Read Online FOR THE LOVE OF THE SEA by Jennifer Bohnet - Free Book Online

with James go?”
    “The one in Castle Gardens is nice but too small. As for the house in town, I’m really tempted. Will you come and see it with me and give me your honest opinion?”
    “Of course.How about tomorrow?”
    “Great. We’ll take my car and I’ll treat us to lunch,” Anna said.
    “So how was The Riverside tonight? Did you enjoy your meal?” Cassie asked again.
    “James took me to The Seafarers.”
    “Gosh that was pushing the boat out a bit!” Cassie looked surprised.
    “I got the feeling I wasn’t the one he really wanted to treat. He spent most of the evening talking about you, how nice you are and how he regrets upsetting you.”
    “I meant to phone him and apologise for my outburst,” Cassie said. “It wasn’t his fault at all. It was me over reacting.”
    “Well he should be home by now. Why don’t you phone him? I’m sure he’d be only too pleased to be a part of your new start.” Anna laughed as she said it but her eyes were serious as she looked at Cassie.
    James was home when she phoned a few minutes later and was pleased to hear from her, as Anna had predicted.
    “I’m sorry I was so rude James.” Cassie got straight to the point. “I don’t normally snap at people. Please forgive me.”
    “Consider yourself forgiven. I realise you’re under a lot of strain right now.” There was a short pause before he went on. “Would you like to have dinner with me Saturday evening?”
    “That would be nice, thank you. There’s something I’d like to ask you then as well.”
    “Ask me now.”
    “No. It’ll keep. I’ll see you Saturday.”
    As Cassie replaced the receiver she wondered whether her question for James would in fact keep. Or whether she would have changed her mind by Saturday and lost her nerve.
     
    It was raining hard the next morning as Cassie and Anna prepared to leave for town. Cassie nearly suggested putting their outing off but Anna was so keen to show her the house that she didn’t have the heart to even suggest it.
    Polly sent an e-mail just before they left which they read over Tom’s shoulder.
    “My first night on Clotted Cream was wonderful. The self-steering is working a dream. Weather so far good, but there is a depression forecast. Hopefully I’ll be able to skirt around the edge of it. Turning for home about mid-day. See you all sometime tomorrow morning. Love Polly. P.S. Any chance of a curry for dinner tomorrow Mum?”

    “If you’re e-mailing or speaking to her, tell her yes,” Cassie said, adding the ingredients to her shopping list.
    “Right, we’re off to brave the rain. We’ll drop these brochures off to Rufus as we go past reception. See you later.”
    Cassie and Anna ran into the Marina Reception Office both clutching a box of barge brochures. Rufus was talking to a large man dressed in expensive wet weather gear.
    “Cassie, Anna, meet Doug Hampshire. He’s berthing his yacht down on Pontoon E for the next year.”
    As Pontoon E was reserved for the largest, most expensive boats Cassie reckoned Doug must be the wealthy client Rufus had been so keen to sign up.
    She smiled at Doug as he took her hand in a firm grip.
    “Pleased to meet you,” he said. “I’m having an ‘Open Boat’ for a couple of hours on Sunday, as an opportunity to meet some locals. I hope you’ll both come? About 6.30. You’ll pass the word around Rufus?”
    Thanking Doug, Cassie and Anna made a dash for the car.
    “Nice man,” Anna said. “Wonder what his wife’s like?”
    Cassie shrugged, but there was a warmth in his eyes that made her think she must be a lucky woman.
    Once in town, Anna collected the key from the estate agent and took Cassie to see Glebe House.
    Situated down a lane off one of the main streets, Cassie saw immediately why it appealed to Anna.
    Built at the turn of the 19 th century it stood squarely in what had once clearly been an orchard, and through the rain Cassie could see several gnarled apple trees dotted around the large