about four. Ollie and I would like to get to know our neighbours better,’ Celine insisted.
‘That would be lovely.’ Adrienne smiled.
Gina gave a wide-eyed glance at Ollie in disbelief. Celine was charming and very difficult to refuse. He mirrored her surprise and Gina grinned. It would give her mother something different to focus on.
As they continued their walk, Gina could sense her mother’s agitation but said nothing. Her mother had made an unexpected response to Ollie’s mother and she just prayed she wasn’t just being polite and then would change her mind. She hoped she wouldn’t, she needed friends and distraction. Gina needed help too. She would have to get back to London and her business soon and, more importantly, away from these strange occurrences and nightmares.
Ollie couldn’t hide his pleasure as the evening drew to a close. His plan had gone much better than he’d dared hope. Both their mothers had chatted in his mother’s conservatory like old friends and even discussed their relationship difficulties, which gave him an excuse to offer Gina an escape to the sitting room so that he could steal some time alone with her.
He found her exciting to be around and he was hungry to get to know her. Yes, she had expertise in the property business but she was far more than that. She lit his world when she appeared, her beautiful olive green eyes shone straight into his heart. As he’d sat opposite her listening to her speak of Max, he could only feel envious of this man who had secured her love, her attention. How he longed to run his fingers through that long dark hair and take her in his arms, claim her as his own. And, even though she was off limits and looking forward to starting a family with Max, she was a real tonic to be around and that was all he would ask, for now at least. She wasn’t married after all. He couldn’t help but sense a mutual attraction. What he had to do now was relax, keep calm. Try to act mature. There were surely no excuses for being shy at his age. He might have thought he was as a boy but he was a man now, for God sake. And she was too precious. He was sure it wasn’t just one-way. Plus, he’d made headway; she’d made him feel useful admitting she was grateful for his help.
Up early the next morning, Ollie, still wallowing in his pleasant memories of the night before, almost forgot his camera. He shot back to his apartment and picked up the rucksack placed on his chair. He strolled along the promenade to his site with more bounce in his heels than a ball. Feeling the cooler autumnal air steal warmth from his cheeks, he breathed in the beauty of the still lake and watched as ripples began to stir it. The mist was clearing and hazy beams dashed the sky through heavy cloud. It appeared threatening but Ollie knew only too well how the lake and mountains thrived on drama.
‘Bonjour, Thomas,’ he said, reaching the site and clambering over newly dug turf. ‘Good to see the landscaping’s started,’ he said, shaking hands with the hefty redhead, whose hands nearly crushed his.
‘Yes, they’ve only been here an hour and mapped it out already.’
‘Good. I would like to get some images as soon as I can. I’m enlisting some help to sell them.’
‘Do you need help? There seems a lot of interest in them already.’ Thomas shot Ollie a frown.
‘Well, I thought a wider audience might increase demand, drive prices a bit more, so they’ll be marketed from London too.’
‘Would this have anything to do with a certain young lady you were telling me about last week?’ smirked Thomas.
Ollie winked and produced a devious smile. ‘One can try.’
‘Ollie Martin, it will end in tears. She’s virtually married, you said.’
‘Yes, but since she’s been here again, I’ve become smitten.’
‘Look, I’d love to see my best mate happy, believe me, but you can’t hope that she’ll finish a long-term relationship. Married or not. I’d kill any man who dared to make a play for my wife.’ Thomas shook his head like a disgusted father. ‘I think you’re heading for trouble, to be honest.’
Ollie stared open mouthed at his foreman and friend. ‘Well, that’s honest. Maybe, you’re right but I still think she could be good for business.’
Thomas was right to some extent, Ollie figured. Gina was in a solid relationship. He needed to pale his enthusiasm. He’d been tempted to tell her exactly how he felt but he couldn’t risk scaring her off. He was just getting to know her and she him. Surely if he could prove that he wasn’t really the loudmouth she’d thought, she might fall deeply in love with him. Ha, fat chance! Stop kidding yourself. She was definitely a beauty and she’d be typical of the type to reject him. He would rather they be friends and business associates than risk getting hurt and humiliated.
It was so frustrating. After all, he had a lot to offer a woman particularly now he was growing his business independently of his father’s. He’d grown up and felt the time was right. He didn’t just want any woman however. Those that came easy weren’t worth it. He wanted Gina. Yes, their chemistry was explosive and she was stunning but she was everything else he admired too: bags of confidence and personality, a big heart and successfully independent.
If he could prove himself first, stick his neck out and show her how good he was at his business, help her with her mother, perhaps he could hope. Hope that she would find him irresistible.
He unzipped his rucksack and pulled out his SLR camera.
‘I can’t wait to get some internal shots for the brochures. I’ll need to wait a few days for that though. I thought I would get a few of the site in progress. This being my first project. And, once that sun breaks through, I’ll get some of the lake too. That’s what they’re all about, eh?’
‘I’d like to think it’s the quality of build and specification, myself.’ Thomas folded his arms and widened his stance.
‘I have upset you this morning, haven’t I, Thomas?’
Thomas, let his arms go limp. ‘No,’ he chuckled scratching his neck. ‘No, I don’t think it’s you. I’m just a bear with a sore head this morning. The kids were up in the night. Well, one of them was sick and woke the other one and then we were all up.’
‘Look mate, if you want to go and get your head down, I’ll keep an eye on things here.’
‘Thanks but I’ll be OK. It’s not the first time and I’m sure it won’t be the last.’
‘The joys of parenthood, eh! Can’t wait.’ Ollie patted his friend’s arm and imagined himself plodding along the lakeside with a toddler. Perhaps Gina’s child.
‘They certainly have their rewards,’ Thomas admitted.
‘I’m sure. Well, one day. Anyway, do you need me for anything? I want to get these photos and get on with getting everything together for the brochure.’
‘No. All is well at mission control.’
Ollie clambered back down to the lake and photographed scenes of the lake and items he thought would make interesting images: the pieces of art along the waterside that fascinated him, an array of the numerous flower beds nestled beside the lake made excellent foreground colour to the water and mountains beyond, and the famous Freddie Mercury statue, the
