Page 52 of Play On

I smile as I drive down the long road towards the back of the estate, next to a field blooming with wildflowers in white, pink, and yellow. The sun is shining down from a sky dotted with clouds, and I know if I were to pull over and stroll through that field, I’d find it filled with beautiful butterflies.

But seeing as I’m still sick—and there’s nothing like a two-hour drive with a raging head cold to make you feel less than fabulous—I continue on my way without stopping. The gravel crunches under the tyres of my motorcar, and even though all I want to do is climb into my bed and take a nap, one thought permeates my brain.

I get to spend time with Noah this week.

Not just one date.

But many.

We didn’t get our date on Friday night the way we planned, but Noah took care of me and didn’t leave until I was ready to go to bed. Which was early, of course. He had to return to Surrey yesterday and pick up Mila from the dog sitter, but not beforestopping by with some fresh orange juice and croissants to give me for breakfast.

Noah is beyond thoughtful. I’ve never met a man who observes so much and is so in tune to what people need.

What I need.

I swing around the drive and park my car next to Amelia’s. I smile at that. I’m so glad she worked out the misunderstanding with Nicholas that kept them apart for years. I always thought they were perfect for each other.

And I always knew Nicholas loved Amelia, even if he refused to ever admit it.

I unhook my seat belt, thinking about this. It’s a twin sense. I knew when their how badly he was hurting when their friendship fell apart. I couldfeelit as if the pain were my own, as strange as that sounds.

Perhaps he felt my pain about Noah and that’s why he had that conversation with me about it.

He knew. Just like I knew about Amelia.

It’s a weird thing, being a twin.

I reach for a tissue and blow my nose again. Ugh. Now that I’ve come to a stop, I realise just how tired my brain is from concentrating on that drive. I open my door to get out, and I see Luke strolling across the grounds, coming from the gardens.

Ooh! I wonder if Aimee would be interested in meeting Luke. He’s bright. Loves animals. Funny. Australian, which she might like.

Oh, and incredibly fit.

I grin.Maybe I should play matchmaker on this one,I muse.

Luke smiles when he sees me getting out of my car. “Hello, Violet. Back from London already, I see,” he says cheerfully, heading in my direction.

I put out a hand to stop him. “Don’t come too close, I’m sick!”

He stops walking. “Um, we’re outside. I’m not too concerned about catching something.”

Okay, fair point.

“Well, you can’t be too cautious.”

Unless you’re Noah. I rather liked him being fearless about my cold and taking care of me on Friday night.

“Stop. Let me help you with your luggage.”

“Nope. I’ll draw the line at that. You don’t need to touch my germ-infested handle.”

He laughs. “Okay, fine, but don’t say I didn’t offer,” he says, coming up to me.

“By the way, why are you working on a Sunday?” I ask. “Carl and Roy didn’t do anything else, did they?”

He chuckles at that. “No, no more interior decorating.”

“HA-KAW!” comes a peacock cry carrying across the garden.

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