Wolfie rolled his eyes, exasperated. “I’m looking out for you, that’s all. A pretty girl, out on her own, wearing a nice dress … it can attract the wrong kind of attention.”
He thinks I’m pretty,was the first thought that danced across Pippa’s mind. But his protectiveness chafed, and she pushed away the languorous wave of delight his words elicited. “I’ll be all right,” she said. “The purity police aren’t patrolling tonight – I checked.”
“Haha,” he said dryly. “I mean, there are idiots out there.”
“Thanks for your concern,” Pippa said politely. “But I can look after myself.”
“I know that. I saw the way you handled Percival Smith.” Irritation creased Wolfie’s face and Pippa silently fumed. That Smith man had been odious, and she wasn’t about to apologise for standing up to him. Although it seemed Wolfie wished she would. He glared at her. “Look, do you want a lift or not?”
Pippa lifted her chin. “Thanks, but no thanks.” And with a prim nod, she scurried outside into the sunshine.
* * *
“I literally don’t get that man!” Pippa signalled the barman again. “He offers me a lift whilst being a dick about the way I behaved with the awful surveyor man today.”
“He sounds pretty chivalrous to me,” Theo said, finishing the dregs of his pint. He looked especially gorgeous, showing off his muscular body in a fitted shirt and jeans. “And he’s not wrong. Pretty lasses have been known to get bothered on public transport.”
“Well, not me.” Pippa shrugged. “I had a perfectly uneventful journey.” She finally got the barman’s attention and ordered the same drinks again. The Halfpennywas packed, with gentle soft-rock music coming from a three-piece guitar band in the corner. Despite the crowd, the friends had found seats at the bar where they could talk in comfort.
“Hang on, I think we’re missing the critical point here,” Frankie said. “Wolfie said you were pretty, right? He then offered you a lift into Sheffield. Hello?” He gaped, his hands spread wide. “The man clearly has a crush!”
“God, you sound like Mae,” Pippa groaned.
“Oh, well, case closed.” Frankie dusted his hands with a smirk. “If Mae’s noticed something then I must be right.”
Pippa gulped her wine. Wolfie had definitely reacted when he’d clocked her coming down the stairs, there was no doubt. “I’m always dressed like a slob or covered in cleaning products when he sees me,” she said. “He was probably shocked I even owned a dress like this, let alone had occasion to wear one.”
“I don’t know,” Theo said. “Frankie makes a compelling case.”
“Thanks, babe,” Frankie cooed.
Babe?Pippa mouthed at her cousin. When had Theo progressed to ‘babe’ status? Frankie merely smiled secretively. “Well, it’s all moot,” she said, shooting Frankie a look that saidthis isn’t over.“He’s got a girlfriend.”
“You’ve met her?” Theo asked.
“No, but, I’m fairly sure—”
“Ah!” Frankie pounced. “Fairly sure isn’t sure. You could be wrong.”
“I heard him on the phone.” Pippa’s cheeks heated. “He was all gaga, talking about how he wanted to sell Squires to please her, that she deserved it.”
Frankie took a contemplative sip of his wine. “Could you have misunderstood?”
“I don’t see how,” Pippa answered. Frankie’s knowing grin riled her and so she sat up straight. “What does it matter anyway?” she huffed. “He’s selling the place no matter what. I’ll be homeless again and out of his life soon enough.”
“Such a shame he’s selling,” Theo sympathised. “You’ll have to let me visit sometime before that happens.”
“For sure!” Pippa enthused. “As payment, I’ll rope you into helping organise the Summer Fair.”
“Hey, anything for Frankie’s family.” Theo winked at her, then excused himself to go to the bathroom. The moment he was out of earshot, Pippa whirled on Frankie.
“Okay, you have a minute to explain.”
Frankie assumed an air of innocence. “Explain?”
“Um,babe?” Pippa repeated. “Got something to tell me,babe?”
“Oh, that.” Frankie was enjoying himself. “Yeah … we might be kind of seeing each other.”
