Page 104 of Best Summer Ever

‘I think we should talk about something else,’ Penny suggested diplomatically.

‘I agree,’ said Nick, planting a kiss on her cheek. ‘Tell us how the beach café has been this week. Are you still thinking that paninis rather than pupils are your future, Pen?’

I had been looking forward to us all spending the evening together, but Mum and Dad’s continuing suspicions about Josh had put rather a dampener on the gathering. Thankfully, however, the man himself found a way to cheer me up again.

‘Hey!’ I waved as I approached the summerhouse and spotted him sitting on the veranda in one of the rocking chairs.

It was after dusk and the outside lights were all twinkling and I had left a lamp on inside too. My little bolthole looked cosy and inviting – even more so with the addition of Josh – and I tried not to think about how it might feel in the middle of winter without insulation to keep the chill out. There was a small woodburning stove installed, but would that really be enough to stave off the bitter January cold?

Josh put a finger to his lips and when I reached him, I realised why.

‘How have you managed that?’ I whispered, as I cooed over Luna, who was curled up and purring on his lap.

‘Oh, it was all her,’ Josh said quietly. ‘She came to me, rather than the other way around.’

‘I think that’s how it works with cats, isn’t it?’

‘I guess so,’ he said, as Luna stretched out, jumped down and rather than shooting off, looked pointedly at her empty food bowl.

Algy would be thrilled about this sudden progress. And thinking of Algy…

‘How was your evening?’ I asked, opening the door to let us in.

‘Revelatory,’ Josh sighed, following me inside and carrying in a rucksack I hadn’t previously noticed he had with him.

‘Oh?’

I filled the cat bowl, but couldn’t tempt Luna to come in,so closed the summerhouse door, leaving her to eat outside, before we were inundated with moths.

‘How was your night?’ Josh then asked me.

‘Mine was pretty revealing too,’ I sighed, biting my lip.

‘Care to share?’ he asked.

Given what I had discovered were my parent’s real thoughts about him, I didn’t think I did.

‘Not really,’ I said. ‘Do you?’

‘I think I should actually,’ he said. ‘I have a feeling there are a few people around here who are still doubting my motives for turning up and having now talked things through properly with Algy, I would like to paint you the full picture, Daisy, and then perhaps I’ll consider filling them in too.’

‘I would appreciate knowing more,’ I said, hoping what he had to share would have enough detail to put an end to my parents’ suspicions and maybe even shut down the entire rumour mill for good.

I opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of white wine.

‘Can I tempt you?’ I offered.

‘Yes, please,’ Josh smiled, ‘but only a small one. I need to be stable on my feet for the cycle ride back to the village.’

‘Perhaps,’ I said boldly, feeling encouraged by his smile as I filled two glasses, ‘you might prefer to stay.’

The air between us, which was already warm, suddenly felt charged with electricity.

‘Oh, well, in that case,’ he smiled again, taking the glass from me and clinking it against mine as our eyes met, ‘a large one it is.’

Feeling the familiar tug of attraction, I knew we were back on track to regaining what we had enjoyed before and I gavehim a tour of the summerhouse as he hadn’t previously visited, paying particular attention to the new mattress his grandfather had so kindly supplied. Josh sat and bounced on it approvingly with a wicked grin playing about his lips. I was hard pushed to resist the urge to join him.

‘So,’ I said, once we were safely back downstairs and sitting together on the sofa, ‘you and Algy have finished talking then.’

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