Page 73 of The House Swap

Was she being irrational? This was Jem. Why was she even doubting him? He’d given her no reason to.

When she didn’t answer him, his tone softened. ‘Sue called me. She said you left theirs upset and that you walked home. I just want to know that you’re safe.’

For a moment, Poppy couldn’t move, but then she willed herself into action, crossing quickly to the front window and opening the blind. A car was outside and she could see Jem’s tall, familiar figure lit up in the glow of the headlights. Seeing her looking, he lifted a hand to wave to her.

Relief hit then and it was swift and dizzying.

Still, even as she rushed towards the door, unlocking it to let him in, not protesting when he wrapped her in his arms, a tiny little voice niggled.

Can you really trust him?

25

Jem stayed with Poppy for over an hour. Long enough to make sure she had stopped shaking, and for the adrenaline to fully drain from her system.

By the time it had, she was left feeling strangely hollow and exhausted.

At first, she had doubted him. She hadn’t voiced her suspicions aloud, but her experience at the Pritchards’, followed by the tense walk back to the villa, had left her so on edge, she couldn’t help but question everything and everyone. Jem knew them. His dad had been close friends with them. Was he involved in whatever they were up to?

He had been gentle with her. Patient as well. Not pressing too hard as he persuaded her to open up. And she was certain the concern in his eyes had been genuine as she struggled to explain what had happened over the course of the night. Perhaps it was actually voicing her fears aloud, but by the time she had finished speaking, she felt foolish all over again.

Had she overreacted? She really wasn’t sure. Although she wasn’t doubting her recollection of events, had she simply read too much into them?

Jem leaned back in his chair, a slight frown on his face. ‘I’m sure there’s a rational explanation,’ he said slowly. ‘Sue and Ian can be a bit much sometimes.’

Poppy was watching his reaction and knew he was choosing his words carefully.

‘What does that mean?’ she asked. Did he not believe her?

He hesitated, again searching for the right words.

‘I mean they’re very friendly people. Too friendly at times. Sometimes they forget that not everyone is as comfortable with attention as they are.’

His explanation sounded reasonable enough, but it didn’t fully soothe Poppy’s unease, and every time she thought back to the dinner, she couldn’t stop herself from trembling.

‘Sue sounded genuinely worried when I spoke to her. She said they were showing you Ian’s wine collection and you just bolted.’

‘Are you surprised?’

When Jem waited patiently for her to elaborate, she grew agitated, raising her voice.

‘I bolted because of the way they were acting and the things they said. They called it his playroom, for Christ’s sake.’

‘Ian is really into his wine,’ Jem pointed out, his tone gentle.

‘Well, he wasn’t drinking much of it tonight,’ she snapped.

Jem’s eyes widened briefly, a slight tic in his jaw betraying his calm exterior.

‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry.’ Poppy scrubbed her hands over her face and back through her hair. ‘I don’t mean to take this out on you. I just don’t know what to think.’

‘It’s okay.’

‘Have you ever been in their cellar?’ she asked, curious.

Jem was currently living next door to them and Sue and Ian had taken him under their wing. Given Ian’s love for his wine, it made sense they would have shown Jem too.

‘No,’ he admitted. ‘Though I’ve heard all about it.’