Page 30 of Perfect

His next words made my breathing jerk.

“I know you want me to fuck you Harlow, but it isn’t going to happen. You’re a Daddy’s girl and I don’t deflower virgins.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but the sound of a vehicle dragged me out of my trance. It was like someone had thrown cold water over us and I raised my other hand and pushed against his chest, panicked that someone would see us. He released me and stepped back of his own accord, glancing over his shoulder as Marcus, the vet I had met the other day drove into the yard, spraying pebbles.

My knees wobbled and I shakily brushed my hands against my hair to straighten back any unruly bits. Frustrated at the interruption. My ponytail must have been in tatters.

Connor turned back to face me, stroking his hand down his firm chin, like he was contemplating something again.

His eyes met mine and my stomach knotted.

“This isn’t over,” I told him, straight to his face. I now had his full attention as he dropped his arm and his fingers curled into fists.

That sweet, sensual connection that had bound us was broken and although he attempted to appear unaffected, I could see he was battling with himself.

“It never even started Harlow. You need to stay away from me. I don’t play these types of games with little, inexperienced girls. Go practice on someone your own age,” his words were softly spoken but I recognised a hint of regret.

I opened my mouth to say something but what? Confusion and hurt raced around my head. He must have seen I was upset, as his face started to soften but then Marcus’s voice broke in between us.

“Con, you have a heifer down in field four. Clive just called.” Marcus’s voice was business-like and Connor turned to face him. His back was broad and well-muscled and I threw a couple of invisible darts at it, now feeling totally mugged off.

I stood there for a few minutes and my eyes narrowed as I watched the two men talking about an issue with a cow. A cow God’s sake! It was like I wasn’t even there.

Tutting, I slid past them with a full-on pout, I needed to be alone to lick my wounds.

As I entered the house, I almost ran into dad who was on his way out, concern etched into his face. No doubt to do with the bloody cow.

He sidestepped me so we didn’t bump into each other. “Sorry darling. Everything OK?” he said with a trace of concern. He could probably see from my body language that I was pissed off.

As I carried on walking, I glanced over my shoulder.

“Fine. Absolutely fine.” My tone must have said the exact opposite.

“Good stuff,” he chimed before marching out towards the other two men who were now walking determinedly to the car.

As I mounted the stairs toward my room, I felt thoroughly annoyed with myself. Was I that mentally naïve? Had I totally read the situation wrong and just made a complete fool of myself, it certainly felt that way.

Maybe Connor was just toying with me, he acted like a dick towards me most of the time.

I exhaled noisily. I’d travelled here, hating the guy and had planned on staying away from him and now I appeared to be chasing him? WTF was wrong with me? My head needed to have a few words with my libido it seemed.

As I threw myself backwards onto my bed, I must have spent the next hour replaying the whole bloody event in my head.

Eventually, I was finally given closure as I dozed off, my head at last free from thoughts of my desperate behaviour and annoying, unpredictable boys.

Six

It was a colossal relief that the rest of the week passed by without any major boy drama. I was still feeling ashamed of myself for flirting with Connor.

During those awkward moments when we bumped into each other, we exchanged the occasional ‘hi’, or at least I did. Connor ejected more of a preoccupied grunt than a word.

Over the last couple of days, I’d spent more one one-on-one time with my father, which was cool. Our relationship was gradually becoming stronger and I felt relaxed and fulfilled in his company.

On Saturday evening after supper, Dad and I chilled out in his study again and listened to old David Bowie records.

The majority of our conversations were either about school or farm-related subjects, which was safe. Discussions about my mother always made me feel a bit uncomfortable.

Dad also raised the matter of my birthday and asked if there was anything specific that I would like. I had thought long and hard, but there was nothing I needed really. What did you buy the girl who had everything? Thinking about my birthday reminded me of what Connor had alluded to at the train station. Maybe he was right and I had been spoiled in the past. After much reflection, I asked dad for a surprise but with an added stipulation that he wasn’t to go mad.

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