“Yep.”
Wolfie swallowed. “How did it…? I mean, how did it go, in the end?”
“It was a bad time. Early onset, you see.” Pippa had the strangest sensation that Wolfie was very much hanging on to her words and it was as intoxicating as it was discomfiting. “I was only a teenager – it’s all kind of fuzzy now – but it was so awful to feel that helpless as someone you love just … vanishes.” She ducked her head. It wasn’tentirelyfuzzy. It had been quite simply one of the most horrendous times of her life. Uncle Jack reduced to a shell and needing round-the-clock care. Aunty Pauline barely able to get out of bed, such was the weight of her grief. AndFrankie.His suffering had been seismic.
“I’m so sorry you went through that.” A corner of his mouth lifted. “But it’s nice to talk to someone who understands.”
Pippa had never considered that she might have something in common with the likes of Wolfie Squires, but here was an area of commonality where she’d least expected it.
“You can talk to me any time you like,” she said softly.
Wolfie nodded his thanks and his bright blue eyes flicked to her mouth yet again. Instinctively, Pippa licked her lips and Wolfie’s gaze tracked her tongue. Pippa knew she wasn’t imagining the way his breath sped up, the charge in his eyes, just as she knew she wasn’t imagining the heat pooling deep within her, the low ache between her thighs. Wolfie took a step towards her, something unnameable burning underneath that intensely still face. He opened his mouth and—
“Has it stopped?” Mae reappeared at the top of the stairs, causing Pippa to jump so hard she winced. “That stopcock took an age. It was a bastard to twist, but the water should be off now.” Pippa turned back to Wolfie but he’d moved away to inspect the pipes.
“Looks like it,” he replied. He withdrew from the cupboard and gestured to the floor. “I’ll clean this mess up. Can you call a plumber?”
“O-of course. I know exactly the woman.” Pippa fought to get the words out. Linda Cornish had fixed most of Goodman’s Farm’s ancient pipework; she was more than qualified. Once back in the dry sanctuary of the kitchen, Pippa began searching her phone for Linda’s number.
“Are we going to talk about what just happened?” Mae asked archly.
Pippa composed a hasty text to Linda and shoved her phone in her pocket, avoiding Mae’s stare. “It’s an old house, Mae. Plumbing emergencies are to be expected.”
“Give over.” Mae tilted her head, snagging Pippa’s attention. “You know that’s not what I mean.”
“I really don’t,” Pippa said innocently.
“Oh Pip, come on! I left you and Wolfie alone for two minutes!” She smirked. “I come back upstairs and the pair of you were like, seconds from tearing each other’s clothes off.”
“No we weren’t!” Pippa retorted.
“You were panting,” Mae said wickedly.
“That’s an exaggeration!” Pippa blushed.
“No, it’s not,” Mae asserted. “What’s more, that man was looking at you like he wanted to ravish you. Trust me on this.”
Pippa shook her head. Now the heat of the moment had passed, she wasn’t sure if what she’d felt was real. If she’d imagined the intensity of Wolfie’s gaze. “He’d just told me something really personal,” she said. “I was merely trying to be a friend.”
“A friend? To Wolfie Squires?” Mae was disbelieving. “The man who makes Dobermans look approachable?”
“He’s not that bad,” Pippa protested. “He wanted to make sure I didn’t get my injured finger exposed to wastewater, that’s all.” She showed off her bandage.
“Oh, did he?” Mae gave her a knowing look. “How very Knight in Shining Armour of him.”
“Shut up,” Pippa groaned. Her phone began to vibrate in her pocket. Expecting to see Linda’s name on the screen, she pulled out her phone. And then dropped it on the table.
Alex Goodman.
Mae clocked it and pulled a face, jabbing at the red call-end button as if poking a venomous snake with a stick. “What the fuck?”
Pippa thudded down into her chair. Why was he calling? It had been months of radio silence and it had started to feel like she had turned a corner. But now, Alex was for some reason, forcing his way back in. The phone started up once more and Pippa watched, paralysed with indecision.
“Why is he calling?” she croaked. “What does he want?”
“You won’t know until you talk to him,” Mae said softly. “Which, personally, I don’t advise.”
Pippa’s insides churned. The anguish of those early post-breakup days reared its head again and it was then she realised how far she’d come. How little he’d crossed her mind of late. Losing Alex had been like losing her rudder and the mere visual of his name on her phone brought that loss screaming back. She couldn’t bear it. “What do I do? What if something’s wrong with him?”
