The next few days went by incredibly quickly. Rose was so busy getting into the swing of sorting out the rooms in the cottage in the last sweep of effort; She had made a huge dent. She could now easily use the spaces without tripping over boxes or stray pieces of furniture, and even Muffin had his designated cosy corner full of toys and a snuggly bed. All her personal things had found homes, and most of the packaging was in the hall, ready to go away.
She had spent time on her laptop and phone sorting out her next illustration project and had the dates in hand. She was awaiting the manuscript for the story along with the author’s notes on how she wanted the character’s scenes to lay out. All was set, and her fee had been signed off on. Her first payment was in the bank, making everything feel more final. She celebrated the new commission by buying herself a dress online for the dance and then felt incredibly stupid when she first thought of what he would think. This really bad habit he had of creeping into her mind unexpectedly, and then she would slap it away again, feeling irritation rise. She had pushed the thought down the back of the sofa with all the ooze and dust of previous years to fester.
Thanks to Tommy, the gardens had been brought into order by a local man Malcolm, and his teen son Liam. With the taming of the gardens, they had even added chicken wire to the back fence for her, making it Muffin safe. She knew Rob must have okayed them being here and felt slightly miffed at the fact she owed him some thanks. There was no escape route for that fiery little fur ball, and he was now enjoying running around like a mad hound in the garden, rolling in the newly shorn lawn and exploring the now tame flower beds, which had surprisingly been full of gorgeous wildflowers.
She had worked out a regular deal with them to keep the place trim and fabulous. An inexpensive necessity that didn’t infringe on their manor working hours. So, she didn’t need to be any more thankful to that arrogant sod in his mansion for anything more. She had been overwhelmed with emotion when she had seen the neat long garden with its stepping stone path to the outhouse’s blue door. The garden looked beautiful. Trim flower beds and a washing line leading down the side of the garden. A small metal patio set purchased locally was laid out on the now-cleared paving stones to the right of the door. It brought back so many memories of back garden picnics on days like this. Summer tents made from bed sheets and rolling around playfully with her aunt, lost in some youthful game.
As the week progressed, Abby came by most mornings for a quick cup of tea as she headed to the bus stop, a good ten-minute walk out of town. That was the upside to the cottage and manor entry roads being only a mile apart on the same route. Abby loved walking and walking right in here for tea and Muffin cuddles. Rose could almost set her watch by her visits and looked forward to the young girl’s arrival every day.
She had helped move the remainder of the furniture in each room, carted boxes to the garden, and helped take a lot of packaging and trash to the local dump in the back of Rose’s car. She had been a godsend in helping with the finishing touches and a dab hand at D.I.Y., showing up one morning with a wheelbarrow full of power tools to hang up heavy mirrors and pictures and tighten some loose hinges. She had taught Rose what a rawl plug was and the joy of a power drill.
Rose had finally taken delivery of her new kitchen appliances, and the very helpful men even put them in place for her. Probably sensing she was pretty useless at any manual labour that involved moving appliances and had no idea how to plumb a washing machine or attach a gas cooker. They had even removed her old appliances free of charge. She guessed her coffee and cakes, delivered with a smile, had swung that. The kitchen overall was not too bad. It was made from real wood units that needed sanding and varnish, but there was something so quaint and shabby chic about them that Rose intended to whitewash them instead of replacing them.
Most of the jobs in the house were easy cosmetics, elbow grease, and just a lot of time spent doing tedious manual labour. All in all, she was finally getting the place to resemble the cosy home of her memories. It had not taken much painting either. Her aunt had only lived alone and had the paint touched up every year until she left. There was nothing that a wipe down and clean couldn’t remove, and most of the walls were cream with stained dark wood beams and dark wood floor. She had found old sealed cans of paint in the shed and used the name to purchase a new tin for touch-ups. Nothing Rose wanted to change. She was in love with the mash-up of old vintage furniture and new modern things in her cosy little home and had finally found the refuge she had been seeking.
In week two, Rose and Abby had taken a four-hour round trip to Ikea a few towns south and managed to pick up so many bargains that she had the whole place looking modern yet quaint. Vintage meets Ikea. Somehow it worked and was the home she had always dreamed of.
Trips to town had resulted in meeting a handful of locals, full of character and charm. The old women who organised jumble sales, the old men who stood around waiting for the women to scour the secondhand shops on a Wednesday morning and then on to the church weekly coffee morning. Young mothers with toddlers and babies frequented the parent groups. Kids going to and from the local schools who loved to hang out in town on lunch hour. The general locals who worked in every shop and stall greeted her with huge smiles and chit-chat. Rose had done more socialising in under two weeks here than in her six years in London, and Abby was fast becoming the friend she had longed for since leaving home.
On a morning trip to town, Rose stopped into the bakery to pick up cakes for Abby coming over. She was lost in thought after placing her order at the counter. She was rummaging in her bag for her purse. Head down and humming to herself on another gloriously sunny day full of summer joys.
‘What’s got you so happy, Penelope?’ Rob's voice infiltrated her thoughts, and the sudden haze of sexy aftershave swept over her as his body heat came dangerously close behind her.
‘I’m in my favourite bakery, buying cakes! Do I need any other reason?’ She answered immediately, half smiling before reminding herself she didn’t like this guy. She glanced back to see he was adorned in a white shirt and jeans and looking his usual dapper self, which only annoyed her with how it made her feel like sighing.
‘Sweet tooth, much like Abby. I can see why you two get on and spend so much time together.’ He smiled with a dazzling, almost sexy grin, but Rose just frowned and turned back to the counter to try and ignore his presence.
Easier said than done.
‘It’s partly for Abby. We’re meeting later.’ Rose answered tonelessly, then smiled graciously when the counter girl appeared with a large white paper bag, fit to bursting.
‘How the hell you two stay so thin, with an order that size, is beyond me.’ He observed with another smiley tone. Rose just sighed.
‘Lucky, I guess. Good genes.’ She frowned impatiently at him towering over her and sighed when he still didn’t move. She paid for her purchase and turned to leave, but he didn’t move to let her pass.
‘Look, Penny. Maybe we could have a do-over? You and my sister are practically inseparable, and I think we got off on the wrong foot. Would be nice if we could just put it in the past.’ He pushed his hands casually into his back pockets, emphasizing his muscular frame, making it clear he wasn’t moving, and Rose had to avert her eyes, pretending to check her cake bag contents.
‘Mmmmm hmmm.’ She said distractedly, trying so hard not to let her eyes wander back up or betray the sudden hot flush he was causing.
Okay, so maybe he was a little too attractive.
‘You could sound a little more enthusiastic about it.’ He jested a hint of that Abby mischief tone that caught her a little off guard.
‘Sure, whatever.’ She sighed and straightened up, meeting that intense grey gaze that was very firmly locked on her face rather disturbingly. Knowing this was the mature and sensible way to behave. She reluctantly thrust her hand toward him. ‘Rose... Not Penny! Rose Turner and, I guess, your new neighbour.’ She smiled with all the effort of warmth and friendliness she could muster.
‘Rob, as you know. Rob Munro, and yeah, kinda figured you were in Olivia’s old place, seeing as you’re her niece.’ He smiled knowingly. ‘Town grapevine was talking about you for weeks before you showed face.’ He smiled again, affecting Rose’s heart rate and suddenly making her feel awkward.
‘I guess that’s the curse of a small town. Everyone knows everything.’ She moved to try and get around him, but he turned as she did so.
‘I guess I’ll see you around a lot more with Abby, the dance too?’ He wasn’t smiling anymore, but his tone was still friendly, and Rose felt herself soften. He was trying to be the gentleman and be nice, and she guessed she could cut him a little slack. For Abby’s sake, it would be easier if she tried to get on with him.
‘I guess you will. Abs keeps trying to talk me into coming to yours for a tea and cake fest.’ She softened her tone and gave a genuine soft smile, catching his eye, which still seemed locked on her too intensely.
‘You should; our housekeeper makes some of the best. You’re welcome anytime, Penny. It would be nice to see Abby with someone. She spends too much time alone for a girl her age.’ That maternal tone in his voice killed her last traces of hostility; she was a sucker for genuine affection between siblings, and he seemed like a protective brother. She loved Abby dearly, so he was only cementing a slight like for him now.
‘She’s amazing, I’m lucky to have met her, and we have so much in common.’ Rose beamed, smiling at the mention of her new best friend. Rob smiled too, obviously pleased.
‘She had a rough time when our mother passed. I like seeing her smile again. It’s been a long time since she was this happy. I guess I have you to thank for that.’ Rob’s distracted by the counter assistant bringing him a large box, smiling his way with doe eyes.
‘There you go, Mr Munro. Sorry it took a while. Aggy had’nae set up the regular orders yet.’ The girl blushed his way and fumbled with the box a little as he took it in one hand. Nodding down with a casual gesture, oblivious of the girl blushing and obvious crush on him, he smiled back at Rose.
‘Better get these up to the church. The old biddies will eat me alive if their book club meeting is biscuit-less.’ He waved at the girl behind the counter, causing another wave of furious blushing, and unexpectedly placed a hand on the small of Rose's back. ‘I’ll walk you out, Penny.’
Rose was too stunned to resist and too homed in on just how many tingles his touch caused to refuse. He guided her forward out the open door into the blinding sun before he removed his hand and went into his pocket for car keys; Rose then spotted the familiar black car parked across from them.
‘Where are you parked?’ He asked absentmindedly as he pressed his key. The car beeped and flashed before making a tell-tale unlocking noise. Rose looked around for a moment, mind blank and taking a second to think of the response.
‘I’m not... I walked here for some exercise and a change of scenery after a morning of sketching over my desk.’ She moved to walk off and leave him to get to his car, but that hot, firm hand immediately came straight back to the small of her back.
‘I’ll drop you home if you want? It’s hardly out of my way, seeing as the church is practically in the manor drive.’ He smiled her way, giving her no choice as he was manhandling her effectively, and as much as she wanted to refuse, she found her feet following him to his car and standing politely back while he deposited the box in the boot. He ushered her around to the other side and opened her door, guiding her effortlessly before closing it after she slid in.
Rose suddenly felt awkward, confined in the small space as he got in and realised she would rather have walked. She had stupidly allowed him to coerce her without any resistance. She had no clue how to behave around him and, until ten minutes ago, only felt hostility towards him. Now she was somewhere between shyness and, well, nervousness. It was too late to refuse a lift now. She was sitting in his overly priced man-machine and already scared to touch any of the arrays of buttons and levers littering the dash.
‘That’s a really pretty dress.’ He cut into her thoughts, making her blush unexpectedly as she nervously skimmed her hands over her lap to smooth out the floral summer dress. It was knee-length and a little floaty. He was putting on his seat belt, and she followed suit, aware that his eyes did a small skim over her legs.
‘Umm, thanks. I like vintage-looking clothes. I guess, girly clothes.’ She couldn’t look at him as he started the car, a hand coming behind her seat as he turned to look out the back window and reverse out of the parking space; he felt a little too close for comfort, and her heart rate was elevated.
‘It suits you. I wish Abs would dress less like a homeless kid and a bit more like you. She has a severe weakness for ripped jeans and t-shirts with offensive logos. Maybe you will rub off on her in time.’ He winked at Rose; this time, she knew she blushed annoyingly. She couldn’t help but smile, though. He was right about Abby. She did have a weakness for t-shirts with tongue-in-cheek prints and was a tad rude. She was a student, and she dressed the part.
‘Abby is a rebel. Give her time to find her style, and she will eventually outgrow all her cannabis leaf tops.’ She watched the road go by, the passing scenery as he got them out of town, and knew this trip would be brief. It was only 2 miles to the manor opening, and hers was less than 50 yards further.
‘Yeah, I guess. She’s a lot like my mum was. Feisty and stubborn and loves to get a reaction from people.’ He smiled again, only it didn’t reach his eyes, and Rose felt a little tug of sadness for him. She couldn’t imagine what losing your mother would be like; the thought didn’t bear thinking about as her own sweet mother’s face flitted across her mind’s eye.
‘She is that.’ Rose giggled softly, trying to avoid the topic of death, which was still a sensitive area for her. ‘I have yet to see her dressed up for the dance, though. I have no idea what to expect.’ Rose tried to relax back in her seat, but it wasn't proving easy when a muscular arm was stretched beside her as he tensed it on his steering wheel and rolled up his sleeve, exposing tanned skin and well-defined forearms. He worked out, and Rose’s instant reaction was to inhale quickly and look away.
‘Knowing her, something revealing or outrageous.’ He frowned and looked in his rear-view mirror, a serious look on his face.’ Like I said... Abby likes a reaction.’
‘In general, or does she just like winding you up?’ Rose laughed, looking back at the perfect profile and square jaw. He was clean-shaven, but a hint of five o’clock shadow gave him a rugged look.
‘Oh, it’s definitely to wind me up. She loves nothing more than sending me into heart failure. Payback for being a shitty brother when she was tiny.’ He smiled Rose’s way and nodded as the opening to her cottage loomed too quickly. ‘Home sweet home.’
Rose smiled and felt a tad disappointed that it was over already. From disliking him, she was warming to him and wouldn’t have minded a longer car ride to continue this chit-chat. He pulled up in front of the cottage and jumped out as she unclipped her belt. Coming around to open her door and give her a helping hand to get out of the low car. She felt another blush creeping up when her hand hit his and was enveloped by it as he pulled her up and out. He took the bag of confectionaries from her and walked her to her door.
Rose almost grinned with the sheer old-fashioned chivalry that was completely unexpected. Surprised by his gentlemanly manners. He waited on her to unlock her door before handing her back her bag and stooping to scoop up a suddenly appearing Muffin, who came running like a bat out of hell at the door opening.
‘Whoa, there, tiny.’ He smiled and ruffled Muffin's fur. ‘Cute and somehow you.’ He smiled lazily back at Rose and held Muffin out to her, accepting her little bundle of fur, which immediately went into licking overdrive. She smiled back.
‘Yes, I guess he is. Thank you. For the lift.’ She hesitated, unsure why this felt awkward, and then held her smile frozen on her face as he made to leave.
‘My pleasure, Penny. Guess I will see you around.’ He turned on his heel and walked off casually towards his car, the confident stride of a man with a lot of sex appeal. He turned when he got to his side of the car and waved, standing as she moved inside with a small wave of her own as she cuddled in her wriggly fluffball and shut the door to block him out, stretching at the spy hole to watch him slide into his car and expertly pull away smoothly.
Rose turned and sunk back against the door, only too aware of how her face was flushed and her breathing shallow. Her body was a little too on high alert for her liking.
Okay, so he affected her! She would have to be dead from the waist down not to appreciate his gorgeousness.