Page 96 of Be More Octopus

'Half an hour ago, sadly.'

He started slowly covering her shoulder in gentle kisses. 'If I promised to help you today, could I persuade you to stay in bed a little longer?' He whispered, taking her mug from her hand and putting it beside his on the bedside cabinet.

'You'll have to work harder than that to persuade me.'

'Oh, will I? I think I'm going to enjoy finding out the best way to get you to agree,' he said, sliding his hand up her inner thigh.

CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

Jack helped Em sort out the departing guests. Then they cleaned the cottages in double quick time. Em was about to suggest they have an early lunch together, but Jack said he had to go into Exeter on an errand. He wouldn't say what it was. 'You will find out soon enough,' he whispered in her ear and kissed her goodbye.

Em went into the main house and found Nancy having lunch in the kitchen.

'Movement at the front door,' the video doorbell announced.

Nancy checked the camera feed on her iPad.

'I don't like the look of him.' She showed Em the screen.

Em couldn't see the man's face, but she could tell instantly who it was. Connor! Not today of all days. Sporting his Aston Villa baseball cap, a baggy t-shirt, joggers and trainers, and with a big holdall that appeared to be nearly empty slung over his shoulder, he looked like he was going to rob the place.

'It's ok. I know who it is.'

'Really?' Nancy raised her eyebrows.

'He's my ex.'

'I thought you said Connor was a recruitment consultant?'

'He is. He might look more like a drug dealer now, but he does have good taste in suits when he's working.'

'Did you tell him where you were?'

'No, I have no urge to see him again. The last thing I would've done is tell him I was living here.'

'We can't leave him standing there. Do you want me to answer the door? I can say he's got the wrong address?'

Tempting as that offer was, it wouldn't solve anything. 'Thanks, but I better deal with it.'

The sooner Em could find out what Connor wanted and get rid of him, the better.

'What brings you here?' Em didn't bother with any niceties when she opened the front door.

'Great to see you too. Funnily enough, I hadn't got anything in my diary for this weekend after you cancelled our original plans.'

It would've been their wedding day. How could that have slipped her mind? She was surprised Connor had remembered. 'I thought you would have forgotten by now.'

'Not with a fucking great loan to pay off. And that's after I sold the car. I'll have a monthly reminder for the next three years.'

'Why did you waste money on a train fare to come and tell me that?'

'You've blocked me on every social media platform known to man. And you've blocked my phone. How else was I supposed to contact you? Send you a handwritten love letter like someone from your frigging Jane Austen books?'

'It would've been cheaper. Or you could've made your caller ID private and phoned me again.'

A look of annoyance crossed his face. He must be kicking himself for not thinking of that.

'Are you telling me you've travelled 200 miles just to have a go at me?' Em asked.