‘Fibber.’ He reached over and scooted me onto his lap. ‘So what’s going on? Is this going to be a problem?’
‘Of course not. There’s no problem. She apologised and it’s forgotten.’
‘It’s not though, is it?’ There was no accusation in his tone.
‘Jesse, I’m fine.’ I pushed myself off and finished faffing with my pillows. ‘I’m just tired.’
He leaned over and kissed me, paused a beat then snuggled down in the bed. I lay there for a moment before wriggling over towards him. His arm automatically went around me and held me close as I nestled into the gap between his collar bone and his neck, resting my thigh on his hip. He didn’t believe a word I’d said, for good reason, but he was still there for me and that was enough.
* * *
Spring was now bursting into bloom. Plants once buried beneath the overgrown mess were now emerging from the earth and fighting their way through the brambles to the light. The garden was definitely a work in slow progress but I’d discovered hacking away at brambles to be a very therapeutic form of exercise.
The integrated solar panels on the new roof of the house were finally getting the chance to begin earning their keep a little as the sun shone down on Paradise Farm. If I stood back and squinted – a lot – I could almost see how it got its name. There was still an awful lot to do but the weeks were flying by in a haze of work, both on my fledgling interior design business, which was growing feathers remarkably quickly, as well as on the house itself.
Once the roof had gone on and it was warm enough to spend any length of time at the property not huddled under four blankets and a duvet, I’d decided to take the opportunity to evaluate what I had. Or rather what I no longer had. So much had been damaged by the rain the night of the storm, the only solution was to hire a skip and get rid of everything that wasn’t salvageable. Once I’d assessed what was left, I began to realise that many of the items I’d brought with me either didn’t suit what I was creating with this new property or held negative memories. A table Adrian and I had bought in Sienna, the lamps I’d bought for the guest bedroom when we’d had his parents to stay after we announced our engagement. I still appreciated the design of the pieces but the first thing I thought of when I saw them was Adrian. And that most definitely wasn’t the vibe I was going for.
‘Are you throwing those out?’ Jesse asked when he saw them standing outside the front door. ‘Also, good morning. You left without having breakfast.’
‘I’m not hungry and good morning.’ I reached up and linked my fingers behind his neck, my work-booted feet on tiptoe to reach him as I kissed his lips.
‘You need to eat.’ He handed me an apple.
‘Thanks.’
‘Coffee?’ He held up two insulated travel mugs.
‘Lifesaver, thank you!’ I bit into the apple and took the mug he held out to me before perching on a low dry stone wall that bookended one side of the front garden.
‘So?’ Jesse pointed at the lamps and table. ‘They don’t look damaged.’
‘They’re not. But I don’t want them any more. I was going to sell them.’
‘They look pricey.’
‘They were. Do you think Ray at the salvage yard would be interested?’
‘I expect so. Might be tricky getting what they’re worth though.’
‘Unless you barter for me?’ I fluttered my lashes at him.
He gave a low chuckle as he put his own mug to his lips. ‘Oh no, you’re not using that one on me again.’
‘Funny, you didn’t seem to mind last night.’
‘Last night was going to happen whether you blinked those baby blues at me or not.’
He sent me a grin that made my toes curl with anticipation inside the pink steel-toed boots he had bought for me. ‘Besides, it’s time you took on Ray yourself.’
‘Me?’ My voice pitched up an octave.
‘Yeah.’
‘Oh… I don’t think that’s a good idea.’
‘Why not?’
‘They were expensive and I need all the money I can get to help fund this money pit!’
