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pouted and nothing had ever looked more adorable. A frisson of unease ran down his spine at that thought.
    Christ. This whole thing about Owen being here was just such a bad idea.
    They sat in silence apart from Socks’s low muttering as he played with his penknife. Nick hesitated, trying to find the right words to break the news of his actions. “Owen? Can I ask you something seeing as how you’re going to be staying here?”
    Owen’s face grew wary. “You can ask.”
    “Why did you jump overboard from a boat?”
    Owen gave a harsh laugh. “You mean why did I try and kill myself?”
    Nick was quiet. He waited. Finally Owen heaved a heavy sigh. “I’d had a lot to drink. Some coke, too, the kind you stick up your nose.”
    Nick frowned. He was very much against drugs of any kind, something he’d never been tempted to use.
    Owen snorted. “That’s one helluva disapproving look right there. But you asked. So I was at a pretty low ebb, it all caught up with me and I decided I’d had enough. The water looked inviting and I decided to take a swim.” His voice was challenging.
    “But your family will be missing you.” said Nick quietly. “They’ll be thinking you drowned out there. Is that what you wanted?” He was leading into his admission with care.
    Owen’s face twisted in pain. “I remember I sent my folks a text saying I was going to kill myself. Then I threw my phone into the water.” He picked at his food with his chopsticks. “So I called home from town earlier this morning, left a message on the answer machine to tell them not to worry about me, that I’d been in an accident and you’d rescued me.”
    Relieved, Nick saw his opportunity. “No one’s looking for you. I called the Coastguard this morning. They were just getting ready to send out a search party. I called it off, told them you were safe, with me. They were just happy you were alive and promised to tell the people who’d reported you missing.”
    He wasn’t prepared for the violent reaction he got. Owen shot to his feet, slamming his fists down on the table. Socks went scuttling to the safety of the top of the kitchen window as Owen ranted. “You fucking interfering bastard! I didn’t want anyone to know where I was. Now the bloody Coastguard will tell everyone and sooner or later everyone will know I’m here. Why did you have to do that?”
    Nick stood up, his anger surging. “Because, you self-centred twat, I’m friends with some of the men in the search parties. I didn’t want their valuable time and assets spent looking for some mixed-up bloke who decided to leave his drink-and-coke pity party to throw himself in the fucking sea. I respect those men even if you don’t.”
    Owen’s face whitened as he stared at Nick who stared back, his chest heaving. Owen turned, storming out of the cottage. Nick was in two minds as to whether to follow him but he decided against it. He wasn’t the man’s keeper. But a few hours later, he was like an anxious father waiting for a daughter to come home from prom night. It was close to six p.m. and there was still no sign of Owen. Nick muttered as he paced the cottage floor. Socks sat on his shoulder, fiddling with his hair. Even the monkey was a little subdued.
    “Christ, Socks, what if he went to the top of the cliff? What if he’s in the bloody sea again? God, he’s an annoying prick. And I’ve only known the man a day. How in hell’s name am I supposed to live with the bugger? What the bloody hell was I thinking, telling him he could stay here for a while?”
    He looked both guiltily and hopefully at the closed front door. Hopefully in case Owen came in, guiltily in case he was there and had heard any of his remarks. Socks twittered softly in his ear and tugged gently at his hair. Nick stroked him gently. “I know. I’m worried too.”
    The door flung open and Nick’s body relaxed in relief. Owen stood framed in the doorway. He came in, shutting the door softly behind him. He