Finn slid a half a lager over the table to Joey. They were in a far corner of the Ferryman after a meeting to discuss the safety and marshalling arrangements for the regatta, which was just over four weeks away.
Finn had expected to endure some ribbing from the others at the boatyard about being caught out, but no one had said a word about his night with Rose, not even Joey, even though it had been almost a week.
To be fair, Joey had been to Brixham for a few nights to collect a yawl that needed restoring and they hadn’t had much time to talk. Joey had put on the usual jokey front during the regatta meeting, but now he sat opposite Finn with a face like a slapped arse.
‘What’s up?’ Finn asked him.
‘Nothing’s “up”.’
‘You look like the sky fell in.’
Joey laughed. ‘Dunno what you’re on about, bro.’
‘Look. Is this anything to do with Rose? Because if it is, you should know that nothing happened between us.’
Joey laughed again. ‘If you say so, though you know, the thing that puzzles me most is how you didn’t see the forecast before you set off,’ he added with a sly edge that made Finn’s hackles rise.
‘No one saw that squall coming. If you’d been out there, you’d have done the same as me. I might possibly have run for home if I’d been on my own but not with a novice on board. I wasn’t going to put her in danger.’
‘I just thought that the great Finn, who knows these waters better than anyone, might have decided to turn around sooner … I mean, I know it would have been a tricky judgement call but …’ He grinned and tipped his glass to his mouth.
Finn was momentarily speechless. ‘Are you trying to say I deliberately took her out so that I’d have to shelter up and spend the night with her? You know me better than that.’
‘Do I? I thought I did.’
‘It won’t happen again. The field’s clear for you.’
‘What?’ Joey frowned. ‘And Rose has a say in this, does she?’
‘Joey, read my lips. Nothing happened.’
‘But you wanted it to, didn’t you?’
Finn stared into his pint. Rose’s body in the dim light of the cabin came back to him. Her soft breathing next to him in the darkness as the storm blew itself out. That kiss – yes, he’d wanted very much for something to happen after that. It had been a long and frustrating night.
‘You can’t even look at me.’ With a smirk, Joey picked up his keys.
‘I would never do that; I didn’t because …’ Finn was now almost certain that Joey felt more for Rose than physical attraction, but didn’t want to admit he’d fallen for her.
The sailing lessons, as Finn had suspected, were merely an excuse to get closer to her. Joey must care for her or he wouldn’t be so angry with Finn at spending the night with her. The problem was that Finn could no longer be sure exactly what his brother felt. They’d grown apart since Lauren had left. Life had seemed simple once; Joey loved Lauren and they would probably get married and have a family … Now, Joey kept his feelings buried so deep, Finn couldn’t imagine getting to the core of them.
‘Because of what?’ Joey said.
‘Nothing. Forget it. Believe me if you want or don’t.’ He almost said my conscience is clear … but the words stuck in his throat. His conscience was clear with Rose, just about, but as for Lauren? He remembered another summer evening, another moment alone with a woman who Joey was close to. Much closer than Rose.
Finn had played a part in destroying their relationship. However much he’d tried not to shatter it, simply by staying in Falford when he could have left, he’d played his part.
He’d put his work, his own passion for the yard, the life he had and even the boat before Joey.
Joey downed the rest of his pint. ‘I’m going to bed. Busy day tomorrow,’ he said, then moments later he ducked under the door lintel and into the night.
Not wanting to draw attention to their row, Finn stayed in his seat, sipping his pint and pretending to look at his phone.
Finn didn’t need to wait long to test his reaction to seeing Rose again. She was in the general stores the following morning, queueing up at the post office counter. He’d gone in to get fresh supplies of coffee and chocolate to keep spirits up at the yard. With the arrival of the yawl, everyone was going to have to put in overtime. He tried to wait patiently in line, joining in the banter about the regatta, and who might win various competitions.
Rose was served before him and left the shop with a brief ‘hi’, but when he walked out, she was still outside.
‘Hello,’ he said, surprised.
‘Hi. Stocking up on supplies?’ She nodded at the bag in his arms.
‘Yeah. We’ve a new restoration project come in. I need to keep morale up.’
‘Those will help … I’ve just posted a birthday card to Maddie. She’s coming to stay with me this weekend for a belated celebration.’
‘Sounds good. What will she make of Falford?’ He didn’t know why he’d asked it, but he had a compulsion to make the conversation last. Despite his determination not to cross the line with her again, he was more attracted to her than ever. She was a magnet, drawing him in the moment he was close.
‘I don’t know,’ she started, but Kev approached them as he left the store before she could finish.
‘Hi, Rose. Hello, mate,’ he said to Finn before focusing on Rose, and who wouldn’t? ‘I hear you’re judging the sandcastle contest?’
‘Afraid so. Oriel told the committee I’d do it.’
Kev gave a sharp intake of breath. ‘They probably wanted a neutral. Hope you’ve got a thick skin. That contest ended in fisticuffs a few years back. The Patels, McKinnons and Bannons all thought their creation was best. Bannon Senior swiped at McKinnon with a plastic spade and the Patels threatened to sue. The RNLI crew had to separate them.’
‘Oh my God. Not really?’
Kev grinned. ‘Don’t worry. I think drink had been consumed. They’ve moved the contest back to the morning now before anyone can get lairy. I’m sure you’ll be fine. See ya,’ he said, then walked off, humming.
‘I think I might have bitten off more than I can chew.’ Rose had gone pale.
‘Ignore Kev. He’s prone to exaggerate.’ Finn smiled at her. ‘Pick the one you like and leave. After all, you won’t have to be here forever.’
She met his eye and he almost – almost – added: ‘I wish you’d stay longer.’ ‘No. Of course not … but I am here until September and I’d rather not cause a diplomatic incident.’
‘You won’t. The regatta’s only a bit of fun,’ he said. ‘Apart from the sandcastle contest of course, which is deadly serious.’
‘Oh, stop making it worse!’ Rose dissolved into giggles.
What a joy to make her laugh again … Finn fought the urge to sweep her into his arms and kiss her outside the post office, but contented himself with a grin. ‘Are you doing anything else at the regatta besides judging the sandcastles?’
Colour rose in her cheeks. ‘I’m afraid Oriel’s asked me to be part of the water pageant.’
‘Really? That’ll be a laugh. What’s the theme of your boat?’
‘I could tell you but then I’d have to kill you.’ She pushed a strand of her hair off her face. ‘I’m sworn to secrecy by Oriel and Naomi, but I wouldn’t get too excited, if I were you.’
It was way too late for that, thought Finn, fighting the impulse to tell her that he wished he hadn’t backed away from her and that he wished he’d taken that kiss much further and let her know exactly how he felt.
Then he remembered Joey’s angry words in the pub. It looked to him as if Joey felt more for Rose than perhaps she did for him. Otherwise why would Joey be so touchy? And why would Rose have made a move on him?
‘Better go,’ he said.
‘Oh. Yes. Me too.’
Finn watched her make her way down the cobbled lane, her dress blowing in the breeze off the estuary. Why did he have to fall for Joey’s girl again?