I tiptoed downstairs with a cricket bat and paused on the bottom step.
In the kitchen, Minnie and Callie were barking along with the fridge in another one of their howling matches, and I suddenly realised that I had a man in the house and hadn’t even thought to wake him.
24
Stand By Me
Saturday night dinner for friends, and I was just about to light some tea lights when Emma and Chanel arrived through the back door.
‘Hi, it’s so nice to finally meet you,’ Emma said, shaking Luke’s hand. ‘Nina’s been keeping you under wraps, eh?’
Luke turned on the charm. ‘And you. I’ve seen most of Cornwall incognito, and it’s been pure bliss. You have a lovely corner of the world here.’
‘We like it,’ she said amiably as I came out with a tray of food.
‘Chanel,’ I said, ‘I’m so happy to see you. You have to stay for a sleepover tonight. Chloe and Jess would love that, wouldn’t you?’
‘Absolutely!’ Jess said, and Chloe nodded, hugging Chanel.
‘Jess, I’ve brought some music for you. They’re a pop band from Newquay.’
‘Cool – thanks, Chanel! I love your name, by the way!’
Chanel’s face brightened. ‘My mum’s, like, obsessed with fashion.’
Well, that one was sorted at least. I exhaled a sigh of relief as I put the dish down on the trivet, but not without a pang of regret. Jack should have been here as well.
The dinner with Emma went swimmingly well. She laughed at all Luke’s jokes and asked all the right questions. Luke asked her for a few of her business cards and promised to brag about the beauties of Cornish wedding venues, saying that he had a few friends thinking about tying the knot, and would she be interested?
‘Of course!’ she said. ‘I am already pretty much booked solid through for the next two years, but some celebrity names would skyrocket me to the top.’
‘Oh, Em, that’s fantastic!’ I cried. ‘I’m so proud of you!’
‘Thanks, love. But if things got any busier I’d need to hire a secretary.’
‘I’ll help,’ I offered.
Her hand shot to her heart. ‘You would?’
‘Of course. What’s a few phone calls and a few pickups for a friend?’
She hugged me. ‘Nina, you are the best! She’s the best!’ she said to Luke, who laughed.
‘She certainly is.’
‘Are you guys ready for dessert?’ I asked, getting to my feet.
‘I’ll help,’ Em volunteered, following me into the kitchen with the dirty dishes.
‘What the hell is going on here?’ Emma hissed as she put the dishes into the sink and ran the hot water.
I pulled out my tiramisu from the fridge. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean Luke O’Hara drooling over you…’
I giggled. ‘He wasn’t drooling, Em.’
‘He can barely keep his eyes off you.’
I sighed happily. ‘Okay, I’ll admit it. There might be a little something. Just kisses. But please don’t tell anyone. Not yet. It’s way too soon.’
‘Not even Jack?’
‘No one.’
‘It’s not like he won’t know. You know what Penworth Ford is like. You are the talk of the town.’
‘Career-wise, maybe, but I don’t want anyone getting any strange ideas.’
‘That’ll be difficult, seeing as he lives under your roof.’
I should have thought of that, if Nellie’s reaction at the tea room had been anything to go by. Apparently a man and a woman couldn’t be friends, according to them. How naïve of me.
‘In any case, are you sure you know what you’re doing? These Hollywood people are a bit flighty, aren’t they? One minute they’re married to one person and the next—’
‘Like you and me, you mean? Look at me, you, Jack – we’re all single. It must be a village curse. Alf, Deirdre, Bev, Carol, Stephen Nanfan. Even Old Nellie hankers for someone she lost years ago.’
‘I’m just saying. You know how these show-business people are.’
I huffed. ‘Why can’t you be happy for me?’ I whispered. ‘At least now I know I’m still alive.’
Her eyes widened. ‘Please tell me you and he haven’t—’
‘Of course not!’ I hissed. ‘What do you think I am, a hussy?’
‘Of course not. I have never met anyone so staid as you, Nina. And that’s why you, in particular, need to protect your heart from someone who will very probably hurt you.’
She had a point there. I was staid. But as far as getting hurt, something told me that I had already given in that department.
*
Because Jack’s aloofness was annoying me, I went over there the next day to see how he was doing. I found him in the barn, going through a batch of apples, checking them one by one.
If he was pleased to see me, he didn’t show it.
‘Hi, Jack, how’ve you been?’ I tried as I sat down opposite him on a bale of hay. It smelled nice in there, like someone’s happy childhood.
‘Busy,’ he said, his eyes swinging to mine. ‘Was Emma there last night, with you, no doubt flirting with your Hollywood bloke, too?’
‘Em? You know her, the life of the party.’
‘Don’t I just,’ he muttered.
‘What’s happening between you two? Have you fallen out or something? I never seem to get a hold of you at the same time.’
He shrugged. ‘I’ve been busy.’
‘What does that mean?’ I asked. ‘Are you seeing someone?’
‘Maybe. And you? What’s going on between you and your Hollywood star?’
‘Luke? What do you mean?’
‘Are you and he…?’
‘Of course not.’ I hoped he didn’t notice the sudden flush rushing up my neck and into my cheeks. I was never a very good liar.
‘You looked pretty tight to me.’
‘You must be joking. There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t argue.’
‘All the same, I saw the way he looked at you out at Predannack that day.’
I laughed. ‘Absolutely not. In any case, I’m not one to fall for an actor. They’re much too volatile. Not that I actually have time for a relationship, thank God.’
‘Women,’ he muttered.
‘Jack, have Emma and I done something to offend
