Page 27 of Rough Around the Hedges

What part of her soul was she even trying to soothe?

“On second thought, ask her if she’d like me to book her anywhere else,” I said, rubbing my chin. “Perhaps letting her come to Hanbury and meet Rose wouldn’t be the best idea, lest they both end up in a time out in a jail cell.”

Luke paused. “Good idea. There’s every chance she’d side with Rose over you.”

“Well, she does like getting under my skin.”

“That’s because she thinks you’re a lot like your grandfather.”

“Don’t make me issue you a written warning for misconduct, Lucas.”

He laughed, backing up towards the door. “Please accept this humble servant’s ardent apology, Your Grace—”

“Get out of my office,” I said, clenching my jaw. “Before I punch you.”

“Yes, sir.” He touched his fingers to his temple in a salute. “Should I have Rose come here to meet you tomorrow, then?”

“If you can. Sometime between twelve and two, preferably, because I think we’ll need a while to talk.”

He nodded his head. “All right. I’ll call her back now and let her know. Do you need anything else?”

“No. And thanks, Luke.”

He closed the door behind him, and I sighed, turning back to the window. I hadn’t been back to this place in twenty years, but somehow, it was still just as I’d remembered it. My grandfather had never liked change, and that had been a major point ofcontention between us. My father, too, had wanted to change things before he’d died, and I couldn’t begin to count how many times Grandpa had threatened to disinherit us over it.

But things had to change. This estate couldn’t keep running the way it was. His sentimentality was affecting every part of it even with him gone, and with renovations needed on the manor house, there was only so long this could go on for.

The easiest way to raise funds was to sell off some of the land with the highest value. Unfortunately, the current site of the allotments was one of those plots. Its proximity to the village centre meant it was highly coveted for new housing, and developers were willing to pay over the odds.

Given my reluctance to put my own money into this old estate, it was a good deal all around.

One thing was for sure: I couldn’t leave this to my future son in its current state. I couldn’t leave such a mess for my descendants.

I wasn’t my grandfather.

Another thing that was for sure was the lunacy of crossing paths with Rose Matthews, the woman who’d escaped my hotel room without a word while I showered. Never in my life had anyone run away immediately after sleeping with me.

Then again, I wasn’t someone who usually engaged in one-night stands, so I don’t suppose any of my previous partners had a need to do such a thing.

Not that I’d expected her to hang around all night, but to sneak out when I was in the shower shortly after was a low blow. After all, we hadn’t even exchanged names. We knew nothing about one another except that we’d both had a tough day and needed to blow off steam.

She was a layer of complication I hadn’t anticipated when I’d arrived in Hanbury. What were the chances that she would be the woman I’d looked for? I’d tried asking about her at the bar the next day, but the girl behind the bar at the time hadn’t known her, so I assumed she wasn’t a local.

Well, she wasn’t.

Not to that pub.

I just hadn’t expected to find her local to me.

And… I liked her. I’d been attracted to her the moment I’d seen her, and even though I hadn’t set out to seduce her, we’d gotten along so well, and she’d been so forward and free that everything had happened naturally.

Not that any of that mattered right now.

Regardless of the time we spent together, it was evident that Rose Matthews hated me.

I didn’t care.

I wasn’t here to be liked, and I certainly didn’t care to be liked by a woman who’d humped and dumped me as efficiently as she had. If that was how she lived her life, then that was perfectly all right—and I’d never admit that I was concerned about her getting back to her own hotel safely. After all, we’d both had several drinks, and I’d have at least made sure that she got into a taxi if she hadn’t made a break for it.

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