Free The Soft Whisper of Dreams by Christina Courtenay

us.’
    ‘Are you sure you want to bring the children? I can stay here and look after them if you want,’ Maddie offered. She could see the worry lurking in her friend’s eyes and knew precisely what she was going through. Although her own anguish had only lasted for a short while when she still believed there was hope for her parents’ survival, it was the same feeling of helplessness that Kayla must be experiencing now.
    ‘Thanks, but I couldn’t go without them. There is one thing, though ... would you consider staying for a while to house-sit when we’re away?’
    ‘Of course.’ Maddie had no hesitation in accepting. The next minute, however, something occurred to her. ‘But what about Alex? Shouldn’t you ask him first? After all, he is Wes’s brother and I’m just a friend.’
    ‘Oh, we already have. You’ll be doing it together.’
    ‘What? I mean ... oh.’ The thought of sharing the house with just Alex was disturbing, despite the size of Marcombe Hall. Maddie had successfully avoided being completely alone with Wes’s handsome brother since her return from London, but even his gaze did strange things to her. Without Kayla and Wes as a buffer of sorts, she wasn’t sure she could continue to keep her distance.
    ‘You don’t mind, do you?’ Kayla looked troubled once more. ‘I thought you were friends now. Anyway, he’s so busy with his cottages, you probably won’t see him much.’
    ‘No, um, of course not, we’ll be fine. I was just surprised, that’s all.’ Privately Maddie had her doubts, but she desperately wanted to stay in Devon a bit longer and had been afraid she was overstaying her welcome. Now she didn’t need to have any qualms about that. She would just have to remember her resolution about men and treat Alex as a brother.
     
    ‘You know what? I could sleep in one of the cottages and just check on Maddie from time to time while you’re away.’
    Ever since Wes had asked him to house-sit together with Kayla’s friend, Alex had been trying to think of a way out of it. How the devil was he supposed to share a house with her and keep his hands to himself? It would be agony. No, correction, it would be hell.
    ‘Don’t be an idiot. This house is so big, I doubt the two of you will even see each other more than in passing.’ Wes was distracted by trying to pack for an unspecified length of time away and didn’t even look at Alex.
    I wouldn’t bet on that. Alex clenched his fists inside his pockets. ‘Maddie might feel awkward though. What with me being a former criminal and everything.’
    Wes fixed him with a stern ‘older brother’ gaze. ‘Come on, cut it out. It’s all in the past and forgotten by everyone, Maddie included. You’ve got to stop thinking like that. It’s not like it’s tattooed on your forehead, you know. You two have been getting along just fine all week so where’s the problem? Now please, just do this for me, okay? I’d be happier knowing there was a man about the place. We can’t leave Maddie all alone here.’
    Annie never stayed in the house at night, except when she was baby-sitting late and Alex knew it. He swallowed a sigh. ‘Yes, of course. Don’t worry, I’ll be here.’
    He owed his brother big time and he was determined to make this work.

 
    Chapter Eight
     
    Kayla, Wes and the children left early the following day, and when Maddie came down to breakfast she found Alex sitting at the table, reading the paper. He looked up when she entered and said, ‘Good morning,’ then quickly returned to his paper.
    ‘Morning.’ Maddie looked out of the window. ‘Looks like another beautiful day. I can’t believe this weather, we’ve been so lucky this year.’
    ‘Yes, it’s glorious, isn’t it? Which reminds me, would you like to come sailing with me today? I thought I’d take Wes’s boat out. I haven’t really had much time recently and the sea is calling to me.’ He smiled and Maddie suddenly felt uncomfortably warm. She