Appleby Farm Read Free Page A

well-suited.
    I half-walked, half-ran along the road towards Charlie’s plot and waved to Peter, the allotment committee chairman, as he appeared at the pavilion door, fastening the buttons of his anorak.
    ‘Afternoon, Freya. It’s a cool breeze, isn’t it? I think we might be in for a light frost tonight.’ He pulled a tweed flat cap out of his pocket and settled it on his balding head.
    ‘Hi, Pete. Yes, it is a bit chilly.’ I smiled and supressed a giggle. I’d yet to meet one member of the allotment community who wasn’t totally obsessed with the weather.
    ‘Changed your mind about joining the waiting list for your own plot yet?’ he called.
    I laughed and shook my head. ‘No time, these days. I’m too busy being Charlie’s assistant gardener.’
    Peter gave me a disappointed smile and touched his cap in a cute old-fashioned gesture, and I carried on my way.
    He asked me the same question every time I saw him, hoping to change my mind. I’d toyed with the idea of having my own plot last year and he had shown me round. But I was glad I didn’t go for it in the end; helping Charlie on his plot was a much better solution. I got to spend time outdoors, which I loved; I got to spend time with Charlie-boy, which I also loved; and I only had to do the nice bits (planting seeds and picking stuff) and not the grotty bits (spreading muck and digging up weeds).
    My stomach flipped as I spotted my gorgeous man further ahead in his greenhouse and I jogged the last few metres to join him. He was lifting huge bags of something or other onto shelves and didn’t spot me at first.
    The air in the greenhouse was warm and tinged with the fragrance of tomato plants. I leaned on the open door frame and watched him for a couple of seconds while he arranged growbags in rows with his back to me. He was wearing his old gardening jumper with holes in the sleeves, a woolly hat, jeans and an old pair of boots.
    ‘Hey.’
    Charlie turned around and grinned. ‘Hello, beautiful!’
    I squealed as he scooped me up and spun me round, knocking over a watering can and several plant pots in the process.
    ‘Put me down this instant and kiss me,’ I giggled breathlessly.
    ‘I love it when you’re bossy,’ he murmured, his blue eyes crinkling with humour as he did as he was told and lowered me to the ground.
    He unzipped my jacket and threaded his arms around my waist, pulling me close. I lifted my face to meet his and felt my body sigh as we kissed. His face was rough with stubble but his lips were full and soft. He smelled of earth and wood smoke and something sweeter … vanilla, maybe? Whatever it was, I approved. His kiss deepened and I stopped wondering about anything and reached up on my tiptoes to wrap my arms around his neck. When it was just us, him and me, close like this, it felt as if nothing could ever come between us, like we were the only two people in the universe who mattered.
    ‘What’s on the job list today, then?’ I asked, pulling back and smiling up at him. I snuggled my head against his chest and wriggled my fingers into the back pockets of his jeans while he rested his chin on my head.
    ‘Tomatoes,’ he said, easing us apart and dropping a kiss on my nose. ‘I thought you’d never come and help me plant them. I’ve got about twenty good ones to get in this afternoon. If you do a good job I’ll buy you a pint at The Feathers after.’
    ‘Payment in cider?’ I laughed, striking a pose and resting my hands on my hips. ‘What sort of girl do you think I am?’
    Charlie winked at me. ‘The best sort. Come on, Green Eyes, here’s a trowel.’
    He showed me the trays of seedlings and demonstrated how to lift them without damaging the soft stems and how to transplant them into the waiting growbags.
    ‘Is it me, or are there two different types here?’ I asked, looking from one tray to the other.
    ‘Clever girl,’ said Charlie, placing a soft kiss on the side of my neck, which gave me a warm feeling in