Chapter Nine
Flora had drifted into a gentle sleep on her gran’s bench, enjoying the sunshine and listening to the blackbird sing from its perch on the old telegraph pole.
It was a reassuringly familiar warble she had always loved and associated with her gran’s garden at this time of year, along with the gentle hum and buzz of the bees enjoying Gran’s fragrant pot of lavender.
Pretty soon, Flora was deep in a delicious dream on a white sandy beach somewhere tropical, which also happened to feature the actor Liam Hemsworth who was reaching for her hand and smiling sexily at her.
She grinned back at him and sighed with contentment, wondering and looking forward to what would happen next.
Sex on the Beach, a Screaming Orgasm perhaps, or some other equally cold cocktail would be just lovely.
Especially as she was so very hot. Then she became aware of a gentle patting on her shoulder.
Reluctant to leave her dream, she opened her eyes, her hazy tiredness leading her to believe the man himself was standing in front of her.
Was Liam really here, patting her shoulder?
Or was she still dreaming? It all seemed rather wonderful.
She rubbed her eyes — then yelped when she realised a strange man was crouched over her, rather than actor man, his hand just inches from her skin.
Instinctively she sat up, startled, and looked around in a daze.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said briskly, standing up.
‘I didn’t mean to frighten you. It’s just that you were asleep and I tried to make a noise to wake you .
. . but you were out for the count and you look like you’re burning.
’ There was a tight edge to his voice as he crossed his arms. ‘I thought I should let you know. I don’t want you to have sunburn. There’s nothing worse.’
‘Who are you?’ Flora was now scrambling around looking for her vest to pull over the skimpy bikini top she was wearing with denim cut-off shorts.
Her cheeks flamed in annoyance that her dream had been interrupted but even more so that this man was annoyingly handsome despite his disapproving expression.
At least she had potential sunburn as an excuse for her extremely flushed face.
‘I’m Brodie,’ he said gruffly.
He looked so like Liam that she had to remind herself this was no longer a dream.
But it was all so disorientating, especially as this guy in front of her was also tall, with well-defined muscles under that slim-fitting T-shirt, dark hair and light stubble shadowing his face.
His deep brown eyes connected with hers and she felt heat bloom across her chest. ‘Do you always creep about people’s back gardens taking photos?
’ she said, her eyes narrowing when she saw that he was holding his phone.
‘Seriously?’ Was that really what he had been doing?
‘I wasn’t creeping and I certainly did not take a photo of you,’ he snapped, his eyes flashing with annoyance. ‘I didn’t realise you were here. I’m working for Iris and she said it would be fine to pop round this afternoon. I’m sorry for disturbing you. Next time I’ll just leave you to burn.’
Flora stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at him.
‘Ah, so you’re the gardener,’ she said through gritted teeth though she was unable to peel her eyes from his.
He looked vaguely familiar and she tried to work out where she had seen him before.
‘I thought you were starting on Monday, so why are you creeping around my gran’s garden taking photos of people when they’re in a private place? ’
‘Again, I wasn’t creeping about.’ His voice was terse and his jaw tightened.
‘I have already explained that I’m working.
I didn’t realise I would bump into anyone stupid enough to be carelessly burning in the sun.
And for the record, I’m not just the gardener, but even if I was, it’s a respectable job. ’
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.’ Flora cursed herself, her skin prickling with heat as his gaze roamed over her.
He was obviously just looking at her burnt skin and she had insulted him, but his eyes on her made her stomach flip.
‘I’m Flora, Iris’s granddaughter,’ she said, keeping her voice as clipped and cool as she could manage.
‘I’m here for the summer.’ She held his gaze and gave a small nod.
Hopefully he would get the message that she would be keeping an eye on him.
‘Nice to meet you, Flora. She talks about you often.’ The expression on his face was unreadable as he stared back at her.
He didn’t look like a dodgy workman, but then Flora knew better than to judge someone by their looks, especially if they happened to be extremely good-looking.
It took all sorts to try and fleece the aged and she wasn’t easily fooled.
Mirroring his body language, Flora folded her arms across her chest. ‘Sounds like it’s quite the project that you’re doing for Gran,’ she said as evenly as she could muster.
‘Yup, it is a big job. But we have a schedule to keep to and it will all be great when it’s finished. It’s an amazing space.’ He gestured around the garden and smiled tightly. ‘And I’m very fond of your gran.’
His words sounded heartfelt and genuine and he visibly relaxed when he started talking about the garden so Flora felt her defences lower slightly.
Then it suddenly dawned on Flora who this man was and why she was feeling so irritated.
And it wasn’t just the fact that he had seen her fast asleep in the privacy of her gran’s garden.
She tutted and squared her shoulders. ‘I thought I recognised you . . . you’re the guy who almost knocked me over the other day. ’
He looked at her, puzzled. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘You were running down the high street and almost flattened me. Don’t you remember?’
He had the grace to look embarrassed. ‘I am so sorry. I remember you now. It was just past the bakery. On Monday?’
‘That’s right.’
‘Well, I can only apologise again. I volunteer for the rescue boat and when my pager goes off I have to drop everything and just run. Every second counts. But you’re right.’ He held his hands up apologetically. ‘I should be more careful.’
Now Flora felt embarrassed. ‘I hope everything was okay in the end?’
He nodded and bit his bottom lip. ‘Yes, it was a broken-down boat. And everyone was safe which is always the main thing.’ He paused. ‘Um . . . is your gran here?’ He glanced towards the cottage.
‘She’s inside. Let me just go and get her.
’ She wasn’t sure whether to invite him to take a seat on the bench or offer to get him a drink.
It was so hot and she was now very flustered.
She hadn’t meant to make him feel uncomfortable — well maybe just a tad — but she did feel a bit bad for being so judgemental.
She headed into the cottage and called out for Gran.
But as soon as the word ‘Gran,’ left her lips it was immediately echoed back to her, several times, by the parrots.
Flora shook her head and laughed. Those bloomin’ birds.
‘Okay, boys,’ Iris called to the birds. ‘That’s enough. Thanks, poppet,’ Iris said as she followed Flora back to where Brodie was waiting. ‘Brodie, you’re here. It’s lovely to see you, dear. I take it you two have already met.’ She looked at them both, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
‘Yes, we have.’ Brodie nodded.
‘Do you want me to stay with you just now, Gran?’ asked Flora, unsure of what to do. Given the way that her gran was beaming at Brodie she was clearly very fond of him and trusted him implicitly. He smiled back at her and Flora could tell he had real affection for her, too.
‘You’re welcome to, dear, if you want to.’ Iris smiled at her. ‘Brodie have a seat. Can I get you a drink? It’s so hot out today. You need to keep yourself hydrated.’
‘Just some water would be great, thank you.’
‘Let me go and get it,’ offered Flora. Any excuse to get inside and away from this man who was having a very strange effect on her.
‘Thanks,’ he said quietly.
Flora turned away, knowing that her original impression of Brodie was necessarily evolving.
Instead of feeling suspicion at his intentions regarding the work for her gran, she felt annoyingly flustered.
Flora was curious to know more about Brodie.
But she had a feeling it would be better to give him a wide berth — for now.