Page 92 of Be More Octopus

'I saw them walking together on Sunday evening. You don't need to worry about her. She prefers bad boys. She's been seeing one of the surfers all summer. She's not with Jack,' Mary said as she headed back inside the cafe.

Em tried to put Jack out of her mind. Despite what Mary had said, he was still avoiding her.

It was Friday lunchtime. Em had sorted out Rose Cottage. But there was still one cottage to do. Em looked at the pile of towels and bedclothes on the table in the kitchen.

'Are those Jack's?' Nancy asked.

'Yes. He normally collects them.'

'I would offer to take them over, but I think you need to offer an olive branch. I much preferred the friendly, relaxed atmosphere we had before last weekend.'

'Was I in the wrong, though?' asked Em.

'Would you like it if he'd read a text someone had sent to you?'

'No. But if I'd left my phone where he could see it, it would be a different scenario to him deliberately unlocking the screen to snoop. I guess neither of us is right.'

'With anyone else, I'd tell you it was his loss but remember how Isabella treated him. He's bound to be sensitive if he thinks he's been spied on.'

Nancy was right. Em picked up the clean linen and headed out into the courtyard. She knocked on Jack's door.

'Your fresh towels and sheets, Professor Carver.'

'It's lovely to see you.'

'Why? Have your sheets seen so much action this week that you're desperate for new ones?' Oh God, why did you say that? He'll know you’re jealous now.

'You know that's not true.' Jack looked downcast.

'Daisy might have been over. I don't monitor your cottage 24 hours a day.'

'Daisy and I aren't together.' So Mary was right.

'I'm sorry Sunday's date didn't go well. Not that it's any of my business.'

'I didn't have a date with her on Sunday. We went for a walk. Nothing else. She wanted advice about a history degree application for one of her pupils. I thought it was an excellent opportunity to make you jealous.'

'Well, you succeeded. How old are you?'

He laughed. 'Old enough to know better. And you?'

'It's impolite to ask a woman's age. I'm sorry I read one of your texts. I promise it was an accident.'

'I'm sorry I overreacted. Can we pick up where we left off?'

'Barnstaple A&E is 30 minutes drive away.'

'You could sit next to me on the sofa, and we can imagine that a man with a vacuum cleaner stuck on his cock has just walked in.'

'Was that why he had his coat on?'

Jack laughed. 'Shall I cook dinner for us tonight?'

'Yes, please. I've been living on salads and ready meals all week.'

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

Em heard a car pull onto the drive. Hopefully, the final set of guests. After a busy day cleaning and organising, she was desperate to be waited on by Jack.