Page 30 of Plot Twist

‘You’ve not told them that you’re struggling with your book, though? Bridget thinks you’re nearly finished. I didn’t tell them, obviously, about our joint writer’s dysfunction.’

Riley rolled his eyes and sighed. ‘Ah good, thanks for that. I haven’t really told anyone about that, apart from you. And obviously my agent knows because of the distinct lack of words. Bridget always worries about me, you know. I thought when my book was published that it was great because she wouldn’t have to worry any more. I want her to think I can do this whole writing thing.’

My body surged with pleasure at the thought of Riley sharing his secret with me. Only me.

‘You can do this writing thing,’ I said.

‘What if I’m a one-novel wonder though? Like Chesney Hawkes,’ he asked.

I snorted. ‘With the one and only novel?’

Riley groaned. ‘I’m serious.’

‘Stop thinking like that,’ I said. ‘You’re putting too much pressure on yourself, Ches.’

‘I know, I know,’ he sighed. ‘And Bridget and Ellie would always help, if I asked them to. They always offer to babysit so I can have more time to write. And Ivy adores them.’

‘I can see why,’ I said. ‘I think I do, too.’

‘I’m glad,’ he said. ‘But you don’t have to go to all the stuff they asked you to. Only if you want to. Apart from the opening night– we’ll all need to go to that. They’ve been working so hard on it.’

‘Have you helped out with the renovation work?’ I asked.

‘Yeah, I’ve been over a fair bit, chipping in with building beds and furniture, mainly. We’ve managed to do a lot of it ourselves, just using tradespeople for some of the trickier jobs.’

‘A man of many talents,’ I said. ‘Is there anything you can’t do, Riley O’Connell?’

‘I can’t sing to save myself,’ he confessed.

‘Oh, I know that already. I heard you warbling yesterday in the kitchen,’ I teased.

Riley, who had been washing a cup at the sink, turned around, splashing me with some water. ‘Hey!’ He smiled. ‘I’ll have you know, I was one of the lead roles in my school show when I was younger. Doc, the main dwarf in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Belted out a great rendition of “Hi-Ho” with the rest of the crew. But that was before my voice broke.’

I laughed and flicked him with a tea towel as he looked around, before hastily grabbing a pair of oven gloves. He looked down at them and frowned, unsure of his next move.

‘What are you going to do, bake me until I surrender?’ I arched my eyebrow.

He let out a hearty laugh and grabbed the red-and-white checked tea towel from my hands.

‘Right from under my nose!’ I protested.

‘Aha!’ he delighted, flicking me with the tea towel. ‘How the tables have turned. I have disrobed you.’

I blushed before meeting his gaze again.

‘Pretty sure that means something else,’ I laughed, dodging the towel. ‘This isn’t fair; I am unarmed in combat!’

He stopped, pulled open a drawer and threw me a cream tea towel sporting a picture of a bunny. I caught it in one hand.

‘Fight!’ he ordered, moving closer to me, his eyes narrowed. ‘Or the bunny gets it.’

We stood inches apart, almost touching, as the door creaked open. I looked down at Ivy, who stood in the door frame. She gazed up at us, a hint of confusion in her eyes, before frowning as she glanced up at the kitchen cupboards.

‘Mammy’s,’ she said, pointing up.

Riley stopped in his tracks.

‘Mammy what?’ He knelt down to look Ivy in the eye and tucked her hair behind her ear.