Oliver joined her as she watched them run together along the shoreline. ‘Here.’ Pippa looked down to see him handing her a ball. She took it and their hands briefly touched. She instantly experienced the tingle of electric she read about in her romance novels. ‘Shall we walk?’
‘Yes.’ They strolled side-by-side in silence for the first five minutes, watching their pets. It was Pippa’s burning curiosity that broke the silence. ‘Estate agents? Is that to do with the pub?’
Oliver glanced her way and then looked off into the distance. Pippa studied his profile. She could see his jaw was still as square as when he was in high school now his beard was gone.
‘I don’t want to, but I’m contemplating selling the house. Mom and dad gave it to me, but it’s the only way of securing the pub without using the sleeping partner I’ve obtained... My gut is telling me even though promises have been made to not change anything, I think the prospective partner has other ideas.’
Pippa gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. ‘Oh no.’
Oliver sunk his face into his hands. ‘I know. I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. Selling my family home is the last thing I want to do. I want to be able to secure the pub without it. I have the option to go with the sleeping partner, but there’s no saying she won’t change things because she said she wouldn’t sign anything giving me one-hundred percent control over the say of how things are run.’
Pippa bristled. ‘She?’
Oliver nodded. ‘Yes...Ava.’
Chapter fifteen
Pippa regretted stormingoff the beach—regretted it because she’d left without uttering a reason why she was leaving Oliver, and because she’d pulled Ginger away from Jess. Oliver had called after her, but she hadn’t answered him. She couldn’t trust her mouth not saying the words her mind was thinking. She’d been thankful that Ginger had for once come to her on the first command. He must have sensed she was upset. Geez she loved that dog.
After that, she couldn’t face Oliver again. That meant no more working in the pub. She felt selfish and awful about letting her aunt down, but she just couldn’t face him. So she’d hidden away in her bedroom the following day, saying she wasn’t up to it when her father had knocked on the door, asking if she was going down to work the pub late morning. She was surprised when her father hadn’t pushed her for a reason.
Instead, she’d decided to busy herself getting the decorating supplies together to help Declan in his flat after he’d given her free rein to do as she wanted as long as the colour pink wasn’t involved.
As she headed for Old Po’s, she bumped into her high school friend, Mina. ‘I was just on my way to see you.’
‘No work today?’
Mina shook her head and winked. ‘That’s what I was coming to find out from you.’
Pippa frowned. ‘Has my Aunt Morgan been on the phone with you this morning by any chance?’
‘She’s only worried. She heard you leave as she was heading to your room to talk to you.’ Pippa sighed. ‘What’s up Pippa Pickles?’
Pippa lifted her eyebrows and tilted her head in warning. ‘Don’t. I’m not in the mood.’
Mina pulled a mock grimace. ‘Must be bad.’
