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“Thank you. So where are we off to today?” Changing the subject quickly before he can give me those sad eyes when I don’t say it back to him.
“It’s a surprise. We need to celebrate you selling the house, and being free, while I celebrate having you back in my life, all to myself.”
An hour later, after leaving the house, we are at a farm, in a field, with a basket in each hand. It’s not really the date I had imagined, but fruit picking is a nice way to spend a few hours, I’ve not done it for years.
“Are you ready? We are heading over to the polytunnels first to pick some strawberries.” As we walk over through the field side by side, he holds my hand. It feels nice, our fingers intertwined. It’s a beautiful warm day, the sun is shining. Jack looks sexier than ever, in a pair of faded jeans and a black t-shirt. I, on the other hand, not knowing where we were going, put on a green mini-dress, and a pair of pumps – not really ideal for fruit picking but it will have to do.
“Just over there, can you see?” He points to where we are heading; there are five massive tunnels, all full of strawberries.
As we walk into the first tunnel, I see rows upon rows of bright red juicy strawberries, but something catches my eye just to the left. I notice a picnic blanket set up just outside, under the large tree. I watch Jack as a smile slowly creeps over his face.
“Our first official date, what do you think?”
“Jack, it’s perfect! You did this?” The picnic blanket has been laid out with cushions, a basket sat in the centre, full of fresh food, and a bottle of champagne in a cooler, with two glasses to the side of it.
“I had some help,” he says, taking my hand again, leading me to the blanket, and letting me sit down.
“It’s beautiful, can we still pick some strawberries?” He sits next to me and stretches his legs out in front of him, leaning back on his hands.
“Yep, we have this all day. It’s just us with no one to bother us.”
“How? No, don’t tell me, let me guess, you own it?” That stupid smile on his face says it all.
“Yes, I own it. It supplies the hotel with its produce, the restaurant and café are amazing. Joe and Abby do an amazing job.” He smiles.
“I love that you are so passionate about all of your businesses. Oh that reminds me, I want to ask you something about the cottage.”
“You’re still not paying rent.”
“No, well I don’t want to pay rent. How much is the cottage worth?”
“Why? Do you want to buy it?” He laughs a little like I made a joke.
“Yes, I want to buy it. Like I told you, I sold my house and I want to invest in a property here, what better one than the cottage, you know how much I love it.” I feel like I’m pleading my case a little, but I need to do something with the money I’ll get from the sale.
“Wait, you’re serious?” He sits up, moving closer to me, putting my hand in his.
“Of course I’m serious. It means I can live there, it will be mine, and we won’t have to argue about rent anymore. I know you have been putting it back into my bank account.”
“You do huh.” That sheepish smirk spreads across his face.
“Of course I know, I’m not stupid. It’s sweet of you, but I want this. No, I need this.” I do, I’ve needed to be independent for a while, have something that was mine, just mine. I needed him to understand.
“I know you don’t understand, but this is a big deal for me. I’ve never had something that’s all mine.”
He leans back and rests his arms under his head, closing his eyes. Sitting up a little more, I straddle his lap and place a soft kiss on his lips, my hair cascading down over his shoulder.
Jack places a hand on my thigh, and runs his fingers through my hair, opening his eyes. He looks at me and smiles that smile that makes me want him over and over again. The way his lips curve up at one side, it is so sexy.
“I understand, I’ll have my lawyers sort it out. How much can you afford? From what I remember, it was valued at just under £350,000. I don’t want you to take on too much. You are already working three jobs.”
I kiss him so deeply and I can feel his desire rising under my dress. After a minute, I come back up for air, placing my hands on his chest.
“I can afford it, don’t worry, and I’ll hopefully be giving up one or two of my jobs soon.”
“Wait.” He sits up with me, still straddling his lap, “What do you mean you can afford it?”
“The sale of my house will cover it. It made a little more than I expected. Well a lot more than I expected really, I had no idea.”
