‘Are you sure?’
‘I’m glad to be able to help.’ She was happy to have come upwith a helpful solution for him. ‘I have loads of space and I’m sure Dad won’t mind it being stored there when he gets back. It’s not as if the decorating will take too long, is it?’
Brodie shook his head. ‘No, and as I said I’ll be donating anything that doesn’t sell at the market.’
‘How are you coping with your sister working on the cottage? Did you like her ideas?’
Brodie frowned briefly. ‘I’m grateful to her for doing it, I suppose, because I might have simply become used to the place as it is and not bothered.’ There was a glint of amusement in his eyes. ‘I am concerned that this is going to be very different to anything I might have chosen though, and Maddie can be determined when she sets her mind to something.’
Lettie studied his face and had a thought. ‘I have a feeling you can be pretty determined yourself when you want to be.’
He threw his head back and laughed. ‘You know, you’re not wrong there. It’s probably why Maddie and I fell out so much when we were growing up.’
‘And, if you don’t like what she’s doing, tell her. As soon as you see something isn’t to your taste. She’ll probably not like it but it’s far less frustrating to find something out at the beginning rather than when you’ve completed the job.’
His amusement vanished and he turned to look at her. ‘Are you still talking about Maddie, or how you feel about the farm and your cousin coming home soon?’
She realised he was right to question her. ‘I was meaning your sister, but I think you’re right about the farm. I’m anxious about what I’ll do when Damon returns and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to cope with living at Hollyhock Farm when someone else is running the place. It think it’ll probably hurt too much seeing that happening. And, what will I do work wise?’
Brodie’s expression changed slightly and for a second Lettiethought she saw a spark of hope but wasn’t sure why. ‘Is it because you don’t want to leave the island?’
It was, but she realised for the first time that more than anything she didn’t want to leave Brodie. ‘Yes,’ she admitted. She moved her hand to his and waited for him to take it. ‘More than anything, I like what we have going on here and I’m not ready for it to end.’
He lowered his knife and fork and moved his table away from him, turning to her fully. ‘I’m happy to hear you say that, Lettie, because I’m also liking what we have between us. I’d hate for you to leave Jersey and return to the mainland.’
Her heart fluttered and she placed the fork she was still holding in her left hand onto her plate and pushed her table back from her to give her space to turn her body towards him, unsure what to say.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
Lettie melted into his kiss and couldn’t bear to think that this attraction between them would ever end. ‘I can’t help wondering what I’ll do if I don’t end up running the farm? I’ve lived away from home for too long to want to live with my parents again, and I don’t have a job I can go to, or any savings,’ she added with embarrassment. ‘I really am very disorganised and unprepared,’ she added quietly.
She calmed slightly as Brodie looked deep into her eyes, eager to hear what he had to say when he opened his mouth to speak.
There was a loud banging on the front door, making Lettie jump. Derek instantly woke, Spud barked and both raced to the front door nearly knocking over her table, which was only saved from tipping over by Brodie’s quick reaction catching and steadying it.
‘That sounds urgent,’ she said resenting the interruption.
‘It does.’ He stood. ‘I won’t be long.’
Spud came back to her side and she stroked his furry back asshe waited for Brodie to deal with whoever was at his door. Hearing hissed voices, then footsteps, Lettie stared at the doorway waiting to see who it was, when Brodie led his sister into the room, his teeth gritted.
‘Sorry, Lettie. The urgency was my sister, Maddie.’
‘Hello, Lettie.’ Maddie peered around Brodie’s shoulder and grinned.
‘Hello.’
Maddie looked at the tables and half-eaten food before grimacing and turning her attention back to Lettie. ‘I hope I haven’t interrupted anything.’
‘Never mind that.’ Brodie scowled. ‘I’m trying to work out why choosing between two paint colours needs to be done right now.’ He held up two tins Lettie hadn’t noticed him carrying before looking over his shoulder at his amused sister. ‘Why this couldn’t have waited until the morning I’ve no idea.’
Lettie knew from experience how annoying a sibling could be and also how they knew which buttons to press to cause the biggest reaction. Clearly these two had their spats and she hoped she wasn’t about to become involved in one of them.
Maddie groaned noisily. ‘Oh, do stop whining, Brodie, for pity’s sake,’ she said walking over to Lettie before indicating their plates of half-eaten food. ‘That looks tasty.’
‘It is. Brodie’s a great cook.’
‘He is?’ Maddie seemed baffled. ‘When did you take any interest in cooking?’
