Page 42 of Starting Over at Halesmere House
She was setting out everything she had for breakfast, hoping it would be enough for Neil and Zac, when the guest room door opened.
‘Morning.’ Zac gave her a smile, running a hand through his hair. She only needed a second to notice he was in shorts and a T-shirt, not the work clothes she’d been expecting, and her breath caught. The flutter in her stomach since she’d woken had let her know how much she’d been looking forward to seeing him first thing, but this was a whole other view. Her eyes drifted down and she noticed the faded scar running along his left leg and around to his ankle: another chapter of his story, and her heart softened in a most inconvenient manner.
‘Hi.’ She cleared her throat and looked at the bread in her hand, trying to remember what she’d been planning to do with it. Her mornings were never usually this exhilarating. ‘How did you sleep?’
‘Not bad, given the din my dad was making. It’s even worse close up than in the flat.’
Alice was still trying to work out quite what terms they were on now. She’d really like to kiss Zac good morning but seeing as they’d barely even touched, that thought was a bit far-fetched.
‘How is he?’
‘Okay thanks, slept like the dead apparently. At least one of us did.’
‘Well, it’s good the pain isn’t bothering him too much.’
‘Yeah. Alice, sorry, there aren’t any bath towels in the en suite.’ Zac’s smile was more of a grin now. ‘I did wonder if you’d confiscated them on purpose, so I’d have to come and ask.’
‘I might have.’ She hadn’t, she’d just forgotten to go back for them last night after Zac had returned but she preferred the more flirtatious reply. She put the bread down. The flutter in her stomach had been joined by a warmth on her face after that look he’d given her. ‘Sorry, I’ll bring you some. Is that why you underdressed on purpose, to ask me?’
‘I didn’t. I usually sleep naked so…’
‘Oh! Right,’ she muttered. Alice made herself stroll nonchalantly into her bedroom and re-emerged with four bath towels. Zac thanked her as he accepted them and she held his gaze, wondering if that same thought about kissing was in his mind too.
‘You really don’t have to sort breakfast for Dad and me.’ He dragged his gaze away to take in the preparations she’d been making. ‘I’m happy to do it, if you’re okay with me in your kitchen?’
‘I’m fine with you in my kitchen.’ Especially dressed like that. ‘Especially if you can cook as well.’
‘I could do that tonight, if you want? Dad’s knee is still pretty swollen; I don’t think I’m going to get him out of here any time soon.’
‘That’s okay, there’s no rush. There’s more ice packs in the freezer too. And tonight sounds great.’
‘Morning, Alice. The front door wasn’t locked; I did knock. Oh, sorry!’
Alice whirled around to see Sandy hovering behind her and Zac, and a bit more colour erupted on her cheeks. ‘Sandy, hi! We were just, er, Zac’s just…’ She must have forgotten to lock the door when she collected the milk.
Sandy held up a hand. ‘No explanations necessary – I’m sorry I burst in. I thought I’d call and ask how your dad’s doing, Zac. He messaged me to say he was staying with Alice and I’m on my way to a meeting at nine.’
‘He’s fine, thanks, making the most of all the attention. He’ll be up soon; I’ll tell him you’re here. Right,’ Zac said briskly. ‘I’ll go and get that shower.’
He disappeared and Alice quickly put the radio on, filling the kettle and setting out mugs.
‘How are you?’ Sandy pulled out a stool at the breakfast bar. ‘Is everything all right?’
‘Absolutely.’ For once the glow on Alice’s skin hadn’t come from the fresh air. ‘Neil suggested that Zac should stay too and they’re sharing the room. Just so I don’t have to look after Neil on my own. It’s not what you might be thinking.’
‘I’m not thinking anything, I promise. Your private life is your own, my love. My only concern is being sure you are okay.’ Sandy hesitated. ‘Zac seems like a lovely man, but you do know he’s leaving at Christmas? I’d hate for you to get hurt again.’
‘I won’t, I promise.’ Alice slid bread into a toaster. The possibility of a second heartbreak felt a million miles away from the exhilarating attraction she was sharing with Zac. ‘I’m not going to do anything silly, like fall in love with him. I like him and he likes me. That feels pretty amazing right now.’
‘Look after you, that’s all I’m saying.’ Sandy got up and Alice appreciated her aunt’s arms around her, the extra squeeze on her shoulder, all of it letting her know how much Sandy cared.
‘Did you and Neil have a nice time yesterday? Before he fell over, of course.’ They separated and Alice was curious too. Sandy was pragmatic and not given to wild flights of fancy. She’d divorced many years ago and had been single for a lot of them.
‘We did; his stumble was just one of those things that happen.’ Sandy thanked Alice for the mug of tea she placed in front of her. ‘But he really loves the area and he’s thinking he might move up here. His house is already for sale, and he’d like something between Hayley and where Zac’s going to be. He’s all about the family; he dotes on those grandchildren. I really like that about him.’
‘Wow. How lovely.’ If Neil were living here, then Zac would have another connection to Halesmere, a reason to return. Alice wasn’t sure if that made her feelings for him more complicated or a whole lot clearer. She was thinking about last night, sitting beside him as he shared his story: the career he’d walked away from after the accident that had stolen his nerve and made him afraid. Was he happy now, living without the adrenaline rush of racing, the total need for speed? Was life here, or the new one he was planning in the Highlands, fast enough for him? ‘And you’d see more of Neil, Sandy. If you both want to.’
‘I think we would.’
