Chapter 5
As soon as Charlie had left the premises, Felicity marched straight into Andrea’s office.
‘Any chance you’re going to explain what the hell you’re up to?’ she said sharply.
Andrea spun on her ancient office chair, its hinges creaking beneath the weight of her enormous purple fleece. For some reason today’s sensation had a wolf howling at the moon emblazoned across the front. It was quite the visual treat.
‘I honestly don’t know what you mean.’
‘Yes, you jolly well do. You’re up to something.’
Andrea put a hand to her chest. ‘I most certainly am not. If you’re referring to that nice young man, I am just doing a favour for a friend, that’s all. Why? How did he get on?’
Felicity clicked her tongue. ‘He was… fine, actually. But that’s very much not the point.’
‘What is the point exactly?’
‘I don’t know. He keeps staring at me. I don’t trust him.’
‘I wish he’d stare at me,’ said Andrea with a sigh. She turned back to her computer even though she only ever seemed to pretend to use it. ‘Those eyes… my Lord.’
‘You are old enough to be his grandmother,’ said Felicity, not even attempting to sugar the pill.
‘I do like them young,’ said Andrea, almost to herself. ‘One, they have more stamina. Two, they appreciate the wisdom and experience an older woman can bring. Three, they don’t expect you to be their carer when they get old and saggy-arsed.’
‘You are impossible,’ said Felicity, but she could feel a smile tugging at her lips.
‘Incorrigible, don’t you mean?’ said Andrea, her eyes still on her computer.
‘That too.’
‘So, Felicity, I’ve delivered you a gorgeous young man to help you around here. He’s perfectly polite and seems good with the animals and he’s super easy on the eye, and you’re here in my office all angry and cross. What’s the problem exactly?’
Felicity’s shoulders sagged. ‘I have no idea,’ she admitted, eventually.
‘Well, good. Off you pop home to your Penguin Man and we’ll say no more about it.’
‘Fine.’
‘Fine.’
Felicity tried to ignore the feeling of uncertainty tightening her chest. Or perhaps it was good old-fashioned protectiveness.
She loved Animal Saviours like it was her second home, she loved the way she and Andrea worked together so seamlessly, telepathically almost, and she loved that she could do the whole job with her eyes closed, practically.
She was damned if some young upstart was going to come in and mess with the status quo. Even one that looked like that.
That night in bed she tried to tell James about their new arrival. He was irritatingly calm about the whole thing and the more he refused to be drawn in, the more irate Felicity became.
‘So, what’s the problem exactly? Tell me again?’ he said, massaging his temples with a finger and thumb. Felicity tried to ignore the way his arm muscles flexed as he did so.
‘He’s been in some trouble but we don’t even know what he did, right? He might be an axe murderer or something.’
James laughed. ‘Doing community service? Unlikely.’
‘Okay, fine, I take your point. But we don’t know what he did do. The thing is, I just don’t trust him.’
James opened his mouth to say something, then shut it again rapidly.
Felicity scoffed. ‘I know, you’re going to say, “There’s a surprise”, like I don’t trust anyone or something.’
‘Well, you don’t. But no, that’s not what I was going to say. I was going to say you should give him a chance, that’s all. Andrea has, after all, and she’s usually spiky as hell about new people.’
Felicity leant over and kissed James hard on the mouth.
‘Woah. What was that for?’
‘Well, you’re right of course, Andrea hates new people. She’d never normally welcome someone into our little inner sanctum so quickly.’
‘She invited me in, let’s not forget.’
James had briefly spent time volunteering at Animal Saviours as part of a sabbatical from work the previous year.
It had started for the sake of his well-being but ended up being mainly so he could spend time with Felicity.
Which in itself was a kind of therapy for both of them.
Even now, she still missed him being around the place.
And not just because he was in equal parts easy on the eye and good at moving heavy stuff.
‘Yes, but that was so me and you could spend more time together, you know that. She’s a devious one.’
‘So…?’ James lifted an eyebrow.
‘So, the same applies now. I knew she was up to something.’
‘What though? She’s not trying to get you to trade me in for a younger model, is she?’
‘I’ve no idea, but I’m sure as hell gonna find out.’
James was already reaching for his phone. ‘We could start by finding out what he did. What’s his surname?’
‘You know what? I’ve no idea.’
‘That might be a good place to start.’
‘Roger that.’ Felicity nodded, then stopped and punched James lightly on the chest. ‘What’s that look for?’
James shrugged, pulling her closer to him. ‘Whoever this guy is, he’s doing something right. I haven’t seen you this animated for a long time.’
Felicity felt her face heating and not for the first time that day.
‘Trust me, it’s nothing to do with him,’ she muttered.
James kissed the top of her head. ‘Takes more than some upstart kid to threaten my ego,’ he said.
‘Ha ha. You? An ego?’
James ran his hand down her side and she felt her skin light up like he’d lit a fuse somewhere deep inside her.
‘You’re gonna pay for that, Felicity Brooks,’ he said, pulling her on top of him.
‘I sincerely hope so,’ she said, all thoughts of Charlie’s dimples swiftly forgotten.