Chapter 14 #2
‘I’m not making excuses. I’m about to head out,’ I said. ‘I’ve got a date.’
Rick put the barrow down again and the look on his face made me instantly regret my unguarded explanation.
‘A date?’ he beamed. ‘With Carter, by any chance?’
‘No,’ I frowned. ‘Not with Carter. Have you been talking to Melody?’ I added suspiciously.
‘No. Why?’
I felt cross with myself then. Melody didn’t gossip, so she wouldn’t have mentioned to Rick her previous attempt at matchmaking.
‘Never mind,’ I tutted, as much at myself as him, and strode off.
‘Enjoy your date!’ Rick called after me.
There was no sign of him when I left, so I was thankfully able to slip away without my outfit – a floaty floral dress from Zara and the nondescript but comfortable walking shoes – being scrutinised and commented on.
I’d looked online for the best places to park and was running a couple of minutes late by the time I’d found my way from the park-and-ride drop-off to the garden entrance.
Feeling slightly out of breath, I took a moment to readjust my dress and check my reflection in the pocket mirror from my bag.
Slightly pink around the edges, but not too flushed, which was a relief.
My hair, which was trying to escape its bun, was a bit mad though…
‘You look beautiful,’ said a voice behind me.
‘James!’ I gasped and spun around. ‘I didn’t see you.’
Wearing knee length shorts and a linen shirt, with a pair of sunglasses tucked into the unbuttoned collar, he again looked as little like the guy in the impeccable suit that I’d first met as it was possible to.
I have to say, I much preferred the casual version, and he looked comfortable with it, too.
‘Well, I saw you,’ he said and lightly brushed my cheek with another soft kiss. Whatever aftershave he was wearing was intoxicating. ‘I hope you’ve got your mum’s hat with you. We are heading into a garden, after all, though you won’t be weeding today.’
‘No hat,’ I told him, as I slipped the mirror back into my bag. ‘I ended up leaving in such a rush, I completely forgot about it.’
That was partly Rick’s fault.
‘Oh well,’ he smiled. ‘We’ll just have to share this one, won’t we?’
From behind his back, he whipped out a straw hat that he’d kept hidden.
‘Where did you get that?’ I laughed, as he plonked it on his head.
‘Online,’ he grinned as he attempted to straighten it, but as it was slightly too snug a fit, he couldn’t adjust it all that much.
‘I thought one day we might have the chance to match.’ I was even sorrier to have left Mum’s hat back at Fernside when he said that.
‘Do you want to wear it first or shall I?’
‘Thanks for the offer, but I’ll be too hot with my hair down,’ I told him. I’d piled it up to keep it off my neck and didn’t want to change it. ‘You should wear it though.’
I didn’t expect him to, but he did. He looked rather comical, and I found myself liking him even more for that. Lee had always taken himself far too seriously, so I appreciated a man who didn’t, and James was shaping up very nicely to be that kind of guy.
‘Come on then,’ he said. ‘I can’t wait to show you around. I love this place, and I know it like the back of my hand, so if I’m getting on your nerves still going on about it in ten hours’ time, just tell me to shut up, okay?’
‘Will do.’ I laughed as his excitement made him almost trip over his words.
‘Have I thrown you by picking this place?’ he asked, while we queued to buy tickets.
‘Given that you had us meet at a water meadow for our first date?’ I nudged. ‘Not really. To be honest, it’s a thrill to know that there’s so much more to you than the sleek and suited man I first met.’
‘I really haven’t gone down in your estimation?’
‘Absolutely not,’ I said firmly. ‘Like we agreed before, with our love of the outdoors, we’re a match. And it was your kind actions that appealed to me most the day of the hat rescue, not the car and your clothes.’
‘So, I’m doing all right? I pass muster today?’
‘Let me just check,’ I said, taking him in again. ‘Crumpled shirt, ruffled hair under the hat and a garden lover. You’re far from wanting.’ I approved. ‘Right up my street, actually.’
We moved a step forward in the queue.
‘Lucky me,’ he smiled seductively. ‘And I hope you know, Tilly that’s a two-way street, because you’re perfect for me, too.’
I’d never been called that before.
‘Lucky me too, then,’ I said back breathlessly.
James quickly checked the time, and I noticed he was wearing the Rolex again.
‘I hope this queue soon goes down,’ he sighed. ‘I want to make the most of this visit.’
‘Me too,’ I said. ‘And I notice you’re not entirely averse to the finer things in life,’ I added, with a nod towards his wrist.
‘The watch? Oh, I didn’t buy this. It was a present from my wonderful mum. An investment piece, she called it.’
He looked fondly at it again and I couldn’t help thinking that he was becoming more desirable with every second.
‘You need to be careful, James,’ I said, as I fanned my face with my hands, ‘otherwise I might find myself…’
‘Yes?’
Our eyes met and I knew it would be the easiest thing in the world to fall for him, but I could hardly confess that, could I? We’d barely had any time to get to know each other yet.
‘Well, that’s a relief,’ he said, taking my hand and giving it a squeeze when I didn’t finish the sentence, ‘because I could also easily find myself…’
‘Yes?’ I swallowed and looked intently at him.
‘Two adults?’
Neither of us moved and the person behind us huffed.
‘Just the two adult tickets, is it?’ the kiosk operator asked again.
‘Er, yes, please,’ said James, when I finally looked away. ‘Two tickets. Thanks.’
Once we were through the gate, he took my hand again and it felt like the most natural thing in the world to walk around the beautiful gardens, through the tropical glasshouses and along the bee borders with our fingers entwined.
James hadn’t been exaggerating when he said he knew the gardens well and he was quite the horticultural expert, too. Something I would never have expected of a young barrister, but I’d learned my lesson now. Assumptions, of any kind, weren’t allowed.
‘What’s next?’ I asked and my tummy gave the loudest rumble.
‘Lunch, I think,’ James smiled. ‘I’m really hungry, too.’
I lifted our hands so I could see the time on his watch. ‘And no wonder,’ I laughed. ‘It’s well gone two!’
Fortunately, the lovely café was still well stocked, and we packed a tray full with delicious food and more bottles of water, then found a table in the shade to eat at. It felt reminiscent of our first picnic, though the setting was a million times lovelier.
‘What’s been your favourite thing so far?’ James asked.
We’d talked of nothing other than the garden, both of us lost in the magic of the day and not wanting the bubble to burst by bringing in real life issues like James’s work conundrum and my trepidation over getting permission to set up my business. Our Cambridge date was halcyon in every way.
‘Well,’ I said, having mulled the question over, ‘I’ve loved everything, and I know there’s still the lake to look at, but so far, I think I like the Palm House the best.’
‘Steamy,’ James grinned.
‘It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. So many exotic plants, and yes,’ I agreed, ‘very steamy. What about you?’
‘All of it!’ he grinned. ‘The autumn garden is glorious, though obviously not in the middle of the summer. We’ll have to come back later in the year to admire that.’
I didn’t respond immediately and James frowned.
‘Am I being presumptuous?’ he asked, sounding genuinely worried.
‘No,’ I said, pinching a triangle of sandwich off his plate as quickly as he then nabbed one from mine. ‘You’re not. I’d love to come back and see the autumn garden with you.’
I was already seduced by James’s company and his enthusiasm for green spaces, which he said were a soothing balm for jaded spirits – an ethos I fully endorsed myself – and now the suggestion that we could come back to the beautiful garden later in the year only deepened the feeling.
‘Good,’ he smiled and offered me some crisps.
The rest of the afternoon seemed to be over in a blink and having admired the lake and walked what was beginning to feel like double the amount of recommended daily steps, I checked the time and realised I needed to collect my car.
‘I can’t believe I’m going to say this,’ I sighed, ‘but I need to go.’
‘No,’ James objected.
He gently pulled me towards him, and I had no desire to resist. We were in a secluded spot, many of the day’s visitors had now left, but we lingered, neither of us apparently wanting the trip to end. As I pressed my body close to his, I knew I certainly didn’t.
‘How about we get your car and go out for dinner?’ he suggested, as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. The feel of his fingers lightly touching my skin caused a rush of heat to course through me. ‘You could drive back to Suffolk later tonight, couldn’t you?’
I was longing to, but with the supper party happening the next day, I felt like I needed an early night to make up for the previous restless one.
‘I really need to get back,’ I whispered with regret. ‘I’ve got things I need to see to, and you’ve got this case to get to grips with, haven’t you?’
He let out a long breath. ‘Yes,’ he said and moved so that his mouth was just an inch from mine. ‘You’re right. But next time you come here you can travel by train, so we won’t have to think about your car.’
‘That sounds like a wonderful idea,’ I whispered and completely closed the distance between us.
Our first kiss was perfect. Initially tender and soft, it increased in intensity, just the right amount, and when I touched James’s tongue with my own, he responded as I had known he would.
‘Or you could come and visit me,’ I said breathlessly, when we finally broke apart.
I could easily imagine James at home in the garden apartment, which was just big enough for two. I wondered how Constance would feel about overnight guests.
‘I’d like that,’ he smiled and we kissed again.
He walked with me, back to the bus pick-up point and we kissed for a third time, but not as passionately as there were other people queuing around us.
‘Would you mind if I called you sometime to talk about my career dilemma?’ he asked, as the bus came into sight and the queue shuffled into more of a line. ‘I didn’t want to mention it today, but I would appreciate your input while I’m still thinking about it.’
‘If I can help,’ I told him, ‘I will.’
‘And I’ll see you again, soon. Yes?’
‘As soon as you’ve won this case,’ I said, subtly reminding him that he needed to focus on what he’d come to Cambridge for.
He kissed the back of my hand and held on to it until the very last second. I waved as the bus pulled away and he waved back with the hat in his hand. As I turned to face the front, I noticed the woman sitting opposite me was smiling.
‘Is he a keeper?’ she asked.
As second dates went, that was the most perfect one I’d ever had. More than worthy of a romantic Hollywood blockbuster.
‘Absolutely,’ I laughed, as my phone pinged with a message from him, thanking me for the most wonderful day. ‘No doubt about that.’