He was also a bloody good worker.
“Let’s talk about it after the clean up. That might put us all off doing this ever again.” Jake turned around to look behind him, hearing feet that hit the ground in familiar manner.
Lainey Green was wearing a yellow sundress that stopped just above her knees, the breeze blowing the hem about her thighs. She looked like sunshine and horse rides by a river.
“The village is full of cars passing through. Gran’s selling gin by the road.” Her eyes glittered with laughter. “And a camper van with people dressed as the characters inScooby Doojust turned up.”
Jake smiled at her, wishing to hell that he could pull her in close to him. He’d teased his cousins and Jonny about how they couldn’t keep their hands off their significant others, and then always felt slightly miffed when they didn’t argue back.
Now he understood why.
For too many years, Jake had thrived off being single, of being free of any ties and independent. He’d travelled, climbed, partied on beaches in Bali and spent a couple of winters skiing in the Alps. He had the farm and the town and his family, but the farm could be overseen by his team, the town was always there when he got back, and his family never left, no matter where in the world he’d been.
Lainey Green was a home-bird. He knew that from the moment he met her. She wanted to plant roots that would run deep and never be disturbed. Since she’d moved to Severton she’d been to see her family in London once, and he’d heard her talk about how she only slept well when she was in her own bed.
Or his, it seemed.
He’d stay here in Severton for her. He might try and persuade her to take a vacation somewhere exotic, where she could wear a bikini, which might be more for his pleasure than hers. Then he’d bring her back home.
One of the bands started to run through a set, the amps set too loud and screeching, which stopped the conversation about Scooby Doo for a moment. They walked around the yurts, some of them already occupied, some waiting for their guests to arrive. There was space for a car to park next to each, and there was one car that was catching more than a few eyes: a blacked out SUV that’d probably cost as much as renovating Jake’s farmhouse had.
“Who’s that?” Lainey frowned. “Shouldn’t they be in the VIP area?”
“It’s one of Alex’s friends. He wanted a last-minute place for the festival.” Drew O’Malley wasn’t someone Jake came across in everyday life, and Jake didn’t feel any great loss because of that. The guy was some sort of ex-gangster and Jake wasn’t sure if the ex part was accurate. He hadn’t asked Alex for any more details though. He didn’t want or need them.
Lainey nodded, smiling at the little girl who came running out of the yurt, a tall, swarthy looking man following her, and a woman with indigo hair walking after him with a bored look on her face.
“Morning, Indy.” Jake gave the indigo woman a salute. “Sleep okay?”
Indy smiled back, looking highly amused. “Me and Helene did. Drew – not so much.”
“What did you do?” Jake knew the two of them didn’t get along for some reason. They had wanted separate yurts but only one had been available. Alex had looked a little concerned about that, but Jake hadn’t asked why. These problems often resolved themselves.
Indy shook her head. “Probably best you don’t know. Helene – your water pistol’s here!” The last bit was yelled, the little girl dashing back to Indy while her father froze and looked exasperated.
“I think we should move on,” Marv said. “If you ever give me the choice between children or animals…”
Lainey laughed. “Kids aren’t that bad.”
Marv raised a brow. “I have three. Triplets, and no, I’m not joking. I’ve seen that look on them, the same one that little girl has now, and I hid for the rest of the day.”
There was another giggle that made Jake want to hold her again. He stuffed his hands into his pockets.
“Outnumbered,” she said. “I’ve put the alpacas in my field with the horses, by the way.”
Jake felt her attention on him. He gave her a nod, pushed his hand through his hair. “Thank you. I was worried about them wandering through the campsites.”
“I know. They’ll be fine until this is over. You also had a shit ton of wood delivered. It’s in my yard near the spare barn. It’s fine for whenever.”
“Thanks. I forgot that was coming today. It’s for the new stables.” He kicked himself for having missed the delivery.
She shrugged, her hand rubbing his bicep which did make him feel a bit better. “I think you’re busy enough. What can I help with?”
Jake stopped walking. Marv had wandered off to speak to someone setting up the first aid tent. “Be with me tonight. Come see some of the bands.”
For a second, she hesitated, and he took a step back.
“No one is going to even ask why we’d be standing together, Laine. Everyone’s going to be high off the music or fuck knows what, and it’s a festival.”
