‘I’d like to,’ Adam answered honestly, ‘but, nope. It’s definitely a fuel contamination problem.’
‘So what causes it?’ the guy asked, peering confusedly into his engine well.
‘Air in less-than-full fuel tanks contains moisture. It condenses over time, ergo, water in the fuel,’ Adam explained, hauling himself out of the well. ‘It can also seep in through poorly-sealed fuel caps and vents during boat fueling.’
‘It’s quite common then?’
‘Very,’ Adam assured him as he replaced the decking. ‘Black smoke pouring out of the exhaust, lack of power, hesitation in acceleration, or outright stalling are all pretty good indicators.’
The guy – obviously new to boating – nodded. ‘And you reckon replacing the filters is enough to cure her?’
‘I’ve done a visual inspection of the tank,’ Adam told him. ‘It looks pretty clean, no corrosion or sediment, so I don’t think you’ll need to polish the fuel.’
The guy looked nonplussed. ‘Polish it?’
Definitely new to boating, Adam decided. ‘Hire a specialist fuel filtration company,’ he translated. ‘I’d bear water contamination in mind in future, though. Check your filters regularly, add a fuel stabiliser, make sure to top off your tanks with fuel when she’s resting.’
‘Bugger, I would have done if I’d known.’ The guy sighed. ‘I had no idea it could cause such problems.’
‘Afraid so.’ Adam grabbed his cloth to make sure he’d left the decking as clean as he’d found it. ‘In diesel engines, a good ninety per cent of all problems are fuel-related. Water or debris in the fuel can lead to damaged fuel tanks, blown engines. Algae can flourish, which leads to corrosion of tanks, pumps, and injectors … You definitely need to keep an eye on it.’
‘I’ll make sure to.’ The guy looked relieved, and a little daunted. ‘So, how much do I owe you?’
‘With the filters, call it a hundred.’ Adam gave him a fair price. ‘I’d recommend you keep a couple of extra filters on board. You’ll need to change them at least every two hundred hours. I’ll get Nate to order some in, if you like?’ Adam couldn’t actually see the guy getting down there and changing them, but at least he’d have them when needed.
‘A hundred?’ The man seemed astounded.
‘Well, I did give her a quick check over,’ Adam reminded him uncertainly. ‘I—’
‘God, no, I’m not querying it,’ the guy stopped him. ‘I’m ecstatic. It’s a darn sight cheaper than however many thousand for a new engine.’
Several thousand, Adam smiled, relieved. ‘Excellent,’ he said.
‘Thank you, Adam.’ The man offered his hand and gave Adam’s a heartfelt shake. ‘I’ll shoot up to the cashpoint and drop the cash over to you later.’
‘Cheers.’ Adam nodded, and collected up his tools.
‘Oh, Adam,’ the guy called as he crossed the marina. ‘Let me have your contact numbers, will you? I’ll call you when my next service is due.’
‘Will do.’ Adam waved behind him, and then grinned at Nathaniel, who’d appeared eagerly from the chandlery.
‘New client, Adam?’ he shouted over to him.
For Sienna’s dad’s benefit, Adam guessed, who inevitably had eyes on proceedings from his chair, strategically placed in front of the cottage.
Meadows hadn’t been impressed with the single rose Adam had left in the milk bottle for Sienna this morning. Probably thought he’d nicked it. He hadn’t. He’d run into town very early, not much caring about eyes swivelling in his direction, and bought it. With the last of his money, unfortunately, which is why there weren’t twelve. Still, at least her old man had taken it in and given it to her. Sienna had texted him saying it was the most romantic gift she’d ever had. A rose in a milk bottle? Adam very much doubted it. He also doubted his having secured one customer would majorly impress her father either, but at least it was a start. Now to get cleaned up and go and ask him if he could escort his daughter out.
Adam mentally shook his head, feeling like a sixteen-year-old kid about to go out on a first date, and actually feeling as nervous as. Where was he going to take her, though? He still had no clue. A hundred pounds wouldn’t cover the cost of theatre tickets and dinner, which was where he’d like to take her, because he most definitely wanted to impress Sienna. Having noticed the theatre guide pinned up in her kitchen, he’d figured putting a little thought into the evening might go some way to doing that.
Another time, he supposed, climbing onto his boat, stowing his tools and heading straight for the shower; when he’d secured another couple of jobs, though that wasn’t going to be easy now his gardening services weren’t so much in demand around town.
He was still pondering as he headed towards Sienna’s cottage, freshly showered, shaved and wearing a clean white T-shirt that probably made him look like a soap-powder advert. Guessing Sienna wouldn’t fancy a meal at the pub he was banned from anyway, it was either a pub further afield or a restaurant. Indian, he debated. Chinese? Italian, he decided, a smile curving his mouth as he recalled Sienna’s penchant for pasta sauce.
Adam was Googling Rossini’s when his phone rang. Noting the number he immediately answered. They’d arranged another meeting next week, including her husband this time. Adam’s first thought therefore was that there might be a problem with Lily-Grace. ‘Hi, Nicole. What’s up?’ he asked, with a degree of trepidation.
‘Hi, Adam. How are you?’
‘Er, good, yes. Why?’
‘Don’t sound so wary, Adam.’ Nicole laughed. ‘It’s not a loaded question.’
‘Right, no. Sorry. I’m fine,’ he assured her. He’d had that many loaded questions fired at him lately his first instinct was to brace himself he supposed. He really did need to rid himself of the bad-things-are-bound-to-happen-attitude, though.
‘I had a chat to Phil, that’s all,’ Nicole went on.
‘And?’ The trepidation was back.
‘And, as it’s my night off and my two kids are over at Phil’s mums, we wondered whether you’d like to bring your girlfriend to dinner tonight? Nothing formal, just a nice casual get together. It will give you a chance to see Lily-Grace on home territory, too. What do you think?’
‘Oh, great, yes,’ Adam said, relieved and pleased. ‘I’d love to. I’ll have to check with Sienna, though. I was just about to ask her out. I mean, book a table; the Italian.’ Adam took a breath, realising he was tying himself in knots.
Nicole chuckled. ‘Ooh, you little romantic, you.’
‘Trying to be.’ Adam shrugged self-consciously. After so long telling himself he could live without romance, he was definitely out of practice.
‘You like her, then?’ Nicole probed, gently.
Adam smiled to himself. ‘And some,’ he admitted.
‘Bring her round.’ Nicole was adamant. ‘Phil’s cooking. It won’t be haute cuisine, but it will be edible, just.’
‘I’ll text you,’ Adam promised, pocketing his phone and nervously preparing himself to ask David Meadows if he could start courting his daughter.
It didn’t bode well that Meadows didn’t answer him from behind his newspaper. Adam coughed and waited, as Meadows rattled the newspaper and carried on reading.
‘Would you like to run that by me again?’ The man eventually peered over it, as Adam considered whether to dig a hole and drop down it.
‘I was asking for permission,’ he repeated, pulling in a nervous breath. ‘I wondered if I could, er—’
‘Permission?’ Meadows barked, now giving his newspaper a demonstrable rattle. ‘You’re a bit late for that, aren’t you?’ He stared at Adam, a look of bemused incredulity on his face, which didn’t make Adam feel any more comfortable.
He ran his hand over his neck, acutely embarrassed as he noticed the father of the two brats who’d thrown his lifebelts in the river looking on. ‘Yes, probably,’ he conceded.
‘Probably?’ Meadows repeated loudly, ensuring anyone within earshot was privy
to the conversation. ‘You really are clueless, aren’t you?’ He sighed and shook his head.
Clearly, he was. Adam shrugged, feeling definitely confused. The guy had banged on at him this morning, giving him a sermon about taking his responsibilities seriously that Nate would have been proud of, and now he was trying to, Meadows was talking in riddles.
Meadows narrowed his eyes, appraising Adam curiously. ‘She hasn’t said anything, has she?’
‘About?’ Adam cocked his head to one side. He really was losing the plot here.
‘Oh, for God’s sake, man!’ Meadows snapped. ‘She’s—’
‘Plaiting her hair!’ Lauren shouted, shooting through the front door, closely followed by, ‘oops,’ as the door hit her in the backside. ‘Hi, Adam,’ she greeted him with a sardonic smile. ‘Come to try to redeem ourselves, have we?’
Adam smiled tolerantly back. ‘Yes, Lauren, as it happens. I thought I’d try to redeem myself in Sienna’s eyes, though, if that’s all right with you?’
‘Perfectly.’ Lauren nodded, and folded her arms.
Adam dipped his head in turn and continued to wait, no choice but to with her bodyguard plus one in full anti-Adam mode.
‘She shouldn’t be long,’ Lauren assured him.
‘No problem.’ Adam smiled again and glanced at Meadows, who was back to leisurely reading his paper.
‘So, where are you taking her?’ Lauren asked.
She’d obviously been eavesdropping then. No change there. ‘I thought the Italian, Rossini’s,’ Adam supplied.
‘Blimey.’ Lauren raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow. ‘As well as giving her a whole single red rose? What did you do, win the lottery?’
Adam’s smile was now rather forced. ‘No,’ he sighed, wondering whether he should write them up a daily diary of his activities and supply them with all his details including his blood group. ‘I got a job in this morning.’
Lauren swept derisory eyes over him. ‘Oh, yes?’
‘Fixing a boat engine,’ Adam clarified, glancing again at Meadows, who returned his glance briefly. A congratulatory glint therein, did Adam detect? Possibly. He obviously wasn’t top of the guy’s list of favourite people, but it was possible he might have slipped off the top of his hit-list.
‘OhmiGod!’ Lauren said suddenly, her eyes pinging wide. ‘She’ll need un-plaiting and re-dressing.’
Do what? ‘Sorry?’ Adam furrowed his brow.
‘If she’s going for posh nosh, she’ll need some wardrobe advice. Serious wardrobe advice, unless you want her flashing the waiters in her shorts. And shoes, she’ll need heels.’ Lauren nodded determinedly and twirled around.
‘Whoa,’ Adam said, behind her, ‘We’re not going tonight. Something else came up and I—’
‘Gosh, there’s a surprise,’ Lauren drawled facetiously, turning back.
‘I got a call and I …’ Adam started, and then stopped, a genuine smile tugging at his mouth. ‘I wondered if you’d do me the honour of escorting me to Nicole’s as my partner for dinner?’
‘Excuse me?’ Lauren looked at him as if he’d gone quite barking mad.
‘Not you, me,’ Sienna said behind her, giving Lauren a less than subtle nudge sideways as she emerged from the front door.
Adam’s smile broadened as he looked her over. You’d be hard-pushed to improve on that, Lauren, he thought, his stomach doing a somersault inside him. Wearing pink plimsolls, a short, white flared skirt with a loose strappy top over, she looked fabulous. Her pretty cheeks were flushed. Her green eyes were sparkling deep emerald. Her hair, obviously ‘un-plaited’, tumbled gloriously over her shoulders. Her breasts … He twanged his eyes back up. She looked totally … Sienna: natural, achingly desirable, edible. What would he do, her old man, Adam wondered, if he took her in his arms right now and kissed her senseless?
‘Hi,’ he said, stepping towards her, his eyes on hers, drinking her in. She really was a breath of fresh air, the look in her eyes so warm Adam felt as if he could bask in the glow of it forever. ‘You look radiant,’ he said, at which point her dad dissolved into a hearty coughing fit.
‘Hey, Shaw!’
‘Grreat!’ Adam ground to a halt halfway across the marina.
‘What does he want?’ Sienna glanced past him, to where the horrible father of the equally horrible teenagers was standing on his boat deck, looking across to them.
‘I have no idea, but if he intends to cause trouble …’ Adam tightened his grip on her hand, and turned to face the man, steering her behind him as he did.
Instinctively protecting her, Sienna knew, and loved him for it. Little did Adam know, though, it would be that excuse of a man who would need protection if he did intend to cause trouble. One smart remark, that was all; one derogatory comment aimed at Adam and she would be seriously tempted to go over there and lob him into the water.
‘Nice job you did on Richard’s yacht,’ the man said, to Sienna’s astonishment. ‘It’s running as smooth as a whistle.’
‘Oh.’ Adam ran his hand through his hair, clearly confounded by the compliment. ‘Right, thanks.’ He nodded and turned back to Sienna.
‘Wonders, never …’ he said, waggling his eyebrows and reclaiming her hand.
‘Don’t fancy giving me a service sometime, do you?’ the man shouted.
‘Erm?’ Adam glanced at Sienna. ‘Not a lot, no,’ he whispered. ‘Can do,’ he stopped to address the man again. ‘When were you thinking?’
‘Tomorrow? She’s leaking oil into the sump. Sooner the better.’
‘Ten o’clock suit?’
‘Perfect. I’ll make sure the tea’s on.’ The man smiled and gave him a cheery wave.
‘See you then.’ Adam smiled back. ‘Blimey,’ he said to Sienna as they walked on. ‘Do you reckon it’ll be safe to drink?’
Sienna beamed from ear to ear. ‘I reckon you’ve gone up in the popularity stakes,’ she said proudly. She knew he could do it, if only he wanted to enough. Oh, she did love him, absolutely. She could just eat him.
‘Yeah, not sure I’ve gone up in your father’s estimation, though,’ Adam said glumly.
Sienna squeezed his hand. ‘It might take a bit of time,’ she said. Under the circumstances, she didn’t add, ‘but he’ll come round. You’ll see.’
Adam parked the car, hopped out, and then scooted around to open the door for Sienna. ‘What?’ he asked her, doing his best to look wounded as she laughed. ‘I’m trying to be romantic here, Sienna, a gentleman. You’re not supposed to dissolve into a fit of the giggles.’
‘I’m not. I’m impressed,’ Sienna assured him, rearranging her face to demure and extending her hand in a ladylike fashion.
‘Clearly.’ Adam gave her a mock-scowl, assisted her out and pulled her towards him. ‘I think madam might need teaching a lesson in manners,’ he growled.
‘Ooh, yes please.’ Sienna waggled her eyebrows and planted a fat kiss on his cheek. Assertive with Adam she could quite easily do.
‘Later,’ he promised her, a devilish gleam in his eye as he leaned around her to close the car door and then lovingly took her hand in his.
Much later, Sienna thought gloomily as they headed towards Nicole’s and Phil’s house, given her dad didn’t score him nil points in regard to his attempts to prove himself that was. He was doing pretty well in her book, staying sober, securing jobs, impressing those who were determined not to be. He’d even managed to win Nate over. Her dad must see how hard he was trying.
‘Are you sure you don’t mind?’ Adam asked, sounding nervous as they approached the front door.
‘No, you can hold onto my hand forever, if you like,’ Sienna joked, attempting to allay his apprehension.
Adam tightened his hold. ‘I intend to,’ he said softly, turning to give her such a warm smile, Sienna’s heart just melted. And then constricted a little at the thought of the news she still had to tell him. Would her unplanned pregnancy give him pause for thought regarding his forever plans?
&nbs
p; ‘About coming here with me tonight, I mean.’ Adam stopped walking and turned to face her. ‘It’s just, to be honest, Nicole’s the closest thing to family I have since …’ he faltered, his eyes closing briefly, reminding Sienna how painful his past still was for him to talk about. ‘I wanted to grab the opportunity to spend more time with Lily-Grace. I’m going to see her regularly and I hoped … Well, it’s early days yet, I know, but if we’re together, given you’d want to be, then …’
He stopped again, searching her face, his soulful brown eyes so full of uncertainty, Sienna felt her tummy flip over. ‘Lily-Grace would be part of your life, I know,’ she finished, seeing he was struggling. ‘I’d be more concerned if she wasn’t, Adam.’
Adam breathed a visible sigh of relief. ‘So you’re okay with it, then?’
‘She’s gorgeous,’ Sienna assured him. ‘She looks just like you. How could anyone not adore her and want to spend time with her?’
‘She does, doesn’t she?’ Adam’s mouth curved into a delicious self-conscious smile. Sienna could almost see his chest swelling with pride. ‘A little, around the eyes?’
‘A lot,’ Sienna corrected him.
Adam’s smile widened. ‘But you are absolutely sure? I wouldn’t want you to feel obligated in any—’
Sienna pressed a finger to his lips, and then followed it with a soft kiss. ‘I love you, Adam Hamilton-Shaw,’ she reassured him, sensing that that was what he needed. ‘I want what you want. That little girl won’t be hard to love.’
Adam blew out another sigh, glanced heavenward, and then reciprocated her kiss, hungrily, fervently, right there on the garden path, right outside the front door.
The open front door, Sienna realised mortified, as their lips finally, reluctantly parted. Standing at the door, Emily’s sister, Nicole, quickly dropped her gaze. She looked back up after a second, a bright smile fixed in place, but her expression, just briefly, had been haunted, reflective; heart-wrenchingly sad. Sienna understood, completely. She knew all about loss. Kissing Adam on her doorstep, she was treading in the wake of the woman’s sister. What ghosts must she have evoked?
The Rest of My Life Page 26
