Valentine's Day at the Star and Sixpence Read Online Free Page B

eye. Burials in the churchyard were few and far between and so Eliza Rhys was buried only a few plots away. The vibrant yellow was a fresh bouquet, laid
neatly at the base of her gravestone. Leaning against the stone itself was what looked like a hand-made child’s card.
    Nessie’s eyes prickled with unexpected tears. It had only been a few years since Eliza’s death; of course Owen and Luke would still be struggling with their loss. A worm of guilt
wriggled through her, too, because for a fleeting second that morning, she’d hoped – dreamed – that the bouquet in the florist’s arms had been from Owen. And she’d
promised herself she wasn’t going to feel that way – it could only lead to heartbreak. Then the flowers had turned out to be from Patrick and she’d felt a stirring of something
else, of comfort and feeling flattered. Someone wanted her, even if Owen didn’t.
    Ruby cleared her throat. ‘Those are lovely. Have you got an admirer?’
    ‘No,’ Nessie said, dragging herself back from her thoughts. ‘They’re not even mine.’
    ‘Oh. I thought for a moment that Owen had pulled his finger out.’ She shook her head. ‘He’s a lovely man but by God does he need a rocket up his arse.’
    ‘Ruby!’ Nessie exclaimed, half scandalised and half amused. ‘His wife’s grave is just over there.’
    The older woman peered over her sunglasses, her gaze sharp. ‘I know. And I also know that the dead don’t keep you warm on a cold winter’s night. They don’t laugh at your
stories and they don’t cheer you up when you’re down. Only the living do that. So if Owen is still holding a torch for Eliza then he’s a bloody fool.’ She looked away, her
gaze coming to rest on the rose at her feet. ‘Don’t let him be a fool, Nessie. Make him see you.’
    Nessie swallowed hard. ‘I – I’m not sure he wants to.’
    ‘He wants to,’ Ruby said firmly. ‘I’ve seen how he looks at you, and how you look at him. What the two of you need is less looking and more action.’
    Could she be right? Nessie wondered. Did Owen think about her the way she thought about him? It didn’t seem possible, not after his words last night but then he’d never finished the
sentence. Maybe he hadn’t been about to let her down gently after all.
    ‘I’ll think about it,’ she told Ruby and held out Sam’s unwanted bouquet. ‘Would you like these? They’re only going to waste otherwise.’
    Ruby took the display and inhaled deeply. ‘Vanda orchids and Grand Prix roses, my favourites. Thank you.’
    Nessie took a deep breath and smiled back at her. ‘No, Ruby. Thank you.’
    Joss met Sam with a humourless smile when she approached him behind the bar.
    ‘Good night last night?’ he asked, his tone carefully neutral. ‘It certainly sounds like it. “The couple consumed two bottles of champagne and shared a Lobster Thermidor
before catching a cab together,” the newspaper said. “An eyewitness said Nick Borrowdale seemed completely smitten.” ’
    ‘It’s not what you think,’ Sam said, sighing. ‘You know what the papers are like, they never let the facts get in the way of a good story.’
    ‘So you didn’t drink two bottles of champagne, then?’ Joss demanded. ‘You didn’t leave together?’
    His tone wasn’t so even now. Sam glanced around, checking who was within earshot but the pub was quiet. ‘Those parts are true but he dropped me off at my flat and went home alone. He
most certainly was not completely smitten,’ she said. ‘I promise you, there’s nothing going on between Nick and me.’
    He looked away, his shoulders hunched. ‘So why is he sending you flowers? I bet you didn’t tell him you’re allergic to romance.’
    Sam hesitated. ‘The flowers aren’t from Nick.’
    His eyes searched hers, obviously trying to decide whether to believe her. She met his gaze, held it, and after a moment the accusation on his face faded. ‘Then who are they from?’
he asked quietly. ‘How