For the rest of that day, I forced myself (not always successfully) not to think about what had happened with Eliot in the barn, or speculate on what he had been going to say before Grandad found us.
It was exasperating to think that just as I had vowed to pare back my life, I’d completely lost control of my emotions, along with all common sense, and succumbed to my feelings. Both my body and my brain had taken full advantage of the unguarded situation and I’d foolishly allowed another complication in. I couldn’t deny it was an utterly seductive few seconds, but I hoped I’d be able to keep myself in check from then on in.
Mum’s presence felt very strong that afternoon and I knew she would have been mightily impressed that I had done something so spontaneous, that I’d let my heart rule my head without a thought for the consequences. But then that was her all over. She’d always been an act first, think later, type of woman and with mixed degrees of success. As a rule, I stuck to the rational and sensible path and that was where I was firmly planting my feet again.
Grandad and I had just finished clearing away after dinner that evening when the Banana-mobile arrived.
‘Evening, Bec,’ said Grandad, as he took in her smiling face. ‘You’re looking happy tonight, my love.’
‘I’m in a good mood and I’m off to the pub,’ she beamed. ‘I wondered if you might fancy it, Fliss?’
‘Oh yes,’ said Grandad, before I had even opened my mouth. ‘You should go, you’ve got plenty to celebrate.’
‘So have you,’ I pointed out. ‘Why don’t you come with us?’
‘Yes, do,’ said Bec. ‘The more the merrier. What are we celebrating?’
‘I don’t think I could keep pace with you, young things,’ he chuckled. ‘But you should definitely go Fliss. Spread the word about our plans.’
‘What plans are these?’ Bec asked again.
‘Or alternatively,’ he said, noticing Bec’s inquisitive expression, ‘just tell Bec here and let her do the rest for you.’
‘Hey,’ she protested. ‘I’m not that bad.’
‘I know plenty of folk who would beg to differ,’ Grandad good naturedly pointed out.
‘Is it anything to do with my brother by any chance?’ she guessed, not bothering to further defend her inability to keep a secret.
‘Sort of,’ Grandad and I said together.
‘I knew something was up,’ she mused. ‘He came home in a really weird mood earlier. It wouldn’t have anything to do with you and him, would it, Fliss?’
‘No,’ I said, blushing so hotly, that I had to turn away. ‘Of course not.’
Struggling again to push the memory and resultant tingling sensations aside, I gave myself a shake and almost made myself laugh out loud by mentally vowing that there would be no more pouncing on the hot biker.
I turned back to find Grandad and Bec exchanging what I could only describe as a loaded look, which nudged my determination to behave up another notch.
‘Go and get changed then,’ Bec urged, with a somewhat unsettling smile. ‘The pub will be closing at this rate.’
Chapter 21
Grandad left it to me to tell Bec what it was that I had in mind for the farm. She was as excited about it all as I was but in no way satisfied that it was entirely responsible for Eliot’s weird mood. However, knowing it would be a huge mistake to fess up, I kept the real reason for his Tiggerish behaviour to myself.
‘Oh look,’ she said as she swung the Banana-mobile into the market square, ‘that’s Anthony’s car, isn’t it?’
‘Anthony,’ I said, quickly jumping out the second Bec had applied the handbrake. ‘Are you heading to the pub by any chance?’
I hoped he was. It would be the perfect opportunity to take him to one side and set him straight about Eliot and tell him that I hadn’t been with him in The Mermaid the other night with a view to sussing him out at all.
It wasn’t until I got closer however, that I realised Anthony didn’t look in a particularly happy frame of mind. In fact, he had a face like thunder.
‘Afraid not,’ he tightly said in response to my question. ‘I was just about to ring and ask if you fancied a run over to this wine bar I know in Peterborough, but something’s come up and I’ve got to work.’
‘What, now?’ I frowned.
‘Yes,’ he said, chewing his lip and looking riled.
‘Oh,’ I said, ‘that’s a shame.’
I meant about him having to work in the evening, not about me missing out on the trip to the wine bar. The Mermaid was definitely more my scene.
‘Well, not to worry,’ he said, climbing in and starting his car. ‘We’ll do it another time. You’ve obviously got plans anyway.’
He sounded as narky about that as he did about having to work.
‘Come on,’ said Bec, as he sped away, ‘otherwise we’ll never get served.’
Luck was with me in the pub, not only because it was date night for Jemma and Lizzie and their respective partners, but also because Jake and Amber were enjoying a rare evening away from Skylark Farm too.
‘Just the folk I was hoping to see,’ I said to Bec, as I took a deep breath and plucked up the courage to approach them.
‘I’ll get us a drink,’ she kindly offered. ‘I’m on the lemonade because I’m driving, but you can have a drink, drink. In fact, I think you should. You’ve got more cause than ever to be celebrating tonight.’
‘You’re right,’ I said. ‘Thank you. I’ll have a G and T, please. Something fruity if they’ve got it.’
I didn’t have time to get too nervous about talking to the group as
