Page 20 of Winter at Wishington Bay
‘So I hear.’
I gave another glance and stopped.
‘Planning to let me in on that conversation anytime soon?’ I asked, repeating his own phrase back at him. He rewarded me with a smile that was more than his usual ghost of one.
‘I don’t know. Usually these things are reciprocal.’
I waved the knife in my hand before setting about chopping the carrots into chunks. ‘Believe me, you’re not missing out on anything in here.’ I rolled my eyes back in my head in an attempt to point at my own brain. The action seemed to amuse him and as smile lines crinkled round his eyes, his whole face changed. I was surprised at how pleased I was to see the transformation. Although as it only added to his attractiveness, another, more rational part of me was flapping about, blowing a panic whistle so hard that the pea shot out!
‘I’m not so sure about that.’
‘I am. So, what are those thoughts swirling round in your brain? They look far more interesting.’
He smiled again, then pushed himself away from the doorway and pulled out a stool from the worktop opposite where I was working.
‘I’m just a little surprised someone would go to all this effort for a person she hardly knows.’
I frowned at him briefly as I chopped the potato and added it to the soup maker. ‘You’re going to be her brother-in-law.’
‘Still…’
I shook my head as I measured the stock to add. ‘Remember what I said about Ned, and family?’
He nodded.
‘Holly’s the same. Even more so because you’re going to be actual legal family. Of course she’s going to want to make sure you’re comfortable. Plus she knows what it’s like to be unhappy,’ I added, pouring in the stock and setting the machine going. ‘Wishington Bay helped change her life for the better. I think she’s hoping it will work its magic on you too, and anything she can do to help that along, she will.’
He hadn’t replied and as I turned round from where the machine was plugged in, I saw his expression had closed off.
‘And you can knock that off too.’
His head snapped up. ‘Excuse me?’
‘That mean and moody, silent tough guy look. I’ve had enough of that. You have a lovely smile and you’re not such an arse when you’re being yourself so do us all a favour and be that chap.’
Silence.
I used to be pretty good at keeping everything in. Not saying what I thought. It wasn’t the done thing where I grew up. But since moving here, starting again, I’d rather lost the knack. It had been a relief to be honest. I was always careful to try to be tactful but occasionally my mouth ran ahead of my brain.
‘You’re big on honesty, aren’t you?’
I blushed, not just because Nate was studying me intensely. He was right. I was big on honesty, but I also knew I hadn’t been entirely honest with him – or anyone in Wishington Bay. And at his comment, the guilt of that gave me a good nip on the backside.
‘When it’s possible, yes.’
‘Are there times it isn’t possible?’
‘Occasionally.’
‘Such as?’
I swallowed, avoiding his eyes as I cleared up the detritus from the soup preparation. ‘Well, you always have to consider the situation, don’t you? People’s feelings, etcetera.’
‘And did you consider my feelings when you just called me a grumpy sod?’
Wiping the counter off, I gave a brief glance. ‘Those weren’t my words and you know it.’
‘No. In fact, you called me an arse.’
