To make things worse, she’d had to listen all over again as Sean had told his mother about Flynn and Kat’s close encounter in the pub and then sit through Anna’s pronouncement that Kat was the best thing that could happen to Flynn. Now, here was Flynn bouncing through the door as if he’d won a million dollars.

“Sorry, Keely,” he said again.

She pulled a smile. “I’ve been well looked after.” She thanked Anna for the cuppa and handed over the papers she’d picked up.

“I’ll be seeing Megan tomorrow. I’ll give them to her,” Anna said.

Keely followed Flynn out into the yard with heavy steps. Just when she was enjoying a total change, the threat of having to teach again had come back into her life. She should turn straight around and snatch the papers back but she knew she wouldn’t. It had been easier to go along with Anna’s meddling than have to face a barrage of questions from the interfering woman.

Once they were away from the house, Flynn stopped and waited for her to catch up. “I am sorry we’ve been so long. I hope you’re not too tired.”

“I’m fine.”

In the dull glow of the outside light, Keely could see the sparkle in his eyes. He looked at her earnestly and she wondered briefly how much he’d had to drink.

“If you can stand it, there’s something I’d like to discuss when we get home.”

“Well…it’s late.” Keely glanced down. The pleading look in his eyes almost took her breath away.

“Please, Keely.” He reached for her hand and she couldn’t pull away. What was happening? Flynn obviously had feelings for Kat but when he looked at Keely like that, she could almost imagine herself in his arms. She bit her lip and removed her hand from his. She couldn’t allow herself to like him too much; she might need to move on in a hurry.

Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

Light was filling the room when Keely opened her eyes but in the transition from deep sleep to waking she couldn’t think where she was. She turned her head towards the window where the old curtains failed to block much of the light, then she remembered. She had slept her first night in the studio.

She stretched her arms out to the sides of the bed. Night was probably not the right word, more like morning. It had been after one when Flynn and Kat had left and she’d been much too excited to fall asleep easily.

She plucked her phone from the bedside cupboard and peered at it, trying to focus on the numbers. Ten o’clock! She started to sit upright then flopped down on the bed again. What did it matter? It was Saturday, she was on holidays and there was nothing she really had to do yet.

Saturday!