‘No. We used to travel a lot for my work. Now he’s getting older we’re gonna put down some roots. I’ve been offered some work in New York starting next June. So we’ll be moving up there after the end of the school year.’
‘What made you choose Surrey Academy?’
It was a good question. ‘I went there as a kid so there was kind of a connection already. It’s all new to me, this school stuff. I thought I’d start us off gently, with somewhere I know. I’ll worry about the New York education system once he’s settled in.’
‘Dad, can Poppy come over to play today?’ Charlie interrupted their conversation.
‘I don’t know … ’ Ryan glanced at Juliet. Her face was impassive. He wanted Charlie to make friends, to fit in, but her kid had just hit him. Plus the house was full of boxes waiting to be unpacked.
‘Not today, I’m afraid,’ Juliet said. ‘I have to go back to the shop for a couple of hours, and Poppy’s coming with me.’
‘I’d rather go play with Charlie. Please Mommy?’
‘Not today.’ Juliet shook her head.
‘What about tonight? Can we play then?’
She gave a half-laugh. ‘You’ll be in bed tonight.’
‘After tea?’
‘No honey, you can play in the garden after tea, but then you’ll need your bath and go to bed. It’s been a long day.’ She met Ryan’s eyes, shrugging her shoulders.
‘Let’s meet in the garden, then,’ Poppy said, turning to Charlie. ‘I’ve got a cool rope swing.’
‘Poppy, Charlie can’t just come around after tea.’ She looked at Ryan. ‘I’m so sorry, one minute she’s hitting him, the next minute she’s practically inviting him to live with us.’
‘Well he does almost live with us,’ Poppy protested. ‘Or next door, anyway.’
‘What?’ Juliet glanced at Poppy and Charlie before turning to look at Ryan. He didn’t bother to bite down his own smile. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve just moved into the Langdon house. On Letterman Circle?’ She gave a half-smile. ‘I should have known when you said about the removal trucks.’
Now he was grinning. ‘Yeah, that’s the one.’
‘I didn’t know it was you. I was planning to pop over this evening with a plant or something to say welcome. I’m so sorry.’
Ryan had no idea whatsoever why Juliet was apologising to him, though he’d noticed before that English people had a habit of doing that. She was still blushing like crazy.
‘You’re at number forty-eight?’ he asked.
She shook her head. ‘No, forty-four.’
‘The bungalow?’
‘Yeah, that’s the one. We only moved in a few months ago.’
‘In that case, it’s a pleasure to meet you, neighbour.’ He offered her his hand again. When she took it, he curled his fingers around hers, feeling her soft smooth flesh.
There was something about Juliet Marshall that intrigued him. Made him want to know more. She was soft, yet brittle, an intriguing combination.
It was also a dangerous combination, he reminded himself. And he was only here for a while. He needed complications like Juliet Marshall like he needed a hole in the head.
They were neighbours. That’s all they were, and as far as Ryan was concerned he should be perfectly happy to keep things like that. Friendly, neighbourly, but definitely minding his own business.
Even if part of him wanted to get all up in hers.
It was just after eight that evening when Ryan heard a rap on the front door. Charlie was sitting on the floor, playing with LEGO, while Ryan was drinking from his half-empty bottle of beer. He felt more American than he had in a long time, his stomach full of food he’d cooked on the grill. Tuna steaks rather than meat ones, and a local brew clutched in his hand. Strange how fast he was becoming reacclimatised.
Charlie looked up from his half-built fort. ‘Who’s that?’