Read Online Keeping the Peace by Hannah Hooton - Free Book Online Page A

morning?’ Jack said, making his reappearance a couple of hours later.
    Pippa looked up and smiled, half an automatic gesture, half a genuine appreciation that she now had some company. With her limited tasks and the phone being unnervingly quiet, the only interaction she’d had was with some miserable man called Simon who had come in with a list of supplies to get for the yard.
    ‘You still have a business. Can I get you some coffee?’
    Jack hesitated on his way to his office.
    ‘That’d be nice. Thank you.’
    A couple of minutes later Pippa joined him in his office with a mug of steaming coffee. Jack lowered his Racing Post at her knock on the door. He still had his coat on and she noticed the tip of his nose was pink from the cold.
    ‘Would you like your heater back? It’s really quite toasty in Reception now.’
    ‘No. Keep it. I’ll warm up in a minute.’
    After a moment she relaxed, reassured that he wasn’t going to bite her head off for anything. He seemed in a much more agreeable mood today than on any of the other occasions they had met.
    ‘Who’s Simon?’
    Jack paused from blowing on his drink.
    ‘My head lad. You met?’
    ‘He came in earlier. He didn’t seem terribly keen.’
    ‘Did you want him to be keen? I can’t have you seducing all the male staff here, Pippa.’
    Pippa felt oddly complimented that he thought her capable of this and was reminded of her conversation with Tash the night before.
    ‘I’m not about to seduce anyone, don’t worry. I’ve got a boyfriend in London still.’
    ‘Do you? I didn’t know that. How has he taken to you coming down here?’
    ‘Ollie has his own way of dealing with things.’
    ‘Not happy then?’
    ‘Not really. But the good thing is his work is distracting him now.’
    ‘What does he do?’
    ‘He’s an actor.’
    ‘An actor? How very glamorous,’ Jack drawled. ‘What has he been in?’
    ‘Well, he’s just been given a small role in Holby City and he’s had a few cameo parts in some other soaps, but –’ Pippa hesitated. Her conscience battled with remaining loyal to Ollie and admitting his hopelessness. ‘He prefers the theatre really,’ she said finally.
    ‘Can’t say I blame him. Soaps are ridiculous.’
    ‘No, they’re not. They’re entertaining.’
    ‘All they ever do is argue, are closet gays or else sleep with people they shouldn’t.’
    ‘It wouldn’t be entertaining if they didn’t.’
    Jack scoffed in derision then looked at his watch.
    ‘Gemma usually took her lunch between one and two. Does that suit you?’
    ‘Sounds fine. I might pop into the village and have a look around. How far away is it from here?’
    ‘Helensvale? About ten minutes’ drive. And it’s a town by the way, not a village. I see you’ve got a different car.’
    ‘The other ones were hired. This one’s mine,’ Pippa said proudly.
    ‘Buy it yourself?’
    ‘No, I stole it.’
    Her solemn reply made Jack look at her sharply. Pippa couldn’t contain her amusement when confronted by his expression.
    ‘Oh, you’re joking. Did you get it from a dealer?’
    ‘Yes. I don’t know why they’ve got such a reputation. The dealer who sold me mine was charming; a lovely old guy. He was very honest about it all, saying it isn’t perfect – it has a rip in one of the backseats – and he let me have it really cheap.’
    ‘Oh, God.’ Jack closed his eyes. ‘If that car lasts you ’til Christmas I’ll be amazed.’
    ‘That’s only a few weeks away. Of course it’ll last. It’s a bit noisy, but it’s a Beetle. They’re supposed to be noisy.’
    Jack looked at her under heavy eyelids.
    Pippa licked her lips.
    ‘Aren’t they?’ she ventured.
    ‘I just hope you’ve got breakdown cover.’
    Pippa was about to reply when the phone rang next door and she hurried out.

     
    ‘PIPPA!’
    Jack’s bark from the adjoining office made her leap out of her seat. Frantically, she tried to think what she might have done wrong. That phone call