‘Is he, now?’ asked Shelley, more grimly than she meant to, but took pity on the blonde’s abject expression. ‘Listen, I think I’ll pass on breakfast. I’ll just nip up and pack my bag, and while I’m doing that I’d like you to total up my bill for me.’
‘But I can’t do that!’
‘Why not?’
‘He’s written “G” at the top—see?’
‘And “G” stands for?’
‘Gratis!’ said Moira helpfully.
Free! Shelley felt so incensed that she had to clench her fists by her sides to stop herself from howling with rage. ‘Just work out what I owe, will you, Moira?’ she said quietly.
She was back in minutes, having thrown everything she’d unpacked into the overnight bag, and she wrote a cheque for the amount she owed, resisting the desire to deface it with insults.
She left the bill on the reception desk, and was almost at the door when she saw Moira waving it in the air. ‘Don’t you want your copy, Miss Turner?’ she enquired anxiously.
Temptation lifted its provocative neck and Shelley succumbed to it. ‘Give it to Mr Glover, will you?’ she said. ‘Tell him that I would suggest a use for it, but I’m sure he can work out for himself what that is!’
She drove like the clappers back to the house and was getting out of the car when Jennie came outside, as though she had been watching for her. Shelley’s first thought was that she really shouldn’t wear those yellow checked trousers. They did her bottom no favours whatsoever. Next time Jennie went shopping, maybe she would ask if she could tag along.
‘How was the Westward?’
‘Fine,’ said Shelley shortly.
‘You look all strung out,’ Jennie observed. ‘What’s the matter—didn’t you sleep?’
‘On the contrary. I slept like a log—’
‘So I suppose it’s safe to suppose that my brother wasn’t with you?’
‘Just what is it with your brother?’ Shelley exploded. ‘Is he such a stud that when any woman with a pulse walks into his life the whole world thinks he’s sleeping with her?’
‘You were engaged to be married, Shelley, remember?’ Jennie reminded her gently. ‘And I came knocking on your door yesterday, remember that? The sparks between you two were flying so hard that I was half afraid I was going to combust when I walked in!’ She frowned. ‘Well, if Drew isn’t responsible for those tight lips—what’s the matter?’
Shelley considered her options. She was planning to have a very serious word with Drew. If she asked Jennie about his connections with the Westward, then she might very well report back to her brother. Which would spoil the element of surprise. What did they say? Forewarned is forearmed. And she certainly wasn’t going to do him any favours like that.
‘Oh, I’ve decided that I can’t keep swanning around the place as though I’m on holiday,’ Shelley told her blithely. ‘So I’ve come back here to get things kick-started.’
Jennie grinned. ‘Good! I’ve been without a neighbour for too long!’
‘Could I use your phone to get on to the water and electricity people?’
Jennie waved her arm in the direction of her front door. ‘It’s all yours! And it’s past mid-day. Why don’t you stay and have some lunch with me, or did you have a late breakfast?’
‘I’d love lunch—I’m absolutely starving!’ said Shelley smoothly, neatly avoiding the reason why.
She followed Jennie into the house on exaggerated tiptoe. ‘Should I whisper?’ she asked, doing just that. ‘Is the baby asleep?’
Jennie shook her head and smiled. ‘No. Drew has taken her out to the beach.’
Some invisible force whacked her hard in the stomach. ‘Drew has?’
Jennie’s smile widened. ‘Well, don’t sound so surprised! He dotes on her! He’s wonderful with her, too—and Ellie thinks that he is the most fantastic person in the entire history of the world!’ She glanced down at her watch. ‘I’ll go and make some lunch. The phone’s over there. Help yourself.’
‘Thanks.’ Putting annoyingly persistent thoughts of Drew being wonderful with babies right out of her head, Shelley flicked through the directory until she found numbers for the electricity and water boards. Then spent a frustrating ten minutes on the phone to each of them before replacing the receiver and collapsing on the sofa with a yelp of exasperation.
‘Trouble?’ asked Jennie mildly, coming into the room carrying a tray which held a plate heaped high with sandwiches, and a bottle of wine.