Page 104 of Fundamentals in Flirting

“And that’s because you’re just as bonkers and nauseating as she is.”

I couldn’t help the bubble of laughter that escaped, causing Agnes and Teddy to turn and spot me, partially concealed by shrubbery, arms folded, leaning against the cool wall of the cottage.

“We really are pretty bloody bonkers, aren’t we?” Teddy said.

My gaze locked with his and a moment seemed to pass between us, that now familiar invisible force drawing me towards him, charged particles pinging around us, as if we’d created our very own Hadron Collider.

“Ah, there you are. Let’s have some tea.” Agnes stepped out of Teddy’s arms and headed into the kitchen, seemingly making a lot of unnecessary noise for preparing some tea. She crashed around inside and sang loudly, in an obvious effort to give us some privacy.

“Hey, you.” Teddy seemed shy all of a sudden, quiet and pensive, which surprised and thrilled me. I wondered if he could read my thoughts as a reel of naughty images flashed through my brain as his cheekbones coloured a little red.

“Hey, you.” Hands in my pockets, I sauntered over to him, nonchalantly. “How you doin’?”

He laughed. “I’m doin’ ok, thanks. You?”

Fuck it. I couldn’t keep my hands to myself any longer, and in two strides I was launching myself at him, attaching myself to his face like a limpet. His groan of desire reverberated through his chest as he kissed me back, wrapping his arms around me tightly and pulling me in closer and closer until I could hardly breathe. The singing and pot clattering from the kitchen grew louder and Teddy smirked against my lips.

“Perhaps we should take this somewhere a little more private, snuggle bun?”

“Oh, sexy monkey features, you read my mind.”

“I didn’t have to read your mind. Your actions spoke loudly and clearly.”

“Tea!” Agnes shrieked, walking backwards out of the kitchen, a tray rattling loudly with crockery. “You can stop your canoodling now.”

Reluctantly disentangling myself from Teddy’s grip, I took the tray out of her hands and placed it on the table, taking a seat in the middle, next to the gramophone, just as Teddy’s phone began to ring.

Glancing at the screen, he looked a little confused for a moment, before excusing himself and nipping through the hole in the hedge and back towards his garden next door.

“So your cunning plan worked then, Hannah?” Agnes’s voice jolted me back from the lurid fantasy I was having while watching Teddy disappear from view.

“Seems so. Thank you for your help yesterday, by the way.”

“You’re very welcome. That poor boy has been all over the place about you, young lady, so don’t you mess him around now, will you?”

I did the Girl Guide salute. “I promise.”

I knew I never would. Because in total honesty, and as scary as it was, I couldn’t even imagine myself looking at another person ever again. This man filled my entire mind to the brim, leaving no room for anything else, no capacity for anyone but him.

“Good.” With a shaky hand, Agnes poured the tea into a flowery cup, the crazed porcelain wobbling noisily against the saucer.

“How are you feeling?” Taking the teapot, I took over being mother, and Agnes sat heavily on the wooden bench.

“Tired, Hannah,” she replied, her voice and the slump of her shoulders confirming the sentiment.

“Do you need help with anything?” Stirring in a lump of sugar and adding milk, I handed her the first cup. “Teddy and I can do bits with the goats or help with the garden? Give you a break for a bit?”

She looked defiant for a moment, and I recognised that expression, that need to be self-sufficient. I understood the desire to be independent and the refusal to ask for help in case it was construed as a sign of weakness. But then it fizzled away, replaced by dejection, and she nodded almost in defeat. And my heart broke a little bit for her.

Opening the packet of shortbread biscuits, I handed her one and then took one for myself, dunking it in my tea and savouring the sweet butteriness.

“Teddy is such a worrier, Agnes. He wants to keep an eye on you. I’ve told him that you’re a tough old bat and don’t need us to interfere, but if you could just appease him, it would get him out of my hair and I’d be grateful.”

Agnes laughed.

“A tough old bat, huh?” It was my turn to nod and she sighed. “You are so like my late sister. She’d have said exactly the same thing. Fine, I’ll do it. But only for Teddy.”

“What are you doing for me?” He said, reappearing through the hole in the hedge, looking a bit shifty.

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