"Old Man Ramsey would never sell the island," I said. "That's right," Vanessa agreed, "but Old Man Ramsey is dead. And his son is not so sentimental."..."And you bought it?" I asked, a sense of cold foreboding creeping over my heart. "Yes," she said, "but don't worry. I'm happy to continue leasing the cottage to you. I only need the main house." She could see from the scowl on my face that I was not happy with this turn of events. "Don't worry," she tried to reassure me. "I'll leave you alone to. He could see her bottom lip trembling. For a moment, she looked like her 16-year-old self. Fighting the instincts inside that usually forbade such an action, he reached out his large, smooth and capable hand, took hers inside it, and enfolded it firmly. The bell dinged, the doors opened, she sniffed and led the way purposefully out of the lift and turned left, walking some paces ahead of him. ‘Um, Lyla?’ Michael stopped, failing entirely to suppress a smile. ‘We’re the other way.’ She turned,. Just like our last visit to the beach house I apparently was the only one who was self-conscious about the previous night’s pseudo-public sex. I couldn’t believe the comments and conversation. Some of the remarks that clearly stuck in my mind were: Candice to Jeremy: “Talk to Josh about his quick lube technique for shoving his cock up my ass, will you?” Beth to Jill: “Sounds like you got the shit banged out of you last night, or were you the one doing the banging?” Jeremy to Beth: “I could. Jake nodded to her and she walked past him, checked the hall and then closed the door."Jake, I want to ask you a personal question. I hope you don't feel put upon to answer, but you're the closest thing I have to a friend." Jake thought she was nearly in tears, but nodded for her to go on. "Do you think that I am a nice looking woman," she asked suddenly, rounding on him.Jake nodded; his face broke into a grin. "Yes I do, and I appreciated the show you gave me last week, it was intentional.