“Anyway, seeing as you’ve asked, I don’t think my hands can take another round of cleaning.” She looked at the dryness of her fingers and palms, the bleach having taken its toll on her reddened skin. Unable to find a decent scrubber anywhere, she’d had no choice but to resort to good old chemical warfare. “It’s like painting the Golden Gate Bridge keeping on top of this place.”
“I can see why.” Nate glanced up at the building.
“And I’m going to have to do it all over again once they’ve finished filming.” Flick paused. “Consider yourself invited, by the way.”
“Parties aren’t my thing.”
“Parties are everyone’s thing.”
“Not mine.”
Flick ignored his adamant tone. “But what if I said I wanted you to come?” She saw his eyes light up at her question and for a second, she thought he might change his mind.
“Honestly, I’ll be far happier at home with Rufus. Mingling with a bunch of people I have no interest in isn’t really my idea of fun.”
Admittedly, Flick felt disappointed and an awkward silence descended. But rather than taking this as his cue to head off, Nate seemed to be waiting for her to fill the quiet. Flick wondered if she should invite him in, but as she was about to do just that, he turned to leave and the moment passed.
“I’ll let you get back to it then,” he said, making his way towards to his van.
Flick’s disappointment continued. Although with so much to do, she supposed his departure was for the best.
“Unless you fancy a couple of hours off,” he suddenly called back.
Despite still having a long list of jobs, Flick couldn’t deny that she felt more than a tad tempted. Regardless of their dodgy beginnings, she enjoyed spending time with Nate. And having scrubbed the chateau, first for the viewing and then for the video shoot, she had to admit that a break from the housework was just what she needed. “What do you have in mind?”
“What if I said it’s a surprise?”
Flick’s face fell. She didn’t like surprises.
“You don’t have to look so worried. It’s something you’ll enjoy.”
She reminded herself that she was supposed to be forging a new future in France, one that embraced life, not one that shied away from it. Whatever Matthew had done to her was in the past, his actions certainly shouldn’t prevent her from enjoying the present. After all, not every surprise was bad and she only had to look at the chateau for proof of that. Flick’s smile returned. “It sounds wonderful.”
“Great.” Nate stepped forward again.
Flick’s shoulders slumped as she remembered her prior engagement. “I’ve just realised, Jess is meant to be calling round. She wants us to okay her cuisine before finalising the menu for the shoot.”
Nate laughed. He obviously didn’t see a problem. “Have you sampled Jess’s food before?”
“Have I.” Flick’s mouth salivated at the mere thought.
“Then you know that whatever she makes it’s going to be good. Besides, I’m sure your mum would be happy to step into the breach.”
Flick thought back to all the other food-tasting sessions. She hadn’t been the only one to tuck in with gusto, her mother had wholeheartedly thrown herself into them too. “And with me out of the way I suppose it’s only more for her to enjoy.”
“Exactly.”
“Which means when you think about it, having a couple of hours off would be doing her a favour.” Flick responded to Nate’s growing smile with one of her own. “Sold. Let me get my coat,” she said, before turning to head back indoors.
“And you’ll need your wellies!” Nate called out.
27
As expected, Brenda was more than pleased to take full responsibility for sampling Jess’s fayre, leaving Flick to escape the pressures of the video shoot for a short while. Closing the front door behind her, bag and coat in hand, Nate had already started the van’s engine by the time she returned.
“Ready?” he asked, as she opened the passenger door and climbed in.
“I most certainly am.”
