Pepper River Boat Hut (Pepper Bay #15)

21

Zach

With furniture arriving all morning, and Cody due home at lunchtime, Zach couldn’t be more excited. Luckily, Candice hadn’t made any more appearances, and Olive seemed to settle into the house with him easily enough. It was as though they’d always lived there together.

He stood at the front door, staring over at the narrowboat. It was going soon, and part of him missed it already. Had they really lived on board? It already seemed like a lifetime ago.

Olive had gone to work at the garden centre, and she’d been gone for three hours. He took that as a good sign. Something else to celebrate.

The thought of her sleeping all night by his side in his new bed hadn’t left him. It wasn’t as though they had accidently fallen asleep like they had on the boat. This time it was planned, and he’d felt slightly nervous when she’d climbed into bed with him. It took a lot of willpower not to turn and kiss her, especially when she faced him and simply stared. He couldn’t be sure if she had something to say, but then she turned away and went to sleep, which was for the best.

As much as Zach felt his feelings growing for her, he’d asked her to come home with him so he could help her. The last thing she needed was him making moves. He seriously had to get a grip.

‘Zach,’ called a male voice.

He stepped forward to see his little brother coming over the bridge. ‘Cody?’

Cody picked up the pace, grinning from ear to ear. ‘Got back earlier than expected.’

Zach pulled him in for a hug, holding him longer than normal, as he didn’t want Cody to see how emotional he was feeling.

‘Oh, wow, look at the house. It has a roof.’

‘Yep, and the scaffolding comes down in a couple of days.’

Cody glanced at the river. ‘No rowboats yet?’

‘Soon.’

‘Brilliant.’ Cody walked over to the storage unit. ‘Grandad would have loved this.’

Zach gestured at the old kiosk Cody had renovated with Heath. ‘He would have loved that.’

Cody swung his arm around Zach. ‘I am so looking forward to summer this year. This place is going to be buzzing with tourists.’

‘Let’s hope so, eh?’

Cody glanced around. ‘So, where’s this mystery woman of yours?’

‘Hardly a mystery. She’s working in the garden centre.’

‘Oh, I didn’t go in there. We dumped our bags at Fran’s, and Willow went off to the stables to see her mum, and I came straight here.’

‘You can move in here with Willow if you want. This is your home too.’

‘Yeah, I know, but Willow loves living at the main house on the farm. Plus, she doesn’t like leaving Fran home alone.’

Zach laughed. ‘Fran’s too busy to be home alone. Besides, her sons live around her, and her home is always filled with people walking in and out. You sure you’re happy there?’

‘I’m just glad to be back in Pepper Bay. But Willow is my home, so as long as I’m with her, I don’t mind where we live.’

Zach ruffled his brother’s blond hair. ‘Aww, true love.’

‘Get off me.’

‘Be straight with me though, Cody. I need to know you’re happy where you are.’

Cody nodded. ‘Yeah, I’m good. Stop worrying. Anyway, once the Boat Hut is up and running, I’ll be over here a lot helping you, so you can see for yourself just how blissful my life is.’

Zach chuckled. ‘Is that right?’

‘I’m a married man now. You should try it sometime.’

‘I’ll give it some thought. Meanwhile, you don’t have to work here. I know you help out at the farm, plus you’ve got your graphic novels to write.’

‘They’re still selling really well, so I don’t need to make any more for a while. And Willow’s busy with the garden centre now she’s back. Peak season will be upon us all in no time. If all hands on deck are needed here, then count me in.’ Cody pointed at the narrowboat. ‘Did you really sleep on that thing?’

‘Nothing wrong with that.’

Cody crinkled his nose. ‘It’s a bit… worn.’

Zach laughed. ‘It did the job.’ He gestured at the house. ‘Come on. Grand tour.’

‘It looks different but the same, if that makes sense,’ said Cody, peering around.

‘Decorating still needs doing, but it’s all liveable now.’

‘And Olive is staying here?’

‘If you’ve got a point to make, Cody, spit it out.’

Cody shook his head, meeting his brother’s eyes with his matching pair. ‘No point. Just curious.’

‘You’ll meet her soon.’

Cody touched his arm, bringing his brother to a halt at the bottom of the stairs. ‘I have a confession to make.’

‘Oh yeah?’

‘I spoke to Adrian.’

Zach frowned. ‘About me?’

‘I just wanted to know about Olive. We got the lowdown from Willow’s family, then I looked her up online, and, well, I got worried she might be taking advantage of you.’

Zach quirked a brow. ‘I offered her help.’

‘Yeah, but what if she played you? Gave you a sob story so she could come here and take everything you worked so hard for.’

‘Flipping heck, Cody, I’m not a millionaire.’

‘You don’t have to be for someone to rip you off. I saw what her dad did to all those people, and one of them Florence’s sister.’

‘That was her father, not her. You’re being unfair.’

Cody shook his head. ‘No, Zach, I’m being careful. You already had one girlfriend steal your savings. I’m not about to let it happen again.’

‘Well, as much as I appreciate your concern, I’m not stupid. I learned my lesson with Candice. Olive isn’t her, and she’s here for a fresh start and to rebuild her life. She’s not my girlfriend, and I’m pretty sure she’s not about to steal anything, and as you can see, all of my money is tied up here, so if she wants to run off with the first pedalo to arrive, good luck to her.’

‘Zach, it’s easy to be blinded by someone you care about.’

‘I don’t care about her,’ Zach snapped. His head shot around to see Olive standing at the front door. Her face looked pale and her mouth was open as if to speak, but she just stared, and he instantly felt like crap. ‘Olive, I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. Cody was under the impression we’re a couple. I was trying to explain we’re not, that’s all.’ It didn’t matter what words he used, he could see she looked a little hurt.

‘I understand,’ she said quietly.

Zach stepped closer to her. ‘Sorry, Olive. My brother… Oh, erm, this is my brother, Cody.’ He turned. ‘Cody, meet Olive.’

Cody raised a palm. ‘Hiya.’

‘Hello.’

The atmosphere in the hallway was beyond awkward, and now Zach was wondering just how much Olive had heard.

‘I just met your wife,’ added Olive, eyes on Cody. ‘She invited us over for dinner tomorrow night.’ She turned to Zach. ‘I said I’d let you know.’

Zach looked back and forth between her and his brother. ‘That would be great. About time everyone got to know you.’ He noticed Olive swallow.

‘I’d like that,’ said Cody, heading for the door.

Zach followed him. ‘We’ll see you…’ Candice caught his eye. ‘Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me,’ he muttered.

Cody turned. ‘What does she want?’

‘Whatever it is, I’ll sort it. Go on, go home and get some rest. You’ve been travelling for hours. Have a kip or something. We’ll see you tomorrow.’ He watched his brother give his ex the death glare as he walked away.

Olive was still in the hallway, so Zach went outside to stop Candice from coming closer to the house.

‘I’ve been meaning to talk to you,’ said Candice.

‘What do you want?’ He didn’t mean to snap, but he was still wound up from Cody thinking badly of Olive. He hadn’t raised him to be so judgemental.

‘I want to borrow some money from you.’

Wow! You just got straight to the point .

He stared blankly at her, hoping she would just walk away.

Candice raised her eyebrows. ‘Well?’

‘No, you can’t,’ yelled Olive, appearing by his side. ‘So get lost.’

‘What has it got to do with you?’ Candice snapped.

‘Everything,’ said Olive. ‘You owe him money, and if you think for one moment he’s going to give you anything when you haven’t paid him back what you took, you’re deluded, lady.’

Candice leaned forward, stretching her neck as far as it was possible. ‘This is none of your business.’

‘He is my partner, and his business is my business, so get off our land, and don’t come back.’

Zach watched Candice’s mouth flap open and closed for a while before she turned on her heel and marched away. He looked at Olive, his own mouth gaping, but she stormed off in the opposite direction, leaving him at a loss for words.

What just happened?

He made his way back to the house to find Olive in the kitchen, preparing lunch.

‘I don’t want to talk about it,’ she said flatly.

Zach remained in the doorway, not sure which way to turn.

Olive spun around, butter knife in hand. ‘As long as I have breath left in my body, that woman will never get a penny out of you. And when I sit down to break bread with your brother and his wife tomorrow night, they will see that, unlike my father, I’m not a criminal, so all your bloody silverware is safe.’

He went to speak, but she picked up the butter and waggled it his way.

‘Like I said, I don’t want to talk about it.’

Zach quietly approached the worktop. ‘I’m just going to have a ham sandwich,’ he said softly, having no other words.

‘I can make that for you.’ Her voice was slightly calmer.

‘Thank you.’

Silence filled the air for a few minutes whilst she made their lunch, then they moved to a small table and sat opposite each other to eat.

Olive held her sandwich in front of her mouth. ‘I think I lied about being a criminal. I took the soap from my bathroom in your hotel,’ she mumbled.

Zach kept his eyes on his plate. ‘That’s allowed. It’s part of your complimentary pack.’

‘Okay,’ she murmured, then ate her food.

He glanced up, trying so hard not to smile.