Page 14 of Sunny Skies and Summer Kisses

She’d had the house to herself that morning and had spent it ringing around, hoping that someone local would have the solution to her problems, that there’d be some barn sitting empty and ripe for conversion. But she’d had no luck. With a headache brewing at the back of her eyes, she peered out of the window to see the rain had given way to bright spring sunshine, wispy white clouds replacing the dour grey sky of earlier. The urge to head outdoors suddenly beckoned her. In the next moment, she’d thrown on her jacket, pulled on her wellies and headed out of the door.

The earthy scent of damp vegetation rose from the ground as she made her way up the grassy track to the rigg, the air cool and fresh. She sucked in a deep breath, relieved to find her headache was loosening its grip.

She’d just reached the summit of Great Stangdale Rigg, panting and puffing with the exertion, when she spotted Gabe. He was gazing out over the rugged landscape, taking in the sweeping view of the dale, the gentle breeze ruffling his hair. He had one hand stuffed in his pocket, the other holding Bob’s lead. The Labrador was sniffing around busily, stopping when he spotted Anoushka, wagging his tail enthusiastically.

Curious as to what had attracted Bob’s attention, Gabe turned, his face breaking into a wide smile. ‘Hi, Noushka,’ he said, his voice as warm as summer sunshine, triggering a flutter in her stomach.

‘Hi there, Gabe.’ She smiled back, feeling suddenly shy. She hoped her cheeks were sufficiently rosy from the walk for him not to notice the blush that now warmed them.

‘It’s another grand day,’ he said.

‘It is,’ she said, tucking her hair behind her ears.

Bob pulled towards her on his lead, whimpering excitedly. ‘Hello, there Bob.’ She bent to smooth the Labrador’s ears.

‘You’ll have a friend for life there if you keep doing that,’ Gabe said, chuckling.

‘So I see.’ She giggled as Bob closed his eyes, savouring the attention.

‘And you’ve no canine rascals with you then?’

‘Not today, no. Eth and Mabes are with Dad, keeping him company in his workshop; they do that sometimes.’

‘Ah, right.’ He nodded and a beat passed. ‘You feeling okay now?’

She knew he was referring to the last time she’d seen him, just after she’d broken up with Damon when her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy and her mascara was round her chin.

‘Yeah, much better, thanks.’ She stood up straight, squinting in the sunshine.

‘That’s good.’ Gabe’s dark eyes roved over her face. ‘Don’t suppose you’d mind if me and Bob walked along with you?’

‘Not at all, I’d be glad of the company.’ And in truth, she was, though she ignored the little voice that said,‘I’d be thrilled.’

‘I’ve left my car in the village; I popped in at the Post Office and thought it was too nice a day not to get a leg-stretch up here. Bob didn’t argue.’

‘I’ll bet he didn’t.’ She chuckled.

They ambled along, chatting and laughing away, Gabe telling her how Lady Caro’s mother, Lady Davinia, had got rather drunk the previous evening and had collided with a suit of armour on her way to bed at Danskelfe Castle. She’d sent it clattering to the ancient flagstone floor, hurling angry accusations that it had accosted her.

‘Honest, she may be a bit sour-faced—’

‘Abitsour-faced?’ Noushka said, giggling.

‘Okay then, she may be extremely sour-faced, but she can be absolutely hilarious without meaning to be, especially when she’s fluthered.’

‘Fluthered?’

‘Ah, sorry, it’s Irish for being very drunk.’ He grinned at her. ‘She’s rather partial to the odd gin and tonic.’

‘From what I’ve heard, she gets “fluthered” quite often.’

‘You wouldn’t be wrong there. Anyway, she was talking to this suit of armour as if she’d run into a real person and not a load of old metal. He adopted a squiffy, cut-glass English accent. ‘“I’m going to shue the bottom off you, you beashtly fiend! You won’t get away with thish”.’

He had Anoushka in hysterics. It felt so good to let go like that; to have a real belly laugh. It was liberating, and something she hadn’t done much of while she’d been with Damon.

‘That must’ve been so funny to see, but how on earth did you keep a straight face?’ she asked when she finally stopped laughing.

‘Trust me, it was hilarious, but I didn’t dare for the life of me make eye contact with anyone else, or I’d have lost it completely. Hats off to Lord Danskelfe who managed to keep it together while he helped her to her bedroom. Doesn’t bear thinking about if he’d dared to show he thought it was funny.’ He feigned a shudder at the thought. ‘Poor fella.’

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