Chapter 7
‘I didn’t realise you actually lived here,’ Eliza said, as they pulled up to Stanley’s, quietly wondering to herself if she really wanted a man, sex god or not, who still lived with his parents.
‘Oh, don’t worry, I have my own space,’ Luke responded with a wry smile. He drove on past the café and up a dirt track to the back. They rounded a steep corner past some trees, and just ahead was a barn, perfectly placed in a little clearing surrounded by woodland.
‘This is it, the place I call home. Come on in and I’ll show you around.’
She jumped out of his truck and looked at the rustic building. A little porch out at the front, a couple of chairs, a fire pit – it looked less British farmer, and more American cowboy.
He came up behind her, his breath brushing her neck in the most seductive way imaginable.
‘It was a labour of love,’ he said. ‘It used to be a derelict barn, and had been sitting here for years, so I decided to renovate it in my spare time, to create a space I wanted to live in. I love the silence and lack of busybody neighbours, but also being close enough to check in on my parents and Stanley’s whenever I need to. ’
‘Wow, Luke, is there anything you can’t do?’ teased Eliza.
Without taking a breath, he grabbed her hand and led her in. She glanced around and felt her mouth drop open in shock, ‘This place is so bloody cool!’ she exclaimed, only slightly distracted by the visuals of him in a toolbelt, half naked and hammering long hard nails, dancing in her head.
Inside the barn it was a perfect mix of understated sophistication and rustic charm, with some vintage film art on the walls.
There were also a couple of guitars resting in the corner, and she wondered whether he played, or if it was all for show.
Surely, he couldn’t be that perfect. The barn was one enormous room, with stairs leading up to a bedroom, which had a large window looking out onto the treetops and beyond.
‘You have created quite the haven here,’ said Eliza, in awe, ‘it really is incredible.’
‘Thanks,’ he said, and she could hear the genuine pride in his voice. ‘It took me about two years, working evenings and weekends. But I wanted something that was entirely mine.’
She nodded, understanding completely. After sharing everything with Henry for so long, the idea of having something completely her own felt revolutionary. ‘I get that. It’s like your sanctuary.’
‘Exactly. Come on, let me show you the real stars of the show.’
She found herself imagining what it would be like to wake up here with him, sunlight streaming through those windows. The thought made her stomach flip, but she quickly pushed it away. Rebound rules, she reminded herself. No breakfast scenarios.
He walked over to open a door at the back, which led on to a utility room. As he walked in and knelt down, he was suddenly pounced on by a beautiful golden retriever and her seven waddling pups who were nearly too tiny to stand.
‘Here they are!’ he laughed. ‘Rose and all her babies!’
‘OH MY GOD!’ squealed Eliza, as she ran over to meet them all. ‘They are insanely divine!’
They were so tiny and helpless and furry. She instantly loved all of them.
‘How old are they?’ she asked, stroking as many as she could, feeling their soft fuzzy fur under her hands.
‘Just a few days. My first ever litter of puppies. I think I’m going to have to keep one,’ he muttered, as he picked one up and it snuggled into his neck.
‘Just one?’ laughed Eliza at the sight.
‘Just one. I’m not sure I have enough time to give love to more than one pup.’
Looking at all the gorgeous puppies she couldn’t imagine how he could pick. ‘So will you keep a girl or a boy?’
‘Oh, tough one, but I think a girl – a mum and her daughter – and then if I ever want to have more I can!’
As Eliza leant back against the wall holding one of the tiny creatures, she looked over at Luke and wondered how he had ended up here on his own. He was the perfect man, so why was he single?
‘How did you learn to build a house, Luke. Did you really do this all on your own? Was it through a YouTube tutorial?’
He laughed, as one of the puppies licked his face and Eliza felt her ovaries nearly explode.
‘I’ve just always been handy with a toolkit – I guess you could call me a frustrated carpenter.
And I took my time, learnt as I went, called in experts when I needed to, and now I can say I’ve built a house.
I don’t know if I’ll be here forever, but it’s perfect for me right now. ’
‘And no female touches anywhere?’ quizzed Eliza.
Looking up at her, he quirked his lips. ‘Are you asking me if I’ve ever had anyone living here with me?’
‘No. Maybe? I’m just asking if you did it all yourself.’
‘I did – is that so hard to believe? Not all men are useless at interiors you know. Bella maybe gave me the odd bit of advice on where to get bits of furniture and where to place things, but otherwise all me.’
‘Bella?’ asked Eliza, trying to sound like she didn’t care.
‘Yup. She’s an interior designer.’
I’m sure she is, thought Eliza – like every other middle-aged woman in the country.
‘Is she really? She didn’t mention that when I met her – but I guess that makes sense, she has great style. So is that how you two know each other?’
‘Well,’ muttered, Luke looking away, ‘I think she aspires to be an interior designer, so I didn’t see any harm in letting her give me some advice.’
‘Are you sure that’s all she gave you?’ questioned Eliza, feeling a tiny bit of jealousy creep in for a man she had only known less than a week. It was ridiculous! He could sleep with whomever he wanted. She was still with Henry last month!
‘Really? I know Farmington is hardly a hotbed of gossip, but she’s a married woman with three children – not exactly my scene.’ Luke gave her a hard look. ‘The country may be devoid of eligible women, but that’s not my style.’
He reached forward, putting down the pup he was holding and picked up another one for a cuddle – sharing the love. Which seemed so very Luke, she thought. Making sure all the girls got enough attention.
‘Sorry, I know, I’m being too nosy, but she seemed pretty flirtatious with you in the pub last night, that’s all – and I wouldn’t want to cause any upset when I’m the new girl in town.’
‘I didn’t have you down as the kind of girl who would worry about that kind of thing, Eliza.’
She was quiet for a moment, she wasn’t even sure what kind of girl she was anymore – she wasn’t sure she even knew what she wanted. All she knew was that she wanted to kidnap this puppy and have endless, crazy, fanny-tingling sex with Luke.
‘Can I get you a drink?’ Luke asked, as he stood up and moved towards the kitchen, a puppy in one hand, making his bicep bulge more than she felt necessary.
‘Are you having one?’ she asked.
‘I am, I thought I might light the fire and we could finish that bottle. Unless you need to get home for anything?’
She took a breath. ‘Well, being that I have so many friends down here and so much work to do, I really should be heading home, but I suppose in this instance I could stay a little longer.’
He smiled, his eyes burning into her – she couldn’t imagine what his cock would do if his eyes could do that. She felt herself giggling inwardly at the thought.
Wandering over to where he was lighting the fire, which was very different to how she had, she curled up in a corner of the sofa, still holding tightly to the puppy who had fallen asleep in her arms. Only in England would you still be lighting a fire in the spring.
Although it was all looking beautiful down here in the countryside with the rolling green fields and daffodils in full bloom, the weather was still so mixed, and sunny days were thrown in with thunderous storms.
He sat down next to her, close enough to touch, but not too close, handing her a glass of wine.
‘Cheers,’ he said, clinking her glass with his. ‘So, come on, you have me intrigued. Tell me more about why you’re here, in Farmington, all alone? And it can’t just be because you heard about Stanley’s . . .’
‘It’s complicated,’ she answered, taking a sip.
‘Is it?’ he asked, looking deep into her eyes.
‘Well, as complicated as love ever is,’ sighed Eliza, opting once more for total honesty.
‘I thought I’d met the one. But it turns out he was just a total love rat and found more solace in his bimbo secretary than in me.
So, my dreams of us moving to the countryside together, starting a family, and escaping city life turned out to be just my dreams, and not his.
So here I am, in Willow Tree Cottage, wondering if this is the beginning or the end of the rest of my life. ’
He leant towards her. ‘Well, I hate him already,’ he muttered. ‘What idiot would walk away from someone as opinionated, as good at swimming, and of course at singing, as you?’
She laughed. ‘Well, you make a good point, I hadn’t thought of it like that, but yes, that makes him doubly a loser – just imagine how talented my children would be!’
He smiled, his eyes creasing at the corners. ‘I’m sorry, he really does sound like a dick. I hope I never have the misfortune to meet him. But in the meantime, let’s try and make your life down here interesting at least. I’m sure if I try hard enough, I could persuade you to stay and give it a go.’
And with that he reached out and put both wine glasses down, pushing her back against the sofa, his mouth finding hers slowly, gently, patiently.
The longing she had forced deep down inside welled up, and just as she thought this might be the start to her rebound romance, there was a loud knock on his door.
‘Ah, perfect timing,’ groaned Luke against her lips. ‘Maybe if we’re quiet, they’ll go away.’
Eliza stifled a giggle, but then there was another knock, and a voice shouted: ‘Luke, are you in there? It’s Fenella!’
‘On my way!’ shouted Luke, as Eliza sat upright on the sofa, trying to gather her thoughts and look like she hadn’t been considering shagging Fenella’s brother on the sofa.