‘I knew about the one, of course I did. She didn’t mess around having another. Both with Jack, I guess?’
‘Yes, of course with Jack.’
Conor seemed wistful for a second. ‘It seems an age away now. I may be a mouthy so and so, but you know me, Kara. If she’s happy, then I’m happy.’
‘I must pee before I go.’ Kara ran to the bathroom.
Sabrina pushed her bottom lip out at the sweetness of Conor’s reply.
‘Areyouhappy, Dickens?’
BEEP. Saved by the text this time!That was SO HOT last night. Sorry I rushed off. Chat later, L x
Sabrina bit her lip.
‘Ah, I see, you are now.’ Conor nodded his head knowingly.
‘You see, too much, Conor Brady.’ They held a glance for a second.
‘I saw too much last night, to be sure,’ he joked, and Sabrina felt herself flush from head to toe.
‘Right! Are you fit, lady?’ Kara headed for the front door. ‘I’ve got a market stall to run.’
Chapter Seventeen
‘Ireally appreciate you doing this.’ Sabrina’s voice lifted an octave as Skye Bligh took yet another bend at speed in the branded Passion Flowers van.
‘No worries.’ Skye, the nineteen-year-old daughter of Star and employee of Kara, shouted over the 1975 track she was playing at volume. As they reached a sign that that said five miles to Penrigan, the van slowed, and Skye turned the music down to a comfortable level.
‘Phew, I thought we were going to be late delivering, but I’ve caught up now. Sorry for the hair-raising ride.’ The young girl laughed. ‘The hotel manager here can be a real stickler for time, you see.’ Sabrina found the girl’s light Cornish twang endearing. ‘And we have such a good gig going on here, what with a huge weekly display of fresh flowers for the grand reception desk, a smaller one for the spa, plus we are the hotel’s preferred wedding supplier, so we like to keep them happy.’
‘That is one good contract.’
‘Yes. Kara is good at her job, that’s for sure.’ Skye indicated right. ‘Do you mind– Jilly isn’t it?– if we stop off at the hotel first? Before I take you to Kevrinek, I mean.’
‘No, not at all I’m just so grateful for the lift.’
‘You should come and take a look inside. It really is a stunning place. People travel from all over to escape down here. It’s tourist prices but you’ll see it’s set at the top of a cliff, with panoramic sea views. Oh, yeah, and Kara told me it’s just won a Michelin star for its VISTA restaurant. The spa is top notch too, if you fancy a bit of pampering.’
Sabrina grimaced. ‘Look at me– I’ve got the same clothes on as last night and you could cook chips in my hair. I’ll wait in the car.’
‘People only worry about what they look like themselves, they don’t give a damn about anyone else, so I shouldn’t worry. But it’s up to you.’
‘So, you’ve got two much younger brothers, I hear. How’s that for you?’
‘I love it. Me and mum are like sisters anyway, and Jack– that’s her husband– he’s great. It’s all worked out well.’
‘Mum says you’re moving into the market for a few months.’
‘Yes, that’s right. And I’ve just agreed to move into Kara’s place down the front too, sharing with a guy called Conor.’
‘Not Conor Brady?’ It was Skye’s voice’s turn to go higher.
‘Yes. Big Frank’s nephew. And, oh god, don’t say it like that. I was in two minds as it’s such a small space.’
‘I thought he had left for good so it’s a bit of shock, that’s all. ‘Sabrina was desperate to ask about his relationship with her mum, but it turned out she didn’t need to.
‘He’s a lovely bloke. Mum dated him for a while. Asked her to marry him, he did. He thought the world of her. It was amicable when they split. He said he was leaving because he had work elsewhere but I’m not so sure. I think he was sad.’ They pulled into the tradesmen’s entrance of an impressive, gothic-looking dark-bricked building. ‘Here we are!’ Skye switched off the wipers causing the torrential rain to run down the windscreen in little rivers. ‘I won’t be long– put the radio on if you like.’
