Chapter 2 #2
The stranger seems to be contemplating my words, or maybe he’s just admiring the view. Either way, his eyes have softened a little and his lips are no longer twisted in a snarl. Finally.
It makes him even more attractive, damn it.
“Alright,” he says eventually. “I believe you. But you need to be careful around here. This is not the kind of place where you want to be making enemies.”
“I don’t plan on making any enemies,” I say, trying to keep my voice light and friendly. “I just want to have a good summer and find a job.”
“Good luck with that,” he mutters, turning away and disappearing into his house.
I watch him go, feeling a little deflated. He’s not exactly the friendly neighbour I was hoping for, but at least he’s not trying to kick me out anymore. And who knows, maybe he’ll warm up to me eventually.
As I turn to go into my grandmother’s house, I can’t help but feel a shiver run down my spine.
Something about him, beyond the gruff exterior and snappy attitude, draws me to him.
Maybe it’s the way his muscles bulge or the way his eyes seem to gleam with a hidden story or the sharp way he watches me.
Whatever it is, I can’t ignore it. I can’t believe I didn’t get his name, but I guess with three months of living beside each other ahead of us, there will be plenty of time to get to know each other later.
Whatever. I have more pressing matters to attend to, like finding the key to the damn house, and then finding a job and exploring. Who knows what other secrets this place holds, besides my mysterious and brooding neighbour.
For now, I’ll let him sulk in his house and focus on making the most of my summer.
Maybe he’ll come around and join me in the fun.
Or maybe I’ll find someone else to share my adventures with.
Either way, I’m ready for whatever this scorching summer has in store for me – so long as that includes gainful employment.
“Knock, knock,” a friendly sounding voice calls through the open doorway a couple of hours later.
I’ve been unpacking and exploring the large old house, but I’m honestly not expecting any visitors.
I don’t know anyone down here in the sleepy seaside village of Silver Sands, North Devon. Known to the locals simply as Silver.
“Coming,” I shout from the kitchen at the back of the property.
It’s hotter than hell today and Nanny D’s ancient property definitely doesn’t have air conditioning, so the only way to get any breeze was to have all the windows and doors open.
I figured it would be safe because the house is set back from the road with a long driveway and front lawn.
I definitely wasn’t expecting any visitors.
“Hi, can I help you?” I ask, pushing through the swinging door that separates Nan’s kitchen from the lounge.
I love that the sitting room is at the front of the house to make the most of the ocean views, but that swinging door is something out of a childhood dream.
I chuckle to myself and mute the music playing through the wireless system, stopping a summer banger in its tracks.
Despite the age of the house, Nanny D has the place kitted out with all the mod cons and gadgets, much to my delight.
Standing in the open doorway there’s a girl who looks to be about my age, maybe slightly older. She’s wearing trainers, smart beige cargo shorts and a blue Butler Hotels polo shirt. She’s also beautiful and beaming the biggest smile at me.
“Hi! You must be Lani,” she says with a wave. I’m impressed she said my name right, most don’t on the first try. It’s l-ah-ni, not lane-y. I smile at her. Hooked on one arm is an old fashioned wicker picnic basket which looks heavy and awkward to carry. “Can I come in?”
“Sure,” I say with a shrug, even though I have no idea who she is or what she’s doing here. She knows my name, so that has to count for something, right?
“Here, this is for you. It’s really heavy, so you might want to set it down.”
She holds out the picnic basket and I take it from her, noting she was right about it being heavy, and placing it on the coffee table. The girl is almost bouncing on the spot with excess energy. It’s kinda cute, but also exhausting to watch.
I’ve no idea if she’s an omega like me, or a beta like I’m pretending to be. But she’s small, curvy and brim-full of energy.
“So, you’re probably wondering who I am. Nanny D asked me to look out for you, drop some fresh bits off for the fridge, and to generally make you feel welcome. Take you under my wing so to speak.”
I give her a tight smile because despite this information dump, she’s still missed out one key detail - her name. Also, why is she calling my nan, Nanny D?
“Thanks…?” I raise a brow at her waiting for the introduction.
“Oh shit! Hi, I’m Aisling by the way. And you’re Lani.
Nanny D is, like, my favourite person in the whole wide world and she said we would get on like a house on fire!
I already miss her so much, she’s only been gone two days.
I hope she left some cookie dough in the freezer.
I’d die if I had to go three whole months without her cookies, wouldn’t you?
Chocolate chip are my favourite. You don’t fuck with a classic, Nanny D always says, and I agree.
The cookies at the hotel are rank. Who the fuck wants avocado in their cookies? ”
I nod along as Aisling rambles on, taking in her energy and enthusiasm.
It’s a lot to handle, but there’s something infectious about her that makes me want to listen to her all day.
Maybe it’s the fact that I’m all alone in this big old house and she’s the first friendly person I’ve spoken to since I got here.
“Thanks for bringing this,” I say, gesturing to the picnic basket on the table. “It was really kind of my nan to ask you to look out for me.”
“Oh, it’s no problem at all,” Aisling says, grinning at me. “I love meeting new people, and I love Nanny D, so it’s a win-win situation. Plus, it’s not like there’s much else to do around here.”
I laugh, feeling a little more at ease now that she’s made me feel welcome. “Yeah, it seems pretty quiet.”
“It is, but there’s plenty of stuff to do after hours, if you catch my drift.”
“Ummm…no?”
“Well tomorrow is officially the first day of the summer season for us. By us, I mean everyone who works for the hotel or just the Butler empire in general, which means that tonight is the annual summer launch party for all the staff and locals. It’s an absolute scream.
You have to come.” I grimace. “Uh-oh what’s that face for?
Don’t tell me you hate parties. Oh god, it’s the beach isn’t it?
You hate sand? You prefer books to people?
Shit! I thought we were going to be friends! ”
I laugh and hold up my hands to stop Aisling’s spiralling ramble. “It’s not that partying isn’t my thing – I love to dance and I can hold my drink when I’m in the mood for it.” She doesn’t need to know that I do prefer books to people.
“Oh good! See? I said we’d have the best time! Plus, you’re, like, really pretty. And you’re new here, so you’re gonna attract a crowd, but we can totally work that to our advantage and—”
“But,” I say with emphasis, interrupting her interruption. “I have a job interview in the morning. Nan left me a note on the fridge and it’s at nine am, so the last thing I need is a late night or a hangover.”
Aisling grins at me. “First, the interview is a technicality. You’ve got the job, trust me. You could turn up to that interview in nipple tassels and a thong and Old Pete will hire you on the spot.”
“Because he’s a lech?” I ask, screwing up my nose in disgust.
“Nooooo, because everyone loves Nanny D and will do anything for her. Well, except for the Butlers, but that’s a whole other story.”
“Okay…?”
“Second, you don’t have to drink or stay out late. I’m not about to be the sort of friend who peer pressures you into doing a whole heap of shit that you hate. Except coming to the party in the first place. That part’s mandatory.”
“Tell me about the Butlers. What’s their problem with my nan?”
“They want her house. It’s the last remaining plot of private land around here.
‘On the estate’ as they like to say, which is utter bullshit.
It’s not an estate, they just railroaded their way through the locals, turfing them out, knocking down houses and building their steel monstrosities in their place.
Not themselves of course, but they hire builders, you know?
Anyway, Nanny D is the only one who refused to sell.
Repeatedly. They think this place is an eyesore but they’re wrong. I love the character and charm.”
“Me too,” I quickly agree. I couldn’t imagine this beautiful old house not overlooking the ocean because something modern and cold and impersonal was in its place.
“Yeah so anyway, the Butlers absolutely hate her for it, but mostly they try to keep on her good side and try to change her mind at every opportunity. They hope to wear her down or something. They’ll be so pissed off when they find out about you.”
“Me? Why?”
“They assumed she didn’t have any family.
” I wince. That’s the second painful reminder I’ve had since arriving that my nan and I are still strangers.
“Sorry. But everyone thought Nanny D was a loner, and there’s, like, a clause in the land deeds or something that says if the house isn’t sold or passed down through an inheritance when the resident dies, it reverts back to the beach estate.
Which means it becomes part of the Butler empire because they now own the beach. ”
“People can own a beach? Jesus, that sucks.”
“Sucks for them! Because now you’ll get the house and they’ll be forced to look at the peeling paintwork for another eighty years.”
I laugh because I doubt I’ll live to be almost one hundred, but I love Aisling’s exuberance and her stick-it-to-them attitude. I don’t know who the Butlers are, but they sound like entitled, rich arseholes if you ask me.
“So you’ll come to the party?” Aisling asks expectantly.
“Sure. Just for a bit. Where’s it at?”
“It’s down on the beach. There’ll be a big bonfire so you won’t miss it.
But we can go together anyway. There’s a load of beach huts further down the shore, away from the main tourist area, that are owned by the Butlers but are for the use of the staff, so there’s a fully stocked bar and shit, somewhere to sit, whatever. It’s cool.”
“Okay, so I’m guessing it’s pretty casual then?”
“No way! There’s always a theme. This year it’s Barefoot Barbie! I’m so freaking excited for it. I’m just trying to decide if I should wear the blonde wig I ordered online. What do you think? Should I go Barbie-barbie, or just Barbie?”
She’s said the b-word so many times it now sounds funny in my head and I still have no idea what she’s talking about. But I shake my head. “No way. Your hair is absolutely stunning. Embrace it,” I tell her, admiring her gorgeous long, flowing flame-red locks.
She beams at me. “Aww, thanks! You’re so sweet. Yes, it’s natural, but it’s not naturally this straight. I’m cursed with chaotic curls…Oh!”
“What?”
“I just had the best idea!”
“What?” I ask again, but slowly this time, with a sense of dread settling over me as she eyes my long dark hair.
“You should wear the wig.”
I try not to look offended and obviously fail because Aisling cackles.
“It will be a scream! No one knows you, so you’ll have that mysterious stranger vibe going on, but this will just heighten the mystery.
You could do anything you wanted tonight and tomorrow no one would even bat an eyelid or recognise your face.
It’s genius! You know you look like that famous singer, right?
The one in Neighbours? It’s Nanny D’s favourite show so I always watch re-runs with her on my day off.
God, I can’t remember her name now, but I swear you’re her double. Anyway, the wig will be h-o-t, hot!”
I can already tell that arguing is going to be pointless as Aisling claps her hands together and starts planning our hair, makeup and outfits.
“Come get ready at mine! I’ll do your makeup. And…don’t take this the wrong way, okay, but you can borrow one of my dresses too. You don’t look like you own that much pink.”
“Umm, okay. Where’s that?”
“Where’s what?”
“Your place.”
“Staff quarters. There’s a lodge next to the main hotel. It’s on the far side of the hotel so you can’t see it from here, but it’s pretty alright as far as shared, co-ed accommodation goes.”
I wrinkle my nose. Rather her than me.
“Do you have to stay there if you’re employed with the Butlers?”
“No, it’s optional. But I don’t drive yet and my parents’ house is a little too far away to walk, and my housekeeping shift starts at like, six am so it’s a bit of a killer.
Plus, when I pick up extra shifts in the restaurant or bar, I’m sometimes working until midnight or one, two in the morning.
My dad would not appreciate chauffeuring my ass all summer long.
And it’s part of the job perks, so it doesn’t cost anything to stay there – we just cover our own food, but restaurant workers get a meal on shift anyway – so I’m not wasting my wages renting somewhere close by. ”
I nod my understanding, grateful that Nanny D has given me her place for the summer. If Aisling’s right and I do get this job tomorrow, then it’ll allow me to save back up for uni.
“I tell you what,” Aisling says, looking at her phone and then at me. “We don’t have a whole heap of time to get ready anyway, so why don’t you come to mine now and we can get ready.”
“Do I have any choice?” I ask.
“Yeah! Of course. But also, no. Not really.”
I laugh at her honesty. “Okay, let me just lock up and get sorted.”
Aisling grins so widely at me, I wonder what I’ve let myself in for. One thing’s for certain though, with her around, this summer won’t be boring.