Then there was the awful task Penny had set her: asking the town business community for help. Elle could hardly think of anything she wanted to do less. The problem was, she had left this town so long ago, and she knew they would all be judging her, coming back and grovelling now. They would automatically think that she had failed in her life in the city, suffered some big disappointment or something, seeing as she was back now begging for charity. Well, she would set them straight on that score from the outset. And she was darned if she was seeing a single person without buying a suit. She would get one tomorrow morning at Handbags and Gladrags after she talked to Rob.

There was a scratching at her door. ‘For a place that promises rest and relaxation and a break from the world,’ she muttered, echoing their vision for the hotel, ‘I’m certainly getting nothing of the sort.’

She opened the door and Penny’s cats rushed in, twin streaks of black and white. ‘Why don’t you go and sleep in your owner’s room?’ she asked them, but the pair of felines simply curled up in the middle of Elle’s bed, and stared at her placidly as they had for the last two nights since their arrival.

Chapter 15

When Rob pulled up at the hotel early the next morning, loaded up with materials to get started on the roof repairs, Elle was waiting for him.

His dogs leapt out from the back of his truck and rushed at Elle like she was an old friend, licked her hand, and then deciding she wasn’t so interesting after all, tore off through the gardens and down towards the beach.

‘That was Gruff and Kaiser,’ he said. ‘I don’t think you were properly introduced last time.’

Elle was wiping doggy drool onto the legs of her jeans. ‘Pleasure’s all mine.’

He chuckled. ‘Don’t worry, they’ll be back when they want attention.’

She studied him. He didn’t seem to feel awkward or unsure about the other night. He was easy in himself, swinging his tools off the back of the truck and she couldn’t help but admire his lean, strong body.

‘I thought we could go for a quick walk this morning,’ she said. ‘You know, talk things over.’

His face was suddenly serious. ‘I’m glad you mentioned it. I hoped we would be able to talk. I didn’t get the chance to see you yesterday as I only popped up with the sanding stuff for Penny.’

Elle nodded, unsure how to feel. He certainly wasn’t giving much away.