‘Come here, Pixie.’
‘Pixie?’ she giggled, cosying up to him. His gorgeous citrus spice fragrance intoxicated her senses.
‘Yes, from the moment I saw you, I loved this sexy little number.’ He toyed with the ends of her hair, his fingertips brushing against the back of her neck, sending shivers down her spine. ‘What have you done to it? It looks different.’
‘Had it highlighted,’ she said, glad he’d noticed. Then she felt him kiss the top of her head. She looked up into his eyes. Instinctively, their bodies moved towards each other, mouths meeting halfway. Rory’s hands cupped her face as his tongue ran across her lower lip, making her quiver in delight. Her heart was thumping again, as the kiss became more intense. Cassie reached up to run her fingers through his curls. He groaned and pulled her closer, trailing kisses down her neck and collarbone. Cassie’s hands found the inside of his shirt and ran across his taut back and shoulders, loving the firm, muscular contours of his body.
‘Cassie,’ he moaned, as his mouth found hers once more. He so wanted to pick up her beautiful body and devour her on the bed yards away from them. But he couldn’t. It was too soon. With superhuman effort, he brought the kiss to a halt, his chest heaving.
‘You OK, Rory?’ she whispered looking concerned.
‘Sorry, Cassie.’ He touched her cheek. ‘I don’t want to rush things.’ He searched her face, hoping she understood and felt the same way.
She took his hand and held it. ‘It’s fine, don’t worry.’
‘We’ll spend tomorrow together?’ he asked.
‘Yes. I’ll get cover.’ She’d manage it, somehow. It was his last day.
‘Good night.’ He kissed her again, then stood up.
‘Good night.’ She joined him and saw him out onto the corridor. Closing her door, she couldn’t help but punch the air.
Chapter 10
Jasper and Adira were walking hand in hand through Keepers Woods. It felt good to be at one with nature together. All the hustle and bustle of running a new business, organising a wedding and buying The Cobbled Courtyard were beginning to take their toll. Jasper was looking tired and weary. Adira was slightly worried about him, but was told, ‘I’m fine,’ every time she voiced her concerns. It had been her idea to stroll through the forest on their way to The Cobbled Courtyard instead of driving. They were about to have a good look around again and Max, Dickie’s grandson, was going to introduce them to their new tenants. Jasper was keen to familiarise himself and didn’t want to waste any time, even though the sale hadn’t been officially completed.
As they strolled through the verdant woodland along the limestone path, wood pigeons called in the distance. The smell of wild garlic and damp earth filled the air. Dappled sunlight glowed through the branches. As they reached the outskirts of the forest, they passed a cute, wooden house nestled in the trees. The sign outside told them it was ‘Woodsman Cottage’.
‘Oh, look, how adorable!’ exclaimed Adira, pointing to it.
‘I know, apparently it belongs to one of the tenants,’ said Jasper.
‘Which one?’
‘The guy who owns Crafty Carpentry.’
‘Ah, that figures. What a craftsman he must be.’ She admired the arched windows, oak door with large cast-iron hinges, low slated roof with stove flue poking out, puffing smoke, and a decked veranda where an empty hammock gently rocked in the breeze.
‘They all are, in their own right, I’m guessing.’
‘How do you think they’ll react to us?’ Adira hoped they weren’t upsetting the applecart.
‘I think they’ll be glad the new owners are local.’
Yes, that’s what they were now – locals. The thought gave Adira a warm, reassuring feeling. The fact that Dickie and Fletcher were old acquaintances would be a comfort to the tenants, too, no doubt. She was beginning to comprehend the way things functioned in the country. She still chuckled when picturing how Fletcher had dealt with buying The Cobbled Courtyard, in his own inimitable style. In her quieter moments, she contemplated how good a grandfather figure he would make to their future children and, when doing so, Adira observed how the thought of motherhood wasn’t a daunting one, which it had been up until now. Instead, she found herself imagining what her offspring would look like. Dark and swarthy like Jasper, or pale and blonde like her?
‘What’s going on through that mind of yours, Miss Summers?’ Jasper squeezed her hand, seeing her deep in concentration.
‘Just glad I’m here with you,’ she smiled and kissed his cheek.
Max was ready and waiting for them as they entered the small courtyard. It struck Adira again just how pretty the place was with its quaint set of craft shops, each with a brightly coloured wooden door and their own sign depicting what each unit was. The pottery studio was called The Potter’s Bolthole, the florist’s, Fresh Bouquet, and had a flower box bursting with orange and yellow dahlias and cream chrysanthemums. The Hot Spot was Max’s forge and the workshop, Crafty Carpentry, had a wooden carved statue of a Green Man stood solemnly at the door. Finally, there was the Courtyard Cafe which looked warm and welcoming with its pastel coloured bunting, swooping across the outdoor decking area with bistro sets.
‘Hello, Jasper.’ Max held out a dusty charcoaled hand. His face, too, was smeared with black dust, as were his overalls, but that didn’t prevent Jasper from shaking his hand.
‘Hi, Max, this is my fiancée, Adira.’
‘Hi,’ he nodded in her direction.
