When Zac joined Melody and Lettie up at the top field later that day, Melody explained to him about the camp bed idea. ‘We were wondering if you had any thoughts about how to source some? We only need them for the two days of the festival.’
Lettie walked on ahead, continuing to harvest the beetroot crop they had been busy working through.
He thought for a moment. ‘I might be able to come up with something. We have a few hire shops over here but apart from a carpet cleaner I hired once, I’ve no idea what else they might stock.’
‘Carpet cleaner?’ She grinned, unable to help herself picturing him with his sleeves rolled up and an apron around his waist.
‘Er, I can see by the expression on your face that you’re having unnecessary thoughts about me.’
‘Unnecessary?’ Melody laughed. She wasn’t sure what he meant but by the cheeky expression on his face could take a good guess. It was a relief to have Zac back to how he usually was around her. ‘I am not.’
‘No? Then what were you thinking, because it wasn’t about the carpet cleaner – I’m certain about that.’
She giggled, enjoying their fun flirtation. ‘I was imagining you with a pinny around your waist.’
His eyes widened. ‘I hope I was wearing something underneath.’
Melody threw her head back in laughter. ‘Of course you were. Honestly, what do you take me for?’ Although now he had asked the question, her thoughts raced back to him lying on top of her kissing her in a way she had only ever imagined being kissed before. The thought of his toned arms as he lowered himselfonto her and how his muscular back would feel under her fingers made her mouth go dry.
He raised an eyebrow and she realised he was watching her, a smile on his face. Could he sense what she was thinking? ‘Fine. I am thinking that,’ she fibbed, ‘but I wasn’t until you said something about not wearing any clothes.’
‘Nosedive?’ Patsy asked, a glint in her pale blue eyes as she walked up behind Melody.
Melody closed her eyes, mortified to have the attention on them. There was nothing wrong with her grandmother’s hearing; that much was obvious. She racked her brains to come up with a believable answer but couldn’t think of anything.
Patsy noticed Lettie. ‘I’m not sure why the pair of you are standing here messing about when poor Lettie is doing all the work.’ She picked up a basket by Melody’s feet and handed it to her. ‘Come along then. It’s not as if any of us have time to stand around chatting.’
Zac went to pick up one of the sacks Lettie had left on the ground waiting to be filled while Melody followed her grandmother. He was soon walking next to her again and Melody felt her hand brush his before taking hold of it.
‘I’m sorry I’ve been distant,’ he said, holding her back slightly to give some distance between them and Patsy.
‘It’s fine,’ she said, enjoying having his hand holding hers.
She had rarely held hands with Rhys and loved the feel of Zac’s skin against hers. His hands weren’t soft like her ex’s who spent his time working at a computer. She liked the firmness of Zac’s grip. Of every part of him that she had come across so far. Not that she had come across much, apart from his arms and back, but she had also felt his hard stomach when she had pulled him against her in the meadow and they had kissed. His lips. Now they were probably the best part of him, she decided. His lips against hers. Forgetting she was supposed tobe looking where she was going, she felt his hand pull on hers, only just managing to stop her slamming into the back of her grandmother.
‘What are you doing?’ Patsy asked, spinning round to face her.
Zac let go of her hand. ‘Sorry, Gran,’ she said. ‘I was thinking about something else.’
She saw Zac smile from the corner of her eye and wondered if he had been thinking similar thoughts to hers.
She wasn’t sure how long she and Zac would have this connection, or if they had any future at all, especially as she was supposed to be returning to Scotland in a month when her time at Hollyhock Farm came to an end, but she had no intention of thinking about that too deeply today. Today she was happy and wanted to keep that joy in her heart for as long as possible.
21
ZAC
Zac was conflicted. On the one hand he couldn’t wait for the festival to be over and get back to some sense of normality. On the other hand, he knew that when it was over Melody would probably be heading back to Scotland with her grandmother and he would be setting off on tour for a few months. The thought saddened him. He wasn’t ready to part ways with her. He wondered if he would ever be ready.
He and Melody had been given the job of adding the final businesses to the marketing page on their website and finalising the programme, and so far it had taken them hours. Six long hours. As much as he resented being inside and having to sit still for so long and stare at a screen on such a beautiful day, at least he was spending the time with Melody.
He was relieved their friendship, if that’s what it was, appeared to be back on track and the awkwardness they had felt after their kiss and Callum’s arrival at the farm that same night had gone. He enjoyed her company the more he got to know her, but she still hadn’t confided in him any further about her ex and their relationship. Maybe it was a good thing he didn’t know how serious her past relationship had been. He liked herand thankfully she seemed to like him. Melody was a free spirit like her gran and the pair of them had certainly brought a fun atmosphere to Hollyhock Farm.
Right now Lettie was with Patsy delivering posters to be put up at the library, cafés and bookshops. He and Melody had produced them and he had been impressed with her idea to add a QR code to promotional material for people to scan and see the latest version of the programme and buy their tickets.
‘I have a feeling you, me, Patsy and Lettie are probably going to need to treat ourselves to some of the treatments on offer at this festival.’
‘Especially your sister,’ Melody said, leaning forward and peering at the screen. She clicked the mouse a couple of times. ‘There. I think that’s it. At least I hope it is.’ She sat back and closed her eyes, pressing the heels of her palms against them.
