Page 68 of Always Alchemy

‘I can highly recommend it,’ Athena says, raising her glass of cucumber water to her mouth. ‘And, obviously, I went and bought all the products afterwards. They all smell so good.’

‘They’re incredible,’ Belle agrees with a decadent stretch, raising her arms above her head. ‘Evelyn Macleod is such a great businesswoman.’

‘If you get a chance to meet her husband, do it,’ Gen says. ‘He runs the farm here—he’s the guy responsible for turning the entire place over to biodynamics. Very sweet,veryattractive. Angus, his name is. He’s usually on a tractor.’

‘There’s something about a farmer,’ Aida sighs. ‘Am I right? I bet he has a tonne of integrity.’

‘Yeah, having your man come in from his hard toil in the fields all day…’ I muse. ‘I could handle that.’

‘And yet you went for a spreadsheet freak,’ Darcy observes.

I hug myself. ‘My man is definitely a freak in the sheets.’

‘And Gabe used to be a priest, right?’ Belle asks Athena. ‘What’s that like? I’d never be able to tell from looking at him.’

‘Belle asks this,’ Nat tells Athena, ‘from the perspective of someone who has the biggest raging priest kink anyone has ever had in the history of mankind. Rafe put that confessional in the Alchemy basement specially for her.’

‘And for that, I thank you,’ Athena deadpans, and we all scream with laughter.

‘Wait, have you guys actually used it?’ Belle asks. She groans. ‘Oh my God. You’ve used it with a guy who wasactuallya priest. I’m so jealous.’

Aida is laughing so hard she can barely breathe. ‘Catholics aresofucking weird.’

‘He’s definitely convincing,’ Athena says with a secret smile.

‘Gabe is way too diabolical looking to have been a priest,’ Nat claims. ‘I thought that the moment I met him.’

‘I totally agree,’ Athena says. ‘That’s why he’s perfect.’

There’s a chorus of gooeyahhhsand then I ask, ‘How did you guys meet? You work with him, right?’

Athena and Gen exchange a look that I’m not quite clear on.

‘That’s right,’ Athena says.

‘Wow,’ I muse aloud. ‘You get some hot bosses. What’s your secret?’

Before she can answer, Gen says, ‘The woman has an MBA from the Sorbonne, speaks four languages and is bloody good at what she does. I’m not sure she needs a secret. Gabe called Anton up and practically begged him to put a good word in with Athena.’ She gives me the slightest shake of her head, likeleave it alone.

‘Fair enough,’ I say, giving Athena a wink. ‘Sounds like Gabe’s the lucky one.’

She gives me a self-deprecating smile, but I could swear the smile she then turns on Gen is drenched in gratitude.

Weird.

‘I want to live here,’I sigh as Zach and I stroll along the path from our beautiful cottage, The Dovecote, through the gardens of Sorrel Farm to the Main Barn. He laughs and kisses the top of my head as he squeezes my hand.

‘It’s charming, that’s for sure. But I don’t really see you mucking out pigs, sweetheart.’

‘Who said anything about mucking out? We’d have staff for that.’

‘Our new name for Mads is officially Lady Muck,’ he tells the girls.

It’s one of those June evenings that make you believe England is the most beautiful place on the planet. The flowers here are heaven. I bet it’s equally gorgeous in autumn, and I’ve heard it’s magical at Christmas, too.

‘Are you happy? Are you enjoying your birthday celebrations?’ I ask him.

He pauses for a second and gazes down at me, and I shiver, because when Zach Frenchreallylooks at you, it’s something else.

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