Pepper River Inn (Pepper Bay Series, Book 6) by K.T. DADY

Author:K.T. DADY [DADY, K.T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

18

Ned

Ned sat alone at the dining table nearest the bar. A glass of brandy was to one side of his game of solitaire. He flipped over a card and stared absentmindedly at the queen of hearts. He was tired, but not in body. Spending the morning with Belle had drained him. He didn’t want her inside his head, and he certainly didn’t want her anywhere near his heart.

There had been moments where he forgot himself. When he forgot Penny. He couldn’t allow that memory to disappear. Penny must always stay with him. Why did Belle have to make him smile on the inside? Why her? Why now?

Bloody Josephine, getting inside my head too. That woman really doesn’t care. She just blurts out whatever she wants to say and sod the rest of us. Well, cheers, Mrs Walker.

He raised his glass and toasted the air, took a sip, and then put it back on the table in the exact same spot. He picked up a card and twiddled it between his finger and thumb.

Belle was upstairs, sleeping probably. It was late, and he was pretty sure he was the only one awake. He was glad the Trent sisters weren’t going to be sleeping in his hotel anymore after tonight. He was going to toast the boiler repair man but decided he couldn’t be bothered.

Ned wanted space. Space from his life, his thoughts, and especially Bluebell Trent. At least tomorrow he would get a rest from seeing her, and if he were lucky, he wouldn’t see her the day after that either. He had fat chance later in the week, thanks to Belle’s WhatsApp post asking for some sort of cleaning party, and Elliot agreeing to attend with him and offering a free dinner to all helpers. Rosie had insisted they feed everyone, then Elliot had insisted, and that battle went on for a while, bored the crap out of him, and almost caused him to leave the group altogether.

He sighed deeply and rested his head on his hand, the two of clubs tapping against his hair. Ned had never felt this way before, and he wasn’t a hundred percent sure what exactly it was that he was feeling. He just knew it was taking up too much brain power and sapping his energy. The presence of someone behind him caused him to stir.

‘Is it okay if I sit in here with my tea?’ asked Belle quietly.

Ned raised one hand up and gestured for her to enter his lonely domain. He didn’t expect her to plop herself down opposite him. He rolled his bloodshot eyes up to watch her blue mug almost touch his brandy glass. He removed his head from his hand. ‘I thought everyone was asleep.’

‘Maybe everyone else is. I’m wide awake.’

He pulled in his lips as he slowly bobbed his head.

‘Your eyes looked tired,’ she mumbled.

‘Thanks.’

‘I didn’t mean anything by it. You just look like you need a good kip, that’s all.’ She pointed down at a row of cards to let him know where to place the one he was still holding.

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