Page 45 of The Key to the Last House Before the Sea

Gabriel started tapping his foot on the flagstones. ‘All right. If that’s the way you want to play it, I’ll need to stay on here until this charade comes to an end.’

Nessa stopped and glared at him. ‘What on earth are you talking about?’

‘I need to make sure that you move in properly for thirty days and nights and don’t break the terms of the lease.’

‘And how do you intend to do that?’

Surely he wasn’t going to suggest moving in with her?Nessa swallowed, watching him warily.

‘My father suggested that I move in with you. But—’ He raised his hand to stop the words that were about to spill from her mouth. ‘I appreciate that would be inappropriate.’

‘Totally inappropriate,’ spluttered Nessa. ‘And the lease is in my family’s name, you have no right—’

‘I agree and, believe me, I have no desire to move into this… place with you.’ He looked around the cold, empty room and shook his head. ‘The best compromise appears to be if I stay on in Heaven’s Cove and work from Driftwood House, but come down first thing in the morning and last thing at night to make sure you’re living here.’

‘So you’d be spying on me, basically.’

‘I don’t see it as spying. I’d be helping you to prove to my father and others that you’re upholding the terms of the lease, which would be to your benefit.’

‘But you’d still be trying to catch me out.’ Nessa shook her head. ‘Why on earth would I agree to those terms?’

‘Because if you don’t agree to me verifying that conditions are being upheld, my father will immediately start legal proceedings over the lease and who knows what that could end up costing you?’

‘Why isn’t your father doing that already?’

‘He doesn’t see the point in wasting his time and money because he thinks you’re going to fail.’

‘And you’ll be here to prove it.’

‘That’s right.’

When Nessa glared at Gabriel, he met her gaze and held it. People like him knew that money would always win an argument, thought Nessa angrily. Especially when it came to people like her, without a penny to rub together.

‘I am going to stay here for a whole month,’ she told him defiantly.

‘Then you need to prove it, and my…’ He searched for the right word. ‘… checks will only strengthen your case. It’s either that or my father will see you in court.’

Nessa paused and then nodded. ‘It seems I have no choice, but you’ll get fed up with coming back and forth to the Ghost Village long before I do.’

‘That’s not going to happen,’ he told her, his eyes glittery hard. ‘I suppose I’d better get back to Driftwood House to confirm with Ms Merchant that I am staying longer.’

He knew her name was Rosie and yet he still insisted on calling her Ms Merchant. Nessa bit back irritation at his pomposity and said instead: ‘I’m sure she’ll be glad of the business.’

‘I’ll call round at eight every morning and ten at night to make sure you’re staying here.’

‘You’d better make it seven in the morning because I’ll be up early to get to Valerie’s and take Lily to school.’

When Gabriel didn’t blanch at losing beauty sleep, Nessa added: ‘Aren’t you worried that I might bunk off and sleep somewhere else between ten p.m. and seven a.m.?’

Gabriel tilted his head and stared at her until she felt uncomfortable. Then he said, gently, ‘I don’t believe you have anywhere else to go.’

The sad truth of it took Nessa’s breath away. Even if she’d wanted to sleep elsewhere, Valerie wouldn’t have her to stay, she couldn’t sleep at Driftwood House because Gabriel might spot her, and no other friends could accommodate her every night for a whole month.

She pushed her shoulders back. ‘I’ll be staying here for thirty nights and then the cottage will be mine. And if you’re insisting on calling in twice a day, you could always change out of your suit and help me to clean the place up.’

‘And why would I do that?’

Why, indeed? Nessa could hardly think straight. ‘Because it might be good for you to do something positive for a change,’ she retorted. ‘And, despite evidence to the contrary, I don’t believe you’re a total arse.’

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