The woman marched powerfully over. She had a rigid helmet of glossy brunette hair and violent pink lipstick that made even the most professional of smiles appear slightly shark-like. Steffany handed over her own card that denoted her as VP of Branding atTop Stay Hotels.
Pippa took the cards out of politeness but in truth wanted to tear them to shreds. Toby and Steffany didn’t have the first clue about Squires. Or Hurst Bridge, for that matter. What kind of people looked at this building, this view, and thought ‘budget hotel’? “Welcome,” she said automatically.
“Sorry, you are?” Toby asked.
“Pippa Munro,” she said.
“Do you live here?” Toby asked, eyebrows furrowing. “We were told this house was … well, abandoned, for all intents and purposes.”
Pippa swallowed. Yes, Squireshadbeen abandoned, by the people who were meant to love it. She made an effort to pull herself together. “I’m watching over the place,” she said eventually. “You’re here to—”
“We’re considering buying it, yes,” Steffany interrupted, her eyes roaming all over the house. “Tell me, is the plot south-facing?”
Before Pippa could say anything in response, the roar of an engine drowned her thoughts. The iron gates swung open again, and a sleek motorbike powered down the drive, gravel dust flying in its wake. The bike screeched to a halt; the kickstand was slammed down. The rider flung his long legs over the bike and dismounted, pulling his helmet off in one fluid motion. Pippa gaped as Wolfie shook sweat-dampened hair off his flushed face.
“Sorry I’m late,” Wolfie declared. “Nightmare traffic.” His leathers creaked as he strode towards them, hand outstretched. “Wolfie Squires.”
“N–no problem,” Toby stammered as he shook Wolfie’s hand. “Toby Hartnell, pleasure.”
“You aren’t late.” Steffany practically threw herself forward to grab Wolfie’s hand. “We’re early. Steffany Wilkinson. Call me Stef.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” Wolfie said, in a tone far removed from such emotion. He turned to Pippa, his expression unreadable.
“Hello, Pippa Munro.”
“Hello.” She wondered why he insisted on calling her by her full name all the time. Was it a thing privately educated people did? Or maybe he was just being professional in his treatment of her. After all, she was his employee. Oddly enough, propriety was the furthest thing from her mind at that moment. The sight of him in clingy leathers confirmed what she’d suspected at the interview; the man really was in great shape. But she couldn’t let that startle her. TheTop Stayguests might be thrown by Wolfie’s dramatic and somewhat ravishing entrance, but Pippa wasn’t going to let her inner churn show. “Welcome home.”
Again, Wolfie stiffened at the mere mention of the word home. What was it about Squires?
“I won’t be here long,” Wolfie said, curtly. “I never am.” He turned to Call-Me-Stef and Toby. “After you?”
The trio entered the house and Pippa stepped back to allow them in, shutting the door with a heavy heart. Toby made a rapid beeline for the piano in the library, his hands already running all over it by the time Pippa had entered the room.
“Do you play?” Toby asked Wolfie as he approached.
“A little,” Wolfie said. “I er – used to be quite into it when I was young.” Pippa remembered the lonely boy with the radio, the way he’d clung to it like a life raft.
“Not anymore, then?” Stef asked, smiling so hard at Wolfie it looked painful.
Wolfie grimaced. “I had that drummed out of me, I guess you could say. Let me show you the views round the back. After all, that’s what you’ll be interested in.” Pippa wondered what on earth he meant by having it drummed out.
“As long as the view isn’t of the town,” Steffany cracked. “I mean, it’s hardly the most exciting place in the world.”
Pippa rolled her eyes. Yes, Hurst Bridge was quiet but that was part of its charm – the peace it afforded the residents. It didn’t make it boring or not worth anyone’s time. Reminders of the day Alex left suddenly cascaded into Pippa’s mind, stealing her breath. She leaned against the doorway, trying to calm herself. Would there ever be a day when something didn’t trigger painful memories?
“Are you okay?” It was Toby, regarding Pippa concernedly.
“I’m fine.” Pippa hadn’t realised that she was staring into space with tear-filled eyes. “It’s just…” She inhaled slowly, very aware that Wolfie and Steffany were looking at her as if she were crazy. “Hurst Bridge is a lovely place,” she said eventually. “I think it can surprise people, if they’d just give it a chance.”
Steffany merely allowed her a sceptical smirk and turned away. Wolfie regarded Pippa for a long second, before dismissing her with a soft, “That’ll be all.”
* * *
“They’re selling Squires?” Mae’s face twisted with disappointment.
“Yup.” Pippa gulped back her coffee. Once Steffany and Toby departed, Pippa placed a desperate call to her best friend, and they escaped to the café on the green, which was imaginatively called ‘The Café On The Green’. It had been recently renovated, with chic white tiles and retro artwork adorning the walls. Large Edison bulbs hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the numerous customers, who flocked to the place for the generously sized coffees and delicious cakes.
“But to who?” Mae asked.
