Chapter 45
Dylan was in high spirits. He was driving to Flora’s. Together they were going to look at all the equipment needed for the new training yard. The list was endless, from hay nets, water buckets and saddle racks for the stables, to wheelbarrows, shovels and brushes for the yard. Also there was the tack to consider, bridles, reins and training aids, not to mention the grooming kit of clippers, hoof care, fly repellents and first aid. His head was buzzing with ideas, and he was keen to get on and get going. The fact that Flora was alongside him heightened his eagerness.
Flora, too, was keyed up. All night her mind had been racing with the task in hand. She was taking her new position very seriously. Dylan had shown her the plans for the yard and she’d seen first-hand the beginnings of it taking shape. It felt somewhat alien to listen to Dylan and Lord Cavendish-Blake discussing matters in front of her, as if she was their equal. She had to keep reminding herself that she was there on merit, because Dylan considered her worthy, which in itself was all the confidence she needed. Now and then she’d catch Dylan staring at her. She knew he was waiting for her to surrender to him, which made her more determined to keep the relationship strictly on a business level. Though she had to admit, it was hard; and he knew it. The way he’d leant over her when examining the plans, his chest pressed firmly against her back, his thighs touching the edge of her bottom, the way he sat next to her with his arm casually draped across the back of her shoulders… Occasionally his hand would catch her hair and swirl it round his fingers. He knew exactly what tactics to use and Flora hated herself for very nearly succumbing to them. He was too damned attractive for his own good, and hers, for that matter. She fully expected him to try to lure her into his home tonight on some pretext. Well, no, she wouldn’t yield. Pre-empting the scenario, Flora had told him that she had to be back in good time, because she had a date.
‘A date? Who with?’ Dylan tried to sound casual, while inside he was burning.
‘No one you know.’ Flora, in turn, was at pains to sound equally nonchalant.
‘No worries, I’ll soon get you back safe and sound.’ Like fuck he would. There was no way he was bringing her home early to spend the evening with some other bloke. And just who was he, anyway? Flora, without realising it, had played right into Dylan’s hands. Instead of trying to avoid a situation, she had intensified it. Dylan was a born winner, refusing to lose anything or anyone he had decided was his.
He pulled up outside her house. Flora saw him through the window, grabbed her bag and left the house. ‘All ready?’ he smiled, those blue eyes twinkling with anticipation.
‘Certainly am,’ she beamed up at him. She looked so young and excited, he wanted to grab hold of her. Nobody had come close to making him act this way. Then it suddenly struck him: was she too young, too naïve for him? She was only twenty, while he was thirty. Was that too old? Then another brooding thought crossed his mind. How old was the guy she was supposed to be meeting tonight? Slamming the car into gear, he gripped the steering wheel and set off.
It took just over two hours to get there. Two large barns were packed to the rafters with every item they could possibly need, and it was hard to know where to start.
‘We’ll both make lists, then compare. You start here, I’ll go next door,’ instructed Dylan. He had switched to professional mode instantly.
Flora nodded and set off down the first aisle. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a couple of women turn to look in his direction, obviously recognising him. Dylan didn’t notice, even though one of them deliberately crossed his path and smiled. He was clearly on a mission and oblivious to any attention. This surprised Flora, assuming he would never miss an opportunity. After an hour she had completed her list and set off to meet Dylan next door. He was there, assessing saddles. His face held a concentrated, studious look.
This was a side she’d not seen: the serious Dylan. Gone was the blasé playboy. She stood back and watched him some more. Again she saw one or two people double take when passing him, but still he was unaware. Then a little girl with her mum stopped and asked him for his autograph. Crouching down to her level he signed the pony-riding book she had just purchased, making her jump for joy. He ruffled her hair before they both thanked and left him. How sweet, thought Flora, and her heart began to warm, cracking the frozen solid ice protecting it.
Then he saw her, smiled and beckoned her over. ‘What you got?’ He looked across at the piece of paper with her scribbling on.
‘Let’s go for a drink.’ She pointed towards the small coffee shop in the cobbled courtyard.
‘Good idea.’ He put his hand on her back and guided her out. It felt so natural, like they were a proper couple. But they weren’t, Flora reprimanded herself, they were here on business.
Sitting opposite each other with coffees, Flora showed him her list. It was almost identical to the one Dylan had in his mind. She watched his eyes dart across the paper. Again, he looked intense. It was hard to imagine this was the same man who had appeared in a trashy kiss-and-tell newspaper article. He raised his head to look at her. ‘This looks fine: more or less what I had in mind. Good girl.’ He immediately cringed: did that sound patronising? Again his thoughts were darkened by the age gap between them.
‘So, where are you going tonight?’ Was she blushing?
‘Er… not sure yet.’
He narrowed his eyes. Was she bluffing? In any event, she wouldn’t be back in time, that was for sure.
Feeling scrutinised, Flora quickly changed the subject.
‘What about the horse feed?’
‘Already sourced that.’
‘How many horses are we aiming to train?’
‘At least ten, to start with. I’ve got a few contacts from Tobias, plus I’ve been approached by someone looking to train two horses.’
‘Who?’
‘Some businessman whose wife owns the horses. I’ve arranged to meet them this week.’ Flora looked impressed. ‘You have been busy.’
‘I intend to make a success of this.’ He looked straight at her. She could feel herself melting under his piercing blue gaze. Swallowing, she turned away. How was she going to cope working day in, day out with him? He was deliberately applying his charisma and they both knew it.
After another hour of finalising their list, Dylan set off to open an account and complete the order. Flora couldn’t resist checking out the country clothing while Dylan was gone. Half an hour later and he returned with a broad smile. ‘All done. It’ll be delivered next week. Thanks for your help today.’ Again his hand found her back and together they walked to his car. Flora looked at her watch. It was three o’clock. She should be back early evening. Dylan turned the key, but the engine wouldn’t start. He tried again, still nothing. He turned to her, frowning.
‘Why won’t it start?’ she asked.
‘Not sure.’ He turned the key once more, but there was no life in the engine. ‘I’ll have to ring for help.’ He looked across at the pub on the roadside. ‘Fancy going for a drink till they get here?’
