‘There’s nothing to tell.’
‘OK, if that’s the way you want to play it, but if I can see it clear as day after being onsite for an hour or so, do you honestly think the children and parents are going to miss it, not to mention the cameras and a national television audience? No, don’t scrunch your face up like that, that doesn’t make it go away. Nope, neither does picking at that limp bit of salad and pretending I’m not here. All I’m saying is, as your friend, be very careful. Very careful indeed, because this show will raise the school’s profile massively.’
‘That’s why we’re doing it.’
‘I hadn’t finished! It will also probably make a star out of that man. He is ridiculously good-looking and from what I saw a natural with the children; they’re going to be swooning left, right and centre.’
‘Humpf!’
‘And you are going to be the grumpy old cow who shot him a really evil look as you arrived and for no apparent reason. Now which one is going to be vilified in the press? Rosy, I don’t know why you have a problem with him but you need to sort whatever this is out, and preferably before the cameras are rolling this afternoon.’
‘It’s complicated.’
‘Ha!’ It was a triumphant crow which received a suitably pitched Rosy scowl. ‘OK, so we’ve made progress, you’re no longer denying it. What has he done to you? Have you slept with him?’
Rosy watched a bit of lettuce launch from her mouth across the carpet.
‘I’ll take that as a no, then, but he wants to. Do you know, and this sounds big-headed but I’m not trying to be, I’m just stating fact, he didn’t look at me once, not once other than in a friendly nod kind of way. Not that I want him to,’ Katie hastily added, ‘but they normally do. But you, his eyes went a bit squishy when he looked at you, and then sad. Squishy and sad. You don’t stand a chance when that gets aired.’
‘Oh bloody hell.’
‘So, we’ve established he fancies you. In my very quick professional and untainted-by-rather-beautiful-arms assessment, I can’t see much wrong with him. He seems intelligent, hardworking and bloody decent, if his rapport with the kids is to be trusted – which it probably is. That’s the holy bloody triumvirate. Men like that are rare, let’s face it, so the question is, what’s wrong with you? Why the grumpy face?’
‘Thanks for that, Katie. Makes me feel piles better.’
‘Seriously, why did you shoot this man a look of pure evil as if you want to pull his fingernails off one by one?’
‘Because’ – Rosy’s voice came out unnaturally high – ‘he seems bloody lovely, but, oh I don’t know. I’m just being an arse. I behaved badly the other day, I’m embarrassed and I don’t think he deserved it, but I’m not sure. I think that’s why he got the daggers, guilt on my part, but I did try and rein it in. The truth is, I’m so confused. I think I was in the wrong but I just don’t know, it’s equally possible that I’m in the right, Seriously, Katie, you’re a professional – did you spot any signs of psychopathy or sociopathy this morning? Any glimmers at all? He has been showing all the signs of being keen, but he’s just everywhere, all over my life and in a really short timeframe. He lives next door, I get to see him all the time, him and his I’m-so-cute-and-look-I-have-a-bloody-lovely-dog-as-well smile and then if that’s not enough, he only wants to come along and save the school. I can’t get rid of him, he’s at my home, he’s now in my work and he seems to have taken up permanent residence in my bloody head. I can’t stop thinking about him and yet I know I can’t go anywhere near him. Apart from anything else my instincts are all out of kilter and now we seem to be working together. It’s confusing, frustrating and it just all makes me want to scream! So, yeah, I guess that’s why I may be shooting him looks, but I really do think it was just the one, and it was super quick.’
‘Hmmm, the only thing I can tell is something isn’t quite right here, and I’m not sure it’s because he lives next door. What you’re saying is a little bit chaotic and that’s not like you. I think this might be a case of you and me and the pub tonight! From what I saw, albeit briefly, this morning, I think there has been some stupid mix-up. Experience teaches us that communication is key. You know that. I know you know that. I suggest you start again. I’m no kind of love guru, my own private life is testament to that, but if I were you I’d hold fire on the evil looks, suck up the humiliation and try and play nice for the rest of the day. We can chat it out a bit more later, but right now I have to shoot, they’re waiting for me at Sanding Bridge school. I’ll catch up with you later – six? I’ll set the ball rolling re Bradley and I’ll see you later. Oh, and seriously, consider what I’ve said about overthinking, just let the day roll out the way it’s going to. Things are rarely as bad as we think they are.’
‘Yes, I know. Go on, out! I’ll see you in a bit and you can try and sort my head out. But I don’t fancy your chances!’
‘We’ll see.’ And Katie and her very knowing looks departed.
Chapter Thirty-Two
It was coming to the end of the day and Matt was exhausted, happy but exhausted. Actually scratch that, yes, he was both those things but baffled, he was very definitely baffled as well.
He looked up at Rosy, who was at that very minute working alongside the eldest children in the school, planting her first set of seeds in some soil. They were going to do experiments with successional sowing, some started early in the greenhouse, some later outside straight into the raised beds. She was making the most of her new tools as she was chatting to some of the kids, a great big beam on her face as they answered just as animatedly.
It was this Rosy that he had got to know over the last few weeks and it was this one that he had been strongly attracted to. He didn’t think he had ever used the phrase ‘strongly attracted to’ before, not even in his head. He could feel his lip quirk even more. She would be perfect girlfriend material – damn, she’d be perfect wife and mother material. Watching her with these children, as he had been all day, was testament to that, if it weren’t for that whole Jekyll and Hyde personality thing she had going on.
He could understand Rosy if she was a little insecure, anxious about relationships, scared of intimacy. All that sort of thing would make sense; it was fairly normal and he’d had years of training with Angelina. But this complete split personality was of concern. It seemed to indicate something running a little deeper.
Today was a perfect example: she had properly scowled at him when he arrived, her best and deepest Rosy scowl. The one that always seemed to have her eyes scrunched up and her lips pursed into the sweetest little moue (at least he thought that was what it was called) that he had ever seen. The knowledge that she did not want to be perceived as cute, or sweet, or endearing in any way when she was in this mood, made it kind of all the cuter. Even Sid had asked what he had done to upset the schoolteacher. He had had to shrug and say he really didn’t know.
And he really didn’t. And this was the trouble; her outburst on Valentine’s Day hadn’t been explained, and he didn’t feel he should push for one. He had to assume when she was ready she’d say, and if she never was, then that was something he could do nothing about.
Before the party she’d been so warm, friendly, open and downright bloody melty. As if she were as attracted to him as he was to her. That kiss – that kiss had been insane. And as far as he was concerned they should be following on from that, and spending this time doing smoochy early relationship types of things. Most of which should be taking place naked. Not scowling and spitting like a cornered cat, which had been her precise reaction when his sister had turned up.
He didn’t know which way to turn or what he was supposed to do or think. He quickly glanced at her again and caught her looking at him with deep thought, her head cocked to one side with her brows furrowed in puzzlement.
He felt himself grin broadly back at her. If he was inviting and friendly, ignoring her mood swings, then maybe she would come and ask him whatever it was she was thinking about. That would be the sensible thing to do. Would she smile back, an appeasement of sorts?
She blushed – ha! Victory! If she was blushing just because he was looking at her then he was in with a chance; she must still be attracted to him, otherwise her body wouldn’t react that way. It would make sense. Surely the fire they had had between them was not something anyone sane would walk away from. Maybe he had got that wrong; maybe the heat was so strong that anyone sane would run a mile. There would be time to question his sanity later.
As she looked back down at her planting, after flashing him the briefest of smiles back, he decided to grasp the nettle and be manly. He wouldn’t embarrass her in front of her pupils but he would go and offer an olive branch.
