“Okay,” she said, her head swinging back to Persephone.
“Great! I’ll leave you to swap numbers, then. Sort things out.”
Felix refrained from rolling his eyes. Did Thea even own a phone? She looked more like she used the local pigeons to carry messages.
“Now, I don’t need to remind you all. The event is in two weeks, so we need to get cracking.” Persephone gathered the papers in her lap. “Please keep me updated on your progress. I think this year will be our best and brightest yet.” She threw adazzling smile at Felix, and he resisted the urge to run back down the corridor to the safety of his now filthy car.
As parents chattered and stacked chairs away at the side of the gym, Thea stood, her slim hips leaving the tiny chair easily. She re-tied her hair in its scrunchie. She had another four stacked up her arm, at least, like fabric bangles. A light, floral scent tickled Felix’s nostrils as she dragged her fingers through her curls. He breathed it in. Unbrushed or not, her hair smelled great.
He followed her to standing. Well, rocked himself to standing, struggling with the snug fit of the plastic chair. When he’d gathered enough momentum to leave the seat, he turned to Thea. “I suppose we should trade numbers.”
A look he couldn’t quite identify passed over her face, and she bit at the side of her lip. “I think it’s best if we meet in person. I’m sure neither of us has much time to spare. That way, we can get started straight away. And I promise not to drive this time. I’ll walk.”
He could almost swear it was an attempt at humour, but he didn’t trust the cheeky glint in her eye. That she was refusing to exchange phone numbers was insulting enough. Did she think he was a stalker? A serial killer? That he’d chop her up and put her in one of the sausage rolls she seemed so keen on?
“What do you have in mind?”
“How about tomorrow? A coffee on neutral ground. Can you make it to the bakery in Tottenbridge after school drop-off?”
Felix shrugged. Tottenbridge bakery was rather good. Felix had stopped off once when he’d been house hunting. They had a great pâtissier and a proper barista. If he had to meet with the woman who’d ruined his morning, at least he could do it with an excellent coffee in his hand. “I’ll be there.”
With a nod, Thea turned on her filthy work boots and headed out the door. Once more, Felix’s gaze strayed to herbottom and her long, toned legs as she walked towards the gym’s double doors. He swallowed. In other circumstances, he might have found her almost appealing. But her lack of remorse and her careless behaviour smacked of arrogance.
As if reading Felix’s mind, she looked over her shoulder, the smirk still on her face. “Don’t forget to bring the receipt for your dry cleaning.”
3
THEA
Thea shut her truck door with a thud and crossed the cobbled yard of Small Oaks Farm. As she walked towards the house, familiar sounds greeted her. The distant squabbling of the geese at the pond, the occasional crow of Horace, the rooster, and the song of a skylark high above. The corners of her mouth ticked up.Home.
She’d lived at Small Oaks farm most of her life. Her dad had been the local farm vet, and she’d been a willing assistant with the unwanted or injured animals he’d brought home. After he died, her brother, Josh, took over the practice, and the two of them now lived on the land. Thea in the grey stone farmhouse with her daughter, and Josh in his cottage in the garden.
Thea sniffed the air. A familiar mixture of animals, whatever wildflowers were springing up at the edges of the stone walls, and clean, crisp country air mingled in her nose. Even the unpleasantness of her morning couldn’t mar the perfection of her quiet, rural life.
On the drive home, she’d played back the school car park drama in her head. Perhaps she’d been a little harsh when she’d suggested Felix’s car deserved to get dirty on account of itbeing shiny and fancy. And a quick, heartfelt apology could’ve diffused the situation, but his growling about the shortcomings of her car had made her see red. Who didn’t enjoy splashing through puddles?
His furious face popped into her mind’s eye, and she clamped her teeth together. He might be handsome if he smiled. Even so, something about his sharp, clear, green eyes stayed with her.
Usually discreet and far too busy to get involved in chit-chat, idle gossip about Felix had reached even Thea’s ears. Tales of mums throwing themselves at him. Stories of them chasing him around the schoolyard as if they were desperate fame hounds. Having a minor celebrity in town did funny things to people. Thea grimaced. She didn’t want him to think her antagonism was some kind of twisted playground flirtation. Thatshewas adesperate fame hound.
No. She’d maintained an air of cold civility in the meeting. Had kept conversation to a minimum. He hadn’t exactly been chatty either—with anyone. No doubt, Persephone would’ve loved to have spent more time getting up close and personal with him. It wouldn’t have surprised her if she’d offered to clean the muddy splash off his face. Visions of Persephone licking a tissue and chasing him around the gym had Thea giggling. She’d love to have been a fly on the wall when he finally looked in a mirror.
Persephone was obviously gagging for Felix. And in hindsight, maybe Thea shouldn’t have asked for the in-person meeting. Perhaps swapping numbers would have been better. After all, she didn’t want him to think she was interested in him, too…that she wanted to jump his bones.
Truth be told, Thea could hardly remember the feeling of holding someone close. Naked. She hadn’t even kissed a man in five years. Not since her husband had passed away. By now, shewas used to her own company. Her own hand, a couple of vibrators and a healthy diet of steamy costume dramas.
The old front door hung open as usual, and Thea gave it a gentle kick, knocking some of the dried mud off her boots.
“Helloooo! Kitty!” she called into the house. Receiving silence in response, she made her way through to the office at the back. Kitty had to be there. It was far too late to be doing the morning chores. She’d probably be pouring over a spreadsheet or working on a proposal for a grant. Small Oaks Animal Sanctuary was thriving under her steerage.
Originally a corporate lawyer, Kitty arrived in Tottenbridge last summer. She’d only started out as a casual volunteer, but within a few months, she’d turned Thea’s business around and won the heart of her brother.
As Thea approached the door, she didn’t hear the expected tapping of a keyboard. The almost perceptible whirring of brain cells. Instead, the corners of her mouth lifted at the sight that greeted her.
Kitty reclined at an alarming angle on one of their office chairs, eyes shut, legs stretched out, and both feet planted firmly on the wooden desk, each one wrapped in a bag of frozen peas.
“I assume you have a good excuse?” Thea asked, touching Kitty on the shoulder.
