Without hesitation Alexander stretched out his hand, kept his face devoid of emotion. Wanted Sophie to see he was serious. That he genuinely wanted to help. ‘Deal.’ Her palm met his as they shook hands in agreement.
Sophie’s eyes widened, as if she’d been zapped by an electric fence. Her hand jerked out of his. She took a step back. Another. A flush of pink bloomed on her cheeks.
Alexander swallowed hard as he tried to figure out what had just happened, what he’d just done. He’d just agreed to do something magnificently stupid. It went against everything he’d had drilled into him by his father. Yet, he didn’t say no to Sophie’s conditions. Couldn’t have. He shoved his hands into his trouser pockets, the warmth of Sophie’s hand still making its presence known.
He couldn’t have said no because it was the right thing to do. And good could come of it. What kind of good he didn’t entirely know.
But for the first time in a long time, he couldn’t wait to find out.
CHAPTER FIVE
Sophie massaged her temples in an attempt to fight off the nagging headache that had pulsed, low and painful, since she’d woken that morning. The cause of said headache wasn’t hard to pinpoint.
It fell squarely at the feet of a man who wore a suit far too well, whose smile came too readily, and whose offer to help her rebuild her shop couldn’t be trusted.
Yet she’d agreed to let him help. Fool that she was.
A good-looking face and a bit of encouragement from Ginny and she’d been thrust into a déjà vu spiral. She’d made the mistake of trusting a handsome face before and look how that had turned out. Her heart well and truly dented, and her business in danger of being taken from her.
At least this time she wasn’t going to be fooled by a pretty face and charming ways. She was simply going to let him do the work, then send him on his way. No chit-chat. No case of the friendlies. No letting her guard down.
‘Morning. Alexander Fletcher, reporting for work.’
Sophie dragged her gaze up to see Alexander saluting her, a wide grin on his face, emphasising the twinkle in his eyes and the straight, white perfection of his teeth.
Fooled by his pretty face she would not be, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t appreciate it. Herring Cove wasn’t exactly teeming with men you’d call a good catch. Not that she wanted to catch a man. Her hook was firmly reeled in. There was no law against looking though.
Alexander released his salute. ‘So, what have you got for me to do?’
Sophie dragged her hand across her eyes and stifled a yawn. ‘Are you always so perky at this time of day?’ She pushed the home button on her phone. ‘It’s only just after nine.’
‘I wake at five sharp. Go for a run. Check emails. Deal with whatever needs dealing with.’
‘Like destroying people’s lifestyles.’ Sophie mentally zipped her lips. Alexander had offered to help for free. It wasn’t right to be rude to him. And she couldn’t afford to look this gift horse in the mouth. ‘Sorry, Alexander. I know you think you’re doing something good here by building the resort, and even though I’m vehemently against it, I shouldn’t be rude, not when I’m taking blatant advantage of your kind but misguided offer.’
Alexander shrugged. ‘At least we know where we stand with each other.’ He rubbed his hands together. ‘So, where are the materials? I’m ready to go.’
Sophie waved her hand towards the storeroom, which led to the storage area behind the shops. ‘Follow me.’
‘I’m glad you liked my library idea. It’s pretty cool, if I do say so myself. And I really like your idea of writer talks, and setting up a website. E-commerce is a must in this day and age.’
The thrumming in Sophie’s temples intensified. ‘How about you just start with the shelving and we’ll see how that goes, shall we?’ She unlocked the door and pushed it open. ‘Here we go.’ She swept her arm over the ‘materials’ he had to work with.
‘Pallets. That’s what you’ve got for me?’ Alexander knelt down and ran his hand over the pale gold, streaked with colours of honey timber. ‘Because a hammer and some nails would be good. Maybe a bit of sandpaper so I can smooth off the edges?’
‘Not enough nails in your wallet?’ She waited for him to rise to the bait.
‘Nope. Just keep the one in there. It’s kind of like a good-luck charm.’
Okay, so he wasn’t catching. She bit the soft inner flesh of her cheek, torn between wanting him to give up and go and knowing she needed the help.
‘Sophie? Are you alright? You’re looking a bit dazed.’ Alexander stood and before she could say no, he’d placed his hand on her forehead. ‘Are you coming down with something?’
Sophie swiped the hand away, his kindness adding to the squirming in her stomach. ‘I’m fine. Just got a headache. The hammer and nails are by the door there. I’ll get you some sandpaper. I’m sure Ginny’s husband, Mike, will have some we can use.’
‘Great, thanks.’ Alexander bent over and scooped them up. His hand confidently grasped the hammer like it was second nature to him.
Which made no sense. What kind of businessman was as at home in a suit as he was with handling a tool?
‘Right, I’ll get started then.’ Without another word, he turned his back on her and began pulling out nails from the pallets using the claw-end of the hammer.
He made it look so easy. Like pulling a thorn from your skin.
If only she could remove the financial problems of the bookshop as easily, in a way that didn’t mean selling up.
‘If there’s enough wood left over I’ll make some new display cases.’ Alexander didn’t look up from his work. Didn’t look for confirmation.
Sophie backed towards the door. ‘Okay. Thank you.’
What else could she say? ‘No’ would be churlish, and questioning why he was helping her out was a waste of words since he’d made his position and reasoning clear.
She shut the door behind her and pressed her forehead to the door. The pressure of the hard, cool wood against her forehead eased her headache a little, but not enough to erase the pain altogether. For that she needed all her problems solved, and the only person she could trust and rely on to do that was herself.
***
‘Here.’ A plain, white mug was thrust before Alexander. ‘I thought you might like a cup of tea since you’ve been out here for hours. And I made you a sandwich too.’
Alexander’s stomach rumbled as loud as the thunder that had grumbled off-shore for the past hour as he took in the glistening slabs of bright red tomato, crisp green lettuce and generous slices of cheese and ham, held together by two hunks of crusty brown bread. A summer storm was brewing and he was trying not to see it as an omen.
Loyalty to his family warred with loyalty to his self-respect and his ethics, and no matter how hard he tried to find a common ground between the two, he always came to the same conclusion. He’d either end up disappointing his family or losing himself. Neither option was appetising.
Another rumble bounced around the sky, followed by a smaller version coming from inside him.
‘Sounds like I should’ve brought you this earlier. Sorry.’
Alexander set his hammer aside, wiped his forearm across his sweaty brow and forced himself not to look surprised. Sophie sounded sorry. And the way she was gnawing on her lower lip indicated she felt sorry too.
‘It’s okay, I was so busy being head down bum up working on this shelving that I didn’t notice how hungry I was until I saw that beast of a sandwich.’ He took the plate from her with a nod of thanks. ‘The bread looks amazing. Is there a secret local bakery that makes it?’ He took a bite and closed his eyes as the sweet acidity of the tomato mixed with the freshness of the lettuce and the richness of the ham and cheese. ‘Tastes amazing too.’
The sandwich couldn’t hide the grin that came out of nowhere. His father and mother would both be having hernias if they could see their son right now. His business suit cast aside for a simple T-shirt and shorts. Dir
t had made its way under his fingernails. And the fact that he’d just spoken while his mouth was full? A Fletcher family no-no. All manners all the time.
‘Why are you smiling like that? You look like you’re up to something.’ Sophie sank down onto the paving stones beside him. Her look of suspicion was back, but it was nowhere near full strength. Instead it was mixed with curiosity.
Alexander swallowed his mouthful and ran his thumb over his lips, removing any traces of crumbs. ‘Not up to anything. I’m just really enjoying this…’ This everything. ‘This sandwich. It’s honestly one of the best I’ve ever had.’
Sophie’s cheeks bloomed a pretty pink. ‘I make the bread myself. It’s my mother’s recipe. And the lettuce and tomatoes come from the farmer next door. He has a small roadside stall, and his produce is always picked-that-day fresh.’
Guilt threatened to steal the joy that came from enjoying a simple sandwich and an honest day’s work. He knew the exact roadside stall Sophie was speaking of. A handcrafted rectangular box, painted red with blue trim, its shelves filled with fruit and veg. A charming addition to the countryside, and one that would soon be taken away and replaced by a stone wall running the length of the land designed to keep non-paying guests out.
‘Though I guess since you’ve bought the farm, we won’t be enjoying produce from there for much longer.’ Sophie picked up the pile of bent, rusty nails that he’d pulled from the pallets and jiggled them in her hand.
‘No, I suppose not.’ Where the vegetable plots currently sat were earmarked for part of the golf course.
Sophie humphed her disapproval, then crossed her legs and wiggled back and forth, getting comfortable, like she was settling in for a serious chat.
‘So, I saw how much you offered Natalie next door. It’s a lot of money for a building that run down.’
Alexander nearly spat out his mouthful. The agreements between the Fletcher Group and their vendors were meant to be confidential. Monetary arrangements were not to be disclosed.
Sophie pointed a finger in his direction and waggled it back and forth. ‘And before you get all grumpy that Nat told me, we’re like sisters. We tell each other everything.’
Alexander thought back to Natalie’s website and the surprise on Sophie and Ginny’s face. Not everything, apparently, but he wasn’t going to bring that up and risk shaking the barely even ground he and Sophie were currently on.
‘Well, it’s what the land is worth. And I’m not here to play games.’
‘Yet you’re here, building me shelves, talking about building a new sign, painting walls. It feels a lot to me like some kind of game is being played.’ The edge was back in Sophie’s tone.
Of course it was. All the shelving in the world wasn’t going to give her reason to trust him. And he had the distinct feeling that it would take a lot more than just words and promises to allow Sophie to trust him. Only time and consistency could do that.
The former he didn’t have a lot of. As for the latter, he’d said he was going to help her out, and he was a man of his word.
‘There’s no game-playing here, Sophie. You know our plans. We’re going to build a resort here. We believe more good will come from a Fletcher resort than from letting this village continue its descent into a ghost town.’ Alexander picked up the hammer and gripped it. Embraced its solidity, its ability to create, to help. ‘The thing is, I hate the idea of destroying someone’s livelihood in order for me to get what I want.’
Sophie turned to face him, her eyes steely. ‘Is that how you see it? You think stamping a fancy resort in the middle of a beautiful village is a good thing? A way to change people’s fortunes? Their lives?’ She dropped the nails on the ground and fisted her hands, her knuckles blooming white. ‘What that tells me is that you don’t really see this place at all. You see pound signs. You see your family name on another building. You see a chance to expand your fortunes, not ours. Not everyone in this village is motivated by money. Not even Nat. She has her reasons for selling that aren’t money-oriented at all. And if those reasons weren’t there, she’d have told you to bugger off, that I’m certain of.’
Sophie picked up the plate and pushed herself up. ‘The thing is, Alexander, you weren’t born here, you weren’t raised here, you can’t see how special this place is. You’ll do what you think needs doing to make your goals happen. You’ll take Herring Cove, our home with its beautiful heart, and rip the soul from it, then you’ll leave and never step foot in it again. Never look back.’
Alexander tried to formulate a comeback. Failed. Sophie was telling the truth. There was no argument. That was exactly how the Fletcher Group went about business. Find a viable spot. Follow the format with complete disregard to what made a place special, then move on.
He focused on the lengths of wood in front of him, unable to face Sophie’s antipathy for one second longer. Not because he couldn’t handle it from her but because it was a reflection of how – if he were honest – he felt about the family business. Its impact on communities. Its impact on the people who lived there.
It was a feeling he’d tried to suppress for years. One that was his secret shame. If he ever voiced his concerns out loud to either of his parents he’d be letting them down. Not living up to their expectations of who he was meant to be.
Yet he’d heard whispers of what happened to communities once Fletcher money transformed their quiet, peaceful villages. And they weren’t pretty.
Early issues were of infrastructure struggling to cope. Sewerage systems with burst pipes. Roading that crumbled under the increased volume of traffic. Road rage breaking out on bank holidays, putting pressure on the local police force.
He’d heard reports of increases in drunk and disorderly behaviour and petty theft. Not to mention the ‘us’ and ‘them’ mentality between those who were born and bred in the area and those who came to holiday in their flash cars, complete with sense of entitlement, rubbing up villagers in the wrong way, creating a friction that couldn’t easily be smoothed over.
‘The thing is, Alexander.’ Sophie’s voice cracked. She cleared her throat. ‘The thing is, you’re not the one who has to pick up the broken pieces. The broken people. You don’t have to hold things together. And while I have no doubt that a Fletcher resort will bring money, opportunities and people to Herring Cove, it won’t strengthen its soul. This place is not just where I live, not just where I work. It’s as much a part of me as my heart is. It is my soul. And you’re threatening to destroy it, which is why I’m going to have to ask you to put down that hammer and leave. You being here is just a reminder of everything you’re planning to take away. And I’ve lost enough.’
The strength in Sophie’s voice stopped Alexander from an attempt at rebuttal. There was no pity in her voice. No ‘poor me’. Only a strong self-belief that she could handle whatever life threw at her, and his helping was only seen as interference.
He sucked in a breath and focused on the hammer, still in his hand. Pondered what his next move should be.
Quick footsteps on pavers followed by the click of the back door shutting told him he was alone.
Sophie didn’t just have a point. She was right. But her being right couldn’t change the future. The deal was going through. The resort was happening. He couldn’t stop it, but he could say sorry in his own way.
He’d promised Sophie he’d help out. And he didn’t break promises. Not to too-cute-for-her-own-good bookshop owners, not to his parents, not to anyone.
Especially not to himself.
His sense of self, his sense of worth, was riding on his doing the right thing by Sophie, because he was beginning to wonder if what they were doing in Herring Cove might very well be the wrong thing.
CHAPTER SIX
Sophie tried not to let the ripple of ever-growing irritation break through her customer-ready smile. Why was Alexander still out the back? What part of ‘leave’ did he not understand? And why was he still hammering away, physically and metaphorically?
‘That noise has got to be driving you balmy.’ Mr Johnson, a loyal customer who made a point of coming in every couple of weeks to buy a book, usually an autobiography or thriller, covered his ears with an empathetic grimace.
‘I’ve got a guy helping me build some new shelving.’ Sophie silently congratulated herself on not adding ‘annoying’ and ‘pain-in-the-arse’ before ‘guy’.
‘New shelving?’ Mr Johnson’s eyebrows rose. ‘Does that mean business is picking up? Is Herring Cove seeing a turn of the tide? Is fortune finally favouring us? Is there a chance we can kick that horrid Fletcher resort out of the town before ground is broken?’
Sophie placed Mr Johnson’s latest book of choice, an autobiography of some past-it politician, in a brown paper bag stamped with All Booked Up’s logo, folded the top over and fastened it with a piece of sticky tape. ‘I wish. People are falling like flies from what I can make out. Selling up and moving out. They’ve been trying to get me to sell, but I won’t. Not that my saying no will stop them. Apparently I can be built around.’
‘Disgusting. Ruining the special character of our village just to add more money to their coffers.’ Mr Johnson shuddered dramatically. ‘Good on you for not folding, Sophie. You’re setting a good example. Perhaps once others know about your refusal they’ll change their minds too. Until I see a bulldozer I believe we have a chance at battling this Goliath.’
‘I don’t think there’s any chance of that, sadly. They seem determined.’ So determined that one of the masterminds of the project was refusing to stop helping her. ‘Either way I think it’s high time this place was freshened up. She deserves to look her best, no matter what happens.’
The Little Bookshop at Herring Cove Page 5