Page 1 of The Chance
One
Ever had one of those mornings when you're running behind, only to jump into the car and find the fuel dial resting at empty? When an irritating beep and simultaneous flash of red light confirms you should’ve filled up the day before, but you squeeze the accelerator, hoping the half dribble clinging to the insides of the tank will be enough. Yeah, that's me today. I’d put it off countless times, finally accepting the engine needed more than fresh air. I had planned to fill it up on my way home from work yesterday, but as always, I had to work late. Then my dad phoned as I was leaving the office and asked me to pick up dinner on the way home. It was already ordered and waiting, so I drove home from the park and ride without refueling, thinking I would have plenty of time this morning.
Wrong! I hit snooze on my phone alarm app, I really did, or so I thought, but I actually swiped the damn alarm off instead. Bring back the good old-fashioned alarm clocks that were robust enough to chuck at a wall, yet they still let off a skull shattering siren that could raise the dead. Believe me, an extra twenty-five minutes in bed fucks up my whole morning schedule. It eats into my hair, make-up and outfit selection time. Nothing is worse than an ill-chosen work outfit with badly matched shoes. I couldn't possibly spare time for makeup application, or even hair grooming, but something had to give.
After my blissful extra snooze, I couldn't decide which skirt to wear, and then my curling wand decided to fuse. I pride myself on being the most organised person I know, but this morning I was a catastrophe of disarray, and I was going to be late for work. Which meant my new boss was going to freak the fuck out.
Diesel dripped on the forecourt when I yanked the pump nozzle, narrowly missing my sexy little tan court shoes. The guy at the till was going slower than slow, like a sloth on Sunday. I tapped my foot as he fumbled around with the buttons on the till like it was his first day on the job. It wasn't, I'd seen him behind this very counter many times, multiple times in fact. Today was probably his golden celebration of ten years in service, yet he was still taking his sweet time. He even had the cheek to sigh heavily when I set a packet of gum down at the last minute. If I wasn't running so late, I would've bounced across the counter and rang in my own damn gum, but that would have added more time to the ticking clock countdown.
With a flick of my wrist I waved goodbye to Slothy Steve. I thought that name up while I waited impatiently. Then I slammed down hard on the gas. Speeding along the road, I could see the big blue sign for the park and ride in the distance, any minute now my bus would be pulling up. Suddenly, the truck in front came to a stop. I hit the brakes, screeching to a halt and meeting the mother of all traffic jams. Okay, it was only a few cars deep, mainly a lorry and one car, but in my head, it seemed like a whole trail of cars keeping me back from my mission. I rolled down the window and peeked my head out. A herd of cattle pottered along the road, leisurely chewing grass as they went. No, this wasn't normal craic for a Friday morning on the only main road to my destination.
The lorry driver exited the truck cab and looked around like he wanted some help.
"Sweet Jesus, they're just cows," I muttered. The guy was flapping his arms about like he wanted to fly.
Unfastening my seat belt, I slid out of the car and teetered on towering heels towards a herd of five cows. There was a muddy lane a few yards down the road and thankfully no oncoming traffic. I knew this was a delay that would ultimately lead to the bus hurtling towards Belfast without me in it. Nonetheless, I had to clear the jam, and if I was being honest, I wanted to make sure the animals were safe. It would only take one tired driver in a lorry to ram the cows off the road like four legged skittles.
"We'll usher them into the lane," I yelled to the lorry driver, who nodded back as his arms flailed.
With a little gusto we managed to steer the skittish cattle into the opening and down the mucky lane. The overnight rain had settled in potholes, reflecting the sunlight on the surface like a montage of mirrors. It was awkward as hell in a tight knee length skirt and stilettos, but I managed to complete the task without falling into a mound of cow crap.
"We need to get them further down the lane, so they don't come back up again." I turned around to my helper, only to watch him scuttle away like a rat. He heaved his ballooned body into the cab and slammed the door shut. Yeah, he tossed the baton of responsibility and it landed at my pointed shoes.
"Asshole!" I shrieked.
How could I go anywhere until the cows were secured in a barn or even a field? So, I did what any animal lover would do, I shooed them further down the lane towards the little farmhouse. Hooves trotted and skidded over uneven gravel until the cattle reached an extensive concrete yard surrounded by breeze block barns topped with corrugated iron. A dog barked, metal clanked, and a gruff exclamation came from the barn to my left. "What the hell?"
A surge of prickles gathered on my scalp and hurtled down my spine as a shaggy haired male in navy blue overalls and black Wellington boots marched through the scattered cows. "What's all this?"
I didn't realise I was staring, or more specifically gawking, until he cleared his throat. I mean, whose eyeballs wouldn't stick to a man with piercing blue eyes and a mass of wavy liquorice coloured hair that tumbled over his forehead and kissed his long dark lashes. He was tall and manly, unpolished and brawny, but the inquisitive look he dished out wasn't exactly welcoming.
"Are these your cows?" My tongue dried up and my lungs felt all tight and breathless. He was spectacular. “They were having a morning stroll on the main road, holding up the traffic and making me late for work."
"They might be mine." He just stood there trailing his eyes over my inappropriate attire, right down to my wobbly ankles. "You brought them down here in that get up?" From nowhere a long-haired dog pranced to his side and sat at his work boots.
I hummed a soft laugh, dizzy from his not so discreet once over. "As I said, I'm on my way to work. Can I leave them with you now?"
My eyes widened subtly when the most enticing lips I’d ever seen parted. "Sure." He added with a slow drawl.
I had this sudden visualisation of my tongue skating across his velvety lips and it made me all jittery and hot. Inhaling a shaky breath, I let it puff out my cheeks on its way out. "Great. Okay. Bye then."
The dog stood when a cow ambled past us. "Have a nice day, city girl.” He offered me a flirtatious wink. “Thanks for taking the time to help. The cows appreciate it.” He had this edgy baritone that hooked my attention on every word, until he stopped speaking. Then it was just munching and bird song and heifer snorting. Nothing that compared to his bassy rumble.
A girly giggle bubbled from my throat making me sound like a giddy idiot. "City girl? Think you've got me all worked out, don't you?"
Large dirty hands rested on narrow hips and his intense gaze held mine in a standoff. "You walk like a city girl, talk like a city girl and dress like city girl..." An eyebrow hitched up.
"So, I must be... a city girl. Your logic is first class." I winced when bulky arms folded across his broad chest and his posture shifted with a confident roll of his shoulders.
"Can I give you a ride to work?" he asked without expression.
Nodding my head sideways, I beckoned to the country lane I just mastered, in office wear. "My car is on the road. I need to be at work in the next half an hour. I don't think a tractor will get me there on time." I threw him a playful smirk.
The corners of his mouth quirked and the colour of his eyes brightened like the bluest summer sky. "Tractors are for work, not play."
I nervously fiddled with the tips of my caramel coloured hair that fell just below my rib cage. "Well, you can't help a girl for thinking a farm guy drives a John Deer."
A sly grin reached his lashes. "A farm guy? I guess I dress like one, huh?"
