Luke’s dark eyes assessed her with disturbing intensity, and she was instantly aware that the ponytail, with which she’d started the day, was now shedding strands of damp hair onto her shoulders. She also still had on the apron she’d worn to clean the equipment, and she was sure it looked definitely the worse for wear.
Dammit!
‘But you didn’t answer my question—Ms Lacey.’
Luke was speaking again, but before she could respond Greg answered for her.
‘Of course she agrees with me,’ he exclaimed belligerently. ‘How do you think we all feel? This is our livelihood. And in Abby’s case, her home, as well.’
‘Really?’ Abby saw Luke absorb this piece of information and could have slapped Greg for giving out her personal details to a man she’d hoped never to see again.
‘Yes, really,’ Greg continued, apparently unaware of—or indifferent to—Abby’s feelings. ‘At least I had the sense to buy another house while property was cheap.’
‘I’m sure Mr Morelli isn’t interested in our problems, Greg,’ Abby inserted, glaring at him. She straightened her spine. ‘What can I do for you, Mr Morelli? Or did you just come here to sample my coffee?’
‘Hey, that’s a good idea,’ broke in Greg again, much to her frustration. ‘And you should try one of Abby’s blueberry muffins. If they don’t persuade you to think again about the development, nothing will.’
‘Greg!’ Abby was horrified. The last thing she wanted was for Luke to think that she and Greg Hughes had been conspiring against him. ‘I don’t think anything we say—or do—will change Mr Morelli’s mind.’
* * *
Luke crossed his arms, tucking his hands beneath his armpits. He was tempted to say ‘You got that right’, but, despite his feelings towards Abby, he was loath to embarrass her in front of this oaf.
‘Perhaps I will have a coffee, after all,’ he said, aware that his words were probably just as irritating to Abby’s ears as what Hughes had said had been. ‘If it’s not too much trouble.’
He saw Abby’s lips tighten. ‘I’m afraid that’s not possible, Mr Morelli,’ she said stiffly. ‘I’ve just closed the machine down for the night.’
Greg Hughes snorted. ‘Looks like you’re out of luck, Morelli,’ he said, not without a certain amount of satisfaction. He paused. ‘I guess you’ll just have to tell us what you’re doing here without one of the perks of the job.’
Luke’s eyes narrowed. ‘I don’t believe I invited you to hear what I had to say to Ms Lacey,’ he remarked neutrally. ‘I’m sure you’ve got better things to do than stand around here talking to me.’
The photographer scowled. Then he looked at Abby. ‘Do you want me to go, Abby?’ he asked pointedly. ‘I can stick around for a bit, if you’d rather.’
Luke could tell Abby had mixed feelings. He sensed she was no friend of the photographer, but then she was no friend of Luke’s either.
‘That’s okay, Greg,’ she said after a moment. ‘I’m good. I’ll let you know later if Mr Morelli has any news.’
She was anything but good, thought Luke grimly, as, with some reluctance, Greg Hughes let himself out of the café. And now they were alone, she was evidently eager for him to be gone, too.
As soon as the door had closed, she said, ‘I was of the opinion we had nothing more to say to one another, Mr Morelli. And as I was about to close the café, I’d be grateful if you could get to the point of this visit.’
In truth, Luke wasn’t absolutely sure what the point of his visit was. Okay, his father had phoned and said he’d got a touch of flu, but that wouldn’t normally have been reason enough for Luke to abandon any meetings he’d had arranged and drive down to Bath to see him.
In fact, before he’d heard from his father, he’d seriously been considering taking a break from business and asking the young woman he was presently seeing whether she fancied a trip to the Seychelles. Blue skies, blue water, tropical breezes, and five-star accommodation sounded pretty good to him, and he guessed it would sound pretty good to Jodi, too.
So why was he here in Ashford-St-James, lying to his father about checking out building regulations, to cross swords with a woman he’d sworn had nearly ruined his life? He was over her now, wasn’t he? Except for that niggling feeling of unfinished business where she was concerned.
‘Okay,’ he said, after a moment, ‘why don’t you tell me why you chose to leave a perfectly good job in London to move down here?’
Abby’s jaw dropped. ‘You’re not serious.’
‘Humour me.’
‘Why should I? What I do—or did—is nothing to do with you.’
Luke sighed. ‘I’d like to know. What happened to make you change your life so drastically?’
Abby shook her head. He thought she wasn’t going to answer him. Then she said flatly, ‘I got a divorce. That’s what happened. But you know that. So why are you asking these questions?’
Luke frowned. ‘I guess I’m wondering whether, after losing this business, you’ll be moving back to London.’
Abby stared at him for a moment without speaking. Then she turned and bent to deposit the cloth she’d been using below the counter.
‘I think you’d better go, Mr Morelli,’ she said. ‘I have no intention of answering any more of your questions.’
Luke watched her remove her apron and stow it in what appeared to be a laundry basket at the back of the serving area. Then she smoothed her hands down over what he could now see was a short pleated skirt above those long, spectacular legs.
If she was aware that he was watching her, she ignored it. She came to the end of the counter, and regarded him without a shred of liking in her cool gaze.
‘Please go,’ she said tersely. ‘I want to lock up.’
Luke’s hands dropped to his sides and he shoved his fingers into the back pockets of his jeans. Doing so tightened the fabric across his abdomen and he was instantly conscious of his semi-erection. His zip pressed uncomfortably against his groin and he was glad she was so intent on getting rid of him that she didn’t pay him any attention.
But he had one more parting shot. ‘I guess,’ he said provocatively as he strolled towards the outer door, ‘when Laurence threw you out, it would have been difficult to maintain your standard of living in the city. I hope he’s paying you some alimony. Losing this place will be quite a blow.’
He felt rather than saw her brush past him. Yanking open the door ahead of him, she said angrily, ‘Get out!’
Luke was in no hurry. ‘The truth hurts, doesn’t it?’ he remarked mockingly. ‘You should have considered the consequences before you thought of breaking your marriage vows.’
He was almost sure there
