‘Good to know.’ There was a hint of tease in my voice.
‘You’ll be relieved to know I don’t go around trying to pick up women in DIY stores.’
‘Big relief,’ I replied.
Jesse gave me a glance. ‘And,’ he added, ‘if it makes you feel better, you’re not really my type.’
The smile on my face felt like a rictus.How on earth could that make anyone ‘feel better’?
‘I see.’
He turned to go, his hand on the latch.
‘Just out of interest, whattypeexactly do you think I am?’
He looked over his shoulder, the eyes wary now. I saw his Adam’s apple bob.
‘That feels like a question I probably shouldn’t answer.’
‘No, please,’ I said, moving around him and leaning against the draughty door. ‘I’m interested.’
He looked down at me. My uniform for years had been sky-high heels and I was used to meeting strange men on a more even height. But right now, in two pairs of thick woollen socks and some cloud sliders, I was at a distinct disadvantage in that department. Not only was he taller but he was also built a whole lot sturdier than the wreck of a house I’d bought.
‘I’d better be going.’
I moved to block the latch he’d momentarily let go of with my body.
He met my challenging stare with one of his own. I was more than aware that, if he’d wanted, he could quite easily have moved me aside with one hand and been on his way. He let out a sigh.
‘I’m not really into city types. That’s all I meant.’
‘And you think I’m a city type?’
He glanced around at the minimalist furniture that looked entirely out of place, the high-end branded sweatshirt I wore that clearly wasn’t a knock-off, and then studied my face, my well-honed ‘natural look’ having been applied following my shower.
‘I know you are.’
‘And clearly you feel there’s something wrong with that.’ I had no idea why I suddenly felt so defensive. Since when did I care what some random bloke thought of me, even if he was Greek-god handsome and had delivered heating and hot water into my disaster of a home?
‘That’s not what I said.’
‘You may as well have.’
‘Then I apologise. It wasn’t what I meant. I just wanted to reassure you that I wasn’t interested so you had nothing to be worried about.’ He reached around me, gently but purposefully, before looking down and meeting my eyes once again. ‘The offer of help is still there. If you want it. Enjoy your evening.’ With that, he twisted the latch and waited for me to move. When I did, he strode with long-legged paces back to his pick-up. I closed the door but could still clearly hear the engine turn over and the tyres splash through the mud on the way out before I was once more surrounded by the overwhelming silence of the place. Being efficient, I entered Jesse’s number into my phone, typed,Thank youinto a message and sent it off before dropping the paper into the bin. His words, however, were still tumbling around in my head.
‘Who cares what he thinks?’ I snapped before grabbing my laptop from the coffee table and stomping up the creaking stairs to bed. There, tucked under three blankets and two duvets against the chill wind coming in through the rotten windows, I began looking for tradesmen to help me turn this old house into something liveable. If I did it right, I might even be able to make some money on it.
I had no intention of staying here. Obviously, I wouldn’t be able to go back to my old job. That ship had most definitely sailed, hit an iceberg and sunk in the middle of the ocean, but I could certainly get my old life back. Thecitylife that Jesse had so sniffily dismissed. I’d built that life from nothing once before and I’d do it again. This time, I had my savings and years’ worth of wisdom behind me, unlike the teenager I’d been back then. I could do this. I would do this. And without Jesse… I pulled up the picture on my phone and studied his driving licence. Without Jesse Woods’ help.
3
‘Hi!’ The woman gave a cheery wave as I walked into the snug little café in the village. I’d spent the last few days doing research for the restoration, making spreadsheets and costings, and now I just needed a change of scene from the same four walls and plastic sheeting I’d been staring at since I got here.
‘Hi,’ I said, my Manolos clicking on the floor as I walked to the counter.
‘You must be the new owner of Paradise Farm.’
I let out an unintentional laugh. ‘Yes. That’s me.’
