Page 16 of Promises & Petals in Nettleford-on-the-Wold
Alfie stirred, standing up and stretching before curling up and closing his eyes again.
‘Has anyone ever told you, you’d make a good cat, Alf?’ He’d brought so much into her life since she’d rescued him. He’d been her best friend on the road, and she’d do all she could to keep him happy in return. Turning around, she picked up his water bowl. ‘I’ll get you some fresh water for when you do decide to wake up.’
Filling the bowl, she looked out of the little window above the sink. She couldn’t see Josh in the garden; he must have headed back inside. Probably to get on with whatever he’d been doing when he’d spotted her being interrogated by Mrs Bertridge and ran to her rescue. She smiled as warmth flooded her chest. He was definitely one of the good ones, and whoever he ended up with would be a very lucky woman.
Leaning down, she placed the dog bowl back on the floor before tiptoeing to the door and stepping outside. She left the door slightly ajar so he could join them in the cottage if he wanted to.
As she crossed the front garden to the cottage door, she brushed past the overgrown rosemary and lavender, causing a mesmerising scent to waft into the air. Perhaps she’d make astart on the front garden after brunch with the girls tomorrow. Shed told herself she’d start packing away the bedrooms, or at least cleaning them ready for the estate agents’ photos, but they could wait. It wasn’t as though she could get an estate agent round with the roof as it was.
Still, if she worked on the garden, she would still be progressing to reach her end goal, wouldn’t she?
The front door was open, and she paused outside as she heard Freddie’s booming laugh, unsure whether to go inside and interrupt whatever they were talking about or to wait. She didn’t want them to think she was eavesdropping.
‘And she’s definitely single? The owner? Hannah?’
That made up her mind. Freddie’s voice was so loud, she couldn’t have helped but overhear. What was he saying about her? Why did he want to know if she was single? She leaned forward a little, straining to hear Josh’s response.
‘As far as I’m aware, she is. Not that it’s any of your business.’ Josh’s voice sounded a little guarded, but then again maybe she was just trying to read into something which wasn’t there.
‘Ah, it definitely is my business. I’m single too, as you might be aware.’ Freddie laughed.
‘I wouldn’t call going on a date every night with a different woman single, if you ask me.’
So, he was a player then. Hannah shoved her hands in her pockets.
‘It definitely is. Do you think she’d accept the offer of a date from me?’ Freddie again.
‘Don’t you even think about it.’
Hannah blinked at Josh’s response. His voice had been almost a growl, a warning most definitely.
‘Hey, if you’re not going to ask her out, then she’d fair game, mate.’ Freddie pushed again.
‘She’s not, and you’ll do well to remember who pays your wages, Freddie.’
Hannah widened her eyes. He was sticking up for her. Did that mean her feelings for him might just be reciprocated after all?
‘Okay, okay, you’re the boss.’
‘I don’t want the business getting a bad reputation, Freddie. And I mean it, leave her well alone.’
Slumping her shoulders, Hannah caught herself just in time before she sighed audibly. He didn’t feel anything for her then. He was just worried about his business. Of course he was. Why had she even thought he’d warned Freddie off for any other reason? She should head back to the caravan for a few minutes. She didn’t want to walk in straight after that conversation; they’d think she’d been listening or something. Spinning on the spot, Hannah froze as Alfie came bounding across the garden and ran straight past her through the open doorway and into the cottage.
‘Hey, buddy.’ Josh’s voice softened.
Hannah held her breath as Alfie growled. He’d obviously taken a dislike to Freddie, and she needed to get to him before Alfie tried to bite his ankles. Pushing the door open, Hannah ran inside and scooped the small dog up, just in time it seemed as Freddie jumped onto a kitchen chair. ‘Sorry. He doesn’t like strangers.’
‘No harm done.’ Freddie reached up and ran his fingers across the ceiling. ‘I was just checking the ceiling for cracks.’
‘Sure you were.’ Josh chuckled.
Looking pointedly at Alfie in Hannah’s arms, Freddie stepped down onto the floor and pointed towards the stairs. ‘I should probably...’
‘Run away from the big scary dog?’ Josh crossed his arms, his eyes glinting with laughter.
‘Yeah, well, you didn’t see how sharp his teeth are.’ Freddie muttered under his breath before striding across the room and up the stairs.
Standing on the spot, Hannah was suddenly unsure what to say. She could feel her cheeks burning and hoped Josh would assume she was embarrassed because of Alfie’s behaviour and not because she’d overheard him telling Freddie not to ask her on a date for fear of damaging his business’s reputation. ‘I should probably go.’
