‘But no black leather,’ she said, refusing to admit how she was feeling at that moment. The sudden charge of desire was making all that sensible, let’s-get-this-right determination dissolve, melt away under the jump-start flash of his hot grey eyes.
‘Purple leather would be okay.’ He grinned. ‘With matching knee-high boots.’
Willow thought that if Sarah had anything remotely resembling that particular combination in her boutique, she might just toss her good intentions to the four winds and let herself be recklessly, irredeemably tempted.
Amaryllis stopped them as they passed the door of her tiny emporium, and handed Willow a small carrier. ‘They’re candles. You’ll need them tonight.’
‘Will we? How do you know?’
‘Trust me. I’m an aromatherapist.’
Willow glanced uncertainly at Mike. ‘That’s what she says. Actually, she’s a witch,’ he said, almost believing it. There was something about Amy that always made Mike vaguely uneasy. He had the feeling that she knew it and that it amused her. ‘But she’s right. You can trust her. She knows everything.’
He took the bag, opened it. There were a dozen or so candles made to float in a dish, or a pond. Willow peered over his shoulder and sniffed appreciatively.
‘What is that?’
‘Palmarosa,’ Amy told her. ‘To alleviate emotional disharmony. And Rose otto, to soothe negative feelings.’
‘If the electricity goes out we’ll need all of that,’ Mike said. ‘Any suggestions regarding food?’ he asked drily. He glanced at Willow. ‘Or we could still eat out?’
‘Smoked salmon,’ Amy suggested. ‘Avocado. Peaches.’ She never took her eyes off Willow and, after a slight pause, she smiled and added, ‘Dark chocolate.’
Willow sighed with pleasure. ‘I’m not arguing with that.’
Maybe it was the scent of the candles, or Willow’s eager anticipation of her favourite foods, picked with unerring accuracy by his unsettling tenant, but Mike found himself smiling, too. ‘If we have a power cut tonight, Amy, I’ll look out for you flying home on your broomstick.’
‘Actually, Mike, I usually take the bus.’ Her brows twitched mischievously in Willow’s direction, then she bent to pick up a small black cat that appeared at her feet.
Mike left Willow with Sarah and, after a visit to the nearest supermarket, he headed back to the cottages. His slightly euphoric mood was dashed by the discovery that Jacob Hallam had returned from London and was now upstairs with Emily, keeping his promise to help with the decorating.
‘Hello, Mike. Willow not with you?’ he asked casually, as he paused to recharge his roller. Casual wasn’t fooling Mike. The man had one reason and one reason only for giving up his time this way.
‘She’s shopping. I didn’t expect you today. Aunt Lucy said you were up in town.’
‘I was. Turn your back for a minute and someone starts a takeover rumour.’ Mike stared at him. He was that Jake Hallam? Software magnate at twenty-five… ‘But, hey, what’s a rumour when kids need a place like this.’
‘You didn’t have to rush back, we’d have managed.’
‘Really? You don’t appear to have been doing that well according to the Evening Post.’
‘Oh, great. What are they saying? No. Don’t tell me—’
‘I thought I’d better fill him in on the details,’ Emily said, adding pointedly, ‘that you and Willow have holed up here while you sort things out.’
‘Are you sorting things out?’
‘We’re getting there. Which is why I know you’ll understand why I’d be grateful if both of you were somewhere else when the sun goes down.’
Jake lifted the roller from the tray, but paused before applying it to the wall. ‘You’ve got it. In fact if you get it right I’ll stand as godfather to your first-born.’
There was an element of challenge in that statement that Mike couldn’t let pass. ‘And if I get it wrong?’
He grinned. ‘Maybe I’ll ask you to return the favour.’ Mike didn’t think, he reacted, slamming Jake back against the wall. ‘Hey, mind the paint—’
‘You mind your own damned paint. And I’ll mind Willow.’
Pinned against the wall, Jake just grinned. ‘Good reflexes. It’s a pity your brain isn’t working at the same speed.’
‘What?’ The red haze cleared and Mike took in with horror the way his hands were bunched around the man’s shirt front. The mess he’d made of the newly painted wall.
‘I was just kidding, Mike. Anyone who knows me will tell you, I’m not the settling-down type.’
He released the man. ‘Emily…Jake…I’m so sorry.’
But Emily was grinning, too. He couldn’t understand why they found it so funny. ‘Don’t be. I love it when a man isn’t afraid to show exactly how he feels about a woman.’
‘Just don’t forget to let Willow know, too,’ Jake said. ‘And save me a place at the font. I might not be into marriage but, I promise you, I’m a great godfather.’
Mike’s reaction to the thought of Willow with his baby in her arms was so utterly overwhelming that he couldn’t answer. Instead he retreated to the kitchen and spent what was left of the afternoon installing the shelves and thinking about what Willow had said. Trying to think of some way that they could both have what they wanted and still be together. Wondering how she felt about having a baby. She’d need a year or two to establish herself first.
He could wait.
The hell he could.
‘THE shelves look wonderful, Mike.’ Willow dropped the glossy carriers containing her new clothes and crossed to have a closer look. ‘Are they finished?’
‘They just need painting. I’ll do it tomorrow when you’re in London.’
She looked around. ‘Where is everyone? I expected the place to be buzzing by now.’
‘Jake Hallam had a date.’ It was probably true. ‘And I’ve a feeling that Emily might just be putting people off so we can be alone. I feel guilty about that, she looked exhausted.’ Definitely true. ‘So I gave her a bar of your favourite chocolate and sent her home to put her feet up.’ He grinned at her expression. ‘Don’t worry, there’s another one in the fridge. You’ve been an age. Did you find an outfit to impress your new boss?’
‘That was the easy bit. Then I needed shoes, and a bag and underwear—’
‘Underwear? I thought you’d already got the job—’ He backed off hurriedly as she advanced on him. ‘Hey, I was just kidding!’ She kept coming. ‘Really! The first thing I do when I get a new suit is hunt down matching boxers…’
Her scowl disintegrated into a giggle that made him want to just grab her and hug her and never let her go. ‘Sarah was terrific; and afterwards Amy made us all a cup of camomile and honey tea. Very soothing. I really like her, Mike. She’s…’ Willow shrugged. ‘I don’t know. There’s just something about her.’
‘Hmm. Are you hungry?’
‘Not desperately. A glass of cold white wine would be good, though.’ She opened the fridge door, took out a bottle