Page 5 of A Little Love Song in Seabury (Seabury #16)
WILLIAM
‘ H ey, hey… hey!’ laughed Will, as Stanley towed him down the stone steps onto the pebbles of North Beach. ‘I thought you were meant to be clever?! This isn’t your home!’
The big dog completely ignored him and made a beeline for the ridge of pebbles that marked the high tide line. There, he plonked his fluffy behind down, facing the sea.
‘We’re not staying here,’ chuckled Will. ‘Don’t make yourself too comfy. I need to get you back to The Sardine.’
A loud grumble from his stomach suggested that it might be a good plan to stop for some breakfast while he was there, too.
Stanley, however, wasn’t in a rush. With his eyes trained on a couple of swimmers who seemed to be intent on splashing a woman paddling in the shallows, he simply opened his mouth in a grin and started to pant.
Will gave a couple of half-hearted tugs on the makeshift lead before giving it up as a pointless exercise and sinking down onto the stones next to him.
‘You could have at least chosen West Beach,’ he grouched, shuffling around as he tried to get comfortable. ‘The sand’s much more forgiving on the old butt cheeks!’
‘You know that talking to a stolen dog about your butt cheeks is a bit of a worrying symptom, don’t you?!’
The voice from behind him made Will roll his eyes even as he broke into a grin. He should have known he wouldn’t be able to set foot in Seabury for more than five minutes before one or other of his brothers found him.
Given his current location on North Beach and his close proximity to Ewan’s knitting shop— All Things Woolly —Will would have placed money on the younger of the pair finding him first. But nope. Frankly, he should have sensed Matt’s intense big brother vibes coming a mile off.
‘For the record, I didn’t steal Stanley,’ said Will, turning to his brother as Matt flopped down onto the pebbles next to him. ‘He appeared at the house, and I thought I’d better bring him back down to town and make sure he was safe.’
‘Who’s a clever boy?!’ said Matt, ruffling Stanley’s ears. ‘That’s one way to make sure you didn’t stay put and sulk in your castle all day.’
‘I wasn’t going to stay put and sulk!’ Will said automatically, although that was exactly what he’d been planning.
‘Course not,’ said Matt with a knowing smirk. ‘Because you’re absolutely brimming with enthusiasm for family time, aren’t you?’
Will shot his brother a sideways look. ‘Don’t start.’
‘I’m not starting anything,’ said Matt, holding up his hands in mock surrender. ‘Just making an observation. You know… as your big brother who’s legally obligated to point out when you’re being a muppet.’
Stanley let out a low woof of what sounded suspiciously like agreement, and Will shook his head. ‘Even the dog’s ganging up on me now.’
‘Smart dog,’ chuckled Matt. ‘So, how was your first night in the mystery house? Leah did well to find that place, didn’t she? I had a look at the photos online—it’s incredible.’
‘How come you know anything about it?’ said Will in surprise.
‘Because the girls talk,’ said Matt, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. ‘Connie and Rosie are pretty good friends with Leah, you know.’
‘But they’ve never even met,’ said Will, frowning in confusion.
‘Yeah, but some people actually know how to use things like mobile phones and video calls!’ tutted Matt.
‘You’re starting again,’ huffed Will.
‘Promise I’m not,’ said Matt with a shrug. ‘We know you’ve got a mad schedule. I’m just saying that we all talk to Leah more often than we talk to you… and she’s great.’
‘Mmm,’ said Will, his eyes firmly on the sea.
The pair of swimmers had made their way out a little further now, and were matching each other stroke for stroke, cutting through the gentle waves like a couple of porpoises. The third figure was still pottering about in the shallows, holding her back as she watched her friends.
Will gave an involuntary shiver. The water looked freezing. Definitely not his idea of fun! When he was younger, maybe—a lot younger. The only way he’d be persuaded to brave the waves now was in a wetsuit. A thick one. And some serious gloves.
Besides, why would he want to go in and freeze when he had such a great view from the beach? One of the swimmers in particular had caught his eye. She was moving through the water with an elegant ease that was mesmerising. She looked completely at home in the waves.
‘Earth to Will,’ said Matt, following his gaze. ‘You okay, mate? You just completely zoned out on me.’
‘Sorry,’ said Will, blinking hard and trying to focus on his brother. ‘What were you saying?’
‘I was asking if you wanted to join us all for breakfast at New York Froth in a bit,’ said Matt with a smirk. ‘But clearly your attention’s elsewhere. Anyone in particular catching your fancy out there?’
Will felt heat creep up his neck. ‘I was just… the swimming looks… energetic.’
‘Uh-huh.’ Matt’s grin was decidedly wicked. ‘Very energetic. So, which one’s got you all tongue-tied?’
‘I’m not tongue-tied,’ spluttered Will, even as his eyes drifted back to the swimmer in the striped costume. There was something about the way she moved…
‘Right. And I’m not a doctor.’ Matt squinted out at the water. ‘Oh, hang on. Don’t tell me it’s the girl in the stripes? Because if it is, things are about to get very interesting indeed.’
‘Why?’ said Will, his stomach doing something peculiar. ‘Who is she?’
Matt’s eyebrows shot up so high they practically disappeared into his hairline. ‘You’re joking, right?’ he said. ‘Even I know who that is, and I’ve never actually met her in person.’
‘Matt, just tell me,’ huffed Will.
‘That’s Leah, you numpty.’
Oh.
If the sky wasn’t a clear, perfect blue, Will would have thought he’d just been struck by lightning. Leah? As in the person who’d patiently followed him around the world for the last three years?
Immaculate, capable… professional. Leah, his PA, the woman he spent most of every day with. The woman who was so organised and composed, it was mildly terrifying?
Here she was, though, completely transformed. Not trying to negotiate with hotel managers or chase down missing sheet music or remind him he hadn’t eaten since the previous day. This was a different version of Leah… one he’d never been allowed to see before.
‘Will? Okay, you’ve gone properly glazed now,’ said Matt, waving a hand in front of his face.
‘That’s really Leah?’ said Will, his voice coming out slightly strangled.
‘Yes!’ tutted Matt. ‘ Your Leah.’
‘She’s not my Leah,’ said Will quickly, though something about the words made his chest squeeze with something that felt strangely like hope.
‘Right. Of course she isn’t.’ Matt’s voice was dripping with amusement. ‘Is that why you look like you’ve been hit by a bus right now?’
Stanley chose that moment to lumber to his feet and give an enthusiastic bark in the direction of the swimmers, his tail wagging furiously.
‘Even Stanley knows what’s what,’ laughed Matt. ‘Anyway, as I was saying before you went all moon-eyed, we’re heading to the Froth after they’ve finished splashing about. You’re welcome to join us?’
‘Yeah,’ said Will absently, his attention already drifting back to the water. ‘Sounds good.’
If he was being honest, there was only one person he wanted to see right now. The same person he’d seen every day for the last three years. The prospect of hanging out with Leah while she was off-duty instead of simply existing in the same space while she organised his life was weirdly exciting.
‘You know,’ said Matt thoughtfully, ‘I’ve never seen you look at anyone like that before.’
‘Like what?’ said Will, dragging his attention back to his brother.
‘Like you’ve just discovered something important that you didn’t know you’d been looking for.’
Will opened his mouth to protest, but the words died in his throat. He coughed, stroked Stanley and then let out a strangled laugh.
‘Rosie’s turned you soft!’ he muttered.
Matt wasn’t wrong, though, was he? For months now, Will had been lost. He’d felt disconnected from everything that was supposed to matter to him.
The music that had always been his whole world felt hollow.
The acclaim felt meaningless. He’d been going through the motions, playing the notes, but feeling nothing.
‘She’s brilliant, you know,’ said Matt quietly. ‘Leah, I mean. Connie and Rosie both think she’s lovely. Properly lovely. You could do a lot worse, you know.’
‘I know,’ said Will, deliberately misunderstanding his brother. ‘She’s the best PA I’ve ever had. I couldn’t function without her.’
‘I wasn’t talking about her organisational skills,’ said Matt with a meaningful look.
Will felt his cheeks grow hot. ‘Matt?—’
‘I’m just saying,’ said Matt, holding up his hands again. ‘Maybe it’s time you stopped seeing her as just your PA and started seeing her as… well, as Leah.’
Out in the water, the pair of swimmers had turned to make their way back towards the shore. Will watched as Leah caught a wave and rode it in, her laughter carrying as she stumbled to her feet in the shallows.
‘Come on then,’ said Matt, getting to his feet and brushing pebbles off his jeans. ‘Let’s go and say hello. Stanley, you too—it’s nearly time to reunite you with your mum.’
Stanley immediately perked up at the mention of going somewhere, though Will noticed the dog’s attention was also fixed on the three women now making their way up the beach.
‘Will? You coming?’ said Matt.
‘Yeah,’ said Will, scrambling to his feet, though his coordination seemed to have deserted him completely. ‘Yeah, just… give me a second.’
Leah was walking towards them now, her hair loose and darkened by seawater, droplets still clinging to her skin.
She’d wrapped a towel around her waist, but there was still plenty of that striped swimsuit on show.
Will had never seen her looking so alive.
Connie and Rosie walked on either side of Leah, bearing her up the beach like a giggling guard of honour as she did her best to keep her towel in place.
Will swallowed as Leah reached up to push her wet hair back from her face. A stream of saltwater cascaded from the dark strands, catching the morning light before trailing down her neck across perfectly smooth, tanned skin.
He was definitely hungry, but he had a sneaking suspicion that New York Froth didn’t serve the one thing he was craving right now.