He pulled an apologetic expression. ‘You don’t find talking about seaweed romantic?’
‘Not really.’ She finished the last mouthful of her food. ‘Were you thinking about helping me collect it?’
‘I wish I could, but I know I have patients already booked in for first thing and I’m not sure when high tide is. You’re going to have to get whatever you need to off the beach before it’s either gathered by any other farmers, or washed out to sea again. Hopefully,I’ll be able to help you when I have a break but I can’t guarantee it.’
She liked the idea of gathering seaweed and that he was thinking about how to help her. ‘It’s fine. I’m happy to get it myself. If you finish your work while I’m still there, then feel free to offer a hand.’
‘I’ll do that.’
Lettie fetched her phone and checked the time high tide was due that day. ‘Bugger, I only have about three hours before it’ll get too high on the beach. I’m going to have to leave as soon as I’ve checked on the animals.’
‘I’d better get Derek home and change into clothes that fit me a bit better than these.’ He took their plates and cutlery to the sink.
She looked down at his bare ankles and laughed. ‘Yes, I think you should. You don’t want any of your staff or patients seeing you doing your walk of shame home.’
He washed and dried his hands and walked back to her, kissing her. ‘I’m not ashamed of anything we’ve done together,’ he whispered kissing her again.
Neither was she.
37
BRODIE
Three weeks to go
Brodie pulled into his parking space behind his cottage and let Derek out of the car. He unlocked the house and stepped inside only half aware of the sound of someone’s voice nearby.
‘And where have you been all night, you dirty stop-out?’
Maddie. He closed his eyes momentarily and resisted reminding her that he was an adult now and could do as he pleased. He would much rather have been left in peace to change and spend time before work going over everything that had happened between him and Lettie over the previous twenty-four hours. Instead he knew he would have to listen to his sister lecturing him on either the state of his decor or try to prise out of him where he had been and who with.
He let Derek into the living room and turned to Maddie, forcing a smile on his face. ‘Why are you here so early?’ He made a play of checking his watch. ‘It’s only, what, seven fifteen. You’re not usually even up at this time.’
‘I had to drop Dad off at the airport at six fifteen and thought I’d stop off here on my way home for a quick coffee and a catch-up.’
‘Is something the matter with Dad?’ His mind raced. ‘Mum? Grandad?’
‘Will you stop rambling.’ Maddie pushed past him and made her way to the kitchen. ‘I still need that coffee. I thought we could discuss more ideas for decorating this place.’
He didn’t bother to stifle his groan. ‘Really? Now? Can’t it wait for another time?’
She turned after pressing on the kettle and leant against the worktop. ‘No, Brodie, it can’t. This place is a disgrace. You can’t bring girlfriends back here.’
‘Girlfriends?’ His mind wandered back to Lettie and he sighed. Then, realising his sister was giving him a quizzical stare, went to retrieve two mugs from the cupboard. ‘Here, use these.’
‘Well, if not girlfriends, then other people.’
‘What other people?’
‘Me, or…’ She shrugged. ‘Mum, Dad, or Grandad. I don’t know who. My point is this place is dreadful.’ She waved an arm in a wide arc. ‘I mean look at it. How can you stand living here?’
‘We’ve been over this already. Why don’t you make the coffee while I shower and change and then we can have a brief chat about your ideas. Brief, mind you. I have to get to the practice soon.’
He saw his sister’s gaze take in his clothes and her confused look when she noticed his bare ankles. ‘Whose clothes are you wearing? What’s going on, Brodie?’
‘Nothing.’ He pointed to the cupboard near her shoulder. ‘The coffee is in there. I’ll be five minutes.’
He ran upstairs and hurriedly undressed, making a mental note to wash and return Zac’s clothes to Lettie as soon as possible. As he soaped himself, Brodie remembered what it had been like in the shower with Lettie the previous evening. Now wasn’t the time to gothere. He stood letting the water run over his skin and rinse away the soap suds, unable to believe how lucky he felt that Lettie was attracted to him.
