Page 81 of The Last Saturday In July
Jess’ss eyes widened. ‘How did you know?’
Adam looked smug. ‘Zoe.’
She’d deal with Zoe later. But Adam had clearly done his homework.
He couldn’t have predicted her request for a lift home, but it had been a fair guess, given that they’d driven down that morning. She was overthinking it: the detour sounded perfectly legitimate. And it wouldn’t bother her if Simon spent time with a female colleague:he often spent time with Kate, and she trusted them both completely.
Why wouldn’t she, she thought guiltily. Their friendship was completely different from the weird and slightly dangerous relationship she had with Adam.
‘You’re not worrying about earlier, are you?’ Adam said.
Jess looked over, hoping he wasn’t talking about their near kiss.
‘The lights? Your dress getting burnt?’
‘It was just an accident.’ She paused. ‘Do you really think the Linford Curse is what’s stopping people booking weddings there?’
Adam shrugged. ‘We’ve cut our prices, offered fantastic wedding packages. When did Kate get engaged, by the way?’
‘Kate?’
‘Yeah, I just wondered where she’s having her wedding. Maybe we should offer Charleston Group staff an extra discount to marry at Linford.’
‘Right, excellent idea.’ Jess wiped her palms on her trousers.
‘So, how’s the bridesmaid speech coming along?’
‘I’ve made a start.’
Adam glanced over. ‘You have to wonder what the speeches at Chelsea and Leo’s wedding will be like.’
Jess laughed, relaxing a bit. ‘Chelsea will probably have to run them by Angel first.’
Adam slowed, as a hare hopped out in front of the car, before disappearing into the hedgerows. She decided to change the subject. ‘Do you get down to see your parents a lot?’
‘Since I’ve been home, I’ve been down to see them every weekend. And I’ve been able to catch up with my brothers, who live nearby. What about you? Have you a big family?’
‘Apart from the one annoying younger sister?’ Jess laughed. ‘I’m lucky – my mam’s from a very big family, so I have lots of cousins I’m close to. And there’s my nana, who’s my dad’s mam. She’s eighty-two, and she’s great fun. And, apparently, totally mad when she was younger.’
‘Like her granddaughter, then.’ Adam smirked.
Heat flashed to Jess’s face. In spite of his teasing, she’d got used to him being around, she’d even miss him after he left. But it would be a disaster if he stayed. Once Adam found out about Simon, he would never trust her again. She’d just enjoy the rest of his time here.
Jess tried some surreptitious deep breathing when Adam finally took the exit off the motorway onto a smaller road. ‘Are you sure this is okay with your parents?’
He glanced over. ‘Mam will be delighted to have somebody else to feed.’
The jeep rumbled over the cattle grid at the gate to the farm.
‘I got the distinct feeling you disapproved of my jeep.’ He pulled up outside the yard at the rear of the house and turned off the engine.
‘I was just annoyed that you always insisted we take your car,’ Jess admitted. ‘But I’ll admit the jeep is great to have for driving down the country.’
‘Maybe we misjudged each other.’ Adam’s voice was light, but Jess got the distinct impression he was interested in her reaction. Pretending not to notice, she turned to inspect the yard, which was littered with straw and walled on three sides with sheds.
‘This way.’
Adam got out, and Jess followed him to the back door of the house, avoiding a number of cats and some very relaxed looking hens.
