Felicity
The morning after our little meeting, I found it difficult to focus on work. I’d almost played tonsil hockey with Luke. Maybe it had been a dream. Nope, it was definitely reality. If Toby hadn’t come into the kitchen, we would’ve been kissing for sure. I wasn’t ready to get involved with a guy. Especially not one I wasn’t totally sure about. Okay, it had been years since my last proper boyfriend, but I remembered it well. The humiliation. The hurt. The anger. I needed to keep my distance from Luke.
I had Toby to thank for saving me. I still didn’t know too much about Luke. If he’d been jilted, why had she done it? Was he a manwhore like his friend Marcus obviously was? Had he lied to my aunt, and it was him that had jilted her? These types of thoughts were why I never put myself out there anymore.
“Are you overprocessing things again, Fliss?”
My head shot up at the sound of my aunt’s voice. I’d set up my office in the conservatory. She stood in the doorway, smiling.
“You know me far too well.”
Aunt Doll had brought me up. My parents had passed when I was two, so she became my sole guardian. Such a wonderful, warm-hearted woman. I wondered why she’d never married. Part of me felt a sense of guilt. Maybe she never had time for romance because she had me to look after.
“Come on, love. I’ve done my physio exercises and just put the kettle on. We can have a good old chat about what’s got you so distracted.”
We sat at the table in the kitchen, sipping coffee, and eating some shortbread biscuits I’d made.
“Has Luke got something to do with how you’re feeling?”
“What? No. Yes. Oh, I don’t know.” I groaned and grabbed another biscuit to soothe me.
“Toby mentioned he may have interrupted something in the kitchen last night between you two.”
I blushed and blurted out, “we almost kissed. I’m glad Toby came in when he did.”
“Why? Luke’s a sweetheart.”
“But, Aunt Doll, we hated each other when we first met.”
She took my hand in hers. “They do say opposites attract.”
“I can’t go down that road again. The last time was just…” I lifted one shoulder and sighed.
“You can’t let what happened with that man define your whole life. Just like Luke can’t with his ex-fiancée. You can be damn sure they’ve moved on and don’t give either of you a second thought.”
“Hmm, yeah, I guess. It’s just a scary thing, you know. Anyway, enough about me. What’s going on with you and Toby?”
My aunt blushed. Actually blushed. She’d never reacted like that before.
“Aunt Doll?”
“Oh, I’m too old for all that romance nonsense.” She waved her hand as if dismissing the subject.
“Hey, everyone deserves a shot at love. You’re only in your early sixties. Even Luke noticed the way you and Toby looked at each other.” I squeezed her hand, and she giggled.
“I’ll tell you what.” She turned to face me. “I’ll keep an open mind on romance so long as you do too. Deal?”
I shook the hand she held out to me. “Deal.”
* * *
Luke
It was the day before the party and the organisation was in full swing. There would be about twenty-five of us in all. A good number. Everyone was bringing seats, food, and drink. Sally brought over some solar lights to decorate the plot. This was going to be a great evening. That was what I loved about the lottie; it felt like a family Sure, there were a few oddballs, and people who didn’t mix, but overall, it was a great place to be.
I watched while Fliss chatted to Sally about where to put the tables and checking off a list of what food was being brought. Gordon tried to muscle in, but one death stare from Fliss and he backed off. She’d certainly got him sussed. It wasn’t her being mean either, just telling him how it was. She understood how important a field marshal’s role was but wouldn’t stand for any crap.
There really were many layers to that woman. I thought back to the other day when she was handing out fliers. We’d stopped at the plot used by schoolkids…