In fact, it was the opposite of exciting… because Rosie and Connie’s reactions had just confirmed her fear that had been growing over the past couple of months. Things between her and Will were becoming complicated. Until this morning, Leahhadassumed that the complications were all on her side… but perhaps she was wrong about that.
Either way, if her feelings for Will were obvious enough that Connie and Rosie noticed them within an hour of meeting her for the first time, Leah was going to have to do something aboutthem. Before the end of this little holiday arrived, she was going to have to hand over her resignation letter.
‘Hey, I didn’t mean to upset you,’ said Rosie, looking concerned.
‘I’m fine!’ said Leah.
‘Yeah, right,’ said Rosie. ‘That’s why you look like you’re about to burst into tears on me, is it?!’
‘I’m… not? I…’
Leah paused and let out a long breath, trying to get control of herself. There would be plenty of time later to mourn the loss of the job that was basically her entire life. Preferably in private in the little flat where she could wail out her grief to her heart’s content.
‘I think I just need that coffee,’ she said, shooting Rosie a little smile.
‘You’ve got it!’ said Rosie, giving her a look that was full of concern and understanding. ‘Come on - my treat. Let’s grab the boys. I think they’ll probably want to come too.’
The boys? Damnit!
The last thing Leah needed right now was to sit across from Will while she was wearing nothing more than a swimsuit and a towel! There wasn’t any time for her to protest, though. Rosie grabbed hold of her hand and started towing her up the beach to where Matt and Will were standing, talking to Connie.
Leah couldn’t help but smile as she saw Connie wrap her arms around Will and pull him in for an awkward hug.
‘Your boss looks like he’s cuddling a time-bomb!’ chuckled Rosie.
‘Well… he sort ofis!’ said Leah, glad to have the focus away from her and her knotty feelings. ‘When’s Connie due?’
‘About a month now,’ said Rosie. ‘She’s been nesting for all she’s worth. It’s probably a good thing that Will didn’t change his mind and decide to stay at Seabury House, to be honest.I mean, we’d have made it work, but his old room’s the most treasured, well-set-up nursery you’ve ever seen. Everything else has been cleaned and organised to within an inch of its life, too.’
‘Even the rooms you and Matt are still working on?’ said Leah in amusement. She knew from her regular chats with Rosie that she and Matt were still hard at work renovating various parts of the old house.
‘Put it like this, I caught her polishing the power tools we’d left out the other day.’
Leah sniggered. ‘That must make things… interesting?’
‘You could say that,’ said Rosie with a grin. ‘I can only imagine it’s going to get even more interesting when the little one arrives.’
‘Did they decide to find out if it’s a boy or a girl?’ said Leah. ‘I know Connie’s been wavering.’
Rosie shook her head. ‘Nah. That’s why the nursery’s rainbow themed.’
‘That sounds lovely,’ said Leah. ‘I’d love to see some photos!’
‘Hey, why don’t you come up to the house and join us for dinner tonight?’ said Rosie. ‘We’ll give you the grand tour!’
Leah smiled, then shook her head. ‘I couldn’t. I don’t want to tread on Will’s toes while I’m here.’
‘Get away with you!’ said Rosie, nudging her. ‘It’s my home too, and you’re a friend. Connie would agree with me if she wasn’t so busy hugging the life out of Will right now.’
‘But…’
Leah really wanted to say yes. Not just because she’d love nothing more than to spend the evening with her two friends, but because she’d heard enough about Seabury House to make her desperate to see it in person.
‘Will won’t be there, if that’s what you’re worried about,’ said Rosie, lowering her voice as they approached the little group.‘Matt and Ewan are taking him down to the hotel for a meal and a proper catch-up.’
‘Really?’ said Leah, her heart lifting. ‘Actually, what time are they booked in for? I’ll add it to the diary and send Will a reminder.’
Leah’s hands twitched as she automatically reached for her ever-present diary… only to realise it was in her bag a bit further up the beach.
