Brodie didn’t want her to leave without knowing how she felt about the situation. He hated to think that rather than helping Lettie, he had worried her. ‘Do you want to walk the dogs on the beach later, as usual?’
She pushed her chair close to the table and gave his question some thought, then nodded. ‘Yes, I do. Shall we meet there at eight? Or would you rather come here first?’
He didn’t mind, he was simply happy to know she wasn’t put off seeing him by her brother’s teasing.
‘I can pick you and Spud up, if you like.’
‘Great.’ She smiled before pushing her feet into her boots. ‘We’ll look forward to seeing you both then.’
‘Can I come?’ Zac asked.
Before Brodie said that he could, Lettie shook her head. ‘No. You’ve been annoying, as always and can go on your own walk to the beach.’ She flounced outside.
Zac laughed. ‘You see, mate? This is what you’re letting yourself in for getting involved with my sister.’
‘Zac,’ Lettie shouted from the yard. ‘Shut up.’
‘She loves me really,’ Zac said rolling his eyes and making Brodie laugh.
‘I wouldn’t be so sure of that,’ Lettie bellowed.
Brodie stood. ‘I suppose I should be going but I might see you later if you’re here when I collect Lettie and Spud.’
‘If I’m not here, I’ll be at the pub.’
He was about to answer when Lettie marched back into the kitchen. ‘You can forget about that too. Put your boots on, Zac. It’s time you came and did something helpful around here.’
Zac’s appalled expression made Brodie laugh. ‘I’d go while you still can,’ Zac whispered.
42
LETTIE
Two days to go
Lettie leant back in her father’s chair at his untidy desk in the small room that passed for his study, unable to believe that they would be home so soon. Although she felt as if she had been working at the farm for far longer than three months, now their arrival was imminent she couldn’t shift her nerves at the thought of her father’s reaction to all she had done.
She checked through the spreadsheet she had spent days putting together detailing her ideas, the names of people who had agreed to become involved or help in some way, her stock, perceived times it would take her to grow or harvest a crop, and finally how much she expected to earn from the business each month.
She arched her back and yawned. It was almost seven thirty in the evening and it had been a long day. A long few weeks, she mused, spent either working on this plan or working on the farm. She hadn’t even had time to take Spud to meet Brodie and Derek for their evening walks on the beach, but reasoned that Spud spentmost of the day out with her on the farm following her around so didn’t need to be exercised with a walk, even though they both enjoyed meeting up with the others on the sandy beach.
The plan needed to be perfect but she had been looking at it for so long now, checking and rechecking the figures and the order of each different idea that it was all becoming a bit of a blur and she had no idea how to improve it further. Would it be enough to persuade her father should he still had misgivings about her taking over Hollyhock Farm?
Her mobile pinged, bringing her fretting to an end. She picked up her phone and looked at the screen, cheered up when she saw it was a text from Brodie.
Fancy supper at mine?
Her stomach rumbled in reply. She did. Her brother had popped in earlier but had left to meet friends in town for a meal and a few drinks. She needed reassurance from Brodie and the thought of not having to cook for herself was appealing.
Yes, please. What time do you want me and where?
I have food for you and Spud, so I’ll hope to see you at eight-ish.x
She noticed the kiss and immediately her mood leapt.
Great. See you soon.X
She saved her work and closed the laptop. Then, remembering the time, left the study and ran upstairs to take a quick shower and change into a clean pair of jeans and a T-shirt. As shewashed her hair, she pictured her shower with Brodie several weeks before. A warm glow spread through her. He really was gorgeous. She began humming and, not wanting to delay getting to see him again, quickly rinsed her hair and washed her body. After towel-drying her hair she decided to leave the curls to dry naturally.
