Page 19 of Winter at Wishington Bay
‘So, what’s your story?’ Nate’s deep tones interrupted my thoughts.
‘Huh?’ I squeaked, caught off guard. Thankfully a sudden gust of wind took my words and washed them out to sea, so any guilt that might have been interpreted in my tone at not having been entirely honest about my background was taken with it.
‘I said, what’s your story? How’d you end up in Wishington Bay?’ he asked again as he unlocked the door to the house and then stood back for Bryan and me to enter first.
‘Oh,’ I said, bending down to unfasten the little coat the dog had been tucked into. Bryan wriggled out and zoomed off to his water bowl and began lapping quietly. ‘Fancied a change. Got in the car. Stopped when I ran out of petrol. You know, the usual sort of thing.’ I repeated a story I’d told plenty of times now, and it was true. That was exactly what had happened. There’d just been a lot more drama and emotion wrapped up in the original exit than the casual tone applied to the tale suggested.
Nate stepped closer and began helping me off with my coat.
‘No need to look quite so surprised,’ he said, that hint of smile flitting across his face. ‘I know you think I’m an obnoxious grouch, but I was brought up with manners. Honestly.’
‘That’s not what I think at all,’ I replied, letting the coat slide from my arms, watching as he carefully hung it on a hook in the hallway.
‘Fibber,’ he grinned this time, as brief as a shooting star, his face lighting up in delight at the tease.
‘I’m not!’
‘OK.’ He didn’t look up from where he was now sat unlacing his boots, but I could tell from his tone that he didn’t believe me.
I pulled off my own and snagged the bag Nate had been carrying across the hall towards me. Fishing out my indoor flat shoes, I pulled them on, ready to get started on work. But his reply was bothering me.
‘I really don’t think you’re a grouch.’
He sat up, his bright blue eyes fixing on me, and for a moment I lost the ability to think entirely.
God. Did he have to be quite so ‘good looking with a hint of vulnerable’? It really was quite inconvenient.
Nate tilted his head. ‘You planning to let me in on that conversation any time soon?’
I stuck my head in the under sink cupboard, ostensibly to grab the cleaning caddy that held all the paraphernalia I would need. The other benefit was that it took me out of the sightline of Nate for a moment while I got my head around the fact that he kept doing what he’d just done. I’d been married for over fifteen years and not once had my husband seemed to have a clue what was in my head. Admittedly, some of that had been my fault. After a while, I hadn’t wanted him to know. But with Nate I didn’t seem to have a choice. It was like the words were being projected on my forehead for him to read. And I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
‘Are you sure you don’t mind me cleaning while you’re here?’
‘Yes. I’m sure. And full points for the swift change of subject.’
Bloody hell. This bloke didn’t miss a trick. Clearly denial wasn’t going to work so I just went with it.
‘Thanks.’
He gave me a look that leaned towards exasperation, but there was a hint of smile – if you looked hard enough.
* * *
‘I’m just going to pop some soup on to cook for tomorrow and then I’ll be upstairs, out of your way for a while.’
‘You’re not in my way. And you don’t need to keep feeding me. I’m pretty sure that wasn’t in your contract.’
‘Actually, I’m being cheeky and borrowing the soup maker to make some lunches for myself. As for the rest? Yes, it sort of was.’
His dark brows knitted together. ‘So Gabe thinks I’ve completely lost the ability to look after myself?’
‘Oh, stop being so paranoid,’ I said, flicking him with a duster as I passed. ‘If it had been left to Gabe, you’d have been next door completely fending for yourself. It’s Holly you have to thank for all the extra touches.’
He said nothing and I headed off into the beautiful, bright kitchen area. As I piled some carrots, potatoes and coriander on to the worktop, Nate appeared and lounged against the doorjamb.
‘I’ve barely met Holly. Just sort of in passing on Skype. She’s been very tactful and left me and Gabe to it.’
I glanced up momentarily from peeling the carrots. ‘She’s lovely. She and Gabe have been wonderful for each other.’
