“That’s good,” he replied softly.
Her eyes shot back to his.
She opened her mouth to speak but he got there before her. “I have to admit, you look nice, Elle, but you look better when your hair’s a mess and you aren’t wearing that mask.”
And it came again.
Her eyes grew slightly wider and her lips parted softly.
He took in her open expression of astonishment and finished by muttering, “Beautiful.”
Then he walked away.
* * * * *
That day, on a visit to one of his building sites, Prentice approached Nigel Fennick who was a laborer on the site.
Nigel gave him a chin’s up and said on a grin, “Dougal’s stag night still on for Friday?”
“Aye,” Prentice replied. “Annie’s hen night is tonight.”
Nigel’s grin widened. “Annie can be a wild one.”
Prentice knew that, hell, everyone knew that. Even so, he didn’t return Nigel’s grin.
“I want to talk to you about Hattie,” Prentice said and Nigel’s grin faded.
“Had calls from Fergus. Dougal too,” Nigel surprised him by saying. “They gave me an earful, mate, but you know Hattie.”
Prentice did, he’d known her all his life and he never really liked her. He liked her less after her behavior at the picnic.
“She going on Annie’s hen night?” Prentice asked.
“Aye,” Nigel nodded.
“She’ll be nice to Isabella,” Prentice stated.
It wasn’t a request, it was a demand.
Nigel gave him a look. “Never was able to control Hattie.”
He was right. Nigel and Hattie had been married for nearly two decades and she wasn’t nice to her husband either.
“You’ll have a word.” Another demand.
“Already did, after Fergus and after Dougal. She’s got it in her head –”
Prentice cut him off by repeating, “You’ll have a word.”
“Prentice –”
“Nigel, have a word with her.”
Nigel’s look turned probing. “Mate,” he said softly, “things have got to be rough with Fiona gone but you’re not… not again.”
Prentice got closer. “This isn’t about me and Isabella. This is just about Isabella. She’s here for her friend and she’s been good to the children. If you won’t have a word, I’ll have a word.” Prentice pulled his mobile from his back pocket. “Give me her number.”
Nigel’s look turned incredulous and, Prentice noted with surprise, slightly fearful. “Now?”