close he was, and he must have sensed her nerves for he smiled. She looked away and busied herself looking for a can of cola in the fridge. Will flopped down on a bunk and took a swig of beer. ‘Now this is what I call living,’ he said.

  ‘It’s not quite my idea of Heaven but it’s not bad I guess,’ she said, sitting down on the opposite bunk.

  ‘What is your idea of Heaven then?’ he asked.

  Jo took a sip of cola and thought about it. ‘It depends on my mood I guess. Rolling hills, a farmhouse, lots of animals.’

  Will smiled. He was silent for a moment and then he said, ‘you’ve just described my farm.’

  She caught the sense of melancholy in his voice and wondered what could have caused the sudden change in mood. He seemed to suddenly shake himself free of the despondence though for he smiled. ‘It probably isn’t quite what you described but it is a fairly accurate description of what it could be.’

  ‘What kind of farm?’ she asked.

  ‘Mostly potatoes, maize. Some dairy,’ Will said.

  ‘I grew up on a dairy farm,’ Jo said.

  ‘Really?’ Will looked surprised and a little wary. She wondered why.

  ‘To be honest I don’t know all that much about it. I bought the place for the solitude really. I have a manager who runs it all,’ he said after a pause.

  Jo nodded, suddenly very aware of the wealth it required to live the way he did. She wondered what his background was, but Will’s mood had clearly changed. It wasn’t long before they headed back to shore in silence.

  …

  He let himself into her house, wandered around opening drawers, reading through her papers, trying to find out what she’d been up to since he’d last seen her. She thought she’d escaped.

  But no, he’d tracked her down. Of course he had. How could she not have known that he would find her? Did she think a few months away from him would make him forget what she’d done? What she’d said to him?

  He found a photo of her with her parents and crumpled it up. Overcome with rage he grabbed the lighter in his pocket and set fire to it, laughing as he watched the flames racing towards her.

  CHAPTER 7

  ‘DO YOU WANT TO COME to my place for dinner?’ Will asked when they were back in the car, heading home. She was surprised at the invitation but agreed.

  ‘I would just like to change first,’ she said.

  Once home, she left Will sitting with Whiskers and went upstairs to shower and change. She frowned as she opened a drawer to take out a white blouse, certain she’d left it somewhere else but then shrugged, figured she’d been so panicked earlier she hadn’t realized what she was doing.

  Teaming it with a pair of black slacks, groaning at the fact that she still couldn’t wear a bra, she went back downstairs and opened the bin to throw away an empty tissue box.

  The contents of the bin were covered with black ashes.

  Certain she hadn’t burnt anything earlier, she frowned, felt her palms grow clammy again. What if someone had been in the house?

  Oh God, what if he had somehow managed to find her. Even all the way out here.

  No. That wasn’t possible. Only her parents had known where she was going. It must’ve been Gloria, the woman who came in to clean e
very week.

  She looked up, saw Will standing in the doorway and straightened, shook her head, determined not to lose her cool again.

  `Ready?’ he asked and she smiled, nodded, followed him out the door to the car, making a mental note to buy some new locks for the doors, just in case.

  She wasn’t sure what she had expected his house to look like but it wasn’t anything like the reality. As he’d mentioned, the farm was within walking distance of her place, a few blocks up the road.

  The house was a simple A-frame two-level cottage with white stucco walls, which contrasted with the wooden front door and the dark-grey slate of the veranda and roof.

  Black metal work surrounded the sills of all the windows and she presumed it could hold flower pots if the owner was so inclined. She didn’t miss the lack of said flowers, thought it spoke volumes.

  Will opened his door and climbed out the car. There was a sudden burst of activity and noisy barking as two black collie dogs bounded around the corner of the house and started circling him.

  He laughed, leaning down to pat them.

  `Say hello to Jess and Nemo,’ he said, coming round to open the door for Jo and help her out the car.

  She held out her hand for them to sniff, then knelt down, patted each one, had to stand up quickly to avoid being knocked over.

  `You named your dog after a fish?’ she asked, laughing.

  He shrugged and grinned. `He has this funny habit of opening and closing his mouth, just like a goldfish. If you watch him long enough you’ll see what I mean.’

  She laughed again, wiping her face with her sleeve as Nemo decided to jump up and treat her to a slobbery kiss.

  `Hey, down,’ Will said, pointing away from the car.

  Both dogs sat still next to him, their tongues lolling out, their tails whipping up the dust as they wagged from side to side.

  Then Jess gave a bark and started chasing Nemo around the lawn, circling an old tree that stood at the bottom of the garden in front of a field of maize.

  `Sorry about that. He gets a bit out of hand sometimes.’

  `Hmmm. Just like his owner,’ she replied, grinning as he reached out and grabbed her.

  He stepped closer and she stopped laughing as she saw the sudden heat in his gaze.

  `Will …’

  He shook his head and she felt the cold metal of the car against her back as he leaned into her, his kiss hot and demanding.

  Overwhelmed by sensation, shocked at the sudden passion, she could barely keep herself upright, her breath coming in sharp gasps that matched the rapid pounding of her heart as he moved his mouth down her jaw and into the nape of her neck.

  She felt him lift her, wrapped her legs around his waist for balance as he leaned her against the car. Oblivious to anything other than the hard, hungry heat of him, she jumped sharply at a sudden bark from beside them.

  `Sweet Jesus,’ he muttered, almost dropping her as Nemo hurled himself against the car, his claws scraping at the metal.

  His breathing uneven, Will turned, holding onto her with one hand while she slid back down to her feet and pointing away from the car with the other, telling Nemo to sit.

  He turned back to face her, his eyes a dark, intense blue.

  `Sorry. I can’t seem to stop doing that.’

  Jo took a deep breath, stepped away carefully, still not quite stable on her feet.

  `As I was saying …’ she began and he laughed, grabbed her hand, his eyes still burning into hers.

  `Come, I’ll show you around,’ he said, finally looking away.

  She followed him into the house, trying to ignore the way her body was so aware of his, resist the temptation to reach out and pull him towards her so he could finish what he’d started.

  Damn. Where the hell had that come from? The danger she’d sensed boiling underneath the easy façade had raised its head then and she wasn’t sure if she could handle it. Taking another deep breath and telling herself to take it easy she looked around, tried to find something other than him to focus on.

  Inside, the house was large and spacious. It was sparsely furnished and one of the front rooms even stood empty. However, she didn’t have much chance to look more closely at anything as he pulled her through the kitchen to the backyard. She smiled as she stepped out the door.

  The vista spread out before her was framed by green hills. A herd of cows grazed in a paddock to the right and a ribbon of blue water glinted to the left. Looking around, she could see a simple tin shed, a hose, two kennels and several well-chewed bones and balls she assumed belonged to the dogs.

  `Now, where was I?’ he murmured, turning her towards him and leaning down to kiss her neck.

  She shivered at the touch but put a hand on his chest, forced herself to think clearly.

  `Will ...’ she began, standing dead still, trying to ignore the searing heat she felt radiating from his body into hers.

  `Hmmm?’ he murmured, busy tracing her collarbone with his lips, stirring up a current of desire that pulsed its way around her body from somewhere deep within her.

  `Will, wait!’ she said more sharply, agitated at the strength of the emotions rushing through her.

  He paused, took a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh.

  `Okay.’

  She could feel the pounding of his heart against hers, the warmth of him along every inch of her body and it took every ounce of self control not to reach out and pull him towards her.

  But she couldn’t. Not yet. She wasn’t going to rush into something like this again, not after what had happened with Jack.

  She felt a cold chill run down her spine and he must have sensed it as he stepped back, looked down at her with a slight frown, but he didn’t comment on it.

  `I think you should wait in the lounge while I get dinner started,’ he said and she nodded.

  `Probably a good idea.’

  She took a step toward the house, stopped at his hand on her elbow.

  `Jo?’

  She turned to face him again, surprised at his serious expression.

  `Yes?’

  He started to say something then shook his head.

  `Nothing. It’s pasta for dinner. All I can manage without Julia’s help I’m afraid,’ he said, striding past her into the kitchen.

  She frowned, followed him in, wondering what he’d been about to say. `Are you sure you don’t want me to help with anything?’ she asked

  He grinned. `Trust me, it’s better you wait in the lounge for a bit.’

  She met his gaze, smiled, then went back into the passage and into the lounge, took the opportunity to have a look around. But there wasn’t much to see, only a couch, a table and some chairs, a faded rug by the fireplace and two baskets for the dogs. She was surprised. Obviously he was wealthy, why did he live so simply?

  She sat down on the couch and stared out the window, pondering the events of the past few days. He came in a few minutes later carrying two bowls of pasta, which he placed on the table.

  `No TV? I’m surprised,’ she said, smiling as he turned to face her.

  He grinned. `Not quite. There’s one in the bedroom, I just couldn’t be bothered getting another one for down here. Usually it’s just me and the dogs and down here is sort of more for chilling out, you know. It’s great in winter, with the fire going. Plus you get a bit sick of noise and chatter when you’re surrounded by it all day. Anyway, take a seat while I go get the drinks.’

  She nodded, went over to the table and pulled out a chair.

  He paused at the door. `Are you sure you’re fine to have wine?’

  She laughed. `I think it’ll be okay so long as I only have one glass.’

  He grinned and left the room, returning a moment later with two glasses.

  `Right. Food.’ he said, sitting down with obvious relish.

  `You must be starving,’ she said, laughing.

  `I am. Been a busy day,’ he said around a mouthful of pasta.

  `Don’t talk with yo
ur mouth full.’

  His eyes danced with laughter as he finished chewing, swallowed deliberately.

  `Yes mother.’

  She narrowed her eyes at him, turned her attention to her food, was amazed by the delicious flavor of the mushroom sauce.

  `You can’t have made this,’ she said and he groaned.

  `I’ll be surprised if I have any ego left at all by the time you’re finished with me,’ he said drily.

  She pursed her lips at him, sighed, but didn’t reply and he grinned.

  `Okay, caught. The sauce was left over from the dinner Julia gave me last night.’

  She smiled. `I can’t believe you have your sister cooking for you. At your age. It’s so sad.’

  `I call it convenient,’ he replied, not in the least phased by her comment.

  She shook her head, chewed on a forkful of pasta and studied him thoughtfully.

  `How’d you get the scar?’ she asked after a moment.

  He hesitated, took a sip of wine before replying, not meeting her gaze.

  `I had an accident.’

  `What kind of accident? Car crash?’

  He looked up at her suddenly and she was surprised by the intensity of his gaze.

  `No, helicopter. Anyway, I don’t want to talk about it. How’s your shoulder?’

  Burning with curiosity but realizing he wasn’t going to tell her anymore, she let the subject drop. `Better, thanks. I’ll probably be out of the sling by the end of the week.’

  `That’s good news.’

  `Tell me about it. I called Ian to let him know and I’ll be going into the clinic again from tomorrow.’

  `Great.’

  He smiled, met her gaze and didn’t look away.

  She shifted uncomfortably.

  `Will, you have a bad habit of just staring at people. It’s really disconcerting.’

  His smile widened. `You’re the only one who seems to have a problem with it. Got something to hide?’

  She knew he was joking but she couldn’t quite bring herself to smile. Seeing him frown, she decided to change the subject. `How long have you had the pub?’

  He looked thoughtful but answered her question easily enough. `Going on three years.’