A Jersey Affair

by Georgina Troy

  ‘Only a man, she says to a mere mortal. How can the likes of me compete when someone like him is sauntering around the place?’

  ‘There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re completely different from each other, that’s all.’

  ‘That, my friend, is plainly obvious.’ He picked up a warm bread roll and tore off a chunk, coating it with Jersey butter before popping it into his mouth.

  ‘Stop moaning.’ She giggled unable to stay defensive for long. ‘You know you’re irresistible to most of the opposite sex.’ She was glad she had made the effort to come out for the evening. Olly always managed to cheer her up.

  He sighed. ‘So you say, although unfortunately your sister seems particularly immune to my charms.’

  ‘She isn’t usually,’ Paige said. ‘I tried to call Clem before, but she wasn’t answering her phone to me either.’

  ‘She’s so perfect for me,’ he said, a forlorn expression on his face. ‘I can’t imagine not being with her.’

  Paige knew that if she didn’t want to spend the evening with a depressed man, she would have to change the subject, and quickly. ‘Will it help if I change the subject and tell you what I was discussing with Sebastian?’

  ‘Maybe,’ he said, a smile lighting up his face.

  ‘Fine, if it means you’ll stop you sitting here droning on about my sister, I’ll tell you.’

  Cheering up immediately, he listened avidly to every word she said.

  The following evening Paige kept her mind off Sebastian by going through ideas that Olly had put together to improve her Heaven in Heels website.

  ‘Right, look at what I’ve done so far.’ Olly nudged her and began moving the mouse across the screen on her laptop. It seemed to go from one page to the next, showing her links from the home page through photos of her designs.

  ‘Here you can have copies of your sketches. I thought you could add one a week as a teaser for the prospective buyers to look at. It’ll need to be updated regularly, and I thought you could send out a newsletter, or people could subscribe by email for any updates, say, one day sales, ten per cent gift vouchers, that sort of thing. Keep reminding clients you’re out there.’

  Paige nodded. ‘It looks amazing, Ol, thanks so much.’

  He pushed the mouse over towards her. ‘Have a go. You’ll need to check through the links and pages to find your way round. The more you use it, the more I’m hoping it’ll inspire you with ideas on ways to build the site with different options to gain the most sales.’

  Paige began clicking through the pages. ‘It’s brilliant.’

  ‘It’s not finished yet. Think of the better online stores you’ve used, and the aspects of those sites that you like best.’

  ‘I don’t really shop online that much.’ She laughed at his shocked expression. ‘I don’t have time to faff about on the internet, unlike you.’

  ‘Yes you do, you just choose to spend your time with your nose in sketch pads. Now you need to do a little research, you have to give me more input.’

  ‘I will,’ she said, fascinated to see her stock displayed so cleverly on her laptop.

  ‘You play with that, and I’ll have a look at my spag bol.’ Olly walked out to the kitchen. ‘Wine?’

  ‘Yes please,’ she shouted, clicking through several links to see one of her designs from the front, side, as well as the description of the materials described in one box and smaller tick boxes for the sizes and colours. ‘There should be some in the wine rack, I stocked up yesterday.’

  Olly returned with two glasses of Merlot. ‘Here,’ he handed one to her. ‘You’ll have to get used to uploading new designs when they arrive in the shop too. There’s no point promoting this new website, if you’re not going to keep the stock current.’

  She smiled at him. ‘You’re a star.’

  ‘That other one was so basic, I’m relieved hardly anyone ever found it.’ He shook his head. ‘Right, let’s stuff our faces.’

  Paige sat down at the small oak table and unfolded her napkin. ‘This looks delicious; I could never have rustled-up something so tasty in so little time.’

  ‘You couldn’t manage this if you had all the time in the world,’ he teased, stabbing a few spirals of fresh fusilli with a fork and holding it by her mouth. ‘Anyway, you’re getting too thin. I’ve suspected you’ve not been bothering with meals at night, and I know you don’t eat much during the day.’

  ‘It doesn’t seem much of a point, when you’re only cooking for one.’

  Olly shrugged. ‘I suppose so. Anyway, my ma feeds me every night and it’s satisfying to be allowed to take over someone’s kitchen once in a while.’

  ‘You can take over mine whenever you like, if this is what you concoct.’

  ‘I might take you up on that. Now, eat.’

  Paige took a mouthful. ‘Delicious. I owe you one.’

  He raised his eyebrows. ‘You owe me lots, but helping me get back with your sister will be all the payback I need.’

  Paige felt her mood dip. ‘You know I’d do anything to sort you two out, don’t you?’

  Olly smiled. ‘I know. But enough sympathy, or I’ll start feeling sorry for myself again. You know you’re going to have to deal with Mr Perfect. For some reason, he doesn’t seem to be the sort of bloke that takes rejection lying down.’ He winked at her. ‘I don’t think he’s going to back off as easily as you seem to think.’ He motioned towards the leftover spaghetti. ‘More?’

  Paige shook her head. ‘No thanks, this is perfect.’ She agreed with Olly. Sebastian hadn’t reached where he was in life by doing as he was told. However, she was still too annoyed to have to deal with him right now. She was going to keep him at arm’s length for the time being.

  Paige was wiping up the dishes, when Olly turned to her. ‘Who’s that?’

  ‘Sorry?’ She’d been miles away.

  ‘I heard a car, but it’s not one I recognize. Your father isn’t coming round tonight, is he?’

  Paige shook her head. ‘He never mentioned anything, but that doesn’t mean much. He’s always escaping here when Mum has a rant about something.’ She finished drying the plate and placed it in the overhead cupboard, then drying her hands walked to the front door. ‘Sebastian,’ she said, taken aback to discover him standing on her doorstep.

  ‘I was worried that my welcome might be less friendly.’

  She dropped the tea towel, irritated for being so clumsy. ‘What are you doing here?’

  He bent down to pick up the discarded material, and held it out for her. ‘We need to talk.’

  ‘I said I didn’t want to see you.’

  ‘You said you didn’t want to come to my house for a meal.’

  Paige folded her arms in front of her chest vaguely aware that she must be looking her very worst. ‘So, you thought you’d come here?’

  ‘Correct.’

  ‘You’re determined, aren’t you?’

  ‘I am.’

  ‘Paige, where have you put the…?’ Olly shouted, as he left the kitchen and stepped into the hallway. ‘Oh.’

  ‘I don’t think you two have met yet?’ Paige stepped back giving Sebastian an opportunity to walk into the cottage.

  He held out his hand towards Olly. ‘Sebastian Fielding. You must be the nosy neighbour?’

  Paige noticed the twinkle in his eye, and could have slapped him. Was he trying to be as infuriating as possible?

  ‘Thanks, Paige,’ Olly said, narrowing his eyes at her before shaking the proffered hand in front of him. ‘The name’s Olly, and I work in the IT department at De Greys.’

  ‘So I gather.’

  ‘I’ll leave you both to it,’ Olly said, moving round Sebastian. ‘Call me later, if you like,’ he whispered loudly.

  ‘Will do, and thanks again for dinner.’

  ‘No worries.’

  She watched Olly leave, ignoring the sly wink he gave her as he did so and closed the door behind him. She took a breath and turned to face Sebastian. The look on h
is tanned face made her stomach flip over treacherously.

  ‘Your hair suits you like that,’ he said. ‘I don’t think I’ve seen it up before.’

  Paige automatically reached up and touched the ponytail at the back of her head. She took the proffered bottle of Fleurie from his hand, flinching slightly as her fingers grazed his.

  She glanced into his eyes unable to miss the haunted look in them, before realising that he was saying something. ‘Sorry, I was miles away,’ she said, leading him through to the living room. ‘Take a seat.’ She was confident that even if she didn’t look well groomed her only reception room was at its best, the quivering flames of the cream cathedral candles illuminating the stone inglenook to perfection. She might not want to face him right now, but Sebastian intended speaking to her, and at least this was in the privacy of her own cottage.

  ‘You have an incredible home,’ Sebastian said, bending slightly to view the array of family photos in mismatched silver frames on Paige’s polished mahogany table. ‘It seems to have captured your essence somehow.’

  ‘I’m very happy here,’ she admitted.

  ‘I can understand why,’ he said, looking, Paige thought, as if he belonged there. The thought threw her a little, and saddened her.

  ‘Take a seat, I’ll open this. I have a feeling we’re going to need it.’

  Sebastian sat against the worn fabric of the sofa, one muscled arm draped casually across the back of it.

  She walked into the kitchen and grabbed the two wine glasses she’d only just finished drying. Then swallowed the lump forming in her throat at the thought of the lost future, she wouldn’t be able to enjoy with him. Returning to the living room she passed him a glass. She hesitated, unable to decide where to sit, as there wasn’t much choice. Her mind raced, she’d planned this moment many times over the last few days, but unable to remember what she had been going to say, she played for time by taking a long drink from her glass.

  He touched her arm gently. ‘I just want to clear the air and set matters straight between us. If we have to work closely with each other, I thought it best if we resolved any issues we may have now.’

  Paige nodded. She was relieved he’d been so direct, making it less awkward between them. ‘Easy to say,’ she refused to look at him. ‘You’re the one with the power to decide my future.’

  He shifted on the seat and turned towards her. ‘I wish I’d known who you were,’ he said. ‘I think it’s obvious that I’m fond of you, Paige. My time in Italy with you was magical and I’d hoped we could build on what we’d had there.’

  Paige chewed on her lower lip, hating the way everything had turned out, and knowing she felt the same way. ‘Yes, me too,’ she admitted miserably. ‘but that was before you lied to me.’

  ‘I didn’t lie.’

  ‘You withheld the truth.’ She could hear her voice quavering and took a calming breath. ‘In my book that’s just as bad.’

  ‘What would you rather I’d done? Tell you that morning in Sorrento and ruin the rest of our time together?’

  She stood up abruptly, spilling her wine over her sofa and cursing under her breath. ‘Yes.’

  Sebastian looked utterly miserable. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t now. I thought you were still too upset about your fiancé, and I didn’t want us to fall out unnecessarily.’

  ‘Well now we have.’ Paige put down her wine glass and glared at him. ‘Surely that should have been the time you explained exactly what was going to happen at De Greys.’

  ‘It was confidential. I couldn’t discuss the takeover with anyone.’

  ‘And you can now?’

  ‘I’m not,’ Sebastian stood up towering over her. ‘I haven’t told you any more than any of the other tenants will know.’

  ‘Oh.’ She wasn’t sure what to say to that admission, but before he could say anything further his mobile rang.

  He pulled his phone out of his pocket, and checked the screen, frowning. ‘I’m going to have to take this call. I won’t be a moment.’

  She watched him walk slowly out of the room, silently listening to whoever was talking to him. She didn’t know how, but she was desperate for him to find a way for them to get back to how they’d been in Italy. She missed his company, and knew it was only her pride that was holding her back from accepting his explanation. Pride and the determination not to allow another untrustworthy man free access to her heart.

  ‘Paige,’ Sebastian came back into the room, interrupting her thoughts. ‘I’m going to have to leave.’ He rubbed a hand over his chin.

  ‘Why? What’s happened?’

  ‘De Greys is on fire.’

  Chapter Ten

  ‘What did you say?’ Paige couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.

  ‘Apparently there was a suspected break-in earlier this evening. It sounds like they’ve caused a lot of damage,’ he said, the strain of the call showing across his face.

  ‘My shop?’ She barely managed to ask, but knew she had to find out.

  ‘Probably.’ He pushed his hand into his pocket and pulled out his car keys. ‘I’ll call you as soon as I know what’s going on.’

  ‘I’m coming with you,’ Paige said, hardly able to take in what was going on. How could her shop be on fire? ‘Is anyone hurt?’

  ‘They didn’t say. Why don’t you wait here? It’ll probably be chaotic at De Greys tonight and I don’t even know if they’ll let me go near the place.’

  ‘I’m not going to sit here not knowing what’s happening.’ She tried her hardest to sound calm.

  He touched her lightly on the arm. ‘I’d better go. I’ll call you as soon as I can.’ He hesitated before making for the door as if to say something else, but then left hurriedly.

  Not daring to drive after a few glasses of wine Paige was contemplating what to do next when the front door banged open against the hall wall.

  Olly charged in. ‘I saw him leave,’ he said, striding along the hallway towards the kitchen. ‘What happened?’ Paige opened her mouth to speak. ‘He looked furious when he raced out of here.’ She could hear Olly come into the living room. ‘There you are,’ he said. ‘Hey, are you crying? What happened?’ Olly pulled her into his arms. ‘Did that bastard do something to you?’

  ‘No, of course not,’ she said, gently pushing him away and explained about the fire. ‘I have to get to the shop,’ she said tearfully. ‘I need to check if my stock is OK.’

  ‘Fine, if you insist. But I’m driving; you’re in no fit state to.’ When she went to argue with him, he added. ‘I barely touched my drink. Come on, let’s go.’

  Paige wished he’d slow down. She might need to get to De Greys as soon as possible, but they’d have more chance of doing so if he drove a little slower.

  ‘Bloody hell,’ she breathed in disbelief as he stopped the car down the street from the shop entrance. ‘Look what they’ve done.’ Paige tripped out of the car, grabbing the door to stop her falling before pushing past the crowd of onlookers. Her route to the front door was stopped by a tape barrier pulled tightly across the front of the ornate building and looped between four lampposts.

  Paige looked up at a light wisp of smoke escaping through a panelled window. Three fire engines, their blue lights still flashing, were parked outside on the pedestrian paving. Firefighters strode purposefully into the building, their breathing apparatus strapped to their backs. More people assembled, craning their necks, and watching the scene unfolding. She could hear some exchanging theories about the damage inside, others speculating the cause. Paige couldn’t believe there were bystanders taking photos and filming with their mobiles.

  ‘Why are there so many people standing out here like ghouls?’ she shouted to Olly. ‘I don’t recognise any of them from the shop. Why are they here?’

  Olly stood protectively behind her, rubbing her arms. ‘People can’t help being fascinated by drama. It’s just news to them.’

  Paige pushed her way to the nearest policeman. ‘Excuse me, I have a sh
op in there and I need to get inside.’

  He shook his head and held up a hand to stop her moving any closer. ‘I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until we’re sure this structure is safe. I suggest you come back tomorrow, or contact whoever’s in charge of the premises. I very much doubt this place will be open for business for a while yet.’

  ‘You don’t understand,’ Paige argued. ‘I have to go …’

  ‘No. You don’t understand,’ he said, his pockmarked cheeks reddening. ‘No one is going in there until I get the nod that it’s in order for them to do so. Now, why don’t you do as I’ve already suggested and go home?’

  ‘Hang on a minute.’ She took a step closer to him, only for Olly to pull her backwards and away from the shop. ‘Olly, stop it!’ she shouted, trying unsuccessfully to shrug him off.

  ‘Paige, give up. There’s nothing you can do tonight.’ He held on to her ignoring her protests as he pulled her away. ‘You’re only upsetting yourself staying here. Come home, and calm down.’ Letting go of her, he hugged her tightly. ‘Take it easy,’ he said into her ear. ‘You’ve had a nasty shock and whether you like it or not, I’m taking you home.’

  As Paige opened her mouth to retaliate, she glimpsed Sebastian striding out of the front door, smudges of soot blackening his face beneath his yellow hard hat. He appeared to glance at her, as Olly stopped speaking and began leading her away.

  She would have liked to speak to Sebastian, but by the look on his face he was not in any mood for talking.

  Sebastian watched in silence as Olly led her away. Didn’t that guy ever leave her alone? He looked around to see if the store manager had arrived, then unable to spot him, went back inside. The fire was out and even he could tell there’d been no structural damage to the building. The small shops inside were another matter. He knew that Paige would want to know the state of her own space. He walked down through the arcade towards her doorway.

  He didn’t intend lying to her about the extent of the damage. From now on whatever her reaction would be Sebastian decided that the truth would always have to be his priority. Lies were just a way of putting off the inevitable truth, he reasoned striding past the blackened pillars towards her shop.