A Rival to Steal Her Heart

by Annie Claydon

  Jamie’s eclectic style was everywhere. In the dining room, a large polished table was surrounded by cabinets filled with books and a collection of plates, glasses and silverware, some matching and some not. Jamie walked straight past a corridor that led to the other side of the one-storey house, and Anna guessed that the bedrooms lay in that direction. Jon ignored it as well, which was probably just as well.

  Only the kitchen and bathroom showed no trace of the building’s ancient shell, with gleaming floor-to-ceiling tiles and mirrors in the bathroom, and wooden cabinets in the kitchen. When Jamie led the way out of the kitchen door, Anna found herself on a long veranda.

  ‘This must be lovely in the summer.’ The view was spectacular, farmland and open countryside stretching off into the distance.

  Jamie nodded. ‘I like it in winter, too. I’ve a couple of space heaters, and it’s quite cosy out here. Last year I sat and watched it snow.’

  The thought of him sitting alone seemed a little sad. But the house was full of noise and activity now, some of which was heading their way. The twins burst out onto the veranda, and Thomas ran up to Jamie, pulling at his hand.

  ‘Why don’t you show Uncle Jon our cars...’

  Jamie grinned, squatting down in front of the two boys. ‘What cars?’

  ‘The ones we’re building, silly... Uncle Jon would like to see them.’ Thomas turned to Jon for confirmation.

  Jon was clearly torn, unable to say no to his nephew but clearly wanting to show how much he appreciated Jamie’s hospitality as well. ‘I’d like to see them later, Thomas. Uncle Jamie’s showing me around right now.’

  The twins chorused their disappointment and Jamie smiled.

  ‘Okay, why don’t you two show Uncle Jon your model cars now, then? He might have some ideas about what colours to paint them.’ Jamie glanced up at Jon. ‘The garden will still be here later.’

  ‘Okay. Thanks.’ Jon grinned, holding his hands out to the twins and they started to pull him back into the house.

  It was a nice gesture. The two boys were still a little shy with Jon, and Jamie seemed determined to include his brother as much as he could. He knew how much that meant to Jon.

  He watched Jon go, and then turned to Anna. ‘Looks as if we have ten minutes for one of those adult conversations you promised me. Would you like to see what I’ve done in the garden?’

  ‘Yes. That sounds great.’ Anna glanced down at her high-heeled boots. ‘I’ve got a pair of trainers in my bag. Caroline said that I might need them if we all decided to go for a walk.’

  Jamie nodded. ‘Yeah, good idea. I’ll wait for you here...’

  * * *

  The garden was much the same as the house. Seemingly artless, but everywhere there were things that made you want to stop and look. An old, worn stone birdbath nestled amongst the foliage. Blackberry bushes, forming a wide mass of ripening fruit that could be picked and eaten straight away, and the soft yellows of a brick-built outhouse contrasted with the new, dark slate roof. It was shaped by nature, but Jamie’s guiding hand had given it a touch of magic.

  ‘How long have you been here?’ They strolled together along a winding pathway that led away from the house.

  ‘Six years.’ Jamie looked around at the garden. ‘It’s not really finished yet.’

  ‘It looks like one of those things that will never quite be finished.’ There were no straight lines about this place, it seemed as if it might constantly evolve.

  ‘No, I’m not sure it will.’

  ‘I expected something different. A bit more under control.’ Anna smiled up at him and he gave her a Who? Me? smile.

  ‘You think I’m a control freak?’

  ‘You have goals, don’t you?’

  Jamie chuckled. ‘That’s a different thing. I have goals, I just don’t make myself any promises about how I’m going to find my way to them.’

  That made sense. The way that everything fitted together neatly, without necessarily matching. ‘Caroline said the place was pretty run down when you bought it. It must have taken a lot of work.’

  ‘It’s the closest thing I have to a hobby. I work hard, and then when I come down here I relax and go with the flow of the place.’ Jamie turned, his hands in his pockets, looking back at the house.

  ‘I had an inkling of its potential when I bought it, but after I’d had the rubbish and old furniture from the last owner carted away, it started to take shape. The plaster was damaged and rotten, but once that was stripped out and the carpets were lifted there was this amazing space. It seemed somehow wrong to cover it all up.’

  ‘Is that what they call arrested decay?’

  Jamie shrugged. ‘Not entirely. I removed the worst of the decay, rather than arresting it. I wouldn’t like to say what you’d call this.’

  So he wasn’t even going to give it a name. Anna could see how that was Jamie’s version of therapy, a break from the exacting work that he did. Or maybe in its own way it was another version of his work. Knowing where he wanted to be, and letting the journey define itself.

  ‘Isn’t it a bit lonely here sometimes?’ Anna bit her tongue. It was a large house for just one person, but then Jamie had probably never intended to be alone here.

  ‘Being on my own wasn’t in the plan.’

  ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to...you know.’

  ‘That’s okay. It happened. Things aren’t what I expected but I’m lucky in lots of ways. Whenever I feel the urge to fill the house with kids, I just give Caroline a call. She’s generally got a few I can borrow.’

  So he’d wanted children. Of course he had. He was so good with his nephews and niece and they obviously thought the world of their Uncle Jamie. It was a sobering reminder that getting too close to him would only lead to heartbreak.

  ‘You never wanted to settle down?’

  ‘I’m settled. I have a flat and a career.’ Anna deliberately avoided the obvious intent of his question.

  ‘Yeah.’ He started to walk slowly away from the house again.

  Perhaps she’d been a bit short with him. There was no reason why she shouldn’t give him the basic facts.

  ‘I was married six years ago, but it didn’t take. We split up after a year.’

  ‘I’m sorry to hear that.’

  ‘It’s okay. We never really should have been together. We wanted different things.’ Anna and Daniel had actually wanted exactly the same things. They’d both wanted children, and even though he’d promised that he would be happy with their family of two, he’d changed his mind.

  ‘It changes your view of things, though, doesn’t it? You think you’re going in one direction and suddenly you find you’re not.’ Jamie was looking at her thoughtfully.

  ‘Yes, it does. But that’s in the past now. I love my job, and most of my energy goes into that.’

  He didn’t answer. Maybe he didn’t believe her, the married-to-my-job thing hadn’t sounded totally convincing. But Anna had said all she was going to say, and thankfully he left it alone.

  ‘Would you like to see the beehives?’ They were wandering further and further from the house.

  ‘You have beehives? How much land do you have here?’

  Jamie pointed to a line of trees in the distance. ‘It goes down to there. We planted an orchard, and this year I’ll have some apples. There are bees and a wildflower meadow, and...you see down in that dip?’

  Anna followed the direction of his pointing finger. ‘Marshlands?’

  ‘It’s more a small dip that collects water at the moment. But I’m hoping it’ll grow and encourage some wildlife.’

  ‘How do you do all this?’ Even Jamie’s voracious appetite for work wasn’t equal to what had been done here.

  ‘I have help. A couple of the lads from the youth club that the charity runs couldn’t get jobs when they left school. They decided to do
something for themselves and started a gardening business. I advised them on some of the practicalities and got them onto a course, and then became their first customer.’

  ‘They’ve done well.’ Anna might have guessed that Jamie’s nurturing of the land would also extend to nurturing the talents of his young charges.

  Jamie chuckled. ‘They made up in enthusiasm for what they lacked in experience at first, and we had our share of disasters. But they got things together, and they’ve got a nice little business going now. They spend a day a week here, and pretend not to mind when I interfere, so it works pretty well.’

  ‘I’d like to see the orchard.’

  ‘No appetite for bees?’ He grinned at her.

  ‘They get a bit bad-tempered in the autumn, don’t they? I’m not sure I want to be stung.’

  Jamie chuckled, turning onto a path that led to the left. ‘My bees are very good mannered. But since you prefer apples, the orchard’s this way.’

  He led her towards a collection of young trees, planted far enough apart to allow for more growth. Jamie pointed out the different varieties, some for cooking and some for eating.

  ‘That one looks about ready.’ He pointed up at a red apple in the branches above Anna’s head. ‘Want to try it?’

  ‘I’d love to, thanks...’ Anna reached up, and even when she stood on her toes her fingertips didn’t quite make contact. ‘Can you reach it?’

  ‘They taste better when you’ve picked them yourself, straight from the tree.’ Jamie hesitated and then held out his hand. ‘You want a boost?’

  The apple was hanging right above her head, just begging to be picked. ‘Um...yes, okay.’

  She felt his hands around her waist and he lifted her against him. Anna curled her arms protectively over her chest, feeling her own body stiffen. The thick layers of clothing between them didn’t seem to be doing anything to mitigate the effect of being so close to Jamie.

  ‘Um... It would help if you hung on...’ Anna could hear the strain in his voice. She was dead weight in his arms, and Jamie was clearly struggling a bit to support her.

  ‘Sorry...’ Winding her legs around his waist was easier than she’d thought. More natural. And when she clung to his shoulder with one hand, it seemed almost the proper thing to do.

  ‘That’s better.’ He balanced himself and Anna suddenly felt safe and strong. She reached for the apple, turning it in her hand.

  ‘Oh. This one has a hole in it.’

  ‘Pick it anyway, it can be used for cooking. What about that one...?’

  The apple that hung a little higher was ruby red and perfect. When she bent it upwards, the stalk separated from the branch easily, a sure sign that it was ready to harvest.

  ‘Got it.’

  He let her down carefully. When her feet hit the ground again it was almost a disappointment to have to step away from him. Anna inspected the apple carefully for any holes or damage.

  ‘Now close your eyes.’ Jamie’s lips curved. It was the kind of smile that no woman in her right mind would want to miss a moment of, but Anna closed her eyes, sinking her teeth into the apple.

  It tasted fresh and sweet. So much more like a real apple than the ones she bought in the supermarket.

  ‘This is gorgeous. You want a taste...?’ She opened her eyes.

  He nodded, his eyes darkening suddenly. Moss green, and glistening with a desire that provoked an immediate response in Anna’s chest. Suddenly she forgot all about the apple.

  When she stepped towards him, his hand touched the waist of her jacket. So softly that she didn’t even feel it. She wanted very badly to feel everything about his embrace, and everything that told her she shouldn’t was shattered beneath the weight of expectation of his touch.

  She had to move. Either forward or back. Forward was the only way that seemed clear at the moment. Anna reached up, allowing her fingertips to brush his cheek.

  It was a sweet, slow give and take. Staring into each other’s eyes, watching for the response to each new action. The increasing pressure of his hand on her waist. Anna laid her hand on his shoulder and they were almost in an embrace. One that she wanted so very much. She stood on her toes, kissing his cheek lightly, and felt him pull her a little closer.

  This was delicious, but it could end at any moment. He could decide that he’d misinterpreted all the signs, or that he needed something more definite and draw back.

  ‘I want to kiss you.’

  Jamie smiled. ‘I’d love to kiss you back.’

  That was that, then. Still he didn’t move, waiting for her to take things at whatever pace she wanted. Head-spinningly fast seemed like a wonderful option. Anna stood on her toes, kissing his lips.

  * * *

  She tasted apple-sweet and dew-fresh. When he drew her a little closer, Jamie felt her arms tighten around his neck, pulling him down. In a moment of sheer exhilaration he realised that she wanted this just as much as he did.

  He couldn’t conceal his hunger. When he kissed her again, she responded and Jamie felt his whole body harden. She was so soft and yet so strong.

  ‘Did I forget to tell you how beautiful—?’

  She stopped his words with another kiss.

  ‘Yes, you forgot. You mentioned that my hair was coming loose from my ponytail the other day.’

  ‘Ignore me. I’m a complete and utter jerk.’ One who noticed everything about Anna. One who’d been dreaming of this moment for far too long, and telling himself it mustn’t happen.

  ‘You’re forgiven. After all, this isn’t really in your plan, is it?’

  A sudden dose of honesty that jerked him back to his senses. ‘No, it’s not.’

  ‘That’s okay. We both have a little baggage.’

  So there was more to it than she’d said. Jamie had suspected that was the case—no one got married and divorced within a year without a few scars to show for it.

  ‘Both of us?’

  ‘There’s no story to tell, if that’s what you mean.’

  ‘Everyone’s got a story. But if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine.’

  ‘Okay. I don’t want to talk about it.’ She looked up at him, and Jamie suddenly forgot everything other than the pale blue of her eyes. ‘But since we both seem to have settled on the same eventual outcome, then I guess a diversion doesn’t matter.’

  ‘You are never a diversion.’ That mattered. That Anna knew how important she was to him, and that this had meant something.

  She smiled up at him. ‘Thank you. In that case, you can kiss me again.’

  He didn’t need to be told a second time. If this was the only thing that he could share with Anna, then he wanted it to matter. Jamie kissed her, feeling her move against him, her arms tightening again around his neck.

  * * *

  He’d found another side of Anna. She was passionate and giving and yet she knew how to end things. She made him feel that this hadn’t been one big mistake, a lapse of self-control that should be forgotten as soon as possible. No apologies and no regrets. Just an understanding that they should stop before it led somewhere that neither of them was ready to go.

  Jamie’s head was fine with that. His heart would follow if he repeated the words enough times, but right now it didn’t know how to beat without taking up her rhythm. Without thrilling at her smile as they collected cooking apples that had fallen from the low cordons at one end of the orchard, filling their pockets with them.

  ‘Apple and blackberry?’ They’d started on their way back to the house, and Anna stopped by the bushes. Jamie nodded, cupping his hands to receive the blackberries as she picked them.

  ‘We’ll give them to Caroline. She can use them for a pie tomorrow.’

  Anna nodded, popping a blackberry into her mouth. ‘Mmm... They’re sweet. Try one.’

  She laughed as he shrugged,
his hands too full to comply. Anna made a show of searching amongst the branches, curved and heavy with fruit, until she found a large blackberry.

  ‘This one looks nice.’ She popped it into his mouth, and Jamie smiled.

  ‘Yeah. That’s the best one.’

  ‘Hold on a minute...’ She raised her juice-stained fingers to his mouth, and he felt her wipe away a smudge. ‘That’s better.’

  He could do this for the rest of the morning, and the better part of the afternoon as well. Then he could sit by the fire with Anna, maybe roasting a few chestnuts as the evening closed in around them. But he had guests and it was about time he made a start on lunch, even if it was just a matter of putting the lasagne he’d made into the oven and taking the salad out of the fridge.

  ‘We’d better go back. You have important work to do today.’ Anna was smiling up at him.

  ‘Yeah. Though to be honest, I’d rather be here...’

  ‘I know. But this is an opportunity that you can’t miss.’

  His family, together again. It was something that Jamie wanted, even though it was hard. Out here he could forget about the anger that was never too far from the surface every time he saw Jon. Anna seemed to know, and she turned without another word, leading the way back to the house.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  THE DAY WAS going well. They’d had lunch, and then Jessica and the twins had gone out into the garden. Jamie had lit the fire in the sitting room, leaving Jon to doze in front of it, and when Caroline had chased him out of the kitchen, he’d meandered out into the garden to see what the children were up to.

  ‘He’s great with the kids.’ Caroline had reached the end of a long succession of plates and pans, and picked up a teacloth to help Anna with the drying up. ‘It’s a shame...’

  ‘That he doesn’t have any of his own?’ Anna tried to clear the lump that was forming in her throat.

  ‘Yes. I can’t blame him for being cautious, not after what happened with Gill. He’d be happier if he could leave that behind, though.’