Chapter 87
CLAIRE’s POV
Jake keeps glancing over at me as I sit at the old, distressed pine table. The rustic charm of the kitchen would ordinarily appeal to me, but sitting here with his creepy brother makes me feel a whole lot uncomfortable.
“How long she staying?” Jakes asks Clive. As I look at them both, I can see absolutely no resemblance whatsoever. How can two men supposedly be brothers and looks completely unalike.
Where Clive is big, broad and all man, his brother appears to look like someone who has spent years on meth. I want to run as far away from as I can.
I have to will myself to drop the nerves. He’s probably harmless. The whole incident of late has really shaken me up and then some.
“For as long as Claire likes,” Clive answers in-between eating mouthfuls of food.
I pick at my food.
“Claire are you not hungry?” Clive asks, his warm eyes settling on me. Hector lays down by his feet, such a good boy. The thought of curling up to him on the bed in my room and staying there, sounds like a wonderful idea right now.
“I’m, it’s fine. Just tired. I think I really should take a nap but I can’t sleep,” I tell him. Careful not to add because his brother freaks me the hell out.
“We can go for a walk if you like, take Hector that might help. Walking is always good to bring on a nap. I bought you some sturdy walking boots for round these parts,” he says then takes a drink from his large, olive-green mug.
“Yes, that would be lovely,” I say as I place my cutlery on the plate. I’ve eaten like a sparrow, yet feel full. Maybe later, I can eat some more.
“Come on then, let’s go. I’ll drop our plates into the sink.”
He slides his chair back and stands. He is such a tall guy, it feels like I have to crane my neck up to even look at him. There is nothing but warmth radiating from Clive.
“I can come with,” Jake says causing my heart to sink to my feet. I look down at the plate as Clive picks it up, to take to the butler’s sink across the kitchen.
Clive turns to Jake. “You can cut wood, we need to replenish the stack out the back, then feed the chickens. Claire and I could do with some alone time,” he tells him gruffly.
Thank goodness. My heart lifts slightly. I do need some fresh air. I need to clear my head and what better way than in the woodlands of he cabins with adorable, Hector playing and running around.
Clive drops the plates in the sink. “I can do these later,” he says as he turns back to me.
“I should do them,” I say as I push my chair back and stand. All the while Jake’s eyes are on me.
Now it’s beginning to irritate me. Hasn’t the man ever seen a grown woman before? What if he’s just come out of a prison. I shudder.
“No way. Come on then, your boots are by the door. Wait, you need to put on thicker socks to stop you getting any blisters,” he tells me with a comforting tone.
We walk out of the kitchen, all the while I feel Jake’s eyes boring into my back. Hopefully, he won’t be staying here for too long. I need to ask Clive what Jake’s intentions are. If he plans on staying, then my plan is to ask Nathalie for some help in finding me somewhere safe and out the way to stay.
The last thing I want to do, is impose on Nathalie. She has her own life to lead and having come to my rescue, she has something serious to keep hidden. It does make me wonder what kind of people she actually knows.
In the room, I rummage in the bags and see some thick, walking socks. I sit on the edge of the bed and slide them on over the plain white socks I am wearing, that Clive bought. They feel warm and snug, the type that you want to wear when it turns to winter and you snuggle in front of the roaring fire with a good book or a cozy Hallmark movie.
I spot a purple fleece in the other bag and put that over the checked shirt that Clive bought. It seems the man has thought of literally everything, even bras and panties. Plain but they will do. Let’s face it, I am not exactly in a mental state of mind to prance around in sexy lingerie.
When even was the last time I did? Early days with Jonathan, when we were hot for each other. Back before he began to turn on me and make my life a living hell. Before I lost all confidence in myself as a woman and a person and turned to drab clothes that were too big and baggy for any man to see my shape beneath them.
I let out a long sigh and tell myself to get a wriggle on. Clive is waiting and I am looking forward to getting outside and smelling the pine trees and hearing the leaves crunch beneath my feet.
Clive is waiting by the door with a brown Barbor jacket on that clearly has seen better days. He wears big hiking boots and a cream roll neck jumper under the jacket.
I have to admit he looks very English gentleman; my heartbeat picks up a fraction. He smiles at me.
“Good, I can see you’re dressed for a walk, it’s much fresher out there, lass,” he tells me. His accent is like a songbird and I absolutely love the way he calls me lass.
Hector sits patiently, then drops to his front legs and pushes his bottom in the air, wagging his tail.
“Someone is eager,” I say as I reach Clive who opens the door and Hector is off. He bounds around as if he hasn’t been walked in weeks. It’s adorable seeing him go from tree to tree sniffing each one.
Clive motions to close the door behind us and takes my hand, slipping my small hand into his.
Just as he closes the door, I hear Jake’s words.
“Be careful out there. Nasty place the woods can be!”
A chill runs right up my spine.