Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 117740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
She waved her hand, cutting me off. “I’ve got your mum, and my daughter is giving me a hand, although she did wonder if we could get goats for the yoga.”
“You’ll have to ask the yoga lady. I’m afraid I’m more of a chicken girl. Though if anyone has planned a petting zoo, I’d be happy to offer up the gang.”
Deb tapped her chin. “The bread rolls would be a great addition for the kids. I’ll see what I can do!”
“That wasn’t a request!” I called after her as she quickly ran away, pausing only to stare intimidatingly up at Oliver on her way out of the door.
He glanced over his shoulder, pointing in her direction. “Is she… okay?”
“She’s fine. She just dislikes you immensely,” I said brightly. “To what do I owe the displeasure of your visit?”
“I need to visit a garden centre.”
“Hollyhock Garden Centre, fourteen-point-seven miles away as the crow flies, open seven days a week from eighty thirty a.m. until six p.m., except on Sundays, when it’s ten ’til four per the law,” I reeled off. “Off you pop.”
He slowly ran his tongue over his teeth, staring at me blankly. “Could you come with me?”
“I could.”
“Now?”
“I said I could, not that I would.”
Oliver sighed. “Would you come with me?”
“I would, but I never said that I will.”
“For the love of God, Rose.”
“You’re the one not asking the right question, Oliver.”
“Never mind asking, I’m half-tempted to haul you into the car and take you no matter what you say.”
I clicked my pen and put it back in the pot. “That would be kidnapping, and that’s against the law.”
“As if anyone who kidnapped you would be successful. Kidnappers wouldn’t charge a ransom for you go home, they’d pay it.”
I held out my hands. “If you’re the kidnapper, I’ll pay my own bloody ransom.”
“I’ll replace the watering can I broke the other day.”
“Damn right you will. I want one of those nice metal ones, not some cheap plastic shite.”
“Like the one you had?”
“Like the one you broke,” I corrected him.
He ran his hand through his hair and briefly looked away. “Fine. Will you come with me, please?”
“Ooh, a please. That’s new,” I teased, getting up. “Luckily for you, I need to go there anyway. It’s time to restock for the nursery, so another pair of arms will be helpful.”
I skipped over to where he was standing, somehow both exhausted and dumbfounded at the same time.
“What on Earth possessed me to ask you for help?” he mumbled, pushing away from the doorframe.
“Momentary burst of genius? Temporary insanity? Inexplicably missing me?”
He snorted, then shook his head. “You’re right. It’s been a couple of days. Maybe I did miss you a little.”
I pulled out my phone and opened the browser. “Huh.”
“What are you doing?” He took my phone from me, squinting as we stepped outside. “Nearest comedy club? What are you looking that up for?”
“You said maybe you did miss me.” I plucked my phone back from his grasp. “I was going to book you a slot, because you’re a real comedian.” I sighed, tucking it into my pocket. “Come on, then. Jump in.”
He eyed Ramona. “In that thing?”
How. Rude.
“I formally revoke your Ramona privileges,” I said, making her beep and flash her lights with one push of the key fob. “Guess I’ll meet you there.”
21
* * *
ROSE
Quiet Revelations
“Stop pouting.”
“I’m not pouting.”
“You know,” Oliver said, putting the token in the trolley to free it from the long line of trolleys. “Anyone would think you were hoping I’d get lost on the way here.”
I clasped my hands behind my back, whistling, and made a show of looking around innocently.
“It’s fine. You were the last person to see me. Shaun would just put you in jail, and that might be a good thing for everyone.”
“If I had that trolley, I’d ram it into the back of your legs,” I ground out.
“I know,” he said dryly. “Why do you think I’m not letting you push it?”
Damn it.
He was starting to know me a little too well.
“Where do we start?” Oliver asked, looking around at the bustling walls of garden knickknacks and solar lights. “This is more overwhelming than I thought it would be.”
I followed his line of sight, then stared at him. “Have you ever been in a garden centre?”
“Of course I’ve been in a garden centre.” He paused. “I’m usually following my mother or aunt around and just paying for it, but I’ve been in one.”
“Good Lord,” I said with a shake of my head. “Well, at least I know you have experience being a walking wallet.”
“What are you—”
I grabbed the front of the trolley and shot him a cheeky grin over my shoulder, tugging it along and making him stumble behind it. “If you want my expert navigation skills, you’ve gotta pay up first. You owe me a watering can, and I think a goodwill gesture towards the nursery by financing this purchase would be beneficial for you and your absolute shitshow of a reputation in the village. Don’t you think so, Your Grace?”