Page 19 of Sunny Skies and Summer Kisses

A moment later, she felt a flood of relief as Brogan bustled into the pub and headed over to them, the frosty air lingering on her clothes. ‘Brrr! It’s bloomin’ freezing out there. Sorry I’m late, Noushka. Hi, Gabe.’ She unwound her scarf and plonked herself down on the seat next to her friend, bending to fuss Bob who was enormously pleased to see her if the tail wagging was anything to go by. ‘And hi there, lovely lad.’

‘Ah, the Bobster’ll take all of the “lovely lad” business you care to dish out, won’t you, young man?’ Gabe delivered a resounding pat to the Labrador’s rump.

Anoushka turned to Brogan. ‘Dare I ask, how’s Wilf?’

‘Ughh!’ Brogan feigned a fed-up expression making Anoushka and Gabe laugh. ‘He’s a stinky little bugger. Actually, I’m very pleased to say, he’s not so stinky now, but he’s still a little bugger. Took bloody ages to get rid of the smell. Which I think,’ she took a hearty sniff of her sleeve, wrinkling her nose,’ ‘is still lingering on me even though I’ve got changed.’

‘Well, I can’t smell anything; it’s probably just in your nose, if you know what I mean. Anyway, after your ordeal, sounds like you could do with one of these.’ Anoushka poured a glass of Pinot Grigio, pushing it towards her friend. ‘There, get that down you.’

‘Mmm. Don’t mind if I do.’ Brogan took a sip, rounding it off with an appreciative sigh.

‘Right, well, I’ll leave you ladies to enjoy your evening.’ Gabe went to stand up.

‘There’s no need to go on my account,’ said Brogan. ‘You’re very welcome to join us, isn’t he, Noushka?’

Before she could answer, Kristy bowled in, her nose red with the cold. ‘Now then, lasses, sorry I’m late. Hiya, Gabe. Ooh, please tell me that radiator’s on, I’m absolutely nithered. Anyone would think it was still winter out there.’ She gave a shiver as if to prove her point. ‘And hello, gorgeous Bob.’ She bent to ruffle the Labrador’s ears with both hands, which had him in raptures.

‘Hi, Kristy. You can have my seat; I was just about to head over to the bar. And you’ll be pleased to know the radiator is blisteringly hot.’ Gabe pushed his chair back.

‘Oh, there’s really no need, Gabe, I was—’

‘Honest, it’s fine, I need to get back to Sim and Caro before they think I’ve deserted them.’ He smiled warmly. ‘I’ll catch you later. Be sure to have a grand evening,’ he said, his eyes lingering on Anoushka.

12

‘He’s got itseriouslybad for you, Noushka,’ said Kristy as she slipped her padded jacket off and hung it over the back of the seat vacated by Gabe. The three friends watched him make his way over to the bar where he joined Lady Caro and Sim.

Anoushka shook her head despairingly. ‘You’veseriouslygot the wrong end of the stick there, Kristy,’ she said, feeling a swirl in her stomach.

‘Oh, come on, you’d have to be blind not to notice; he so does have it bad for you,’ said Brogan.

‘You two are seeing what you want to see,’ said Anoushka.

Brogan appeared to ignore her. ‘And sticking to the serious theme, his butt looksseriouslyhot in those jeans.’ She arched a suggestive eyebrow and flashed a mischievous look in Anoushka’s direction. ‘And I wish I could find a man who looked at me the way he looks at you.’

Anoushka sighed. ‘Right, I think we need some ground rules for tonight before you two start getting carried away with yourselves.’ She set her hands on the table, splaying her fingers and eyeing her friends intently. ‘As you’re both fully aware, I’ve only just got out of a relationship – and a difficult one, at that – so there’s absolutely no way I’m looking to dive headfirst straight into another one. In fact, as I’ve said a million times already, I’ve completely and utterly sworn off relationships; they’re more trouble than they’re worth, I don’t have the energy or the inclination for one. And, just in case you think I don’t actually mean that, let me tell you, I absolutely, totally do. Right now, I just have the overwhelming urge to have some time on my own, getting all the crap out of my head, without the distraction of having a man in my life. Actually, scrap having “some” time on my own, that’s how I see my long-term future. ’ She sat back in her chair. ‘I’m going to up my mission to find a suitable premises for my dance school and getting it set up, which I’ve got more time to do now Damon’s out of the picture. And being so focused on that will mean I won’t have any spare time to dedicate to a relationship. Which suits me just fine. My dance school is my sole priority. I know you both mean well, but I really need you to listen. No more trying to fix me up with someone – Gabe, or otherwise. Okay?’

‘Okay,’ her friends said in unison, nodding contritely before Brogan said, ‘He’s still got it bad for you though, Noushka. And for what it’s worth, I think you’re being really cruel, not even giving him a tiny little kiss. It’d make his day, and keep him going while he’s on tour.’

‘Ughh! Broge!’ Anoushka rolled her eyes good-naturedly. ‘That would so give him the wrong impression; I’m not going to lead him on.Thatwould be cruel.’

Kristy pursed her lips, as if preparing to say something, but Anoushka got in first. ‘Right, much as I know your hearts are in the right place, there’ll be no more talking about my love life tonight. End of – and I really mean it.’How hard can it be to get the message across?Got it?’ She glanced between them.

‘Yep, got it,’ Brogan said reluctantly.

‘Me too,’ said Kristy, though the sideways look she cast Brogan didn’t go unnoticed by Anoushka.

‘Good.’ Ignoring it, she heaved a sigh of relief and said, ‘Right, so what’s new with you two?’ She reached for the bottle of wine and topped up their glasses.

Conversation flowed seamlessly. Had she heard about Hetty Johnson and how she’d been caught cheating on her husband of five minutes? Anoushka hadn’t, so between them, Brogan and Kristy brought her up-to-speed. Brogan had gone on to share how she was getting fed up with her dog-walking business, grumbling that she seemed to spend most of the day traipsing over the moors, which was fine when the weather was good. ‘But when it’s tanking down, it’s bloody miserable,’ she said. ‘I could do with someone to help, which Ella does when she’s got time. And I’m getting so inundated, I’m having to turn folk away. I mean, I adore all the dogs I walk and I love working with animals, but… I don’t know… my heart’s just not in it anymore. I’m twenty-six and I’m not even settled in a career.’

‘Broge, twenty-six is hardly old!’ Anoushka said, laughing.

‘Feels that way to me right now,’ Brogan said despondently.

‘Well, you might be interested to know I’ve heard a rumour there’s a new vets’ practice opening up on the outskirts of the village in another one of the old Danskelfe Estate buildings. You could maybe get a job there; you’re a trained vet nurse,’ Kristy said.

‘Ooh, that would be perfect for you, Broge.’ Anoushka smiled, though she was inwardly cursing on hearing of another property she’d missed out on.

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