“Yeah. And…” I hesitated. “They burn your mouth so much you can focus on that. It’s nice. You should try it.”
She snorted. “I might give it a try. I love spicy food.”
“There’s a great Thai restaurant near my workshop, Thai Me Up. We could, I mean, if you want to—“ I snapped my mouth shut. I slowed down and drove into the roped-off field with a sign indicating it as McBride Farm’s car park.
“Are you asking me out, Mr Graham?”
Out of the corner of my eye I saw her wide grin but focused on steering the van over the bumpy ground and into an empty spot between two cars. Then I took a deep breath.
“Yes, I think I am.”
“Good. Shall we wait for the others outside?” Autumn beamed even wider as she opened her door and got out of the van. “They should be here in a few minutes,” she informed me, craning her neck to look around the car park.
“Right.” We strolled towards a decorated archway in the fence. Scarecrows and mountains of pumpkins flanked either side of the entrance.
I liked all her colleagues, especially Maeve, her boss, who had been one of the first people to believe in Wild Bull Roast. She would forever have a special place in my heart. But in all honesty, I couldn’t have cared less if they turned up or not. I hadher, and that was enough.
Beyond the wooden fence lay a sprawling farm with a stone cottage in the centre and a few smaller houses dotted around the perimeter of the courtyard.
More pumpkins, a tractor, and tables and benches built little islands around the yard and decorated the entrance of a maze made from straw bales.
Then a truck pulled up. I recognised Bee in the passenger seat.
Well, I guessed I had to share her, then. But perhaps I could whisk her away and steal a kiss from her in a secluded corner of the grounds.
Chapter Nine
Autumn
I’d never ventured out to this neck of the woods before but had religiously stalked the area before asking Ross on a date. Well, outing.
This is just friends hanging out, Autumn, nothing else. Your colleagues will be there. It’s not a date.
Why on earth did Ross look like a lumberjack thirst trap, then? Gosh, his new forest-green-and-cream plaid suited him too well. It had a subtle pattern, a rugged cut, and looked soft enough that I wanted to touch it just to see if it felt like his fur.
Wedidhave a date, though.
The prospect of going out for Thai food with Ross put a spring in my step. “Let’s say hi!”
I hooked my arm around his elbow and pulled him over to greet Bee and his partner. Kjartan was almost as terrible at social interactions as Ross was but they hit it off straight away.
“He built me a chicken coop,” Bee whispered in my ear as he hugged me. “I’llsomarry him.”
“I’ll come by to cuddle the chickens.”
My colleague giggled. “I’m not sure they’re cuddly. But they might make an exception for you.”
“Hello, Autumn,” Kjartan greeted me and he held out a scarred hand.
“It’s so good to see you again. A chicken coop, eh? The straightest way to this one’s heart.”
The Orc gave me an embarrassed grin. “I’ll build anything for him.” Kjartan huffed when Bee flung himself into his arms and kissed him.
“Gods, see? He’s perfect!”
“Oh no, just right for you, Vindur.”
A few minutes later, Taran, Maeve, and Stella arrived in an expensive off-road vehicle that looked brand new.
