“Wow, you’re doing so well,” Fliss said as we passed by the local primary school plot.
“I’m having trouble,” one of the children said. She was trying to take the tops out of tomatoes that were getting too tall.
“I can show you, but you need to ask your teacher if it’s okay for me to do so.”
The girl went to the teacher, who came back with her.
“Okay, use your thumb and forefinger to pinch the bit you want to take off. Dig your nails in and pull gently. That’s it.” She beamed when the girl did it.
“I love your fliers. They’re very good. We could use something like that for school events.” The teacher eyed the fliers with interest.
“I could always do some for you,” Fliss offered.
“We wouldn’t be able to pay you.”
The smile Fliss gave the teacher almost bowled me over. “No problem. I’m happy to do them. They don’t take long. Here,” she said, fishing a card from her back pocket. “If you don’t see me at the lottie, this is my number. Give me a call.”
I still couldn’t believe how much she’d come out of her shell and how people had started to gravitate towards her. To be honest, I don’t think she even noticed it. But others had, and my heart was just about banging out of my chest when I thought about it.
“Hey, is everything okay?”
I suddenly realised I’d been staring long and hard over at Fliss. She had her head cocked to one side. Sally was hiding a grin. I must have looked like a deranged stalker. Shaking my head, I attempted to refocus.
“Just thinking about the party, that’s all.” I turned and continued potting some plants on the table outside my greenhouse.
I caught the whiff of perfume long before Stella came close to me. I didn’t know what else to do to get rid of this woman.
Maybe I should give her Marcus’s number.
“Hard at work, I see.” She sidled up to me and placed her hand on my arm, squeezing it hard.
I shrugged her hand away. “Yes, so if you’ll excuse me, I’m very busy.”
She pressed her body close. I loved women’s bodies, but I didn’t want Stella’s tits squashed against me. I moved away. She pouted, the expression of disappointment clear in her eyes.
“Look, Stella, I’m not interested. Please leave me alone.”
She let loose a throaty chuckle. “I enjoy the chase, Luke. You can play hard to get all you want, but you’ll give in in the end… They all do.”
“When hell freezes over,” I muttered under my breath.
“Luke, have you got a minute. Sally and I need your advice.”
Hallelujah.Thank you, Fliss. Turning my back on Stella, I headed over to Fliss.
“This isn’t over.”
I turned back to face Stella when I heard her. Yes. It. Is.
* * *
Felicity
I noticed Stella heading straight for Luke with a determined look in her eyes. Luke tensed when she drew closer. It was obvious from his body language that he wasn’t happy with her closeness. She pressed her body shamelessly against him. He must have told her to back off when he moved away from her, but she wasn’t deterred.
“I think he needs rescuing, don’t you?” Sally said.
And that was when I called him over on the pretence of helping us with an imaginary problem. I’ve never seen anyone look so relieved. But Stella, well, she gave me a stare which told me she wasn’t impressed. I just glared back. I wasn’t afraid of women like her.