Page 121 of Rough Around the Hedges

Oh.

That was playing dirty.

OLIVER: I have to go. Enjoy your sunshine and fresh air while I’m stuck in an office meeting with eight old codgers in suits, won’t you?

ME: I’ll send you pics all afternoon.

OLIVER: I’m only interested if you’re in them.

ME: Aren’t you afraid you’ll miss me more?

OLIVER: Half-tempted to cancel my business and come back to see you, to be honest.

ME: You should be more responsible than that. If you’re not a big fancy CEO, how can I call you Mr Fancypants?

OLIVER: Been a while since I’ve heard that.

ME: Didn’t you have to go?

OLIVER: Yeah. Luke is about to break down my door.

ME: If I lie and tell you I miss you, will you go?

My phone rang as soon as the marked turned green to show the message had been read, and I almost dropped it in shock. “What are you doing?”

Oliver’s deep chuckle resonated down the line. “If you’re going to say that, I had to hear it for myself.”

I snorted, sitting back on the bench and crumpling up my empty sandwich packet. “Keep dreaming, Mr Fancypants. I wasn’t going to say those three words.”

“What were you doing to say, then? C’mon, princess, don’t keep me waiting. I’m a busy man.”

“Not too busy to torment me,” I shot back, looking up at the rare cloudless sky above. “All right, I’ll admit it. I wish you were here.”

“That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“If you were here, you’d get to see how much fun we’re all having as we band against you. You’d realise we’re all going to hate you forever and ever and ever, and I’d absolutely make you a part of that game where the kids are currently throwing water balloons at their teacher’s faces.”

“Hmm,” he mused, his hum sounding lower than usual through the phone. “You mean like those boards where they stick their heads through? Like guillotines?”

“That’s it. I’d have everyone from Hanbury line up and absolutely pelt you with water balloons. Kind of a shame you’re not a part of it.”

“You really do miss me, don’t you?”

I smiled, my gaze following a bird as it swooped across the sky. “It’s such a great opportunity to make your life hell for a few hours.”

“I’m sorry I’m missing it,” he replied, amusement tinging his tone, and I just knew he was smiling.

One of those great big smiles that made his eyes twinkle and my heart flutter.

“Yeah,” I said softly. “Me, too.” I paused. “I would have loved seeing you try to get the goats under control.”

“I’m sure you’d love to video it and use it against me for the rest of my life.”

“Just your life? I’ll take it to the afterlife.”

“Where you’ll finally flirt with me?”

“Boy, you really need to find you a therapist, Your Grace.”

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