Page 46 of A Fresh Start on Crumcarey
‘And you’ve added more windows along the west wall to make the most of this beautiful evening sunlight and the views over the cliffs,’ said Luke, half mesmerised by the drawing, and half by the way the sunlight was weaving golden highlights into the ends of Maggie’s hair.
‘Exactly,’ said Maggie, peering at her sketch again. ‘So… what’s the plan?’ she added curiously.
‘I’ll tell you at the next place!’ said Luke, grabbing her hand and towing her back towards the truck.
CHAPTER 21
MAGGIE
‘Ready for the next one?’
Luke was grinning at her and bouncing on the balls of his feet like an excited toddler, but Maggie held up her hand to stop him in his tracks - then started to laugh when he stuck out his bottom lip in an exaggerated pout.
‘As fascinating as it’s been to traipse all over Crumcarey looking at derelict spiles of stone in the evening sunshine,’ she said, digging her heels in as he tried to draw her playfully towards the truck, ‘you seem to have forgotten that I’ve got my own pile of stones waiting for me at home.’
Luke grinned, but Maggie crossed her arms. She wasn’t going to be swayed just because her knees trembled every time he threw that high-voltage smile at her. She had a feeling there was more to this magical mystery tour than introducing her to hidden corners of the island.
Every single place Luke had taken her to visit had been uninhabited and in a state of disrepair… and now Maggie wanted to know what he was up to. As much as it had been fun having her brain squeezed for ideas about what she’d do with each of the buildings, it was time for him to clue her in.
‘Come on, out with it,’ she said, ‘what are you up to? What’s this really about?’
‘Well,’ said Luke, ‘I want to know if you’re interested.’
Maggie raised both eyebrows at that. ‘Interested in what, exactly? Come on Luke Harris, you’re being very mysterious and it doesn’t suit you!’
Luke let out a hoot of laughter. ‘Well… I’ve had this idea…’ he paused and ran his fingers through his hair. If she didn’t know any better, Maggie would guess that he was nervous - but for the life of her, she couldn’t imagine why.
‘Look,’ he continued, ‘I know this is a bit out of the blue… but I want to renovate some of these old ruins.’
‘You do?’ said Maggie in surprise.
‘I do. With you.’
‘With me?’ she parroted.
Luke laughed and then nodded.
‘I want us to team up – your mad, amazing design skills and my odd-jobbery… and Uncle Harris’s ability to sniff out or scrounge all the goodies we need to get each job done,’ said Luke. ‘With permission, of course. I think we’d make a great team.’
‘But… I… you…?’ Maggie spluttered, trying to take it all in. So itdefinitelyhadn’t been a random evening pottering around the island, then. ‘But… why?’ said Maggie.
A little flower of hope had suddenly lifted its head. Did this mean he wanted to stay on Crumcarey?
‘The island’s turning a corner,’ he said. ‘Everyone’s been saying it. With Ray’s dive school and the new runway at the airport. Then there’s the publicity around the standing stones…’
‘I heard they’re fake?’ said Maggie.
‘Shhhh!’ said Luke, rushing to her side and placing a hand over her mouth, looking around him with exaggerated care.
Maggie giggled and shoved his hand away.
‘I will neither confirm nor deny such rumours,’ muttered Luke. ‘Either way, it doesn’t stop the tourists turning up, does it?’
‘True,’ agreed Maggie.
‘Olive hasn’t got enough rooms for them all at The Tallyaff,’ continued Luke. ‘She’s been turning bookings away all summer.’
‘Also true,’ said Maggie, ‘and the conference centre…’ she trailed off delicately, scrunching up her nose.
