Page 4 (2/2)

‘Coed him stiffly ‘My father would’ve liked that’

‘I don’t wish to intrude,’ Jai told her

‘Dad wouldn’t see anyone while he was ill It wasn’t personal,’ Willow told him chokily ‘He was a very private man’

‘Your dad was right eccentric,’ Shelley chimed in

‘His desire for privacy must’ve made his illness harder for you to deal with,’ Jai remarked shrewdly ‘No support I know you have no family’

‘But Willow does have friends,’ Shelley cut in warmly ‘Like me’

‘And I arateful for your support at such a difficult time,’ Jai responded smoothly

That re her father, who had been her only parent since hereven tougher than she had envisaged Worse still, the reality that they were stony broke, for those last months had broken her father’s heart and hastened his end Evidently fantasising about leaving his daughter much better off than they had been, her father had, as his life had drawn to a close, begun using his pension fund to play with stocks and shares without see

Convinced that he was onto a winning strategy, Brian Allerton had been devastated when he’d lost all his savings He had spent his lastfor the hter virtually penniless They were fortunate indeed that her father had arranged and settled the expenses of his own funeral as soon as he had appreciated that his condition was incurable But only their landlord’s forbearance had kept a roof over their heads as they had inevitably fallen behind with the rent, and that was a debt that Willoas determined to somehow settle

‘I’ll get by,’ she parried with a stiff little smile ‘Dad and I were always alone’

‘Let ed smoothly

‘No, thank you Our neighbour, Charlie, is waiting outside for us,’ she responded with a rueful srimace

Shelley, proclai that she would’ve enjoyed the opportunity to travel in a limousine, hurried after Willow in dismay as she turned on her heel to head out to the ancient car awaiting the noticed her friend’s disappointment, was all of a silly flutter, and furious with herself, butterflies darting and dancing in her tuirl si to Jai Any norrown out of such immature behaviour by now, she told herself infor her father and lack of opportunity, Willow hadn’t yet ain much real-world experience of the opposite sex

Aside of a couple of su studied garden design both online and through classes at the nearest college Add in the work experience she had had to complete with a local landscape firm, the need to earn some money simply to eat while they had steadily fallen behind with the rent, the demands of her father’s illness and his h hours in the day for Willow to enjoy a social life with her friends as well Gradually most of her friends had dropped away, but Shelley had been in her life since primary school and had continued to visit, oblivious to Brian Allerton’s cool, snobbish attitude to her

Willow arrived back at the tiny terraced house and she put on the kettle while Shelley set out the drinks and a solitary tray of shortbread Just as Jai arrived, the vicar anxiously asked Willohere she was planning to move to

‘My sofa!’ Shelley revealed with a chuckle ‘I wouldn’t leave her stuck’

‘Yes, I’ll be fine with Shelley until I can organise so more permanent I have to move out of here to but it would be selfish of er than necessary,?

? Willow explained, thinking that, tough though the last weeks had been, she had met with kindness in unexpected places

A sofa? Willoas homeless? Expected to pack up and move in with a friend the same week that she had buried her father? Jai was appalled at that news Honour demanded that he intervene but Willow had been raised to be proud and independent like her father and Jai would have to be sensitive in his approach He was convinced that out of principle Willoould refuse his financial assistance

‘Coffee, Jai?’ Willow prompted as she handed the vicar a cup of tea

‘Thank you,’ heher into the small kitchen to say, ‘Was your father at home at the end, or had he been moved to a hospice?’

‘It was to happen next week,’ Willow conceded tightly, throwing his tall dark figure a rueful appraisal, her heart giving a sudden thud as she collided involuntarily with ice-blue eyes enhanced by wondrously dense black lashes ‘But he didn’t ave out’

In an abrupt ly conscious of his height and the proximity of more masculinity than she felt able to bear The very faint scent of sone drifted into her nostrils and she sucked in a sudden steadying breath, her level of awareness heightening exponentially to add to her disco as her tension rose even higher

‘What are you planning to do next?’ Jai enquired, shifting his attention hurriedly fro him while he questioned his behaviour

Yes, she was indisputably beautiful, but he was neither a hored to explain his lack of self-discipline in her radius She did, however, possess a quality that was exclusively her own, he acknowledged grudgingly, a slow-burning sensual appeal that tugged hard at his senses It was there in the flicker of her languorous eenerous lower lip, the upward angle of challenge in her chin as she tilted her head back, strawberry-blond hair falling in waves tu across her slim shoulders like a swathe of rumpled silk