Ethan smiled.“I can’t answer that question.”
“Why not?”
“I’m Special Forces.I can’t talk about my work.”
Fear gripped her heart.Special Forces were the best of the best.She knew he’d be exposed to danger in the army, but Special Forces were an entirely different league.They were sent to the riskiest situations.
A part of her was proud of him.He was dedicated.Another part was terrified.“Should you be gardening with your injury?”
“I’m meant to get regular, light exercise.”
She snorted.“There’s nothing light about the amount of work at Lilydale.”
“I know my limits.”
Did she want Ethan hanging around?It was another question she didn’t have an answer for, but at least he understood his work might be for nothing if she sold the place.“It’s fine.Tell me if you need any equipment or help.”
“I will.I’m really sorry this all happened, Chelsea.”His dark eyes captured her soul, sending her sympathy and understanding in one look.
She ducked her head as the tears threatened again and busied herself pouring the tea she didn’t want.“I’ll see you later.”
It wasn’t until he closed the door that she let out a deep breath.She had enough on her plate without adding her complicated emotional reaction to Ethan.They’d broken up a decade ago, but he had a magnetism which still drew her.It had been that way since the first day she’d seen him.
No.Pining after Ethan was not on her to-do list.
Shaking her head, she pulled out her phone and checked her action plan for the day, crossing off ‘Speak to Darren’.Next was to sort through the rooms.She’d start with the two bathrooms.There shouldn’t be anything sentimental in them, and they would be an easy win—which was what she needed right now.
Because Lilydale was proving to be far more challenging than she’d expected.
***
Sweat dripped down Ethan’s back as he hacked at the bougainvillea by the side gate, picturing Johann’s face as he did so.The audacity of the man to pay someone to destroy Aunt Maggie’s life’s work.And he’d made Chelsea cry.
She did her best to hide it from him, but she’d barely held it together.
When they were younger, he would have gathered her in his arms and held her while she’d sobbed, but he no longer had the privilege.He’d had to pretend everything was fine while all he’d wanted was to comfort her.
That and wrap his hands around Johann’s throat and choke him.
Letting out a deep breath, Ethan stepped back and put the hedge trimmer down.He was still seething after several hours of hard work.He knew better.He couldn’t let his emotions rule him.What he needed was a plan.Chelsea had already agreed she wasn’t selling the property to Johann and for that, Ethan was supremely grateful.But the man wasn’t likely to give up.Not if he’d been working on this plan for over a year.Why was that?
Ethan took out his phone, searched Johann’s name and found a profile on a social media site.The company he worked for was a multinational and did a lot of retirement villages and other types of development.So why Honeybrook?And who had he been planning this with?Ethan glanced at the house.
It wasn’t his business.Not really.But damned if he didn’t feel a sense of ownership over this property, this place.He owed it to Aunt Maggie to make sure her pride and joy wasn’t turned into a bunch of buildings with postage stamp backyards.He shuddered.
There wasn’t anything special about the land, or about Honeybrook either.Though the location was a good one; only a short drive from the capital city for those who wanted to retire in the country, but have all the perks of the city nearby.
He wandered away from the bougainvillea and towards the cottages on the property.During high school he’d fantasised about asking Aunt Maggie if he could move into one and leave his foster family, but he’d never got up the nerve.It would have hurt too much if she’d refused, and he’d figured if she’d wanted him here full-time, she would have asked him herself.
Grass had grown up the steps and wrapped itself around the wooden posts.He tested each step before he put his full weight on it, and they held.The door was locked, but he peered through the grimy window.The interior looked the same as it had a decade ago.A small open plan living area with kitchen, table, and sofa, and then a corridor branching down to two bedrooms and a bathroom.
He scanned the ground.A paved path used to wind its way between the three cottages and there was parking behind each one.He spotted the crushed gravel path and followed it around the back.
The parking area was clearish, though the grass was encroaching across the gravel ground.
A thorough clean, and tidying the worst of the overgrown grass, and the cottages could be reopened, assuming there weren’t any leaks.The view wouldn’t be as pretty as it once had been, but it would be an income for Chelsea and her mother.
He shook his head.
