Page 6 of Flowers Go Flying in Crumbleton
Murray promptly hung up.
Was missing out on the “honour” of being the best man really enough to reduce a grown man to a bitchy, quivering wreck – or was he missing something here?
He mulled it over for all of three seconds before shrugging. He really couldn’t care less. Whatever drama was afoot, Murray wasn’t interested. Josh might want him to turn tail and head home, but there was no way he was about to give the weird little weasel what he wanted. For one thing, he wouldn’t dream of letting Philip down this close to the big event. For another… he’d waited for a seriously long time for the chance to officially meet Milly Rowlands.
Just the thought of her spurred Murray into action and less than a minute later, he’d freed himself from his straitjacket and was pulling on the oars again – guiding the boat towards Crumbleton’s stone wharf with easy, powerful movements.
CHAPTER 3
MILLY
‘Blimey!’ muttered Milly as she ambled into the carpark at the back of the Dolphin and Anchor.
It was jam-packed – both with wedding guests and cars. She definitely recognised a few of them. Clearly, the plea in the Crumbleton Times hadn’t done much to get people to shift their vehicles out of the way for the big day. Every single space was full – including the shady one in the corner beneath the conker tree, where a bored-looking horse was dozing at the front of a very fancy carriage.
Milly let out a sigh of relief that she didn’t have to navigate this lot with her flower van. It took all of two seconds for the relief to morph into guilt - skiving off to ogle Murray meant the unenviable task had fallen to Jo instead.
Milly had already spotted her trainee parked up on the cobbles out the front of the hotel – hazards flashing as she hauled the delivery in through the front doors. It was the opposite of what Milly had asked her to do – but given the circumstances, there was no way she was about to complain!
‘Hello you!’
Milly whirled around, only to find Caroline Cook grinning at her.
‘I didn’t know you were coming!’ said Milly with a broad smile.
‘Like I’d miss the chance for a scoop,’ said Caroline, leaning in to give her a hug.
‘A scoop at a wedding?’ said Milly, frowning at her friend in amusement. She might be the editor for the Crumbleton Times and Echo, but surely even Caroline would struggle to find a juicy story amongst the corsets and corsages!
‘You never know,’ said Caroline, wiggling her eyebrows. ‘Anyway – who am I to say no to free fizz and cake under the guise of work?’
‘Jo said almost exactly the same thing earlier,’ said Milly.
‘Is that trouble-maker here too?’ said Caroline, glancing around.
‘Only to deliver the flowers so that I wouldn’t have to,’ said Milly.
‘You trusted her with that?’ said Caroline in surprise.
‘Yep,’ Milly nodded. ‘Especially as it means I get to rock up without getting covered in stinky flower water first.’
Caroline narrowed her eyes at Milly. ‘You look very nice,’ she said slowly. It sounded more like an accusation than a compliment – her words laced with suspicion.
Milly bit her lip. There was no way she was going to tell Caroline the real reason she was here… but her friend knew her far too well.
‘What exactly are you doing here?’ she continued.
Milly snorted – her over-the-top amusement designed to throw Caroline off the scent. ‘Erm… celebrating a joyous union between…’ she trailed off. Damnit – she’d forgotten the bride’s name again, and this time there was no convenient order pad nearby.
‘Between?’ said Caroline, amusement sparkling in her eyes.
‘Two people?’ said Milly.
‘Who’re called…?’
‘Mr and almost Missus… Davies?’ she guessed.
‘Try again!’ hooted Caroline. ‘It’s Williams.’
