The True Love Travels Series Box Set

by Poppy Pennington-Smith

  She also, however, didn’t want to make it look like she’d set her alarm. Because then it would seem like she wanted to impress him. And she didn’t. Or, at least, she didn’t want him to think that she did.

  Sighing, because her tumbling, mixed up thoughts were starting to make her feel crazy, she went to the bathroom, splashed water on her face, combed her hair with her fingers so it was more ‘tousled’ and less ‘bird’s nest’, then put on a very light coating of tinted moisturiser.

  Back in the bedroom, she switched her oversized white sleep shirt for a black vest top and shrugged on her woolly grey cardigan.

  Looking in the mirror, she was satisfied that she looked better than normal but not so much better that it would be obvious to Thomas that she’d just applied makeup and brushed her hair.

  Then, she sat on the edge of the bed and waited for the tap-tapping.

  She’d almost given up and was about to slump back under the sheets and go back to sleep, when she heard it. Tap, tap tap tap.

  Slowly, slower than she wanted to, she got up and nudged open the curtains.

  Thomas was scribbling a note on a piece of paper but when he looked up, he saw her and grinned.

  Rose opened the door and stepped outside into the crisp morning air. “Do you offer this service to all your guests?” she asked – she’d been planning that since she’d woken up.

  “Only the ones I like,” Thomas replied, smoothly.

  The comment surprised her; she hadn’t expected him to answer like that and it stopped her in her tracks.

  “Plus, I’ve got to look after my sister’s best friend, haven’t I?” Thomas added, quickly, as if he felt like he needed to quantify the term ‘like’.

  Rose took the flask of coffee that he’d put on the wall and made a ‘cheers’ gesture. “Well, it’s very much appreciated. Thank you. And I’ll tell Katie that you’re doing a brilliant job.”

  Thomas smiled. He was lingering, holding his own coffee as if he wasn’t really sure whether he should stay or go.

  “So, what’s on your agenda today?” Rose asked, leaning against the cold flint wall.

  Thomas made a pffft sound that reminded Rose of Delilah. “Well,” he said, rubbing at his beard as if he was trying to remember his schedule. “A lot, actually. We’ve got a couple of small groups arriving this morning and three treks going out. I’m leading the first one in…” he glanced at his watch, “about an hour’s time.”

  “Where do you go on these treks?” Rose asked, looking up at the hills in the distance.

  “Depends on the level of the riders. This one’s an advanced one, so we’ll be out all day. But I was thinking, why don’t you just come down and watch us getting the horses ready? You don’t have to get too close. You can sit under a tree and just observe.” Thomas smiled temptingly and it made Rose’s breath catch in her chest.

  “Won’t people think I’m…”

  “Think you’re…?” Thomas shook his head at her, as if he had no idea what she was trying to say.

  “Odd. Weird. You know, coming to a ranch and not riding.”

  Thomas chuckled softly and reached out to touch her hand. “Rose, I mean this in the nicest possible way – no one will pay you any attention. Everyone will be too busy focussing on what they’re doing to wonder why you’re not riding.”

  Rose was chewing the inside of her cheek and must have looked horribly worried because Thomas dipped his head to meet her eyes and smiled at her. “I guess…” she paused, took a deep breath, then said, “Okay, sure. Okay.”

  “Great!” Thomas beamed. “I’ll go up to the ranch house, check they’re geared up for the arrivals, then swing back here and collect you. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “You’ll be fine, Rose. See you soon.”

  Rose waved and watched Thomas jog up to the ranch house. Yesterday, she’d gone with him because she believed Katie was right – it would be good for her to face her fear and try to overcome it.

  Today, she was pretty sure that was not the reason she’d agreed to go and watch Thomas and the other riders prepare for their trek. The idea filled her with dread. She already felt twitchy and self-conscious at the thought of being the odd one out – just standing there and watching everyone else.

  Today, she’d said yes because Thomas wanted her to. Because last night, she had felt like there was something between them. Something dancing in the air, almost said but not quite. And although the sensible, protective part of her brain was telling her that this was exactly what guys like Thomas did – compliments and smouldering looks and almost-touches – she just couldn’t match the Thomas she was spending time with to the Thomas that Katie had warned her about.

  He seemed genuine. And the only way she’d find out for sure, would be to spend more time with him.

  So, despite the voice in her head that was yelling, Just stay away from him, Rose, she went back inside, showered, dressed, and waited for Thomas to come back for her.

  As they approached the stable yard and the paddock where she’d met Delilah and Piccolo, Thomas reached out and squeezed Rose’s hand in his. He stopped and gestured to some trees. Beneath them was a picnic bench.

  “Why don’t you wait there?”

  Rose looked from Thomas to the bench. She didn’t really want to let go of his hand, but waiting out of the way under the trees seemed like something she could handle. “Okay.”

  “Just watch and when you’ve seen enough, head back up and relax by the pool. Yeah?”

  Rose nodded. She felt a bit queasy. She wanted to ask just how many horses would be going on this trek, but she also didn’t really want to hear the answer because it would make her want to run straight back up to the ranch house.

  So, she did as Thomas suggested; she went and sat at the picnic bench, put her sunglasses on so that she could avoid looking at people, and watched as Thomas and some helpers she didn’t recognise started to bring horses, one by one, out of the stables.

  The horses were lined up and tied to a series of posts a bit further down from where Rose was sitting. Most of them were a little smaller than Delilah, sandy brown with light coloured manes. They all seemed very calm. Occasionally, one would whinny or snort, but mostly they stood patiently and quietly, waiting.

  Slowly, as Rose watched them, the sea-sick feeling in her stomach began to subside. Behind her, a group of six riders were making their way down the path from the ranch house, chattering excitedly, all dressed in jeans and riding boots.

  They waved at her and said good morning as they passed, which surprised Rose. She had been looking down at her phone, trying to make it seem as if she was absorbed in something, but when she looked up she waved back, and smiled, and again some of her nerves dissipated.

  The riders gathered in front of the horses and, as she watched Thomas issue instructions for the trek, Rose tried not to smile. She kept catching herself laughing at something he said or smiling when he caught her eye.

  He was so at ease in his own skin – a feeling Rose had never had – and the way he spoke, with such confidence and knowledge, almost made her want to get up and run over and ask if she could join them.

  He was wearing his red boots and as the other riders mounted their horses, he took a similarly cowboy-esque hat from a nearby post and planted it swiftly on his head.

  “Okay guys, great, if you head over through that gate and into the field at the end of the path, I’ll follow you.”

  The riders began to file slowly away from Rose and the picnic bench, towards the gate. The clip-clop of the horses’ hooves was slow and gentle, and Rose was surprised by just how easy it all seemed.

  “You okay?” Thomas bobbed down in front of her and rested his arms on the table, watching her carefully.

  “I’m good,” she said, smiling.

  “Really?” Thomas clearly thought she was trying to be brave.

  “Really. I feel fine. It was nice, actually.” Rose looked over Thomas’ shoulder towards the field wh
ere the riders were now gathered, waiting for him. “You better go,” she said. “You’re holding up the group.”

  Thomas laughed, nodded and stood up slowly, as if he didn’t really want to go. But then he patted his hand on the table and said, “Right. Okay. Well done, Rose. You did really well. I’ll see you later.”

  Turning away from her, he walked briskly over to a dark brown mare with a big white splodge on her back, mounted her in one swift movement, and trotted to where the other riders were patiently waiting.

  Positioning himself at the front of the group, he waved at Rose before setting off towards the track at the far end of the paddock that led away from the ranch.

  Rose returned the gesture and waited until they were out of sight before she walked back to the ranch house, wondering just how long an ‘all-day’ trek lasted and whether she’d see Thomas that evening.

  10

  Rose waited on the patio until ten p.m., when the fire pit began to fizzle out and she was pretty certain that Thomas would not be bringing her hot chocolate.

  She was sure she’d seen some of the riders who’d been on the trek eating dinner on the terrace when she’d ventured up to the ranch house for dinner. And she’d even forced herself to sit and eat with Fleur and the others, hoping that Thomas would appear.

  But he hadn’t.

  And she hadn’t dared to ask about him; if she did, her question would come out high-pitched and excited, making it plainly obvious that she had a giant crush on him.

  Earlier that morning, she’d still been telling herself that the giddy, swoon-like feelings she got whenever she was close to Thomas were just the result of him being the only good-looking guy who’d so much as spoken to her, let alone paid her compliments, in a long, long time.

  But now, heading back inside and sliding the patio doors closed behind her, she knew it was more than that.

  She had spent the entire day thinking about him and every time she pictured him sauntering up to her in his silly hat and boots, she felt a nervous little bubble of excitement in her stomach. A bubble that told her this was not simply a case of feeling flattered by him or lonely because Katie had gone home.

  She liked him. She liked talking to him and being around him. And she felt as if he liked being around her too. Which was both disastrous and exciting at the same time.

  But now, when she’d expected him to come and tell her about his day, hop over her wall and sit beside her like he’d done the night before, he hadn’t shown up.

  They hadn’t agreed that he would. They hadn’t discussed it or made any arrangements, so she didn’t really have any right to feel disappointed.

  But she did.

  And now she was wondering whether this was precisely what Katie had warned her about – becoming infatuated and, ultimately, ending up getting hurt.

  As if her friend could read her mind, or had spy cameras in the cabin, Rose had only just slumped down on the bed and buried her head in her hands when a text from Katie lit up her phone.

  How’s it going? My patient is feeling much better, which is awesome, but also makes me miss you and the ranch.

  Rose sighed and held the phone close to her chest. Normally, if she had a crush on someone – which hadn’t happened for a very long time – Katie would be the first person she talked to. The person she’d ask for advice and who she’d analyse all the silly little details with: he looked at me like this; he spoke to me like that; I think he almost held my hand; gosh, he’s so handsome.

  But now, for the first time, she felt like there was a great big secret between them. And she didn’t like it.

  She wanted to reply and say, Funny story, so you know how you told me absolutely NOT to fall for your brother? Well, the thing is, he’s so good looking, and funny, and confident, and he makes me feel special, and I’m pretty sure I like him A LOT. That’s cool? Right?

  But, of course, she didn’t. She couldn’t.

  Firstly, Katie would be super-mad that Rose had ignored her advice and secondly, even if she wasn’t mad, she’d tell Rose that Thomas was simply doing what he always did – flattering his way into a girl’s heart before breaking it.

  So, instead, Rose replied:

  Miss you too. I’m getting better with the horses, didn’t see Thomas much today as he was on a trek. I think he wants to get me doing one, but there’s a long way to go before that happens!

  Then she turned off her phone, crawled into bed, and tried to push all thoughts of Thomas Goodwin from her brain.

  Tomorrow, she’d wake up and she’d shake it off. She’d treat him like a friend. Just a friend. Nothing more.

  Just. A. Friend.

  11

  When Rose woke, it was nine a.m. She hadn’t bothered to set her alarm the night before and there had been no tap-tapping on the patio doors to wake her.

  Gingerly opening the curtains, as if somehow there might still be a blue flask of coffee waiting for her, Rose let out a small resigned sigh.

  She’d intended to wake up with a renewed resolve to put her guard back up and ignore Thomas’ charms. And yet, she couldn’t ignore the disappointed tug in her belly as she ventured outside and found no sign of him having come to see her.

  Back inside, she dressed for the day – white cut-offs, a black vest top and a thin white cardigan – then ventured up towards the ranch house.

  She’d missed breakfast. By now, all the riders would be ready to set off for lessons and treks, so she headed for the coffee machine in the dining hall instead.

  She was piling in three big spoons of sugar when Fleur sidled up beside her.

  “Morning, Rose, how are you doing?”

  “Good, thanks,” she replied quietly. “How are you?”

  Fleur yawned. “Bit of a late night actually. Delilah had some problems. Thomas and I had to call the vet out. Have you met Rossi? He’s a really nice guy. Typical Italian – tall, dark, handsome.”

  Rose frowned, trying to sort the information into relevant categories. There were problems with Delilah – so that was why she hadn’t seen or heard from Thomas.

  “Is she okay?”

  “She is now,” Fleur nodded. “Thanks to Rossi.”

  Rose wanted to go and find Thomas, to ask what had happened and see if he was all right, but for some reason she didn’t want Fleur to know that she was worried about him. “That’s good,” she said. “I’m glad she’s all right.”

  Fleur smiled, then lingered for a moment as if she’d run out of things to say. “Okay, bye Rose. See you around.”

  Rose waved, shovelled another spoonful of sugar into her coffee, and took it out to the terrace. She had almost finished it, and was wondering whether to go for a walk or fetch her swimming things, when she felt a firm hand on her shoulder.

  Instantly, a tingle of electricity shot from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. She tried to turn around slowly. But she didn’t quite manage it.

  “Thomas… I saw Fleur. She said Delilah had to see the vet last night?”

  Thomas looked tired. He had dark circles under his normally-bright eyes and his skin was paler than usual. But he was still smiling. “She’s okay now, but it was a bit scary. I found her when I did my final checks at sun-down. She was in a bad way. An infection, we think. But Rossi gave her antibiotics and seems to have got it under control.”

  Rose smiled, relieved that Delilah was okay, but also relieved that there was a reason Thomas had stayed away from her for so long.

  “I’m sorry,” he continued, leaning against the railings beside her. “I wanted to come see you last night, tell you about the trek. It was a really good one. We went up to the waterfall…” He trailed off and fought back a yawn. “And this morning, well, I overslept and failed with the coffee delivery. I’m sorry.”

  Rose shrugged, trying to sound completely unfazed, as if it was no big deal and she’d barely noticed. “Don’t apologise, it was an emergency.”

  “It made me think though, I should probably have your numbe
r. If I had it, I could have let you know.”

  Rose blinked twice. Had he just asked for her number?

  Thomas was looking at her, expectantly, as if he was waiting for her to say something or do something.

  “My number?”

  “Your phone number.”

  “Right, of course!” Rose fumbled in her back pocket and scrolled to her contacts list. “I never remember my own number.” Her cheeks were flushed and she could feel Thomas watching her as she read it out to him.

  “Great,” he said, plugging the number into his phone. “Now I can let you know if I’m going to miss a hot-drinks on the patio date.”

  Rose opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Now he’d called it a date?! She shimmied her shoulders, trying to shrug herself out of the daze she was in, but all she managed to say was, “Date?”

  She expected Thomas to roll his eyes and laugh and say, Well, not a date-date. Just a friendly date. You know, between friends. But instead he said, “Yeah. Date.” And, as he said it, she was certain that he moved a little closer.

  Rose swallowed hard and looked away. “So,” she said, steering the subject swiftly in a different direction. “Are you trekking again today?”

  Thomas smiled at her, a knowing smile that said, Okay, I won’t push it, and rested back on the railings, leaning on his elbows. “Not today. I called Chris and asked him to take over for most of the day. I’m too tired to be in control of guests and horses.”

  Rose laughed. “Fair enough. And you are the boss, you can give yourself the day off if you want to.”

  “Very good point,” Thomas nodded. “So, I thought I’d give myself the day off and see if you’d like to take a trip into the village with me? We need a few supplies and as wonderful as the ranch is, it seems a shame if you don’t get to see anything else while you’re here.”

  Instantly, Rose’s entire body lightened. She had been certain that he was going to suggest they went to see the horses again, maybe even that she tried to ride one and, although she was feeling more confident and less terrified, she really wasn’t sure she was ready for that kind of step.