Page 42 of Flowers Go Flying in Crumbleton

Murray was nervous. So nervous that he decided against taking the winding, uneven steps that led to the top of Crumbleton. Sure, it was tempting to take the back route up to Milly’s flat, but the last thing he needed right now was for his legs to give way. Face-planting into the uneven stone and turning up bruised, bleeding and missing a tooth or two definitely wasn’t the look he was going for.

He was determined that this date was going to go well – preferably without a head injury, an ambulance, a ton of marsh mud or the need for a restorative nap partway through.

Actually… the nap part wouldn’t be so bad!

Murray grinned to himself as he ambled slowly up the cobbles past the little courtyard in front of the Crumbleton Times and Echo offices. He might not be taking Milly any flowers… but if tonight went well, he’d definitely be sending some down to Caroline!

Murray blew out a long, slow breath, doing his best to calm his racing heart – which had nothing to do with the steep hill and everything to do with the woman waiting for him at the top of it.

Taking Caroline’s advice, Murray had already done a lap of the shops. He’d arrived in town early to grab a large paper bag full of cola cubes from the sweet shop. Then, deciding that it wasn’t nearly enough of an offering, he’d nipped into the bakery and added a whole cherry Madeira cake and half a dozen chocolate brownies to his haul.

Being in town hadn’t been as bad as he’d feared. He’d half-expected a barrage of questions about what had happened at the wedding. Instead, all he’d been met with was genuine concern and several offers of help. Stuart from Bendall’s had even volunteered to deliver supplies all the way out to the trawler if he ever needed him to. Murray had been touched – especially when Stuart had then insisted on gifting him a vat of salted caramel ice cream to “help him feel better”. He couldn’t wait to dollop it on top of a brownie and share it with Milly.

The combination of ice cream and Milly in the same thought made Murray’s knees wobble dangerously, and he sucked in another deep breath. He didn’t know why he was being so ridiculous – Milly’s visit to the trawler hadn’t exactly been under the most romantic of circumstances. She’d already seen him at his worst – and yet, she’d been easy, lovely company. There was no reason tonight should be any different.

Except that this is officially a date!

The thought prodded him in the back of the brain and his heart suddenly felt like it was going to explode out of his chest. But… it was only officially a date because that’s what Caroline had called it. In reality, it was just two people meeting up to eat half the contents of the Crumbleton Bakery.

Yes. That’s what they were doing. Brownies and ice cream and chat. That wasn’t scary at all… was it?!

Knock you idiot - you’re already there!

Murray blinked. He was standing outside of Milly’s flat. He’d just marched up the high street on autopilot and reached the door next to the flower shop without even thinking about it.

Raising his hand, Murray knocked quickly before he had the chance to get cold feet and chicken out of the whole thing. Not that he could of course - because he didn’t have Milly’s number and there was no way he’d just disappear on her!

Thundering footsteps from the other side of the door echoed his rowdy heartbeat. Before he could arrange his face into anything other than a dorky smile, the door flew open, and she was standing right in front of him.

‘Milly!’ he said. It was the only thing he could think to say.

‘Damn,’ she said with a frown.

Murray’s eyebrows shot up. That wasn’t quite the greeting he’d been hoping for.

‘What?’ he said.

‘You’re not wearing the towel!’

Murray relaxed and grinned at her. ‘No – but I do have cola cubes, ice cream and way more cake than is good for us,’ he said, raising the shopping bag slightly.

‘I like your style, Murray Eddington,’ she said. ‘Come on up!’

CHAPTER 17

MILLY

‘Yo! Boss… you’re doing that thing again!’

‘Huh? What thing?’ said Milly vaguely, turning to blink at Jo.

When had her trainee snuck up on her?!

‘You know – that thing where you stand with the shop keys in your hand and don’t actually use them to unlock,’ huffed Jo.

‘Right,’ said Milly. ‘Right… sorry.’

With one last peek at the door of her flat, she did her best to pull herself together… and to quell the smug smile that was threatening to sneak onto her face while she was at it.

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