Chapter 5
5
Jesse pulled into the drive of a Georgian-style house. The tall wooden gates were open and subtle uplighting highlighted the handsome building.
‘This is your house?’
‘It is.’ He slowed to a stop and applied the handbrake. ‘I’m assuming from your tone it’s not what you expected. Probably best if I don’t ask what you did expect but I’m guessing more of a hovel.’
‘No!’ My hand shot out and caught his arm before he reached for the door. He turned back to face me, the planes of his face catching the light from his house. ‘Not at all. And… and I’m sorry if that’s how it came across.’
‘Felicity. You don’t have to apologise. The guest room is yours whatever you think of me.’
‘This isn’t about the bloody guest room.’ I snatched my hand back. ‘This is me trying to apologise.’ I swallowed and tilted my chin up, facing Jesse just as I’d spent the last few decades facing the world. Head high while inside, my mind and heart were racing with panic and fear. ‘Sorry. It’s been a bit of a crap night.’
He let out a huff of air through his nose. ‘That’s an understatement. Stay there, I’ll come and get you. I’ve no idea where your other shoe went.’
‘I can walk. You, unlike me, have a gorgeous block-paved driveway.’
‘Which is cold and wet.’
A slightly hysterical laugh bubbled up and spilled over. ‘Jesse. I don’t think it’s possible for me to get much colder or wetter. Remember my al fresco house?’
He stared me down.
‘I promise I’ll wipe my feet.’
He got out of the truck, walked round to my now open door and held out a hand. ‘I don’t think I’ve met a more impossible woman.’
I took his hand, holding on tighter than I planned as I descended from the truck’s cab. Despite the heater that had been blasting, my body had begun to seize with the cold. ‘Thank you.’
‘You’re limping.’
‘I think I trod on a bit of a glass. It’s probably out now. I promise not to bleed on your carpet.’
He turned to reply as I joined him under the shelter of the porch. ‘Jesus!’ His fingers caught my chin gently as he tilted my head. ‘What happened? Why didn’t you tell me you were bleeding? We need to get you to a hospital. Get back in the car.’
I wrapped my hand around his wrist. ‘I didn’t tell you because I didn’t know. The window frame hit me on its way to the floor and we’re not going to hospital. I’m fine.’
‘You are not fine! You’re bleeding!’
‘Then could you take a look? You patched yourself up all right when I clobbered you. Honestly, I really just want to sit down right now somewhere warm and quiet.’
The grey eyes were laser focused on me. After a beat, he wrapped an arm around me and unlocked the door. ‘Like I said. Impossible.’
* * *
‘Ned. Stay!’ he said as we entered and a black lab gave a soft whine and tilted his head. ‘Go back to your bed.’ The dog dropped his head and turned around, plodding out of sight as Jesse turned back. ‘Come into the kitchen and I’ll take a look.’ He moved to lift me again but I stood back.
‘Thanks, but I can manage.’ I wasn’t used to people fussing about me and the words had come out sharper than I’d meant. Jesse took a step back. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean?—’
‘It’s fine. Take a seat.’
I did as he asked.
He ran the tap and put a glass of water down in front of me, then reached into a cupboard and brought out a neatly packed caddy of first-aid supplies, and put that beside the glass. The dog watched from his bed, nose resting on his paws.
‘Your dog is very sweet.’
‘Thank you. Right. Head first. Do you mind?’ His hands hovered in mid-air for a moment.
‘No. I’m just sorry to be such an inconvenience.’
‘You’re not. This might sting a bit.’ His touch was gentle as he wiped the blood from my face. ‘I’m going to put a Steri-Strip on it. Shame mine’s come off. We’d be a matching pair.’ He flashed a grin and I felt some of the tension in my shoulders seep out.
‘Thanks for coming up tonight.’
‘Not a problem,’ he said, continuing with his work. ‘Any headache? Blurred vision or nausea?’ I shook my head. ‘Let me know if any of that changes.’ He then turned his attention to my hand. Reaching over, Jesse grabbed a pair of glasses from the counter top, sliding them on to his face. And just like that, a man I thought couldn’t get any more sexy did so. ‘Couple of shards in there. Hold still.’ Deftly, he lifted them out with a pair of tweezers from the well-equipped box and cleaned my hand once again, popping on a large plaster. ‘Now for the feet.’
‘I think it’s just the one. Only one hurts anyway and it’s really not that bad.’
‘Best to check anyway. Allay-oop!’ He lifted my foot and rested it on his knees as he sat on the floor. A brief study resulted in the tweezers being employed again and another waterproof plaster applied.
‘Right. I think that’s it. You were lucky.’ He stood up, taking off the glasses as he did so. ‘From your expression, I can see you don’t agree.’
‘It’s not that.’ I stood, placing my weight unevenly onto my good foot. ‘Well, yes, it is that. I’m not sure I feel all that lucky right now.’
‘It could have been a lot worse. You saw your bed, right?’
‘It’s hard to forget. And yes, you’re right, of course. I’m sure I sound incredibly ungrateful.’
Jesse gave a shrug of his wide shoulders. ‘Probably a bit of shock still lingering there.’
‘No. I’m all right now.’
He folded his arms. ‘It’s OK to admit you’re not OK, you know? No one is going to think any less of you for it. A bloody great tree nearly landed on you. That’s enough to put the wind up anyone.’
Before I could reply, and probably knowing I was about to disagree, Jesse continued. ‘I’ll show you to your room. You all right?’ he asked as I put my hand out to steady myself on the counter top, his hand on my upper arm.
‘Yes. Thanks. Just tired, I expect. All the excitement.’ I returned a wan smile.
Jesse gave me a long look but remained silent as he led the way up the stairs to the second-floor guest room.
‘There’s a robe on the back of the bathroom door in the en suite,’ he pointed to a door, ‘and there should be everything you need. Feel free to have a bath or shower to warm yourself up. Might help you unwind a bit, but only if you feel stable enough.’
‘Thanks, Jesse. This really is very kind.’
‘You’re welcome. My room’s the next floor up so just phone if you need anything, in case I don’t hear you. OK?’
‘Yes. Thank you. I can’t think there’s anything else I would need though.’ I pushed open the door to the bathroom. ‘This is beautiful.’
‘Thanks. Labour of love and all that.’ His gaze dropped to his feet momentarily. ‘I’ll leave you to get on.’
‘Thank you.’
He nodded briefly and closed the door behind him. The moment he was gone, I stripped off my wet clothes and slid into the soft, fluffy robe. Bliss! Some of the high-end spas I’d been to could take a tip from Jesse when it came to robes. I could happily live in this dressing gown forever. Leaning over the clawfoot bath, I turned on the taps, adding some of the lavender-scented bath essence from the choice on the vanity to the stream of hot water, and inhaling the calming scent as the surface of the water became a mass of bubbles.
As I turned the taps off, a knock at the door made me turn. Wrapping the robe tighter, I opened the door and peered around.
‘I thought you might want this.’ He held out an expensive cut-crystal glass, Waterford if I wasn’t mistaken, containing a dark liquid. ‘Brandy. Will warm you up and help settle your nerves.’
I stood a little straighter. ‘Thank you but my nerves are fine.’ I did my best to keep any edge out of my voice, but I’d been in the habit of rebuffing any suggestion of weakness for so long now, the words formed almost of their own accord.
Jesse’s eyes stayed on me for the briefest moment before he began to turn.
‘I’m sorry.’ I opened the door a little more. ‘That’s very thoughtful of you and the brandy would be lovely. Thank you.’
Those intriguing grey eyes were looking back down at me now as he handed the glass over and I rested the bowl of it in my hand to warm the liquid inside and cupped the other around it.
‘You’re not someone who likes to accept, or admit you need, help, are you?’
It was refreshing, if a little startling, to meet someone who said it like it was. No games. No preamble. And he was right on the nose.
‘No. I’m not and I apologise that I’ve come across as ungrateful. I’m enormously indebted to you. Thank you again for this. And for everything you’ve done tonight. And before that.’
‘You’re welcome and there’s no debt. We help each other here. Look out for one another.’
‘Yes. I can see that.’
‘Plus it was my family that sold you a house that is in a far worse state than you were expecting.’
‘That’s not your fault. It’s mine. I should have been more astute.’ I sipped at the drink. Strong. Warm. Smooth. ‘Don’t they say when something looks too good to be true, it probably is?’ I gave a one-shouldered shrug.
‘That they do.’ He paused. For a moment, I thought he was going to elaborate on the statement but he didn’t. ‘I’ll let you get to your bath and bed. Is there anything else you need?’
‘No. Thank you. You’ve done more than enough already.’
He shook his head. ‘Nothing anyone else wouldn’t have.’
‘Oh, I don’t know about that,’ I said, almost without thinking, my breath expelling a humourless laugh.
Jesse looked at his feet, bare now and oddly sexy.
What?
I did not just have a moment thinking about this man’s feet. Seriously? That whack on the head must have been harder than I thought! My eyes drifted to his forearms. Strong, corded and dark with hair – but not too much. Just the right amount…
‘Are you OK?’ he asked, taking half a step back towards me. ‘You look a little…’
I tilted my head up to meet his eyes. The colour of stormy seas, concern now shining in them, drawing the dark brows closer.
‘I’m fine!’ I flung the words out. ‘Absolutely. Sorry. The evening is probably catching up a bit with me.’ I downed a mouthful of drink and felt it burn my throat as I desperately tried not to cough. ‘Fine!’ I squeaked out.
The brows rose this time and the concern of a moment ago was replaced with confusion and, judging by the merest tilt of his lips, amusement.
‘I’ll let you get on with your bath, then. Get a good rest and we’ll go and take a look at the damage tomorrow.’
I landed with a thump back in the real world.
‘Yes. Right. Damage.’ I lifted the glass to my lips again as my brain raced around, holding up flash cards prompting me to remember all elements of the disaster my life had turned into during a few short weeks. A large, warm hand on mine stilled both my hand and my brain – my thoughts drawing up short in my mind like a cartoon character coming to an abrupt standstill. I was half expecting to let out a Scooby-Doo-sounding ‘Huhhhhhhh’.
‘Maybe a little slower this time.’ I met the dark eyes. ‘Sips.’
‘Yes. Yes, of course. I’m not sure what came over me. I’m not normally this uncouth.’ I gave what was supposed to be an easy laugh but it came out far more strangulated than I’d anticipated. What was it with this man? Even though I’d basically imploded my entire life, I still knew how to walk the walk and talk the talk. That was unless Jesse Woods was in the vicinity, when it seemed that all the skills I’d been brought up with, and, more importantly, those I’d had to learn once everything fell apart, deserted me. I gave myself a mental kick up the derrière.
‘Thanks again. Goodnight,’ I said, closing the door with what I hoped was an enigmatic smile, as cool as if I were visiting one of my many – apparently ex – friends in their country homes. Except I wasn’t. This man who’d opened his home to me was almost a stranger and yet the kindness and concern he’d shown were beyond anything I’d received from anyone in what felt like a very long time.
I stepped into the soothing water, the bubbles tickling my skin as I sank down, feeling my tense muscles relax and react to the warmth. It had quickly become obvious that the days of being invited down to the country for house parties were clearly over. Not one of those so-called friends had called or even messaged since I blew up my own world. They’d all hastily distanced themselves from me as soon as the poop had hit the fan.
Would I have done that if the Louboutin had been on the other foot? I wasn’t sure I wanted to examine that particular question too deeply. I’d like to think that I wouldn’t have – that I’d be as kind and welcoming as Julie and Jesse had been to me – but, of course, that would have meant standing out from the crowd. Putting my head above the parapet of the general group consensus. And as tough and independent as I had worked at being, the truth was I’d also been desperate to fit in. To be part of the crowd I’d always been. Would I have risked being ostracised on someone else’s behalf? My brain felt full, my head was throbbing with a dull ache and my whole body felt suddenly exhausted. I pushed the thoughts to the back of my mind, took another sip of the brandy and reached over to switch on one of the many true-crime podcasts I had stored on my phone, distracting myself from both my current situation and the truth of the answer to that question.
* * *
Total fatigue, both mental and physical, claimed me before I’d even thought about closing the curtains. The night was black as tar; no street lights shone into the guest room, the only noise the wind scouring the land and thumping into the solid walls of the house. It was only as the early tendrils of light tiptoed their way into the room through the glass in the morning that I noticed the curtains weren’t drawn. I pushed myself up from one of the comfiest beds I’d ever slept in and pulled back the soft, thousand-thread sheet and down-filled duvet. I slid my feet into the guest-room slippers, padded my way over to the built-in window seat and looked out.
If I hadn’t experienced it in such a visceral manner, it would have been hard to believe that such a storm had raged the previous night. Glancing around, I saw Jesse’s house seemed to have survived the battering, thankfully. The hedges lining the edges of his garden and the field beyond were full of birdsong. I had no idea which birds but obviously tough ones if they’d avoided being blown away.
I heard a door close and the man himself stepped out onto the porcelain-paved patio and, after a quick wipe, took a seat at the marble-topped table and sipped his coffee. Ned trotted out to join him, his dark coat shining in the early-morning sun. He plopped down beside him and looked up expectantly. Jesse rubbed the dog’s head and then held out a biscuit. Unlike Araminta’s chihuahua, who’d go for a finger as soon as look at you, this dog took the biscuit so gently, it was almost as if it were moving in slow motion. I felt myself smile. But only for a moment. Suddenly, the present crashed back in and I pushed myself away from the window and set about making myself presentable.
Unfortunately, as I hadn’t had a chance, or forethought, to grab any clothes last night while making my hasty exit, I had to make do with the robe as my morning ensemble. The dressing table set let me at least get my freshly washed hair in some sort of order and the locally produced, organic face wash and moisturiser gave my face the perk-up it needed. I looked back at my reflection. Not great but it would have to do.
‘Good morning.’ Jesse turned at the sound of the door and the dog stood to attention beside him, glancing at his owner then me, his tail a blur of motion. ‘How are you with dogs?’
‘I’m a fan,’ I replied, smiling. It was hard not to as the dog kept looking from me to his owner and back again, clearly eager to say hello.
‘Go on, then, Ned. Remember your manners.’
Ned didn’t need to be asked twice and within a split second was sitting politely in front of me, his tail swishing in a speedy arc, his bum almost hovering above the ground in excitement.
I bent, ensuring the dressing gown was wrapped and tucked in well so that I wasn’t accidentally exposing anything to either Jesse or his dog, and scratched his ears. Ned closed his eyes in bliss and made a contented groaning noise.
‘You’ve got a job for life doing that.’
‘I can think of worse jobs.’
‘True. Did you sleep OK?’
‘I did, thank you. To my surprise. In fact, it’s the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a very long time. I’d fully expected to be lying there all night stressing about what I was going to find today and what to do about it.’
‘One step at a time. A good night’s sleep always helps.’
‘Yes. I suppose so. Thank you.’ I straightened.
‘Would you like some breakfast?’
‘No, I’m OK, thanks.’ Now I’d woken, I actually was worrying about all the things I’d anticipated worrying about last night. ‘I’ll get out of your hair just as soon as I can.’ I looked down at the dressing gown. ‘I’m just in rather a sartorial pickle at present.’
Jesse stood, pushing the chair back with his legs. ‘Jules is popping over with a couple of bits for you to wear shortly.’
‘Oh, I’m not sure…’
He was closer now, looking down at me. ‘It’s either that or go in the robe. Your choice. I’ll make you a coffee. Come on, Ned.’
The dog followed him immediately, a solid, black shadow.
‘Right,’ I said to myself quietly and took Jesse’s place at the table. The sky was a vivid blue, washed clean by last night’s storm, the earliest budding trees hinting at the oncoming spring and the faintest hint of warmth in the air. Jesse’s garden was large and exquisitely planned, with colour still in some of the borders and a good structural base with something of interest all year round, if its current appearance was anything to go by. I’d once dated a three-times Chelsea gold winner – it was hard not to pick up tips by osmosis. Of course, then he’d designed a garden in Tuscany for a lord and consequently met Lady whatever-her-name-was, heiress to an absolute fortune, and I’d suddenly been a weed in the beautiful garden of his life and consequently dispensed with.
‘Out there or in here?’ Jesse’s head peering around the back door pulled me sharply back to the present.
‘Oh! Sorry. I’ll come in.’
Jesse remained at the door, opening it wider for me. As I passed, I caught a subtle whiff of something earthy and woody with just a hint of spice. It suited him.
‘You really ought to eat something.’ Jesse reiterated the advice once I was sitting in the sunny breakfast nook, sipping on rich, dark coffee that sent much-needed caffeine spiking into my system. ‘I’ve got granola and can probably rustle up an avocado if you want that?’
‘What are you having?’
‘Bacon roll.’
‘I’ll have one of those, then, please, if it’s not too much trouble?’
‘Not at all.’ He pulled open the fridge. ‘You sure? I don’t mind doing the avo toast. It’s probably healthier.’
He had a point and it was what I normally chose each day. Even if I had started eating it because all my friends were, the fact remained that avocados were full of good fats and very good for you. But now that he’d planted the seed of a bacon roll, my mouth was watering. I shook my head.
He laid the rashers in the pan and the sizzle teased all my senses. I’d tried being vegan a couple of years ago but I couldn’t get past the odd late-night bacon sandwich. Jesse placed the roll, stuffed with thick bacon and melting butter, in front of me. ‘Get that down you. Breakfast of champions,’ he said, pulling out the seat next to me and biting into his own roll.
‘Not sure I qualify for that particular breakfast,’ I thought, then froze with the bun halfway to my mouth. ‘Shit. I said that out loud, didn’t I?’
Jesse chewed a couple of times, swallowed, then nodded. ‘Yep.’
‘Could you please disregard that last statement?’ And yes, I did go out with a barrister.
‘Nope.’ He took another bite.
‘What do you mean, no?’
‘I heard it. You can’t just disregard something you’ve already heard.’
I always knew that was a scam by lawyers to get the information across to the jury!
‘Well, if you could just try and forget it.’
‘Why?’
I looked round and met his eyes, swallowing a mouthful of the heavenly breakfast. ‘Why what?’
‘Why do you want me to forget it?’
‘Because…’
Because it makes me look weak and that is unacceptable.
He waited.
‘Knock knock! Anyone home?’ Julie’s voice saved me from answering but the look Jesse gave me told me that he most definitely wasn’t forgetting it.
‘In here, Jules,’ he called.
Her smiling face popped into view, a large paper carrier bag in her hand. ‘Hi! Oh my God, are you OK?’ she said, hurrying towards me and giving me a most unexpected hug. ‘When Jesse told me about the tree, oh God, I feared the worst.’
‘She always did like a bit of drama.’ Jesse finished the last of his roll and wiped his hands. His sister stood back, hands on hips.
‘A bloody tree fell on her house! I don’t think I can be accused of exaggerating anything!’
‘No, unfortunately not,’ I agreed.
Jesse shrugged.
Julie turned to me. ‘He makes out like he’s all cool about stuff but if he wasn’t worried, then why did he turn up at your house?’ She arched her eyebrow at him. They were a great shape. I really needed to ask who she went to for them.
‘I was being neighbourly,’ her brother replied. ‘We all know the house still needs work. I’d have done the same for anyone,’ he said, shooting a meaningful look at his sister. ‘Did you bring Felicity some clothes?’
She stared back at him for a moment, clearly unintimidated despite the differences in their size. I smiled at my petite, but fierce friend.
‘I’ve brought some jeans and a couple of T-shirts and a sweatshirt. I’ve left a coat and trainers in the hallway. There’s a couple of pairs of knickers in there too but I wasn’t sure about the bra…’
A grin slid onto my face. Julie had been at the front of the line when boobs were being dolled out. I was later to the party and consequently got the leftovers, which wasn’t much.
‘Thank you. I’m pretty sure I can get away with going braless.’
Beside me, Jesse’s coffee took a wrong turn and he gave a sudden cough. Julie whacked him on the back. ‘You all right there?’
He nodded, cleared his throat and took another sip, which apparently knew the correct way down.
‘Thanks for this, Julie. It’s really kind.’
‘No problem at all. I’m just glad you’re all right. You must have been terrified! You should have rung me. Oh, of course, you don’t have my number. Good job this one was on the ball.’ She jerked her head towards her brother. ‘What’s your number, Felicity?’
I reeled it off and a moment later, my phone beeped.
‘There, now you’ve got mine too,’ Julie said.
‘I’m hoping no more trees plan on launching themselves at my house!’ I smiled, only half joking as I picked up my phone and sent a kiss face and the words, Thank you to Julie.
‘I’m sure they won’t. But now I can see if you want a coffee some time or something.’ She looked at the message, grinned and leant over and gave me another hug. ‘I’m so glad you’re safe.’
A lump formed in my throat, constricting my reply, so I made a small nod instead. These two people, people I barely knew, had both put themselves out for me, come to my aid, with no expectation of anything in return. It was a rare and unusual experience for me and I was a little off-balanced by it.
‘Thank you,’ I forced out. ‘Thank you, both of you, for everything you’ve done. I don’t know how to repay you.’
Jesse’s chair scraped as he stood. ‘No repayment needed. Do you want to go and get changed and we’ll go up to the house and see what’s what?’
I pushed my own chair out, a sudden wash of nausea rolling over me as the thought of what we were going to find – and how much it was going to cost – hit me. I gripped the edge of the table as Jesse’s shovel-sized hand came to rest gently on my shoulder. ‘Hey.’
I started. ‘Sorry. Yes, of course. I’ll just go and change. Thanks again, Julie.’
‘You’re welcome,’ she said, seeing herself out. ‘I’ll call you later.’
‘OK,’ I said, already looking forward to it. The door closed behind her. Jesse’s hand remained in place and I looked up at him.
‘It’s going to be OK.’ His voice was soft, assured and steady, and if I hadn’t witnessed a sodding great tree land on my house last night, I might have felt better.