He nodded, not saying anything, and seeming to be lost in thought. Lainey didn’t probe. She’d seen Jake be the life and soul of the party, but she half figured that was a front for someone who actually spent a lot of a time thinking a bit deeper. There had to be more to someone who could take centre stage in front of a load of women at a gin tasting evening, but go home alone to a house you could get lost in.
Maybe Jake Maynard wasn’t that much of an attention seeker after all.
Chapter Ten
“So how was Sadie?”
Rayah sat down next to him and passed him a coffee and a pint of the speciality ale Scott had just put on tap.
“Calm. Did her homework. Ate her dinner without arguing. Didn’t tease the boys. What did you bribe her with?” Jake took the coffee first. He’d spent the late afternoon until six on pins, waiting for the demon to erupt from the tiny but fierce body of Sadie Grace Graham. It hadn’t, which had left him feeling confused.
Rayah sipped at the bottled water she’d opted for; he felt guilty as she really could drink, but then she hadn’t been responsible for Sadie for the last three hours.
“She wants horse riding lessons. Jonny and I have told her that if she starts to act responsibly, then she can learn to ride over the summer. I think Lainey’s running a camp.” She loosened her hair. “I know you’d teach her…”
“No, more than happy for Lainey to teach her. I’ll take Charlie for a few days – he can help me set up for the festival.” Jake thanked whoever it was who had worked out that grinding coffee beans and adding water worked beautifully.
Rayah smiled. “He’d love that.” She glanced at the door. “Oh, hello. We have company.”
Jake turned around to see what Rayah was looking at and shook his head. “For fuck’s sake. Why’s he back?”
Dylan Granger had worked for Jake’s uncle a few years back; he’d gone to school with Scott for a couple of years, until his parents had split, and he’d moved to Sheffield with his mum. When he’d come back to Severton, he’d caused bother with some of the locals, fights and the allegation of theft of a car. He’d been a decent worker though, a grafter, and no matter what he’d been up to the night before, he’d been up for work the following day.
Rayah shrugged. “Probably work. He was foreman on a building site in Northwood, but the company had to let people go.”
“How do you know this shit?” He was amazed at how much Rayah seemed to know about other people’s business.
“I don’t know. I just hear stuff. How’s your neighbour? Sadie said she came in your kitchen for eggs.”
“This is how you find out stuff. You ask a roundabout question and find out the gossip.” He sat back in his seat and folded his arms, focusing on his sister’s evil ways rather than the woman she was asking about.
Because the woman she was asking about had taken up a special place in his head for the last few weeks, ever since he’d found out exactly what was under those hoodies and jodhpurs.
“Just making conversation. A conversation which is going to have to be put on hold… Hi, Dylan. How’s it going?” She didn’t nudge up the seat to let Dylan sit down, which Jake was thankful for. Although Rayah had never put being polite above her own wishes.
Dylan Granger was tall, dark haired and swarthy, or so he’d heard him described. He’d never spent too much time with him, aware how he was a magnet for trouble, and as much as Jake wasn’t afraid of getting involved in a fight or two – he’d grown up in Severton, for fuck’s sake – he wasn’t one to court it.
“Good. I just took on a job here. It’s great to be back.” He looked cheerful, if a little zoned out.
Jake took him in. He was bigger, as if he’d been working out more, and there was something different about him. Something that smelt like coke, judging by the way he was moving.
“Where’s your job?” Rayah offered another smile.
“Next to Jake’s farm. The new owner wanted a cottage reno doing, and the boss put me in charge there. Sweet job. She seems sound too.” He gave Jake a sly look. “I bet you like having her as your neighbour.”
Jake caught Rayah’s expression, one of disgust, and saw her roll her eyes. There was an urge to push Dylan up to the wall and have a quiet word with him, but Jake had no call over his neighbour and what she did. He might’ve given her two orgasms, but there had been nothing since then and it had been weeks ago. He didn’t get the vibes that she wanted a repeat. Which was fine.
Only he wasn’t sure it was.
“She’s great. Really hard working.” Jake didn’t look at Rayah as he spoke. In fact, he tried not to even glance at her.
“Loaded as well. You should see what she’s having done to that cottage.” There was another grin. “How’re things with you? I heard you’ve got a battle of the bands thing on next weekend? Need any help setting up?”
Jake would normally take any help that was offered, but accepting Dylan’s – he wasn’t comfortable with that at the moment. He wasn’t comfortable with Dylan being at Lainey’s. He had no idea what Dylan had been involved with since he’d left Severton – he might’ve been practicing to be a saint – but until he had some idea, he wasn’t going to trust him.
“I think we’re sorted. But if I need an extra pair of hands, I know where to find you.” And if he heard of any new trouble, he’d know where to find him for that too.
“Sure. Any time.” He gave a little salute that made Jake want to break his fingers and wandered back over to the bar where Abby was serving.
