Page 22 of Finding Love at Roseford Blooms
‘Sarah,’ Simon replied, more than a trace of exasperation in his voice. ‘Is there a problem?’
‘You could say that.’ Sarah wore a serious expression, and for a horrible moment Lizzie thought she was going to call her out for dancing with her brother.
Stepping away from the other couples on the dance floor, Simon kept hold of Lizzie’s good hand, bringing her along with him to continue the conversation with his sister whether she liked it or not.
‘What’s happened? Is it Ma? The girls?’
Sarah shook her head. ‘That bugger Holmes got out of the garden again and he’s run off. Fleur, Elspeth and I have been searching for him, but we reckon he must be after a bitch. There’s no sign of him. I’ve sent the girls back to the house as it’s getting too dark for them to be searching around, but I was hoping you’d come and help me look.’
‘I told you to get him neutered, didn’t I?’ Simon snapped, sounding exasperated.
Sarah rolled her eyes. ‘He’s on the vet’s list for next week.’
‘Of course he is.’ Simon sighed. He turned back to Lizzie. ‘Look, I’m so sorry, Lizzie. I’m going to have to help Sarah look for this bloody dog.’
Lizzie squeezed his hand. ‘It’s fine. I’m not much good for dancing at the moment anyway.’
‘Can I, er, give you a ring?’
‘Of course.’
Sarah showed no sign of budging, so Lizzie resigned herself to being the one who had to leave first. A sharp spark of irritation surged through her at the way Sarah had just butted in and called a halt to such a wonderful moment, but Lizzie tried to hush it. It was just bad luck that the dog had escaped, after all.
‘Well, goodnight, then,’ Lizzie replied. ‘I’ll see you soon.’
‘Soon,’ Simon echoed. He looked as though he wanted to pick up where they’d left off, but one look from Sarah put paid to that.
As Lizzie headed back out of the marquee, she sighed in frustration. She and Simon had been having such a lovely time, and it had felt as though they’d begun moving towards something new, something rather lovely. And, just like that, his bloody sister had ruined it. It wasn’t the first time Sarah had had a hand in messing up a moment in Lizzie’s life.
20
An hour later, having walked back to Bee’s, Lizzie was just about to put the kettle on when her phone pinged.
Sorry about that. Bloody dog found and confined to barracks. Is it too late for another drink?
Lizzie smiled, her earlier irritation almost forgotten. She glanced at the clock, remembered she was an adult and texted back a quick response. Within thirty seconds of sending the text, there was a knock at the back door.
‘I was hoping you’d say that,’ Simon replied.
Lizzie burst out laughing. ‘And if I hadn’t?’
‘I’d have departed from your doorstep with my tail between my legs, much like Holmes now he’s back at Sarah’s!’
Simon had his hands in the pockets of his jeans and was leaning against the side of the porch, and as he looked up at her in a kind of faux-casual way, Lizzie couldn’t help the grin that spread across her face.
‘Well, how could I refuse such honesty?’ she said. ‘I’d invite you in for a cuppa, but Bee’s in the front room and I’m probably not allowed to take you to my bedroom, so what do you suggest?’
‘Are you up for a stroll back to my place?’ Simon asked. ‘I’ve got a bottle of wine in the fridge that I really shouldn’t drink alone, and I’m not sure I’m up for any more do-si-doing tonight.’
Lizzie smiled. ‘That sounds lovely.’ She still couldn’t shake the slightly unsettled feeling she had about going back to Roseford Hall, especially after having seen Sarah again, but, temporarily insulated by the heady emotions that getting closer to Simon had evoked, and desperate to see if they’d end up in the same situation again, she figured she could handle it. Grabbing her jacket from her room, and after popping her head around the door of the living room to let Bee know where she was going, she’d soon joined Simon outside.
‘Sorry I had to dash off,’ he said as Lizzie closed the door behind them. ‘I couldn’t really leave Sarah in the lurch looking for that blasted dog. She’d have been out all night.’
‘Understandable,’ Lizzie replied. They walked in step, heading back to Roseford Hall, and as Simon’s left hand brushed her right, she kept hoping he’d reach a little further and hold hers. The intimacy of the dance floor seemed to have dissipated a little, and she was keen to recapture that sensation.
The mildness of the night wrapped around them, and, feeling suddenly confident, Lizzie slid her hand into Simon’s the next time their fingers brushed. She felt Simon pause slightly, and he turned towards her.
‘That feels nice,’ he murmured. ‘I was, er, really enjoying dancing with you earlier.’
