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“Ah, there you are,” she says finally, holding a piece of paper up in the air.
My shoulders drop.
“So, Jamie Carson. Welcome to McBride Farm Campsite. I’m Julie.”
Julie’s smile is blinding, and I find myself smiling back. Camping was the cheapest holiday I could find these two weeks that I have Adam – it’s not like I have money to splurge on a hotel or B & B.
“Thank you, Julie. This is Adam.”
“Hi, Adam.” She grins, and my son whispers his hello while hiding his face in my neck. Still needs some work charming the ladies, my boy.
“Adam is really excited about seeing the cows,” I say, trying to coax him from hiding.
“Oh, then you’re in luck, Adam,” Julie says with added excitement, placing both hands on the table and giving my son all her attention. “There are lots and lots of cows here, this campsite is on a farm, you know?”
Adam glances at her. “Can we see the cows from the tent?”
“You can indeed. The field where they graze is directly behind it.”
“Yey! Can we put up the tent now?”
“Let’s quickly get you checked in first.” Julie laughs and studies our reservation. “Uh… so you have booked… just the site, without electric hook-up?”
“That’s right.”
“We still have some sites with electric and a water tap if you’re interested? It’s a fiver more a night.”
“Nah, we’d like to go rustic,” I reply, cringing inwardly.
“No problem. Most parents like the electric hook-up for all their kids’ electronics and toys.” Damn, didn’t think of that. “And the adults’ toys as well, of course.”
“The adult toys?” I ask and lift an eyebrow.
Julie’s gaze widens and her cheeks turn crimson.
“I-I mean their phones and laptops and stuff.”
I chuckle quietly. “I know what you mean, Julie. I’m only messing.”
She giggles, a sweet little sound. “You can come here, to the reception and charge…Adam’s toys if you need to.”
She bites her lower lip. Is she flirting with me? She’s pretty, but the last thing I should be doing is flirting with someone, especially someone who looks like they’re barely legal. Then again, Alison was eying up other men even before we were officially separated – and she’s now dating again – so why shouldn’t I flirt?
Hell, I’ve always jumped right into another relationship after a break-up, but it’s different when it’s a marriage that falls apart, compared to a relationship without legal bindings and a child. I haven’t even tried to search for someone else. And where would I find another woman? The last six years, my social circle has been Alison’s family and friends who became our family, our friends. They are now all back to being only hers. And the IT company I work for has changed to remote home working permanently, so I can’t even chat up a colleague by the copier.
With my own family living on the other side of the planet in Australia, I haven’t just lost a wife, I’ve lost everyone in my daily life as I knew it.
The only thing left is Adam. My arms flex around him.
Hanging out with this charming young woman while I charge Adam’s pad may be what I need. Some harmless flirting never hurt anyone. “I might take you up on that,” I say in a deeper tone and wink at her. Dimples appear on Julie’s cheeks as she bites down on her lip to stop the grin that threatens to split her face.
“What’s going on here?”
I startle and turn quickly.
A massive body fills the doorframe. Massive as in impressive. Wide shoulders and muscular arms under a stained white t-shirt. Trunks for legs lead into wellies that must be size fourteen if not sixteen. I glance up at the man’s face where brows are drawn together above scowling eyes and the frown around the mouth highlights high cheekbones. Brown hair is tied back in a short ponytail. I wonder what it looks like, out of the confines of the rubber band?
“Trevor!” There’s a nervous hint to Julie’s voice. “Uh, Jamie is just checking in.”
