Lara pursed her lips and then said, ‘The hole in the roof, and the fact the tiles are ancient and crumbling, would suggest it does. As for being ripped off, I agree they might have tried that, if it hadn’t been for Tom.’
‘Hadn’t been for Gramps? I don’t understand.’
‘Tom told me to mention his name to any tradespeople I might call. It worked wonders. They’ve all given me a big discount. Hence the offer from me of that pie and a pint. Now, of course, I’ll have to think of another way to repay him.’
‘Repay him? Because saving his life wasn’t quite enough?’ He shook his head. ‘Gramps made it very clear to me that we’re the ones who owe you, not the other way around. And I agree. I had a sleepless night last night thinking about what might’ve happened if you hadn’t found him when you did.’
Lara’s irritation floated away. ‘But he’s fine now. That’s the important thing.’
‘Yes. Yes it is.’
He met her look and held it until Lara had to look away. Her cheeks were burning and those tingles she had experienced last night were dancing around inside her again this morning.
‘I’d better go,’ she said.
‘Me too. I really need a shower.’
Lara let out a little laugh. ‘I didn’t want to say anything but…’ She screwed up her nose.
His laugh sent those tingles soaring.
‘Give my love to Tom,’ she said, trying to regain her composure as she forced herself to move away.
‘I’ll do that.’ Jasper nodded.
Lara was so tempted to glance behind her as she walked away.
‘Lara?’ He caught up with her a few seconds later.
‘Yes?’ She stopped and looked at him.
‘We’re both going the same way,’ he laughed.
‘Of course we are,’ she said.
They walked on in silence for a moment or two and then Tom’s cottage came into view.
‘Have you had breakfast?’ Jasper asked.
‘Breakfast? No. I meant to but Bob and Colin arrived and … It doesn’t matter. No. I haven’t.’
‘Would you like to join me? I was going to go to Bonnie’s Diner. It does the best Full English you will ever taste. My gran used to…’ He smiled as he walked. ‘I expect Gramps has told you all about Gran.’
‘Actually, he hasn’t. He told me her name and that she had sadly passed away, but not much else. And yes. I would lo…, I mean, like to join you.’ She shot him a look but he hadn’t seemed to notice her change of the word love, to like.
‘I just need that shower,’ he said.
Were his eyes suggesting that she might like to join him there too? No. She was obviously imagining that. Wishful thinking was a dangerous thing.
‘I can meet you there,’ she offered. ‘I need to call in to the pet shop, so I could do that first. Oh. But I’ll need my car for that. Cat litter is heavy.’
‘You could wait for me in Gramps’ cottage and we could take my car.’
An image of Jasper in the shower appeared in her mind’s eye.
She hadn’t tried to seduce him last night but there was no guarantee she wouldn’t try to do so this morning, given the way she was feeling right now. She clearly wasn’t herself. She didn’t behave like this. She needed to get a grip.
‘Why don’t I walk into the village while you have that shower? I need the fresh air to clear my head. Then you can bring your car and we’ll meet in the diner.’
