I'm Virtually Yours by Jennifer Bohnet Read Free Book Online Page A

battles.” Will opened the folder and pulled out a bundle of papers, dislodging a black and white photo as he did so.
    â€œDad at the helm of the
Mary-Jane
,” Will said as Polly picked up the photo. “I’m trying to trace her. I know Dad would love to know what’s happened to her since his uncle sailed away and disappeared.”
    â€œLillian said something about it going to the States in the fifties, but I didn’t realise a family member had taken it,” Polly said.
    Looking at a young Ben in the photo was like looking at the man sat opposite her. What was that they said about daughters turning into their mothers? If it was the same with boys and their fathers then Will would still be a good looking hunk when he was Ben’s age. Not that she would know him then of course. She held the photo out to him.
    â€œAlong with a sizeable amount of the firm’s money,” Will said, replacing it in the folder. “It’s all ancient history now but I know Dad would love to know about the
Mary-Jane
— even if he couldn’t care less about his long-lost relative.”
    â€œWhat have you discovered so far?”
    â€œNothing,” Will said. “To be honest I’ve been too busy, but once the barge is up and running and a few other things are sorted, I’ll spend some time on the internet and see what I can unearth. Right, let’s look at my ideas for the yard.”
    Polly could tell from the plans and the detailed budget analysis Will had drawn up that he had a good grasp of what was needed for the business to grow. His enthusiasm for the projects he visualised putting into effect was infectious and she found herself relaxing in his company for the first time.
    Will pushed the papers back into the folders when their lunch — mussels and frites — arrived. “Can you leave those with me for bit?” Polly said. “Need to take a closer look at them for Worldsend.”
    â€œSure,” Will replied easily. “Just don’t let them out of your sight — they’re the only copies I have.”
    â€œI promise. Oh Will, I do hope it all works out for you,” Polly said impulsively.
    â€œAn injection of cash from Worldsend Enterprises will certainly help — provided of course they don’t try and take over — but with or without them, I’m determined to make it work,” Will said quietly. “And I’ll do whatever it takes. The yard, the boats — it’s my life,” he added. “I can’t think of anything I’d rather do. Or anywhere else I’d rather live.”
    Thoughtfully Polly picked a mussel out of its shell. She was beginning to get the message that any woman in Will Robertson’s life would have to be equally enamoured of boats. Shame she hated boats so much.
    Â 
    Saturday morning and after checking mails and answering a few queries from another potential client, Polly closed her laptop. It was the weekend and she intended to relax.
    Angie had already suggested they had some retail therapy time together, followed by coffee and cakes in an award-winning local cafe.
    â€œI can’t be away from The Captain’s Berth too long,” Angie said. “In case I miss out on any possible customers. Most people arrive down here in the afternoon looking for somewhere to stay so I’ll need to be back by one o’clock.”
    With Angie’s encouragement Polly treated herself to a floaty summer dress from the sale rail in one of the town’s many boutiques.
    â€œThat colour really suits you,” Angie said. “You’re lucky you can wear yellow — it’s such a cheerful colour. It just makes me look washed out.”
    â€œIt’s too pretty to resist,” Polly said, pirouetting in front of a mirror. “And it is a bargain. Besides, it’ll remind me of you and down here when I’m back home.”
    Later, as they sat on the small