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Matt curled his lip to deny it and then muttered, ‘I don’t know. It seems – so bloody convenient.’

‘Well, it will hardly endear him to Zennor if that’s what you’re worried about. She must be thinking the same thing. I have no idea what she and Trev spoke about and it’s none of my business anyway.’

‘It’s none of mine, either.’

‘Yet you’re obviously upset about it. I think you have to talk to her.’

He snorted. ‘And tell her everything? Like how I feel?’

‘If you need to. You should.’

He hesitated for a moment; then he said, ‘No. All of that is in the past. It’s too late. The best thing I can do for Zennor is to leave her alone. I just hope Trev does too.’

‘Now you’re forewarned. Please be careful. Be sensible.’

‘Me? Be sensible?’ He scoffed, saying, ‘With Zennor, you mean? What does it matter if I’m careful or sensible or not? There’s nothing between us and never likely to be. She’s made that quite plain to me … unless you know different.’

‘I don’t, and even if I did, whatever Zennor said to me would be in confidence. All I’m saying is that if you do still harbour hopes in that direction, then you need to tread carefully rather than stomping in in your size-ten boots. Leave her to work out how she feels about Trev’s return – and yours. Put yourself in her shoes; it must be pretty overwhelming to suddenly find you both back on the scene and still at each other’s throats.’

‘I am not at anyone’s throat. Zennor can make her own decisions. I’ve learned my lesson.’

Sybil put her hand over his. ‘I hate to see you in pain and I’m only trying to help. Don’t lose hope. Your fate is in your hands. It always has been.’

A lump of tenderness towards Sybil rose to his throat before conflicting feelings took over – ones he didn’t like. He removed his hand from under hers and scooped up his car keys. ‘We both know that’s not true.’

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Over a week later, Zennor was still coming to terms with both of her exes being back in St Ives while she and Roo were preparing to shut up the office on Friday afternoon.

Zennor packed her laptop away in its bag while Roo collected some perishables from the staff fridge to take home.

Matt had inevitably been round the office a couple of times over the past ten days and she’d had to get used to his presence – not that there’d been much chit chat with the contractors with Roo there and everyone being so busy.

Zennor had missed one of his visits when she’d taken a quick break to Bournemouth for her nan’s eightieth birthday party. Her mum had hired a seventies tribute band and everyone, including her nan, had had a whale of a time.

She had had her heart in her mouth waiting for Matt to mention Trev but so far he hadn’t. He must know the man was back. St Ives was a small town with a febrile gossip network. It was impossible that he hadn’t heard news as big as Trev’s takeover of the St Piran’s. Besides, Sybil now knew and had probably told Matt.

Zennor had tried to downplay the shock she’d felt at seeing Trev. After all, he wasn’t going away and she was going to have to get used to coming across him. She’d already seen him from a distance, walking along the Wharf, and bumped into him while queueing in her favourite deli café which had also been a favourite of his. He and some guy she didn’t recognise had been shaking hands as if they’d done a deal. As soon as his business acquaintance had left, Trev had stayed to say hello and mentioned that they’d been discussing new branding for the St Piran’s.

Zennor had told Roo about Trev being back, trying to downplay his reappearance as much as she could. She wasn’t sure her friend had been convinced.

Roo returned to the main office. ‘Are you still going to this painting party at the Surf Club tomorrow afternoon?’

‘Hopefully, though I’ve had enough of the smell of gloss to last me a lifetime.’ Zennor didn’t mind doing her bit at the painting day, even though Matt would be there and probably supervising everyone.

‘Looks good, though, doesn’t it?’ Roo asked, eyeing the smartly painted walls of their office. ‘Matt’s done a good job.’

‘His decorators have done a good job.’

Roo raised an eyebrow.

She sighed. ‘OK. I agree. It does look good and the best thing is, it’ll all be finished soon and they can get out of our hair. So are you coming to the painting thing?’

Roo pulled a face. ‘Maybe. I’m going to try to drop in after Sierra’s swim class. Jake is taking Freddie to his cricket academy so he can’t come. Freddie isn’t supposed to bowl or bat yet but the coach invited him to come along and cheer on the team and maybe act as twelfth man.’

‘Poor Freddie.’ Zennor pictured his sad little face. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a large van squeezing along the Wharf, tooting its horn. It was the window fitters, who were replacing the doors and windows on the kitchen extension over the weekend.

She slotted her laptop into her backpack.