‘I’ll get this,’ Oliver said quickly.
Pippa shook her head vehemently. ‘No way. It was my suggestion.’
He held his hands up in a surrender position. ‘Okay, but I’ll get the next one.’
Pippa lifted her eyebrows. ‘So we’re doing this again?’
‘Breakfast and a walk on the beach with our pets? I’d like to while you are here. Wouldn’t you?’
‘I guess I would...that is, if you have time to fit me in.’
Pippa wanted to poke herself in the ribs for the snidey comment. It was so unlike her. Thankfully, Oliver didn’t reply. He just studied her briefly. His silent judgment made her want to shrink in her own skin. She turned her back on him and made her way to the counter to pay, sucking in a long breath in her brief respite.
Katherine smiled warmly at Pippa as she handed her a twenty-pound note. ‘Thank you. What are your plans for the day, Pippa?’
‘A walk on the beach, maybe a little light reading, and then the first shift of the day. Thank you, that was divine, Katherine.’ Pippa could see Oliver putting his coat on in her peripheral vision.
Oliver lifted his hand. ‘Yes, superb Katherine. Thank you.’
Katherine rung up the till and handed Pippa her change. ‘I’m glad you enjoyed it. Have a great day you two. I’ll see you later. I plan on having my evening meal at the pub tonight.’
‘Great, see you later. Katherine.’
Oliver was holding the door open for Pippa as she approached it. She turned her head to look at him as she stepped through the door. ‘Thank you. You are somewhat of the gentleman today, aren’t you?’ She silently scolded herself under her breath. ‘Stop that Pippa.’
His double-edged comeback made her smart. ‘I just can’t help it when I’m in the presence of such beautifulwomen.’
Not only was he complimenting her, he was complementing Ava, too. It served her right.
Pippa instantly shed her jealousy and pulled her mouth into a pleasant smile. ‘Shall we head for the cove?’
‘Sure.’
Ten minutes later, Jess and Ginger were running up and down the beach together and frolicking like a pair of love struck teenagers.
Watching them lifted Pippa’s spirits immensely. She analysed her earlier behaviour as they walked silently side-by-side on the wet sand and surmised she was subconsciously worrying about her father and selling the pub. Who would buy it if he agreed to sell? It had been her family home and business her whole life, plus it played an integral role in the community.
If it were sold to the wrong person and made into a commercial monstrosity, it could have a serious detrimental effect on their small town life, something both Oliver and Pippa had recently agreed needed invigorating.
‘Penny for them?’ asked Oliver.
Pippa drew her attention away from the dogs and turned to look at Oliver. ‘What?’
‘You have been miles away for the last ten minutes.’
She pursed her lips and squeezed out a small smile. ‘Oh, I was just pondering on the future of the pub if dad were to sell it. The buyer would need to have the community’s best intentions at heart. But there’s no guaranteeing that, is there?’
Oliver didn’t answer, but looked thoughtful. ‘I must admit Pippa, since you told me last night about the possibility of the pub and hotel going on the market, I’ve thought of nothing else.’ He stopped walking and turned to face her. ‘I’d be very interested in buying it myself. The only problem is, I’m not sure I’d be able to afford it. I’d probably need to seek the help of a sleeping partner, but then that brings its own issues. Such as, would the partner be as sentimental about the business as I would be because it’s more likely than not that heor shewouldn’t be a resident of the village?’
Pippa’s mouth dropped open. Oliver was the last person she would have expected to show interest. He already had a successful website building business. He wouldn’t have time to commit to both.
‘But what about your business?’
Oliver shrugged. ‘I’d be willing to sell it. That’s how strongly I feel about this.’ Pippa closed her mouth and looked towards the dogs as she processed the revelation. ‘I can’t read what you are thinking about from your features, Pippa. What are your thoughts about it?’
Pippa was stunned he cared what she thought. They hadn’t seen or heard hide nor hair from each other in years, and it wasn’t as if they weren’t working closely together through choice. She turned back to him with a smile. ‘I think you would be the perfect fit for the place.’ Oliver sighed a huge sigh of relief and his shoulders visibly dropped a few inches. ‘I’m so relieved to hear that. Shall we head back? We can talk more about it later.’
Oliver’s soft brown eyes held her gaze and her tummy fluttered. ‘Yes, I’d like that.’
