As they stood at the end of the kitchen down near the dresser, lost in conversation, all of a sudden Ben tapped onto the side of a glass and addressed the room telling everyone how over the moon he was to be moving with his lovely wife Sallie to Strawberry Hill. Ben continued, noting how he loved being part of the Pretty Beach community and how he and Sallie couldn’t wait to start their family in the new house. He thanked everyone, turned the music back on, a few people made to leave, and the rest of the evening continued.
Lottie took another sip of her strawberry cocktail and popped a tiny sausage roll into her mouth as Connor told her about how the storm at Christmas had blown off some of the roof at his yard. She stood there next to the huge platter of Holly’s sausage rolls, putting one after another into her mouth, and sipping on the strawberry drink.
‘Woah. You like a sausage roll, don’t you?’ Connor remarked laughing. ‘For someone quite small you can surely pack it away. Where do you put it?’
Lottie giggled. ‘Everyone always says that. My mum used to say I had hollow knees,’ she said, helping herself to another sausage roll and following it with a pickled onion.
As another drink was poured, Lottie, who had been up to tend the garden from the early hours and had been working hard on Secret Evenings all week, all of a sudden felt tiredness sweep up from her toes all the way to her head. She stifled a yawn, blinked her eyes furiously and tried, but failed, to concentrate on what Connor was saying. It was as if the combination of his glorious golden light and the long week had worked together to very nearly turn her into a tired heap on the floor.
Connor put his drink down on the worktop. ‘Oh, dear. I know I’m boring but that was one hefty old yawn you tried to swallow.’
Lottie grabbed the side of the kitchen table and giggled. ‘Sorry, Connor. You’re not boring. Not at all. Completely the opposite actually. In fact. You’re gorgeous.’
No! Stop! What on earth did you just say? Lottie said to herself, alarmed. Oh no. I’ve just gazed up at the most handsome man in the room, the whole of Pretty Beach, indeed possibly the world and told him he’s gorgeous.
‘Thank you. I’m very flattered that you think I’m gorgeous. But you do, suddenly, look as if you need to get yourself home,’ Connor said, smiling and draining the rest of his drink.
‘Ahhh, trying to get rid of me already, Connor? Okay, I get the message. I’ll have to stop looking into those eyes then. What a shame.’
Noooooo! What the heck? And my voice just upped a notch. Stop!
Connor smiled and touched Lottie on the arm. ‘Do you have a jacket? I’ll get mine and then I’ll walk you up the hill.’
‘No, no, no. I’m fine. It’s like two minutes. One even. Anyway, I’ll be going through the back to check on my vegetables.’
‘Right. I see. So not only am I boring, but vegetables are more interesting.’
Lottie giggled. ‘Not boring, but thanks I’ll be fine to take the few steps up the hill on my own.’
‘Yeah, nah. All good. I’m going to get off home now, anyway. So, I’ll see you to your back door and safely to your vegetables. Jacket?’
Lottie sat down on the kitchen chair, polished off the last of the cocktail, took another sausage roll from the tray and looked up at Connor. ‘I’ve got a blazer with gold buttons, like the earrings, ha! I think Ben put it on the hooks in the hallway.’
Connor smiled and nodded and went to get Lottie’s coat as she called over the table to Dimitri who was still deep in conversation with Holly and Xian and by the way Xian was showing him her tablet they were clearly discussing stocks and shares.
‘I’m going, Dad. I’ve had enough,’ Lottie said.
‘Rightio. I’ll just see you home and then I’ll pop back. Xian’s drinks are flowing and she’s telling me some of her dealing secrets!’ Dimitri said with a chuckle.
‘Actually, I’m being walked home, already.’ Lottie giggled and touched the back of her hair.
Holly, Xian and Dimitri all looked back and smiled, Holly tried to raise her frozen forehead and Dimitri nodded his head as Connor came back from the hallway with Lottie’s blazer.
‘Right. I see, Lottie. Be careful, then,’ Dimitri said.
‘All good, Dimitri. I’ll make sure she’s okay before I go,’ Connor said.
Dimitri turned back to Holly and Xian. ‘I bet he will. Did you see how those two were looking at each other? It was like there was no one else in the room.’
Chapter 25
Connor held Lottie’s blazer up for her, she put her arms into the sleeves and he adjusted it over her shoulders.
‘Thanks,’ Lottie said looking back up at the eyes.
Gorgeous. There is a god in front of me showering me in golden light. I’m done for.
‘Right. Ready?’ Connor asked and went to walk out of the kitchen door into the hallway.
‘Oh, no, not out the front. We’ll go out via the garden and I’ll go in the back gate.’
‘Okay. Lead the way,’ Connor said as they walked over towards the back door he held it open and Lottie stepped out of the kitchen and then outside.
Lottie steadied herself as she walked out to the terrace. Thank goodness I didn’t have any more to drink she thought as the fresh air hit her squarely between the eyes and everything went a little bit wobbly.
‘Oops!’ Lottie giggled as she tripped slightly over a pair of work boots neatly placed beside the path. ‘Silly me. Didn’t see the boots.’
‘Be careful. There’s not a lot of light out here,’ Connor warned.
‘I’m fine. How funny though. I was only going to have one of those strawberry cocktails, but they slipped down so nicely I certainly had more than one. And I don’t even drink very often!’ Lottie said with a hiccup.
‘Oh dear. I’m very glad you didn't walk home on your own,’ Connor said chuckling as he followed along down the path behind Lottie who was giggling and muttering to herself at the state of the shrubs and how many weeds there were in between all the plants.
Lottie suddenly stopped abruptly as they were about halfway through the garden and Connor just missed bumping straight into the back of her. As quick as a flash Lottie knelt down onto the floor and peered into a flower bed on the right.
‘What on earth! What are you doing, Lottie?’ Connor said as he looked down at Lottie who was on her knees with the branch of a bush pushed back with her left hand and squinting down into the soil underneath.
‘Ssh. Look down here,’ Lottie whispered and gestured for Connor to look down into the flower bed.
Connor now laughing out loud crouched down on the floor next to Lottie.
‘I knew it would be there,’ Lottie said, rustling through the soil and leaves.
‘What are you doing? What’s there? I can’t see a thing! What are you looking at?’
‘Asparagus. First of the season. Look at it. Hidden under here. Hiding away from everyone.’ Lottie hiccuped.
‘Why do we need to be quiet for asparagus?’ Connor chuckled.
‘Plants can hear you, Connor, especially vegetables.’
Connor laughed and looked into the bushes. ‘So, not only do you crawl around under tables you crawl in flower beds on your way home, too. And you talk to vegetables. Excellent. I’m very glad to have met you, Lottie. You’ve made my night.’
Lottie started to laugh, pushing back a load of wet leaves revealing a large asparagus patch brimming with heads poking through the soil. She stroked one of the spears of asparagus.
‘Fabulous. That’s what this is, Connor Bally. Nature working her magic right there in front of you. Fab-you-lous. There is nothing better than the joy and surprises you’ll find in the urban garden,’ Lottie informed Connor seriously and then as another hiccup escaped, she giggled.
‘Well I never. I didn’t expect to be bounty hunting on our way home, but there we are.’
‘Bounty hunting is exactly it. This, Connor, is the best asparagus in Pretty Beach. Possibly the world.’
‘Th
e world, hmm. Right. You learn a new thing every day,’ Connor said still sitting on the ground crouched down next to Lottie.
‘Indeed, you do,’ Lottie replied and jumped back up from the flower bed. ‘Now, I’ll need you to keep this little patch a secret and promise me you won’t tell a soul.’
‘Your secret’s safe with me,’ Connor said brushing off the dirt from his hands. ‘Not being funny but not many people I know would hunt for asparagus.’
‘Ahh. Yes. I heard you’re, what was it again,’ Lottie said with a frown and looked up to the sky for inspiration. ‘Yes, that was it, according to the grapevine you’re elite.’
Connor laughed again. ‘I think Lottie you’ve been wrongly informed. Nothing elite about it.’
‘Come on. Follow me. I’ll show you my vegetables if you like.’
‘I don’t think I’ve ever had a better offer in my life. A tiny woman I rescued from bleeding to death under the kitchen table is offering to show me her vegetables. Marvellous.’
‘You’ll never get another offer like it. Connor, I don’t let any old bod into my garden, you know.’
‘I’m sure you don’t,’ Connor said as they arrived at the end of Sallie and Ben’s garden, he fiddled with the huge bolt on the top of the gate and then yanked it open.
A couple of minutes and a few hiccups later, Connor and Lottie arrived at the back entrance to Lottie’s house. Lottie took the key out of her clutch bag, opened the gate, and reaching down to the side of the wall on the right, she flicked on a switch and the whole of the garden filled with light.
‘Connor, elite diving instructor of Pretty Beach, no less. You are very privileged to be in my garden. Welcome to Lottie’s World!’
Connor stood completely still and looked around him shaking his head.
‘Impressive! Goodness, you weren’t joking about loving your garden! This is amazing,’ Connor said looking around at the immaculate trees, shrubs and plants and all the way at the end the magnificent house looming above it all.
They strolled along the path and as they approached the first greenhouse Lottie continued walking past and when she got to the greenhouse nearest to the house she pulled the handle down, stepped in and switched on the old candelabras overhead.
‘This is some greenhouse. I have to say I was expecting something more... err, regular. You know a square greenhouse at the end of the garden with plastic edges. Double glazing with a few pot plants. This is more like an actual house.’
Lottie shuddered dramatically. ‘Don’t even mention plastic greenhouses in my presence.’
‘Crikey. There are hundreds and hundreds of pots in here,’ Connor said and as he looked up, ‘And even more old watering cans.’
‘I collect things. Yes,’ Lottie said giggling.
‘I can see that. Wow. I’ve never seen so many pots in my life and all meticulously lined up just so.’
‘Right. You wanted to see my vegetables. Follow me,’ Lottie said with another hiccup.
As Connor followed Lottie along the shingle path through the greenhouse a crack of lightning flashed from outside, a clap of thunder banged above and suddenly the heavens opened and rain began to lash down on the roof of the greenhouse.
‘Oh, this wasn’t forecast. Even better,’ Lottie said. ‘What we need is a cup of tea. Nothing better than sitting in a greenhouse with a cup of tea in the rain.’
Connor didn’t say anything and laughed again. ‘You’re a bit nuts I think Lottie. I’m liking it very much.’
Not half as much as I’m liking you and the biceps under that shirt.
‘Yes. I will make us a tea. Stay right there.’
Connor sat down on one of the old chairs next to the potting table and as Lottie passed him she patted him on the leg. ‘Not only do I know where the best asparagus patches are in Pretty Beach. I also make the best tea. I’ll be back.’
Ten minutes later and Lottie tottered back along the path in the pouring rain in a huge green wax jacket with the hood up, holding a tray with a teapot, a bottle of milk and a couple of mugs. Connor was standing in the porch of the greenhouse, watching her walk along in the rain barely keeping the tray straight. Just as she got to the door the whole tray veered to the right, the teapot slid along to the edge, and barely missed crashing down onto the floor.
‘Ha, ha. How hilarious! I nearly dropped that and it's pouring down!’ Lottie exclaimed as Connor took the tray of tea from her as raindrops poured down from the hood of her coat. They walked back down the path to the table at the end of the greenhouse laughing and joking.
‘Shall I do the honours?’ Connor asked as he put the tray on the table.
‘Be my guest. You’ll need this, though.’ Lottie giggled and slipped a bottle of Dimitri’s Greek brandy out of her coat pocket and onto the tray.
‘This night is getting weirder and weirder! What in the name of the world is that? It looks dangerous. You have that in your tea?’
‘It’s my step-dad’s Greek brandy. Not at all dangerous. I haven't had it for a long time. But I was like Lottie, why not go for your life? I’ve had the cocktails and I’m going to finish the night as I started it. It’s the best night I’ve had for a very long time.’
As Connor poured the milk, the tea and then the brandy into the cups he nodded in agreement. ‘You’re not the only one. It’s been a very, umm, enlightening night.’
Lottie giggled and took a sip of tea. ‘Gosh! I had forgotten just how strong it was.’
Lottie looked at Connor, thinking he was just so very good-looking and wondering what it was that was happening to her in regions she had forgotten she even had.
They continued to chat, Lottie told Connor more about her house and her boys and they finished the tea.
‘Right, crawling around the floor vegetable examining lady, I’ll be getting myself home,’ Connor announced, getting up from the little potting table and putting on his jacket.
‘Well, thanks for walking me up the hill and letting me show you my produce,’ Lottie replied laughing as she showed Connor to the door of the greenhouse and they started to walk down the garden path towards the back entrance.
Lottie unlocked the gate and just as she turned back Connor stepped forward towards her and bent down his head. He put his huge hand on Lottie’s tiny waist, his lips brushed the top of her hair and then he kissed her gently and Lottie felt everything wobble, and her heart did a pirouette as she got lost in an utterly delicious and very forgotten world.
Following on from the pirouette Lottie Cloudberry’s heart, just like it had when she had first seen Connor, did a triple backflip and started to dance all the way up her chest and flutter around crazily not knowing what to do with itself.
Lottie closed her eyes, tingling in the golden light as she felt Connor’s lips against hers. As she stood there, the nighttime sounds from the garden seemed to stop as Lottie took in everything about Connor and everything else seemed far away and non-existent as Connor’s hand gently rested on the small of her back.
Chapter 26
The next morning Lottie picked up her mug of tea, opened the back door, stepped into the boot room, and made her way all the down through the garden and into the greenhouse. Considering she’d had much more of Sallie’s potent strawberry cocktail than she had anticipated she was feeling fine.
It probably would have been preferable if she hadn’t been stupid enough to top up her tea with some of Dimitri’s brandy at the end of the evening, but overall she was feeling okay for someone who didn’t usually drink who had the night before consumed lots of cocktails. Sometimes you have to throw all caution to the wind, she thought to herself.
Lottie had woken up with a bit of a dusty head, had drunk a whole pint of water, washed down a couple of paracetamol, and by the time she’d put her dressing gown on and walked downstairs she’d not felt too bad.
Her memory of the evening before though was all a bit vague. Even though she rarely drank much she actually wondered if it was more tiredness rather
than being tipsy that was making everything about the evening hard to recall. She’d been exhausted with the preparations for Secret Evenings on top of her regular dinner round and it was as if the party had undone a valve to let out the stress and as it had poured out some of her memory had escaped with it along the way.
There was one thing she remembered very well - being a bit of an idiot around the very good-looking Connor. She remembered clambering around on the floor for her earring and emerging with the blood-covered knee. She remembered crouching down with Connor stroking asparagus. Thank goodness I didn’t stroke anything else.
And then she cringed as she remembered after the final cocktail the huge yawn in the middle of the conversation they’d been having and also calling him gorgeous. How embarrassing.
Little flashes were coming back to her as she’d taken her tea down to the greenhouse and she’d stood there going through the evening in her head. She recalled sitting there at the end at the potting table with the brandy topped tea and Connor not many hours before.
As the sun streamed through the roof of the greenhouse and caught the light on the glass, she slowly turned the handle for the window on the roof to let in some cool air and recalling more about the evening she chuckled. She’d told Connor way too much about herself. She normally kept most people at arm’s length and liked to keep her distance, but as she thought back to the night before when she was standing in Sallie’s kitchen gazing up at him she’d opened up and chatted to him as if she’d known him forever.
Remembering the evening all she could think about was Connor’s blue eyes and how when she looked up at him she felt as if her whole body had been dipped in gold.
Ridiculous. Who even are you? You’ve not had a man for years. In fact, it may not be down there anymore for all you know. Dipped in gold? Pah! Ridiculous notions.
A wave of embarrassment went through her as she remembered walking back down her garden path with her hood up, the rain pouring down and dripping into her eyes and hardly being able to keep the tray straight. The tray had wobbled, the teapot had slid dangerously near to the edge and Connor had just about saved it from crashing down onto the path. She’d thought herself so hilarious at the time, but now it didn’t seem quite as funny. Not as funny at all.
Secret Evenings in Pretty Beach Page 9
