Page 81 of Riding the Waves

“I’ll transfer it this week,” he said idly.

She didn’t move, just lingered in the doorway. Finally, he glanced up at her, raising a questioning eyebrow.

“I wanted to say something,” she started. “But I’m worried that if you don’t like what I say you won’t pay me the rest of the money, and I really need the money.”

He shifted his feet off the desk and leaned his forearms on it instead. “What did you want to say?”

“Are you still going to pay me? You have to really, because I did the work.”

“Yes. I’ll still pay you.” He rubbed at his temples.

“Okay.” She pursed her lips. “I think you’re an idiot.”

He wanted to laugh, but it felt like too much effort. “Thanks,” he muttered instead.

“Would you like to know why?”

“Sure.” He continued rubbing circles at his temples. “Why not?”

“I think you’re an idiot because Amy loves you and you’re too stubborn to forgive her. And usually I don’t like to interfere in other people’s business but she’s nice to me, so I don’t like that she’s upset. Also I think if you forgive her there’s more chance that she’ll come and work for us ...”

“She already works for you,” Damian pointed out, slightly dazed by the speed of the conversation.

“Just for the summer, and just voluntarily.” She winced. “I wasn’t supposed to tell you that.” It wasn’t exactly shocking news. It’d seemed fishy all along, her getting a job at Hope Cove Press, especially since he’d been fairly sure they weren’t hiring. “Anyway, we want her to work for us from now on. Remotely, because she’ll be in Oxford, but she doesn’t know if she will, and my point is that I think you should stop being stubborn and sort things out with her.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Do you love her?”

He buried his head in his hands.

“I’ll take that as a yes. So you just need to forgive her.”

“I already told you it’s not that simple.”

“It is though. You’re angry with her for taking the boys away from you, but it was a long time ago and—”

“What?” He wrinkled his brow. “I’m not angry with her for taking the boys.”

“Why are you angry with her then?”

“I’m not.” He screwed his face up as a jolt of guilt hit him. “Is that what she thinks? That I’m angry with her for marrying Anthony and taking the boys from me?”

“Yes.” Scarlett looked vaguely confused. “I thought you knew that.”

He stood and almost knocked into her as he walked out of the door. In the middle of the shack, he paused and turned back. “Can you do me a favour and watch the boys for longer today? Wait until they finish their lesson and stay with them until I get back.”

“Yeah but I’ll have to add the overtime to your bill.”

He chuckled. “I wouldn’t expect otherwise.”

“I’ll probably charge you per minute, so you should hurry.” Her voice was deadpan but he caught the sparkle in her eyes before he dashed away.

CHAPTER 41

At Amy’s place, Damian paced on the doorstep and had just rung the bell for the second time when he heard the click of flip-flops approaching the door.

Amy’s smile seemed forced. “I was just thinking about you,” she said, then turned on her heel and walked back along the hall. “I’ve made some plans and I need to fill you in before I can tell Billy and Marty.” She stopped in the kitchen. “Do you want a drink?”

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