One Summer in Cornwall by Karen King (best books to read for success .TXT) 📕

losing quite a few feathers, which is a sure sign he’s stressed. I see you’re managing to clean his cage without him getting out.’

‘I got Lou to distract him, and Mali guarded the door while I cleaned the paper and changed the water. Not sure how I’m going to manage on my own, though; I’m scared he’s going to escape and fly off again.’

‘Once he gets used to you it’ll be fine. He’ll return to the cage if you leave the door open. He’s just a bit confused about what’s going on at the moment. Aren’t you, fella?’ Marcus said. Buddy squawked loudly and danced along on the branch.

Marcus dug a grape out of his pocket and held it out, close to the bars. Buddy walked down the bars head first, gripped the grape in his beak, climbed back up the bars again to the branch, where he stood on one leg, holding it with the other claw, and gently nibbled it.

Hattie felt a lump form in her throat. It was obvious that the parrot loved Marcus, and Marcus loved him. Was she being selfish keeping him?

He was her last link with Uncle Albert, she reminded herself, and she owed it to her uncle to keep his parrot in the cottage.

What about when the cottage was sold, though?

‘What are you going to do with Buddy when you move?’ It was almost as if Marcus had read her thoughts.

‘Take him with me,’ she replied, although she hadn’t really thought that far ahead and wasn’t even sure that it was a sensible thing to do.

‘What and leave him in a city flat all day while you’re out at work, then again in the evening while you go out with your mates?’

She didn’t like the tone of his voice. How dare he make assumptions about her? He didn’t even know her. She’d been stupid to think he’d changed, he obviously still disapproved of her, he’d only been pleasant because of Mali and Lou.

‘Don’t judge me, you don’t know me.’ She fixed him with a steely glare. ‘I might not know much about looking after a parrot but I’ll learn. For Uncle Albert’s sake. I’m grateful for your help but please don’t assume that I’d neglect Buddy if you weren’t here. I’m not that kind of person.’

His eyes met hers, his expression unfathomable, then he nodded. ‘Point taken. I’m not saying that you’re selfish and don’t care about Buddy. I’m just trying to point out that this has been his home for years. His owner has gone, now I’m gone too, and soon you intend to whisk him away from his home. I’m not sure he’ll survive all that upheaval.’

Hattie chewed her lip as she looked at the parrot. Was he right? Other people move and take their pets with them, she reminded herself. And she wouldn’t be moving for a few months. Buddy would have got used to her by the time they found a buyer and the sale went through. She could see that Marcus’s concern was genuine, but wondered if part of the reason he was so dismayed at her taking Buddy with her when she left was because he was fond of the parrot himself and would miss him. Which was a shame, but he couldn’t care for Buddy with Mr Tibbs prowling around, could he?

She raised her chin determinedly. ‘I’ll spend more time talking to him, and if you could come around every now and again, let him out so he can have a fly around, then he’ll be happier, and once I get more confident with him I can let him out myself. By the time I move, I’m sure he’ll have got used to me and I’ll have learnt to care for him.’

He nodded slowly. ‘Look, it’s late now, so I’ll be off but we both have a big day tomorrow – Shanise said you’re taking the photos of Ellie and Reece’s wedding.’ He paused, looking a bit awkward. She wondered if he was remembering the day he had snapped at her about photographing him.

‘Look, sorry I was such a grouse about you taking a photo of my surfing,’ he continued. There was a silence as if he was wondering what to say but then he blurted out, ‘We haven’t really got off on the best foot, have we? And I know that’s mainly my fault for jumping to conclusions. In my defence, I thought the world of your uncle and have become very fond of Buddy. But that doesn’t excuse my rudeness.’ He held out his hand. ‘Can we put it all behind us and be friends?’

Well, that was a surprise! He looked genuine, though, and she would like them to be on a friendlier footing. He was her only neighbour at the moment, and they’d both be working at the hotel tomorrow. She held out her hand. ‘Of course.’

As their hands clasped she felt a frisson of awareness shoot through her and couldn’t help noticing how his hand was strong but soft and rather than shaking hers, he was holding it; the feel of his fingers on her fingers; the soft smile on his lips; the wavy lock of hair that had escaped his low ponytail and was skimming his cheek, the silver earring clearly visible. She had to stop herself from reaching out with the hand he wasn’t holding and pushing the lock of hair back, wanting to feel the texture of it between her fingers. It was as though they were both locked in that moment, gazing at each other, their hands touching, their bodies only centimetres apart, and she wondered if the same spark that was dancing through her body was dancing through his.

‘How about I come around in the morning – about nine?’ His voice brought her back to her senses and she quickly removed her hand, still not sure if it had been him holding onto her or her holding onto him. ‘We can let Buddy out to have a