Page 32 of Falling in Love at Pennycress Inn

‘Who is it?’ Nicola mouthed as she stood up.

Laura glanced quickly over her shoulder before looking back and mouthing, ‘The farmer.’

Charlie? A sweep of heat rushed to her cheeks as she remembered the moment in the street earlier. His hand touching hers… She shook her head. It didn’t mean anything. The guy blew hot and cold more frequently than a blowtorch. In fact, he’d more than likely resumed his grumpy demeanour by now. She glanced at her watch. She’d been back at Pennycress for over three hours now, plenty of time for him to regulate his emotions again.

Standing up, she walked across to the doorway into the hallway, Laura giving her a look as she moved past her which said she wanted to know all the details once he’d gone. Nicola nodded slightly at her before turning to Charlie, who was standing by the reception desk. ‘Hi.’

‘Hey, I just wanted to pop by and check if everything was okay after your… err… chat with whoever that guy was.’ He glanced down at the oak floorboards beneath his feet before meeting her eyes.

‘Ah, yes. Sorry about that.’ She smiled. This was unexpected. She hadn’t seen this side to him before. Yes, he’d helped her after her fall and he’d fixed up her bike, but now he’d gone out of his way to pop by and check on her. And he almost looked nervous with it, too. Slipping behind the reception desk, Nicola picked up a pen, twisting it through her fingers. ‘You were lucky enough to meet my delightful ex.’

‘Nice.’ He nodded slowly, a look of confusion sweeping across his features.

Shifting on her feet, Nicola watched as he rubbed the back of his neck. She knew there wasn’t anything between them. The hand holding and the hugs, well, that had just been it, just someone helping someone out, reassuring her and getting caught up in the moment. She might have even forced it. What if he’d wanted to let go, and she’d just stood there, frozen to the spot? She swallowed. She’d let her thoughts run away with her. What would someone like Charlie want with her, anyway? And if he had, even for a slight second, wanted something more, Nathan had just put the dampeners on that.

‘Are you okay, though?’ He placed his hands on the desk between them.

Forcing a tight smile, Nicola nodded. She tried to fill her voice with more hope than she felt. She hadn’t heard from Nathan since the altercation, so she presumed he’d either slunk back to Kerry or else was sleeping on a friend’s sofa. Wherever he was there was one thing she was certain about though and that was she wouldn’t be letting him back into the cottage. No chance. ‘Yes, all good, thanks. Hopefully, he won’t be back round again.’

He grinned. ‘That’s good then. In that case, I wondered if I could ask you to help me with something this evening at the farm?’

Nicola widened her eyes. What could she possibly help him with? Did he think that because she was born and bred here in the countryside, she knew one end of a plough from the other? ‘You want me to help you with something?’

‘Yes. I’ve had an idea – probably a really stupid one – but I thought I’d give it a shot, anyway.’ He looked down and picked at a loose thread on his checked flannel shirt.

Tilting her head, Nicola smiled. He was nervous. ‘Go on then, what is it? And just for the record, I very much doubt it’s a stupid idea.’

Looking across at her, he caught her eye and smiled. ‘You’ve not heard it yet.’

‘Well, don’t keep me in suspense. Tell me!’ She placed the pen back in the pot and leaned forward slightly, willing him to come out and tell her what it was he needed help with. She certainly couldn’t imagine any idea of his to be daft. He worked in the city and was now basically running a farm – a skill he hadn’t had up until a few months ago.

‘Okay.’ Taking a deep breath, he stood slightly back and shoved his hands in his pockets, a stance she could imagine he would take when addressing his colleagues in the city. Of course, the faded flannel shirt was a stark contrast to the suits she guessed he wore to work, which gave him an adorable edge.

She leaned back quickly as she felt a jolt of surprise. She’d thought of him as adorable. Charlie. Adorable. She held the pads of her forefinger and thumb against her temples as though she were trying to soothe a headache. Headache or not, something wasn’t right.

‘I would like to take a recording of the farm, a snapshot of life at Little Mead, so to speak. Just something to pass down to any family I may or may not have in the future.’

Nicola felt a warmth in her chest. Charlie was a good person. No, he wasn’t keeping the farm, but he still wanted his uncle’s legacy and hard work to live on, even if that was only through a screen. ‘Oh, I think that’s a wonderful idea.’

‘You do?’ He stepped back to the counter, laying his fingers on the desktop.

‘Absolutely! I know you don’t want to move and live on the farm, but the video will be a reminder of what your uncle and your ancestors before him achieved.’ She reached out and touched the soft material of the shirt covering his arm. ‘It’s a really lovely idea.’

‘Thanks. So, I just wondered – if you’re free, of course – if you’d be able to come and play at being my cinematographer?’

‘Ha, I’ve no idea what one of them is, but I’m guessing it’s the person holding the camera, in which case, yes, I’d love to.’ Pulling her hand away, she smiled. ‘I can pop over after work if you want to get it done soon?’

‘Yes, that would be perfect. I’ll pick you up though, it will save you cycling.’

‘Oh, you don’t have to do that. I’m happy cycling.’ Nicola grinned. She was actually looking forward to this, a chance to explore the farm, but more specifically the opportunity to spend more time with Charlie.

17

Sticking her foot down, Nicola rested the bike against her and leaned her arms on the handlebars. Why had she refused a lift to Little Mead? If she hadn’t, she’d have been travelling in Charlie’s air-conditioned truck right now rather than huffing and puffing up the hill towards the farm. She lifted her arm and sniffed, relieved that despite the summer heat, her antiperspirant was holding up.

Nicola looked ahead again. She didn’t have far. Well, not too far anyway, not for someone used to riding a bike or doing any exercise above walking to work or the village centre.

She took a deep breath in and began pedalling again. There was one thing she might end up being grateful to Nathan for – and that was saying something – and that would be her getting fit. Although she was still kicking herself for not accepting Charlie’s offer of a lift. However much she liked the idea of cycling, even after her accident, the reality was very different.

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