Pepper Lane Sweet Shoppe (Pepper Bay #14)

2

Tyler

The last time Tyler woke with a hangover from hell was after his twenty-first birthday. It took him a moment to realise he had spent the night at The Crown B&B. With bloodshot eyes he glanced at his crumpled white shirt on the floor next to his mattress.

Great!

Groaning, he sat up, taking in his surroundings. The bedroom door was wide open, and there was a woman sleeping in the bed to his side. Clambering to his knees, he brushed back his dark hair and stared at her for a second, wondering who she was, then the memory came flooding back.

Tyler grabbed the bottle of water by his side and downed half. His frazzled mind needed to heal, as did his heart. For months he’d felt something was off about his girlfriend. How could he have been so blind?

I’m never trusting women again .

He glanced once more at the stranger in the bed. So he’d helped her. Big deal. It wasn’t as if they were dating. Right there and then he decided he would never date again. Life was a lot easier on his own, and less painful. He had always been far too soft. Well, no more. There was going to be a new Tyler Silver in town, one people daren’t walk over, that was for sure. He’d had enough of being the nice guy. It didn’t seem to get him anywhere.

The smell of bacon wafted into the bedroom, causing Tyler’s stomach to rumble. A good fry-up would clear away the cobwebs or make him hurl. Either way, he was sure he’d feel better afterwards.

Quietly, he padded out to the landing to use the bathroom, taking the navy tracksuit Queenie had left out for him whilst he’d slept off his horrible day.

The hot shower washed away the stale boozy aroma, and the toothbrush his host had supplied helped freshen his breath. At least he didn’t pong anymore. After breakfast, he’d head back home, then off to the sweet shop where he worked.

Tyler was still upset the old man had died. He’d worked in his shop down Pepper Lane since leaving school. It was his favourite place, along with Silver Wish Farm, where he grew up and still lived.

With the day mapped out, he plodded down to the dining room to thank Queenie.

‘Ooh, you look better, Ty.’ She gestured towards a chair over by the window. ‘Sit there. I’ll fetch your brekkie.’

‘Sorry to hear about your girlfriend,’ said an elderly man, tucking in to scrambled egg on toast.

Tyler glanced his way and nodded, realising the whole island probably knew about the wedding disaster by now.

I’m not going to feel ashamed. I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m just the mug everyone will be talking about .

His shoulders slumped as Queenie brought him over some painkillers for his thumping head. He swallowed them quickly, then stared out the window at the sea as the ferry in the near distance pulled away from the port.

That poor woman last night, green around the gills, and chucking up on his shoes. How had he got her to spend the night somewhere she clearly hadn’t booked was beyond him.

Queenie placed a plate full of steaming food in front of him and told him to eat the lot. His stomach would thank him later. At least that would be one part of him settled, as for his heart, he couldn’t be sure what was going on. Part of him felt a tad relieved he wasn’t with Mandy anymore. It never did feel right.

Ignoring his problems, he set about focusing on the present, which meant enjoying the streaky bacon on his plate.

Queenie plonked herself down opposite him just as he was mopping up the last of the brown sauce with some toast. ‘Erin left her suitcase on the ferry last night. Luke brought it over. Said he knew it was hers. I put it in her room. So, who is she?’

Tyler shrugged. ‘Visitor, I guess.’

‘It’s late November, Ty. Not exactly tourist season.’

‘She might be staying with someone for Christmas.’

‘Didn’t she say?’

Tyler had the memory of her blue lips and chattering teeth. ‘She was too ill for a chat.’

Queenie motioned towards the door. ‘Ooh, heads up, she’s here now.’

He turned to see Erin dressed in blue jeans and a cream jumper, looking slightly pale but a lot better than when they’d met.

‘Over here, love,’ said Queenie, waving a hand.

Erin joined their table. ‘I want to start by thanking you both. I—’

‘No thanks needed,’ interrupted Queenie. ‘Now, let me get you a plate.’ She stood, then leaned a touch. ‘Any dietary requirements I need to know about? Food allergies?’

Erin shook her head.

‘Great,’ said Queenie. ‘Won’t be a sec.’

Tyler sipped his tea whilst studying his company. Her eyes were a mix of green and caramel. He hadn’t noticed last night, not that his blurry vision had focused on much.

Erin twiddled with the tip of her ponytail. ‘How are you feeling this morning?’ she asked softly, thumbing the local newspaper on the table.

‘Been better. You?’

‘Same.’

They shared a smile.

‘Do you live here?’ she asked, gazing out the window for a second.

Tyler nodded. ‘Yeah, not this part though. Just up the road. Pepper Bay.’

Erin’s eyes widened. ‘Oh, I’m heading there.’

‘Whereabouts?’

‘I’m staying at Pepper River Inn. Do you know that place?’

‘Yeah. It’s nice there.’

‘I was supposed to check in last night. They’re probably wondering what happened to me.’

Queenie placed a full English breakfast and a cup of steaming tea in front of Erin, then tapped her shoulder. ‘Pepper River Inn, you say? I’ll give Elliot a call and let him know the situation. Leave that to me.’

Erin went to speak, but Queenie had already walked away.

Tyler watched her close her mouth and pick up the knife and fork instead. ‘Least that’s sorted for you.’

‘Is everyone always so helpful around here?’ she asked.

‘Yep.’

Erin smiled, then started to eat, speeding up as she went.

Tyler chuckled. ‘Got your appetite back, I see.’

‘Mmm,’ she mumbled, smiling through her forkful of fried egg. She swallowed the food, then dropped her smile. ‘I’m sorry about your wedding problems yesterday.’

It wasn’t something he wanted to talk about. ‘Ah, it’s over now. So, you want to share a cab over to Pepper Bay once you’re done here?’

Erin shrugged. ‘Sure.’

‘Okay. I’ll get the driver to drop you off first so you can get settled.’

‘I think we could both do with a nice quiet day.’

Tyler smiled in agreement. ‘Would be nice, but I’ve got a bit of a day ahead.’

‘Me too. I’m not here for long, not that I have anything to get back for.’

‘Not much going on up north then? I’m guessing you’re from Yorkshire, with that accent.’

Erin bit into a slice of toast as she grinned. ‘Yep, but I’ve been living in London for a few years now.’

Tyler was curious. ‘And there’s not much going on in London for you?’

Erin took a gulp of tea before replying. ‘I got fired.’

‘Oh, sorry.’

‘It’s all right.’ Erin sighed deeply, staring out the window. ‘I worked really hard, did everything right, brought in a new client for my boss, and he still went and promoted a junior over me.’

‘That’s a bit harsh.’

‘I told him it wasn’t fair, and he said I’d probably have better luck next year when I have more experience under my belt, but the graduate he hired had none. So I might have messed up his office a bit. A lot. That’s why I got the boot.’

Tyler tapped her hand. ‘Best not to work for people like that anyway.’

Erin met his eyes. ‘Do you work for anyone nice?’

‘Yeah, I guess I’ve been blessed in that way. My family own a garden centre, Silver Wish Farm. Pop over if you get time. We have a Christmas setup this time of year. I’m the Postmaster for the Frozen Forest.’

‘Sounds like fun.’

‘Yeah, it is. I also have a couple of other shop jobs I’ve been doing for years. One is a voluntary role at the RNLI gift shop.’

Erin raised her eyebrows. ‘I was sure I was going overboard at one point yesterday.’

‘Nah, you were safe. I had my eye on you.’

‘Neither of us had an eye on my luggage though. I’m so glad someone handed it to Queenie.’

Tyler grinned. ‘Yeah, she’s the lost and found.’

Erin leaned closer. ‘How much do we have to pay her for everything?’

‘You don’t. It’s just what she does for anyone in need. Been that way all my life. She doesn’t let anyone take advantage of her business though. It’s always just the one night for the locals and any poorly visitors like you.’ He raised an index finger. ‘However, someone installed a donation box years back, so now we pop something in that whenever we make use of the B&B, so that way she can continue to help people.’

Erin looked towards the door. ‘Ooh, lovely. I can do that.’

‘You don’t have to today. You can do it anytime.’

‘I’d feel happier doing that now. She’s a good woman, and I want to show my gratitude.’

‘Well, the next lost soul straight off the ferry in need of a bed and toothbrush will thank you. All the funds go towards paying for things like this.’ He pinged his tracksuit top. ‘We often wash the clothes and hand them back, but the bathroom wash packs can’t be returned. No one wants someone’s used toothbrush.’

Erin laughed.

Tyler gestured at the window. ‘I left my things at the hotel I was staying at for the wedding.’ At the time of his discovery about his girlfriend and best mate, all he wanted was to run.

‘We could ring them. Let them know—’

‘It’s okay. One of my friends will bring them back.’

Erin finished her breakfast just as Queenie returned.

‘We’re going to head off now,’ said Tyler, standing to kiss Queenie’s cheek. ‘Thanks once again for being the angel you are.’

She flapped him away with her tea towel. ‘No need to soft-soap me, young man. I won’t tell your mother.’ She gave Erin a gentle smile. ‘She’s been through enough this year.’

Tyler saw Erin’s curiosity. ‘My dad died around springtime.’ That wasn’t something he wanted to talk about either.

‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ she said quietly, standing to his side.

Queenie patted Erin’s arm. ‘You go sort your bits, love, and I’ll call you a cab.’

‘Thanks, Queenie.’ Erin made for the hallway, and Tyler saw her slip some money into the donation box.

He went to pull out his phone, then realised he’d left that back at the hotel as well. A pang of agitation hit him at the thought of what his so-called best friend had done. None of it made much sense. At least he wasn’t the one standing there in a wedding dress thinking it the best of days, until it wasn’t.

Erin was bouncing her small black case down the stairs as Tyler went to gather his things. He quickly helped, placing her luggage by the bottom step.

‘Won’t be a sec,’ he told her, sprinting to the bedroom. The last thing he wanted was to see his best-man’s outfit again. As far as he was concerned, the whole thing could go in the bin, but it would be washed and returned to the wedding shop as soon as he got home, and no doubt he’d have to pay for the top hat. He just needed to clean the tips of his shoes from Erin’s vomit, then he had something for his feet.

‘Cab’s here,’ shouted Queenie.

Tyler quickly got on with his task, then headed back downstairs to say thank you once again before getting in the taxi.

As nice as Erin seemed, Tyler was in no mood to make new friends or ask for her number so he could see her again before she left. He said a polite goodbye at her hotel, then settled back for the short journey to his little barn conversion, knowing full well his family would know about the wedding already, as Queenie would have told her aunt, Nora, and then the whole world would know.

It wasn’t a bad thing living on a small island where word spread like wildfire, as it meant he wouldn’t have to repeat himself as much. He was just looking forward to the part when everyone stopped fussing around him, and he could move forward with his new life, where he wasn’t as nice.

How hard can it be?

Tyler’s mum, Fran, was already waiting for him on the driveway as the cab pulled up. Her face told him she knew.

Okay. Let’s get this over with .

He flopped into her arms, telling himself he didn’t need a mum-hug, but he did. He so did.