Page 10 of Promises & Petals in Nettleford-on-the-Wold
‘Err...’ Hannah’s grip on the door handles tightened. She couldn’t very well tell him that, yes, this was a bad time. Shewas covered in dirt, dust and mouldy water, and she’d never wanted to let him see her in such a state. Looking down, she pinched the bridge of her nose. Why did she care so much about what she looked like? Josh was Sophie’s brother; that was all. And she certainly wasn’t the soppy teenager with a crush on him anymore. Looking back up, she smiled and shook her head. ‘No problem. Come on in.’
As soon as Hannah had closed the door again, Freddie stuck his hand out towards her. ‘Nice to meet you, Hannah.’
Looking down at his hand, she held her own up, palm forward, and grimaced. ‘Good to meet you too, but I won’t shake your hand, you don’t know what you might catch. I’ve been cleaning all day.’
Letting his hand drop to his side, Freddie chuckled and instead winked at her. ‘Yes, probably best.’
‘Umm.’Thatwas one way to make her feel grubbier than she felt. Thanks, Freddie. Afterwatchingthem carry a ladder through, shewaved them towards the stairs at the back of the small living room. ‘I’ll leave you to it.’
‘Okay, thanks, Cupcake.’ Josh smiled as he led the way upstairs.
‘Cupcake, you call her Cupcake. Something going on there, is there, mate?’ Freddie’s voice floated down the stairs.
Closing the door again, Hannah tilted her head, trying to catch Josh’s reply, but his voice was too muffled. Running her fingers through her hair, she frowned as she waited for Freddie to answer.
‘Fair enough.’
Huh, so Josh must have told him the embarrassing story of her failed baking attempt at seducing him. Great. Not only was she going to have to endure Josh’s presence in the cottage, but also someone else who would understandably view her as the sad, pathetic person she was. Great.
As the clatter of the ladder sounded, Hannah could feel her cheeks heat from the searing embarrassment. It really shouldn’t bother her anymore. Not after all his time. And it hadn’t, until he’d brought the memory scorching to the surface again yesterday. She needed to get out of here, and she needed to get cleaned up. Her skin was suddenly itching under the muck clinging to it.
Slipping out of the door, she headed back to the caravan and to little Alfie, who she’d left in there so his small lungs didn’t have to endure the stench of the cleaning products or the mould spores she’d been using.
Chapter Nine
Twisting around in the tiny shower cubicle, Hannah finished drying herself and wrapped a towel around herself. She was more than grateful her little caravan had a shower. However small it was, it served its purpose. Although after spending the day cleaning she had hoped to grab a shower in the cottage bathroom, and she could have, if she’d been willing to wait, but the dirt, sweat and cleaning products coating her skin had been making her itch and so when Josh and his work mate had shown up, she’d only had the one option to make do with the tiny shower in here.
Still, she was clean now and with any luck by the time she’d dressed, both Josh and Freddie would be gone. She opened the narrow door just as she heard a tapping on the door. Drat, so much for hoping they’d just leave when they were ready. Glancing around the caravan, she spotted the heap of clothes she’d placed on the sofa before getting in the shower. ‘Hold on.’
Hurrying towards the sofa, Hannah screamed as she tripped right over Alfie, who, after hearing the commotion, had jumped from the sofa just at the same time she was hurrying towards it. Throwing her arms out, she braced herself as she fell in a crumpled heap on the floor, gripping the towel closer. She feltthe sheer heat of embarrassment ignite her cheeks as she heard the unmistakable creak of the caravan door opening.
‘Are you...?’ Josh’s voice fell quiet as his shadow enveloped Hannah still lying in a heap on the floor, desperately clutching her towel to her body. ‘Oh...’
‘Sorry, I... umm... I fell over Alfie.’ Ignoring the hand he was offering, she gripped hold of the edge of the sofa and pulled herself to standing. She checked that she was still modestly covered, and then she saw him turning his back on her.
‘I... I’ll wait outside. Give you a moment to get some clothes on.’ Josh’s voice was quiet as he rushed outside.
‘Sure.’ She replied to the closed door before looking at Alfie. ‘Thanks for that, Alf. Talk about great timing. Much appreciated.’
Alfie ambled towards the door before slumping on the floor, his nose sniffing at the edge of the caravan door, seemingly eager to get out and spend time with his new friend from yesterday.
Shaking her head, Hannah sighed before pulling on her clothes. If she was certain about one thing, it was that she most definitely would not be telling Gemma, Lucy or Sophie about this. Neither Gemma nor Lucy wouldn’t let her live it down, and she’d only be supplying them with gold-grade teasing fodder. She shuddered as she pulled on a clean t-shirt. No, thank you.
Now fully dressed, Hannah smoothed down her hair before forcing herself to open the door to Josh. As Alfie raced straight out, Hannah breathed a sigh of relief. He must have gone. He wasn’t waiting outside the caravan like she’d expected. Good, now she could get on with her evening and get some dinner. She was ravenous and, although she still hadn’t taken the time to go food shopping, she’d promised herself she’d make a nice omelette from the eggs Josh had left her.
She tucked her hair behind her ear as she walked across the front garden towards the cottage. She’d completely forgotten tothank him for cleaning the fridge and leaving it stocked up. She’d just have to thank him next time she saw him, if he didn’t end up trying to avoid her, that was.
‘Hey, do you want your dinner?’ Hannah slipped through the open door of the cottage as she called after Alfie.
‘If you’re offering, I will. I’m starving.’
Twisting on the spot, Hannah caught Josh’s eye as he emerged from the kitchen. ‘Jeez, I didn’t realise you were still here.’
‘Sorry, did I scare you?’ He lifted up two mugs. ‘I thought I should hang around to check you hadn’t broken any bones after tripping over this one.’ Josh nodded towards Alfie, who was glued to his ankles.
‘Oh, umm. Thanks.’ Stepping forward, she took one of the mugs. Keeping her eyes fixed on the hot coffee, she felt the familiar rush of heat across her cheeks. ‘No broken bones.’
‘Glad to hear it.’ Josh nodded as he leaned against the work surface and took a sip of his coffee.
