Page 82 of Broken Beyond Repair
“Syd?”
“I’m going to keep her company as she watches. Make sure she doesn’t pick a fight with it as it goes.”
Beatrice’s face twisted as Alex and Sam laughed.
As much as she’d like to be out on the sea, it was an opportunity for some privacy she wasn’t going to pass up.
“Make yourself at home, Beatrice.” Sam pointed to the deck area. “There’s cold drinks in the fridge.”
“Thank you.”
“You head on up to the boat, Alex. I’ll grab the keys.”
Sydney followed him back into the workshop as Beatrice and Alex wandered off in opposite directions.
“Do me a favour, Sam. Talk to Alex about your work with the helpline.”
“Okay. Are you going to give me any more than that?”
“From what I see, he isn’t entirely happy in his skin. I wonder if you might be able to help him. I might be wrong, but if I’m right, he might benefit from a little help.” Sydney shrugged. “If not, then no harm done.”
Sam nodded and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Of course. Leave it with me.”
“Thank you. He’s important to me.”
“Then he’s important to me too.”
Sydney flashed him a warm smile of gratitude, aware that Sam’s kindness towards her was more than she deserved.
She joined Beatrice on the deck, where she was leaning on the wooden fence that overlooked the water.
“We need to talk,” Sydney said firmly as soon as they had waved Alex and Sam off.
“About?”
Sydney took the invoice from her back pocket.
“Gertie and the invoice I’ve just tried to pay.”
“Oh.”
“Thank you for the gesture, but I need to repay you.”
“You only took the job so you could fix Gertie, but you’ve helped fix me too. I owe you a debt of gratitude I can never repay, Sydney. So, please, consider this a bonus for services rendered. I’ll be offended if you discuss it any further.” Beatrice turned her attention back to the view.
“I…”
“No,” Beatrice snapped.
Realising there was no hope of winning, Sydney said, “Can I at least thank you?”
“You may.”
Following the previous night’s escapades, Sydney hadn’t intended on physically thanking her, yet her arms were around Beatrice before she realised what she was doing. Her body’s attempts to overrule her head were infuriating.
“Thank you.”
As she pulled back, she placed a kiss on Beatrice’s cheek. It was more to see her reaction than anything else. She lingered a moment, wanting to stay there forever.
