‘Is this a private party or can anyone join?’
I look up and Theo is standing there, strong tanned arms folded, looking down at me. His face is dappled by the sun shining through the leaves and I have to shade my eyes to see his face and his lovely lazy smile. My heart lurches. He’s wearing dark running shorts and a white vest top that show off his lean, muscular body to perfection. His blue eyes seem slightly lighter today. They’re the same shade as the summer sky overhead.
‘I’m just taking a break,’ I mutter. ‘Where’s Olivia?’
He looks puzzled. ‘Somewhere up ahead, I think.’ He points at the mossy cushion I’m sitting on. ‘Looks comfy. Do you mind … ?’
I shake my head, not about to forgive him for having such bad taste as to take up with Olivia.
He sits down beside me, long muscular legs splayed out, almost touching me, then he stretches his arms upwards, turns his face to the sky and gives a great yawn. It sounds like a long, satisfied growl and it reverberates deep inside me.
‘On the beer last night. Not entirely awake yet.’ He grins. Then he studies my face. ‘Are you okay? You look a bit flushed.’
I purse my lips ruefully. ‘Had a run-in with Lucy. She fell into a trough of green slime.’
He laughs. ‘Really? Hey, high five!’ He holds up his hand and I oblige. When our palms collide, I feel his long fingers curl briefly around mine and the contact sends a little pang of longing through me.
‘Nothing to do with me,’ I tell him. ‘She just fell.’
He chuckles. ‘That’s what they all say.’
‘It’s true!’
‘She had it coming to her, from what I hear.’
‘From what you hear?’ I glance at him questioningly.
He nods. ‘Pretty much everyone I speak to is coming over to your side. They think Lucy has behaved abominably, deliberately sabotaging your business.’ He grins. ‘It was the fish in the curtain hems that seemed to sway opinion in the end.’
‘Oh my God, everyone knows about that?’
‘I think so. A tale as juicy as that will spread round a village as fast as a salmon wriggling upstream.’
‘It wasn’t salmon. It was kippers.’ I correct him with a grin, feeling amazed that popular opinion seems to be on my side. ‘But why is Lucy’s place so full if she’s got a bad name?’
He shrugs. ‘People love a bargain, and Lucy seems to have a special offer on every day of the week.’
I recall her saying the money wasn’t rolling in, and an awful thought strikes me. If Jane and Harry aren’t getting the proceeds from this run, where is the sponsorship money going? Surely not directly into Lucy’s pocket?
‘I’m scared The Treehouse Café might flop as well,’ I admit, staring at him sadly.
‘It won’t.’ He studies my face, an expression in his eyes that makes the breath catch in my throat. ‘You’re lovely. You care about your customers and you make a mean cherry and coconut cake. It’s going to be a brilliant success.’
My eyes fill with tears at his obvious sincerity, and I laugh and brush them away. ‘I hope you’re right. We can’t lose Honey Cottage.’
‘Hey, you won’t.’ Gently, he cups the side of my face so there’s nowhere else for me to look but into the mesmerising depths of his blue eyes. I catch a flicker of torment in them, before his intense gaze drops to my mouth. My heart starts beating so fast I can barely breathe. The space between Theo’s strong lips and mine is so small and we’re moving towards each other, his hand tangled in my hair. For a brief second, I feel him stiffen and pull back, his eyes full of a savage emotion that makes my heart lurch.
Then his mouth comes down on mine and the passion that flares between us makes my head spin off into another realm.
Then, just as quickly, he pulls away from me. His breath is rasping and jerky, like mine, and he’s shaking his head, his hands gripping my arms so tightly, I yelp.
‘Sorry.’ He lets go. ‘Look, I can’t …’ I look up at him, desperate to know why, and my heart twists at the tortured expression in his eyes. He’s in deep pain and I have no idea why. But I want to help …
‘What’s wrong?’ I whisper.
‘I can’t do this to you.’
‘What? You can’t do what? Kiss me?’
He shakes his head. ‘You don’t understand. I’m jinxed.’ He laughs bitterly. ‘I’ve tried to think of it differently but there’s no other way to look at it.’
‘Jinxed? But how? I don’t know what you mean.’
He stares off into the trees, his face bleak, lost in some private torment.
At last he turns and shrugs. ‘It’s just that everyone I love ends up … suffering … and there’s nothing I can do about it.’
I stare up at him. ‘Not everyone, surely?’
He gives a bitter smile. ‘Everyone I really love.’ He adjusts his position so there’s a distinct distance between us, then he runs his hands over his face and through his hair. ‘I know people call me the Lone Wolf, but it’s not through choice, believe me.’
I swallow. ‘I heard that you were engaged …’
The silence, as I wait for his response, is electric.
He closes his eyes, and immediately I wish I could take back what I just said. It’s obvious he’s still grieving – I just really want to understand.
‘Her name was Rachel,’ he says at last, opening his eyes and staring out at nothing.
‘How did you lose her?’ I whisper.
‘She died.’ He glances across at me. ‘Sorry, I try not to dwell on the past. You’ve caught me on a bad day.’
I shake my head. ‘There’s nothing to apologise for. You’ve obviously been to hell and back and I’m so sorry for that. But I think …’ I hesitate, not wanting to give an opinion where it’s not wanted. ‘I think you shouldn’t just rule out being in a happy relationship again. You shouldn’t
