Page 17 of Perfect

“I agree although it was easy for me. My dad’s a vet and so it was kind of expected. Anyway, we’ll see if I ever graduate, I must say I struggle with the paperwork side of things.”

I imagined he was humouring me; his eyes were bright with intelligence. He was probably excellent at everything, especially as it was in his blood. Didn’t you need loads of qualifications to train to be a vet or something?

He leaned forward with a keen look on his face, dashing his hands across his thighs before asking. “So, sixteen?”

I paused for a moment, wondering whether to do the whole, ‘how old do you think I am’ thing but decided against it. I had briefly mentioned my age, but I knew I looked younger and if he said so, I wouldn’t have liked it. I decided not to put myself in that position. I was slight in height and baby-faced. It was another one of life’s frustrations. I could never get in the bars and stuff when my friends went.

I cleared my throat. “Almost seventeen—you?

His eyes widened; it was a telling sign that hehadthought me younger. “Twenty—twenty-one next month.”

So, he was the same age as Connor.

My shoulders slumped at the fact that I had misjudged his age. Was it wrong of me to feel disappointed that he was so much older than me? I had hoped there’d be more people around my own age. I didn’t want all the guys to view me like some type of kid.

He pushed a hand through his hair again, it was like a nervous tic but I grinned at the motion. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

“No, it’s just me,” I replied.

He scratched his perfectly shaven jaw; either that or he wasn’t at that whisker stage yet. He also looked younger than his age. “Lucky you. I have a sister, Ella. She’s just shy of nineteen and a huge pain in my arse.”

I raised my eyebrows in understanding and chuckled. Tom’s eyes brightened. He was obviously pleased I found him funny.

“What are you up to tonight?” From the intonation of his question, I had a feeling he was about to ask me out. I inhaled and pretended to play tonight’s plans in my head, it didn’t take long.

“Well, nothing really—just dinner with my dad.”

I was actually looking forward to a bit of quiet time and so I hoped he didn’t push it.

“Why don’t you come to the pub, I’ll introduce you around?”

There it was— as expected. His body language was so readable.

I faked thinking about it. It was a sweet offer and one that I would probably have accepted, had it not been my first night at the farm.

I constructed my reply and let him down gently with my usual amount of tact. “Another time maybe? I just got here and need to see my dad really.”

I didn’t want to scare him off and never receive another invitation. As he digested my words, I remembered dad saying that Connor went to the pub on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Knowledge of this would again have given me a second reason not to go; the thought of him putting me down in front of a pub full of people was not a pretty picture.

“No, that’s fine and makes total sense,” Tom replied jovially. At least I’d not burnt my bridges there.

“Tom!” a voice sounded in the distance.

“Ah, better go otherwise Marcus will shit a brick. Anyway, good to meet you at last and I’ll see you soon Harlow.” He dashed off with a fairly effeminate wave.

“I’ll look forward to it,” I threw out there. I sure hoped he was one of the good guys. I could see he was interested in me and I quite liked it. He appeared to be a pleasant, intelligent guy with an OK face. He also had a good sense of humour and absolutely no demons, well none that I could see through a first impression anyway.

I grinned, pretty much, perfect boyfriend material, if maybe a little on the safe side.

I pondered that thought; it would be fun to have a little light flirtation. Build back the armour that had been smashed down by my step-monster Connor.

I spent the next half an hour, walking around the farm, peering into an assortment of nooks and crannies. I also paid a quick visit to the sheep in the fields and an even quicker trip to the pig pens, the smell there was eyebrow-curling stuff.

After popping to the bathroom to wash my hands, I set off for dinner, thoroughly looking forward to spending some quality time with Dad.

Four

I sank onto the bedexhausted. My limbs felt heavy and the make-up I still wore felt like a face mask. I leaned over to the bedside table to retrieve some baby wipes, my eyes were gritty and I needed to clean my skin.

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