Page 41 of The Allotment on Willow Tree Lane

When he caught sight of her, he began to laugh. ‘You look as though you’ve been having a wallow in that thing,’ he chuckled. ‘You’re covered in ash.’

‘You can talk,’ she shot back. He had dirt streaks all over his face, arms and neck. Thankfully he had put his T-shirt back on a while ago, so she could only imagine the state of his chest.

Yeah, she could imagine just fine… and her heart fluttered at the memory of him without his top on.

‘We both need a shower,’ he said, and she smirked when he realised how it sounded and blustered, ‘Not together, you understand. I meant—’ He broke off when she burst out laughing.

She was laughing purely to hide the image his comment had conjured, of Damon and her with water sluicing over their naked bodies, limbs entwined…

Ceri blew out a breath. Dear God, she didn’t think she could take any more of this. She certainlydidneed a shower – a freezing cold one!

To cover her discomfort, she glanced up at the sky, taking in the position of the sun. It would be a few hours before it set, but she guessed it was either very late afternoon or early evening. Time she went home for that shower and some food.

‘We’ve done a good day’s work,’ she said, gathering her backpack from the porch where she had left it. ‘Thanks for the compost.’

‘Thanks for the help with the drive. And for the picnic.’ He paused, staring at her. ‘How about I make us some dinner?’

‘I need a shower,’ she reminded him. The offer was tempting, though.

‘You can have one here.’

No, no, not a good idea. Not unless he was going to hop into it with her. She swallowed, her mouth dry. ‘I need clean clothes.’

‘Fair enough. But will you come back? I owe you for your help today. I think I got the better end of the bargain.’

‘You don’t owe me anything,’ she protested.

‘Even so, will you let me make you dinner anyway?’

‘It depends,’ she hedged. She wanted this. She wantedhim. But maybe having dinner with Damon after she had spent all day in his company wasn’t wise.

‘On what?’

‘What you are going to cook.’

‘A chicken stir fry, with salad?’

‘Sounds good.’ Her tummy rumbled. ‘OK, thanks. I’d like that. I’ll be back in half an hour. Do you want me to bring anything?’

‘Just yourself,’ he replied, and the way he gazed at her made her think that maybe hewasinterested in her after all.

Chapter 11

Damon never would have thought that a woman covered in smoky ash could be so darned cute. He hadn’t wanted her to leave, he hadn’t wanted the day to end, so offering to cook dinner for her was the only thing he could think of to entice her to stay. But why did he have to make that ridiculous comment of them both needing a shower, and then make it worse as he tried to dig himself out of it by explaining that he hadn’t meant for them to take a shower together?

Although, as he soaped himself down and rinsed off the evidence of today’s hard work, his treacherous mind imagined her in there with him and he quickly turned the temperature down to cold until his ardour was well and truly cooled. Skin tingling, he towelled himself dry and hastily got dressed. He had a meal to prepare.

‘I’ve brought the wine,’ Ceri announced, after ringing the doorbell and walking into the kitchen.

‘I’ve got some, there wasn’t any need to bring your own,’ he said, opening a packet of chicken fillets.

‘This is chilled.’

‘So is mine.’

‘I’m not doubting your word, but I didn’t see any in the fridge when I made the coffee.’

‘It’s in the cellar.’

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