Page 14 of Rough Around the Hedges

Oh.

Oh, no.

I was in trouble. Big trouble.

Why, you ask? Well, that was because I knew the handsome, rich gentleman standing in front of me.

I knew those slightly widening dark blue eyes. I knew that rich brown hair, that chiselled jaw, and those broad shoulders. I knew those bow-shaped lips that were currently curling themselves into a smirk of recognition.

Yes.

His face was very familiar to me.

Two weeks ago, I’d sat on it and ridden it like a feral jockey.

There were six billion people in this world. Why the hell was the new duke the guy I wham, bam, thank you ma’am’d two weeks ago?

Literally.

I’d never fucked and run in my life, but I’d done just that with this man. I hadn’t given him my name or my number, nor had I taken his. In fact, the only thing I’d left behind was a hairband, and that was only because he’d been in the shower when I’d made my great escape, and I couldn’t retrieve it without being a giant pervert.

And really, more fool me. The man’s body was a work of art.

Goddamn it. This wasn’t the time or place for such reveries.

“Holy shit,” Isa stage whispered to Susan from behind me. “He’s so handsome even the great ice queen has been silenced.”

“Shut your mouth,” I snapped over my shoulder, quickly turning back to the new duke. I plastered a smile on my face. “Rose Matthews. Head of the allotment committee.”

Mr Wham, Bam, Thank You Ma’am stepped forwards and clasped my hand in his, coming a little too close for comfort. “It’s nice to meet you, Rose,” he said, lowering his dumb, handsome face closer to mine. “Do you have a sister?”

I blinked. “A brother.”

“Hmm. Strange. You look an awful lot like the young lady I met in this area two weeks ago.” His lips curved into a dirty smile.

You. Bastard.

That was his way of telling me he recognised me, wasn’t it?

“Well, I am somewhat of a local legend, so perhaps someone has taken inspiration from my style,” I said. “It is rather iconic.”

Oliver’s gaze roved over my face, and my cheeks heated under his scrutiny. “Does that include the mud smeared all over your face, or is that an extra just for today’s meeting?”

“That’s called war paint around here. You’ll get your turn to don the uniform if you pass your hazing.” I slipped my hand out of his and stepped back to put some distance between us. “Well, I’d love to say it was nice to meet you, but I’m no liar. Thank you for your time, Mr de Havilland.”

His eye twitched at my form of address.

Good.

“Miss Matthews, I didn’t come here just to see the allotment site.” He reached into his jacket and pulled out an envelope. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t arrive in time to deliver this at the committee meeting last week, so I apologise for the lateness.”

I took the envelope and narrowed my eyes at him. “What is this?”

He nudged open my gate with his hip, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and peered back at me over his shoulder. “The closure notice for Hanbury Allotments.”

4

ROSE

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