Page 27 of Love By Sunset

Wandering over to the sink, Jake washed his hands, then turned back to Emily. ‘You keep mentioning a change of lifestyle.’

Her eyebrows rose. ‘Yes. You’ve shown me another way to live, and I rather like it. I’ve spent all my life following rules, timetables and schedules. I was tiring of it before I met you, and you simply reinforced things.’

‘What are you going to do?’

Emily shook her head. ‘I’ve an idea, but it’s rather vague at the moment. It won’t involve too much stress, I hope. I’ve had enough of that.’

‘Okay, where will this alternative lifestyle happen? Does it have to be a specific place?’

‘Strange questions. Why does it matter to you? I’m leaving, remember? I’m your holiday fli—’

‘Shut up!’ Jake strode over and grabbed her upper arms, giving her a little shake. ‘Shut up. You know it’s changed.’ His eyes widened, and his hands dropped as he turned away, raking a hand through his hair.

Shock rocked through her. ‘Jake?’

He shook his head, his hand still pushing agitatedly through his hair. ‘I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t hurt you. How about you get on with whatever you need to do?’ he finally suggested, his voice muffled. ‘I’ll see you later. Here. Closing time, okay?’

Sensing he didn’t want to talk about what had just slipped out, Emily sighed. She knew what she wanted, and that was for Jake to ask her to stay. She hadn’t meant to upset him with her holiday fling comment. It had become a shield she wielded to prevent being hurt.

She knew she was deluding herself. If he didn’t ask, it would devastate her.

‘Okay.’ Emily hesitated before adding softly. ‘It’s quite normal to decide one person may be enough, you know.’

She walked over to her car, worrying that another opportunity to explain about Approach had been lost, but stunned by what he’d tried to say. She sighed. Hopefully, there would be time later.

Today was her last visit to Haven House, and she’d asked Lucy to meet her there. Whatever it was hovering on the edge of her mind might emerge if she recapped her first visit to the house.

Twenty minutes later, in an identical replay of the first day she’d seen the house, she drew up alongside Lucy’s car and stepped out into the still warm air. A soft breeze blew, bringing with it the delicate scent of autumn leaves. This place reminded her of a book she’d read when she was small, about a hidden garden where some children had got into an old, walled garden and brought it back to life. The grounds were crying out for a loving hand. If she was successful in buying it, she’d have to look round for a gardener.

‘Morning, Emily.’

‘Lucy. Good of you to come.’

‘No problem. You said you thought something I’d said, or shown you, might trigger some thoughts about this will?’ Lucy pursed her lips with a slight shake of her head. It was clear she was uncertain about Emily’s conviction it existed. ‘Jake’s asked Robbie to bring him here at some point because he wanted to look for it, too.’

Emily looked surprised. She was glad Jake had set something up.

‘Where shall we start, then?’ Lucy asked.

‘Not in the house. I’ve done that to bits. Every room, every cupboard, every drawer, every wardrobe! No… it was before we went in or…’ It was Emily’s turn to shake her head, her brows drawn down as she bit on her lower lip. ‘Anyway, we went round the side first?’

‘We did indeed. Come on.’ She looked sideways at Emily as they walked side by side down the path which led to the side of the house and the old stable yard. ‘I understand Approach has withdrawn its offer?’

‘Yes. There’s been disagreement over how to proceed,’ Emily replied. ‘In fact, Approach won’t exist soon. I’ve withdrawn from the partnership, which is being dissolved, and Gerry’s going to set up his own company.’

Lucy’s eyebrows flew up and her mouth fell opened.

Emily hid a small smile. ‘I assume you’ve not disclosed my connection to Approach?’

They shouldn’t have. The company always worked under its name. They always made hotel bookings under the company name.

‘Good heavens, no. Confidential. And… you’ve put your own offer in?’

‘Yes, but that should also be confidential. I only want the house, if that’s even a possibility.’ Emily smiled.

A silence fell, broken only by the crunch of their shoes on the gravel.

‘But…’ Emily sensed a sideways look and a great deal of hesitation before Lucy dared to continue. ‘You… um… you stayed down here? For this last couple of weeks? A holiday, was it?’

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