Page 137 of Rough Around the Hedges

So, could someone tell my heart that? Because that thing was racing like a madman.

I stepped out of his grip, shoving his hands away. “I concede defeat.”

“How very mature of you.”

“Next time, I won’t make the same mistake.” I sniffed, looking away. “I cannot allow this attack on me to go unpunished.”

His lips curved to one side. “I will be shaking in fear until you retaliate.”

“As you should be. Now, why are you here?”

His eyes sparkled. “I’m here to see my favourite person, of course.”

I motioned to Susan. “Susan is over there. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m busy. Flirt with an older woman on your own time.”

“I didn’t know you were older than me.”

I flinched and glared at him. What was he saying so openly? In front of other people?

“Oh, my.” Susan fanned herself, drawing everyone’s attention. “You’re here to flirt with me, Your Grace? Well, that’s the best compliment I’ve had in years.” She looped her arm through his and gave him a subtle tug towards her plot. “If you’d like to do it properly, how about you take off that shirt of yours and do some hauling about on my plot? I’ve got some soil bags I need loading into my car, and you look like a strong lad.”

Oliver was whisked away into next door’s plot before he could say a word. He didn’t seem to resist at all, and a flash of realisation crossed my mind.

Had Susan just… helped me?

If she had, I was in trouble.

Big, big trouble.

29

ROSE

The Way We Feel

“What do you want?”

Oliver leant against my beloved Ramona, arms folded across his chest, gaze laser-focused on me. “To see you. That was my plan before Susan roped me in to being her errand boy for the afternoon.”

“You saw me,” I replied, unlocking my van and throwing my bag in the passenger seat. “You tricked me, remember?”

“Hm, did I trick you, princess? Or did I just play you at your own game?”

I stared at him. “I think I preferred it when you were in London.”

“Why? Have I been distracting you?”

“What? While you’ve been gardening and carrying heavy shit around, shirtless? No, you’ve not drawn my attention at all.” I slammed the door and stepped back. “Why are you still here?”

“I told you already. I want to see you.”

I motioned from my head to my toes. “Take a good look, then let me go home.”

“Rose.”

“What?”

“Are you mad at me? Did I do something to upset you?”

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