Page 79 of My Kind of Happy

I was delighted at the idea; I’d enjoyed teaching Sam and if his team members were anything like him it would be fun – if a little cramped. ‘Are they all as broad as you?’ I nodded to the space around the work table.

His eyes crinkled with pleasure and he laughed. ‘I’ll take that as a compliment. But don’t worry, we’re used to squeezing up. You should see the size of our changing room.’

The thought of eleven men, all as attractive as him in one room delayed my response for a moment and Sam mistook my silence for reluctance.

‘And we’d want to pay you for your time and your expertise, not just for the flowers,’ he added hurriedly.

Teaching a group wasn’t something I’d done before, but this week seemed to be a week of firsts. He stared hopefully at me; how could I resist those blue eyes?

‘Would a Saturday night suit you?’

‘So you’ll do it? Thanks, Fearne.’ His eyes shone. ‘The lads will be chuffed.’

We flicked through the diary and found a Saturday night which had nothing written on it. If he noticed that actually none of my evenings had any engagements he didn’t mention it.

‘Obviously I’ll be besieged with offers of hot dates between now and then,’ I said, airily, ‘but don’t worry, I’ll turn them down.’

‘Thank you, you’re an absolute star!’ He grabbed my shoulders and planted a kiss on my cheek. ‘We’ve got a cricket match the next day, so we’ll be able to present them to the ladies as a thank you for always putting on a good spread at the cricket teas.’

How quintessentially quaint. My mind conjured up a summer’s day with the ladies cheering on their men before darting off to the pavilion to serve up cucumber sandwiches and bite-sized slices of quiche.

‘Even Pandora?’ The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. ‘Sorry. I mean … with you being separated for a while.’

‘Even Pandora.’ He stroked the side of his face and I got the impression he was hiding a smile. ‘Although admittedly our contribution generally comes from a certain upmarket supermarket. The summer is too short to be in the kitchen making your own sausage rolls, she reckons.’

‘I’m with her on that one,’ I said. Finally, something she and I agreed on. ‘Well, the cricket team’s floral workshop is in the diary. So it’s a date.’

Scamp leapt to his feet with an excited yap and Sam and I turned to find Biddy hovering at the door.

‘Ooh,’ said Biddy, beaming. ‘A romantic liaison? How thrilling.’

‘That’s right, Biddy,’ I grinned. ‘I’ve got a date with an entire cricket team.’

‘Ah, those were the days.’ She winked at Sam cheekily.

‘Biddy, you dark horse!’ I exclaimed, introducing them to each other.

‘That sounds like a story I should stay and listen to,’ he said with a grin. ‘But I’ve got an appointment with another troublesome tenant.’

‘Another one? I hope you’re not lumping me in that category?’ I pretended to be affronted.

‘Not at all,’ he said. ‘At least not any more.’

Just then Lucas’s excited face appeared at the window before he burst into the shop.

‘The most romantic thing ever has just happened in the gift shop,’ he cried, fanning his face with his hand. ‘I’ve got to tell you or I’ll explode.’

Sam laughed. ‘Now I really want to stay. Fearne, you have all the fun in this place but I must go; please excuse me, everyone.’ He bent down to Scamp’s bed to say goodbye and walked to the door. ‘See you a week on Saturday.’

‘Oh, I almost forgot!’ He stopped and dug down into his back pocket. ‘Remember I told you about that special rub I do?’

‘Ooh?’ Biddy’s eyes twinkled. ‘Like bowlers do with their cricket balls?’

Sam threw his head back and laughed. ‘No, not quite.’

‘Um, no I don’t think I do,’ I replied, willing my face not to flush under Biddy’s curious gaze.

‘I don’t either but I’m all ears,’ Lucas murmured, resting his forearms on the counter.