by Leah Murray
He nodded, watched her leave the room and heard her shut the door to the bedroom.
He sighed, leaned his hands on the kitchen bench and cursed himself for being a first class idiot. It had just been such a shock to see her sitting there, huddled in the corner. He hadn’t known what to do. It was different from the time on the yacht. That had been fear. The expression on her face this time had been much, much worse.
Pure terror.
And then when she had said that someone had been there he’d felt a sudden rush of anger, had turned it on her. It was a damn rotten thing to do.
That bastard had been here. He must’ve been. Who else would Jess and Nemo bark at? He never invited people back here, only friends and family and the dogs knew them well.
God, he’d left her alone. Put her in danger then taken his anger at himself out on her.
There was no excuse.
He sighed, pushed himself up and went outside, stood looking out at the farm. All was quiet now, peaceful. The dogs were curled up in their kennels, the moon was full and glinted off the sea in ribbons of grey light.
He looked up at the stars, tried to draw some comfort from their presence but only ended up feeling insignificant.
He of all people knew what it was like to suffer; he understood the pure grief he’d seen in her, the anger, the torment, the anguish. And what did he do?
Cursing, he headed back inside, whistling for the dogs. He settled them down for the night then went to bed. It was a long time before he finally slept.
CHAPTER 12
JO WAS LYING IN BED, staring up at the wooden beams of the ceiling and wondering how she was going to face him after all the things she’d told him the night before, when she heard the knock on her door.
Briefly, she considered pretending to still be asleep. But that would only postpone the inevitable. So she sat up, pulled her knees to her chest in a sort of barrier and tucked her hair behind her ears, looked over at the door.
`Come in.’
He stood in the doorway with two cups of coffee, looking slightly nervous and she smiled faintly.
`Hi,’ she said.
`Hi. Thought you’d like some coffee.’
He sat on the side of the bed, handed her the mug.
`Thanks,’ she said, taking a sip and balancing the cup on her knees.
He looked away, stared out the window for a moment, sipping at his coffee and she studied his profile.
He looked tired, as if he hadn’t slept much.
`About last night …’ he began but she shook her head, looked down at her knees.
`Forget it.’
`I’m really sorry Jo.’
`Don’t worry about it.’
She felt him watching her and finally looked up, met his gaze.
They stared at each other for what seemed like forever.
Then he nodded.
`Okay. Next question. What do you want to do today? I’ll take you down to meet Grant and Shelley this morning but I’ve got the day off so we may as well go somewhere.’
He hesitated. `Unless you want to be alone, that is.’
She took another sip of coffee, tried to decide what she wanted to do.
She was still angry at him, a bit wary, but she knew his apology was genuine and she didn’t see the point in dragging things out any longer. Plus she refused to let thoughts of Jack turn her into a paranoid basket case.
`How about going to the beach?’
She could see the tension leave him and was surprised, hadn’t thought he’d cared that much about whether she’d spend the day with him or not.
`Okay. Have you been out to the island yet?’
She rolled her eyes. `No. I don’t like boats remember.’
He frowned, then shrugged. `Oh yeah. Well beach is fine then. We can take some leftovers and pick up drinks, rolls and that sort of thing on the way.’
`Okay,’ she smiled, hugged her knees, suddenly feeling brighter again. `I’d like to try call my parents before we go if that’s okay with you.’
He nodded. `Sure. Whenever you’re ready’
She tried calling before her shower but nobody answered.
There was still no reply when she called again, just before they were about to leave.
`No luck?’ Will asked from the doorway and she looked up, shook her head, frowning.
`No. It’s odd. They should be home now.’
`Maybe they went out.’
`Hmmm. Maybe. Anyway, I’ll try again later.’
`Alright. You ready? We’ll stop off at the cottage and I’ll introduce you to Grant and Shelley, then we can go.’
`Okay.’
She followed him out the house and climbed into the car. It was a relief not to have to bother with the sling. She had recovered most of the range of motion in her arm and determined that the damage couldn’t have been that severe to begin with, which was a relief since she’d been incredibly frustrated by having to do everything with one hand or else rely on somebody else, namely Will, for help.
He stopped outside a small single-level grey stone cottage with a thatched roof. It stood a few hundred yards from his, just before the driveway curved to the right. In contrast to the starkness of his house, the cottage was surrounded by a mass of colorful flowers. There was even a vegetable garden outside the kitchen window.
At the sound of the car, a middle-aged man appeared at the door, his face breaking into a broad grin as he saw Will.
`Hi there,’ he called out, coming over to the car as they climbed out.
`Hi Grant. I just brought Jo round to say hello.’
Grant turned to face her, his brown eyes warm with welcome. He had a day or two’s growth of stubble on his chin and warm chestnut brown hair.
`Hello Jo. Pleased to meet you.’
`Hi. Likewise.’
She shook his hand, turned to see a heavily pregnant woman walking down the path towards them. Her hair was long and blonde, her eyes smiling and blue. She looked to be in her late thirties, a good few years younger than Grant.
Will introduced her as Shelley then turned to Grant.
`I’d like you to keep an eye out for me if you don’t mind,’ he said and Grant frowned.
`What do you mean?’
Will glanced across at Jo. `The dogs were growling last night. I think there may have been someone prowling around. You mind keeping an eye on the place while we’re out?’
Grant nodded, his frown deepening.
`Odd, we should’ve seen anybody if they came down the road. Maybe they came through the fields.’
Will shrugged, smiled at Shelley as a worried look crossed her face.
`I’m sure it was nothing. Probably just a fox but I’d like to know if you see or hear anything unusual, just in case.’
She relaxed slightly, nodded.
`Okay. Why don’t you guys come to dinner tomorrow?’ she asked, smiling across at Jo.
`Sure. Thanks for the invite. What time? I’ll be finished at the pub by around seven,’ Will replied.
`That’ll do.’
`Great.’
Once back in the car and heading toward the beach, Jo turned to him.
`No wonder you never cook for yourself. If it’s not your sister, you have Shelley inviting you to dinner or …’
She broke off. Or he could be out with other women.
She tried to ignore the jealousy uncoiling in her stomach and hastily changed the subject. `Which beach should we go to?’
He turned to look at her, grinned at the abrupt change of subject.
`We may as well go down to Looe. I guess we could’ve walked but it doesn’t matter. I’ll park outside the pub.’
They settled at the corner of the beach closest to the cliff and the pub, far away from the banjo pier where the man had approached her the week before. Jo spread her towel out next to Will’s, felt rather self-conscious as she stripped down to the navy bikini. It didn’t really matter that he’d seen her in it before, somehow this was diffe
rent.
But she forgot about that when he took his shirt off, his back to her, and she noticed the tattoo at the base of his left shoulder - an eagle with its wings spread in flight.
`I didn’t know you had any tattoos.’
He turned, twisted slightly to look at his shoulder and smiled.
`Just the one.’
`Where’s it from?’
`I got it when I was stationed in the Balkans.’
`Sorry? Stationed?’
He’d been digging in his bag for suntan lotion but now she saw his back stiffen as he paused.
`Oh. Yeah. Um, I was in the Navy.’
His tone was nonchalant and he carried on fiddling in the bag but she hadn’t missed the slight hesitation.
`I don’t understand. I thought you flew helicopters?’
He turned to her, suntan lotion in one hand. `Yes. For the Navy. Who told you that?’
She flushed. `You did. Sort of.’
He frowned. `Did I?’
Then he shrugged and she knew the conversation was closed.
`Anyway, turn around and I’ll do your back.’
She turned her back to him, bent her neck and held her hair up while he smoothed the cream on her back, tried not to notice the tightening in her stomach that resulted from his touch while she mulled over what he’d just told her.
Once he’d finished, she turned and held out her hand for the bottle. He gave it to her and sat down on the towel. She knelt behind him and started smoothing the lotion over his neck and shoulders, peering at the tattoo and enjoying the feeling of toned muscle beneath her fingers, the sensation wiping all other thoughts from her mind. Giving in to temptation, she prolonged the activity by ensuring that every inch of his back was covered in lotion.
After a few moments, he lifted his sunglasses onto the top of his head and turned to peer at her over his shoulder.
`Done yet?’ he asked, his mouth twitching at the corner and she flushed, sat back on her heels.
`Yes.’
`Thanks.’
He reached for the bottle, shifted back to his towel and started rubbing the cream onto his chest.
She couldn’t help but watch, fascinated by the movement of his muscles, the sudden tightening of a bicep as he squeezed out the cream, the movement of his hand as he rubbed it over his chest, under the thin strap of black leather he wore around his neck, over the strong sinewy forearm, down the toned abdomen, only stopping at the top of the black surf shorts.
Oh God, what was she thinking?
Shaking her head, she reached for the bottle and smoothed the cream over the rest of her body before lying on her back on her towel, resting on her elbows and forcing herself to concentrate on the shoreline.
He bent to replace the lotion in the bag then lay on his side, next to her, propped on one elbow.
Looking across at her, he reached out and gently traced a line across her stomach with his thumb.
She felt herself tense at his touch but didn’t pull away.
Not saying anything, she simply turned her head to stare at him, meeting his gaze as he continued to play havoc with her nerves, running his hand over the flat of her stomach and up to just under the curve of her breasts.
Her heart started pounding then and he smiled, still staring at her.
She realized he could probably feel the rapid beat beneath his palm as he ran the hand up over her breast.
Still, she simply couldn’t move away.
Until she remembered where she was.
Then she sat up, pushed his hand away.
`Will. We’re on the beach.’
He grinned wickedly. `I know. Don’t worry, nobody’s watching.’
She sighed, pointed a finger at him in warning then sat back down.
He laughed, pulled his sunglasses back down over his eyes and sat up, resting his elbows on his knees and looking at the sea.
`Good day for sailing again. Pity you have an issue with it,’ he said after a moment.
`Hmmm.’
He turned to look at her over his shoulder and, even though she couldn’t see his eyes through the dark of his sunglasses, she knew he was giving her the once-over.
`Stop it.’
He grinned, shifted to face her.
`You do look good in that bikini, Jo.’
`Thanks.’
`Almost too good. In fact, a lot too good.’
He stood up, stretched, stepped closer.
`Will … what are you doing?’
`Nothing.’
She cried out in surprise when he reached down, picked her up.
She had to throw her arms around his neck to stop herself falling and tried not to laugh.
`Will put me down!’
`Nope. I think you’re looking a little too hot. You need to cool down a bit.’
`Will! I think you’re the one who needs to cool off a bit.’
He grinned.
`You could be right there,’ he said, carrying her down to the water.
`Don’t you dare. Will I swear …’ she broke off as he waded into the surf, set her on her feet. She gasped at the chill, suddenly up to her waist in cold water.
`I can’t believe you did that,’ she said.
He grinned, circling her with his arms as he looked down at her, his eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and pure desire. She forgot all about being waist-deep in water when he leaned down to kiss her, running his hands down her back, pulling her closer to him, so that she could feel the hardness of him pressing against her, his chest close against her breasts. She had to hold tightly to his shoulders to stop herself falling as he deepened the kiss, arching her backwards as his hands slid over her body, sending ripples of pure need rushing through her, battering her senses. It was several moments before he pulled away.
She opened her eyes, tried not to notice the grins from a group of teenage boys floating nearby on boogey-boards.
`Oh God, they’re staring,’ she said, leaning into his chest and he turned to look, laughed.
`They’re jealous,’ he murmured against her hair and she shook her head, looked up at him.
`You really have to stop doing that.’
`Oh yes? And why is that?’
`Because … I mean, well …. we’re on the beach.’
His grin widened. `So if we weren’t on the beach, maybe, say, at my place, then it would be okay, would it?’
She felt the heat in her cheeks and tried to pretend she didn’t.
`That’s not what I’m saying.’
`Are you sure Jo?’ he teased.
`Yes.’
His eyes glinted with a sudden intensity as he lifted a finger, traced it down her jaw, shaking his head. `You really do miss out on all the best things in life. It makes me wonder. Why do you keep yourself locked up like that?’
She frowned. `I’m not locked up anywhere. What are you on about now?’
He smiled again, squeezed the top of her arm. `Nothing. I’m going for a swim. See you back on the beach,’ he said, diving under the water.
She saw him surface a few yards away and start swimming with swift, strong strokes out to sea. Shaking her head, she glared at the group of teenagers and made her way back up to the towel, drying herself off and plopping back down, shivering slightly as cold water dripped from her hair down onto her back.
CHAPTER 13
WILL DROPPED HER OFF AT work the next morning despite her protesting that she was perfectly capable of driving herself if he’d only take her to get her car. He refused point blank.
`I’m not letting you go anywhere alone. It’s for your own good. Now, what time do you finish?’
She clenched her jaw, sat in the car outside the clinic and counted to ten.
`Four. But you have to work. Why can’t I simply get my car? I can walk down to the pub and meet you there or something. You can’t keep carting me around like I’m a five-year- old. And he’s not going to do anything to me in broad daylight.’
`I’ll be here at
four. See you then.’
He leaned over, kissed her cheek and she glared at him, climbed out the car and slammed the door closed on his laughter, storming into the clinic.
`Trouble in paradise?’ Laura asked with a smirk.
`Shut up.’
She went into her office, kicked the door closed and leaned against it, taking several deep breaths. It was an overreaction, she knew it was. But really, she was caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place.
Jack. It all came back to him.
She walked over to the window, looked out at the wood-clad hill. Where was he now? Was he watching her? Following her?
Sighing, she went over to the desk, tried to call her parents but again there was no answer. She was starting to become seriously worried.
She hesitated, then picked up the phone and called her aunt. Hilda was surprised to hear from her but said she’d been having the same problem; she’d tried to get hold of Lucy last night but hadn’t had any luck.
`I tell you what, I’ll pop round there on my way back from work and see what’s up. You got a number I can ring you on?’
Jo thanked her profusely, gave her the number then hung up, leaned back against the chair.
The door opened and Laura sauntered in.
`Have you ever heard of knocking?’ Jo snapped.
Laura smiled sweetly, hooked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear and perched herself on the edge of the desk.
`I did knock Jo. Obviously you didn’t hear me.’
`Obviously,’ Jo said drily.
Laura sighed, feigned a hurt expression.
`Look Jo. I think maybe we got off on the wrong foot or something. I know it must be hard for you being here all alone.’
She walked over to the window while Jo sat seething in her chair, willing herself to stay quiet.
`Of course, that’s not so much an issue anymore, is it?’ Laura continued, turning to look at her, smirking.
`It’s none of your damn business. What do you want?’
`Come on Jo. You can talk to me. Obviously you’re angry about something. What has that boy gone and done now?’
Jo closed her eyes, tried to block out the sickly sweet voice, prayed to God for patience. Then she turned to face Laura again. When she spoke, her voice was icy.