‘Is everything all right, Jenna?’
She paled as she saw Sam strolling up to them, appearing perfectly calm and unhurried, but with a look in his eyes that she’d not seen before. He was controlling it well, but she recognised it for what it was. Anger. He was clearly disgusted with Joel for dragging her off like that, and as he met her husband’s gaze, he didn’t bother to hide it.
‘Sam, I presume?’ Joel drawled. ‘You must be Jenna’s boss.’
‘Not really,’ Sam said. ‘That would be my dad.’ He gave Joel a look of contempt then turned to Jenna. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine, Sam. Don’t worry. I’ll be back in a minute.’
‘Why shouldn’t she be okay?’ Joel demanded. ‘And what’s it got to do with you anyway? If I want to talk to my wife, I’ll talk to my wife.’
‘And you need to drag her around like a rag doll to do that, do you?’ Sam asked evenly.
‘What are you on about? Look, what is this?’ Joel turned to Jenna. ‘Is there something going on between you two, or what?’
Jenna’s face burned. ‘Sam’s my friend,’ she said. ‘A good friend.’
‘Clearly. Why is he buying my children riding lessons?’
‘Why don’t you ask me yourself?’ Sam said, folding his arms.
Joel glared at him. ‘Okay, I will. Why are you buying my children riding lessons?’
‘Because it’s their birthday.’
‘I’m aware of that. Why would you be buying them presents?’
‘Because they’re nice kids.’ Sam raised an eyebrow. ‘It’s their birthday. And I’ve been invited to their birthday barbecue.’
‘Why riding lessons, though?’ Joel asked impatiently.
‘It’s just one riding lesson, to see if they like it. Because they’re obsessed with those ponies, aren’t they? Especially Heatherstone. Well, he’s Ada’s favourite anyway, isn’t he?’
Joel stared at him, clearly not sure if Sam was telling the truth or not.
You’d know all that, if you bothered to ask them anything.Jenna decided it was time to get to the point. ‘What do you want to talk to me about anyway?’
‘I want to know why you’re working in a pub, and why you thought it was okay to take my children to work with you and let them play games with some old man they’d never met before.’
‘That “old man” is my dad,’ Sam said angrily. ‘What are you implying?’
‘They were perfectly safe,’ Jenna said. ‘Do you think I’d put them at risk? Of course I shared your concerns, and I kept checking up on them, as did Sam. Look, Seb’s right over there by the barbecue. Go and talk to him if you want. Put your mind at rest.’
‘Like that’s going to happen,’ Joel said. ‘Why have you taken on work anyway? You’re supposed to be on holiday. You dragged my children to the back of beyond here for six weeks and I assumed it was because you wanted to spend time with them. Instead, I hear you’re working behind a bar and leaving our girls with anyone who’ll have them.’
‘With their family!’ Jenna snapped. ‘Not just anyone!’
‘And this Seb’s family now, is he?’
‘He’s a friend of the family,’ Jenna said. ‘My mum and Mac were at school with him. They’ve known him all their lives.’
‘Great recommendation. It still doesn’t explain why you’ve taken on a job in your holidays. I presume this is temporary, or are you planning to give up teaching for a second career?’
‘She was helping me out,’ Sam said. ‘We were short-staffed and she kindly stepped in, that’s all.’
‘She had no business doing that,’ Joel said. ‘Not when she has our children to look after.’
‘Are you still with your girlfriend?’ Jenna demanded angrily.
