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

terrace of the cafe down by the park, Angie said casually, “This phobia of yours with boats and water and not going out on the river.”
    â€œI guess Will’s been talking to you,” Polly said. “About me not going across to the barge. He was really nice about it.” She waited as the waitress placed their order of coffees and slices of millionaire’s shortbread in front of them.
    â€œAt least he didn’t ridicule me like some people have in the past. Thank goodness Worldsend promised I didn’t have to go on any boats — definitely wouldn’t have taken the job otherwise. Never understood the attraction boats have for people.”
    â€œI know I’m biased, him being my cousin,” Angie said. “But Will’s a good bloke. Have to warn you though — he probably has plans to help you overcome your fear. He’ll have added getting you in a boat to his mission in life list — along with saving the boatyard of course.”
    Polly smiled. “Never been a mission in anyone’s life before,” she said. “But I’m not here for long and my fear goes back years, so I think he’ll have his work cut out.”
    â€œHe’ll give it his best shot,” Angie said. “Will’s one determined man when he sets his mind on something.”
    Thoughtfully Polly finished her coffee. There was no way she was going to set foot in any boat — however determined Will Robertson might be on her behalf.
    â€œAre you into boats?” she asked.
    Angie nodded. “Growing up down here it would be difficult not to be. Used to crew for Will on deliveries too — miss that. Too tied down with The Captain’s Berth now. I’ve still got an ancient dinghy that I sail at every opportunity though. Don’t get much time these days but you’re looking at an ex-Senior sailing champ.”
    She glanced across at Polly. “And you? What d’you do when you’re not working?”
    â€œRiding is my thing. Can’t afford a horse unfortunately but I go out with our local stables at least once a month. Once the business takes off I’m hoping to do more — even one day to make enough money to get my own horse,” Polly said smiling.
    At the moment that dream was as far out of reach as ever. When she got home after this job she’d definitely have to do some publicity and get some more clients — although the couple of enquiries she’d had this week sounded promising. Maybe the advertising she’d done in the past few weeks was starting to pay off after all.
    They were walking past the boatyard on their way home when Will came out carrying an outboard motor.
    â€œHi, can’t stop. Customer is waiting for this down on the embankment. I’ll pick Solo up usual time tomorrow,” he said to Angie before glancing at Polly. “Rosie up to a tramp across Dartmoor? And you of course.”
    Polly hesitated. A walk out on the moors certainly appealed but was it a good idea to spend time like that with Will when she was investigating the boatyard business? On the other hand, it wasn’t a true conflict of interests — and Daniel had said he wanted a personal view of things. She might learn a bit more about the business and Will as they walked.
    â€œThere aren’t any boats up there for you to worry about,” Will said, smiling at her.
    â€œIn that case, Rosie and I would love a tramp across Dartmoor,” Polly said making up her mind. She’d often read about the untamed and desolate area of the West Country with its bogs and wild ponies. It would be good to see something of it for herself.
    The fact that for a couple of hours it would be just her and a man she was increasingly attracted to, spending time alone together, didn’t of course enter into it.
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    CHAPTER SIX
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    Polly was waiting when Will arrived with the boatyard’s Land Rover after breakfast on Sunday