Amethyst nodded. ‘I see. So, there was no squeaking door from your direction in the last eight hours or so, I take it?’
Heat hit Grey’s cheeks and must’ve flamed red hot if the look of delight on Amethyst’s face was anything to go by.
Grey held his hands up in denial. ‘Nothing happened, Ams. No squeaky doors.’
‘Nothing happened here?’ She poured the hot water into the mugs, then turned and leaned against the bench. ‘Spill. Or your tea gets it.’
‘Gets it?’
‘Have sink. Will use.’ She folded her arms across her chest and raised her brows, daring him to deny her the news she clearly wanted to hear.
Grey crossed the room in two strides and swiped his cup out from behind Amethyst’s back. ‘I’ve rescued my tea and now I don’t have to say a word.’
Her bottom lip dropped into a pout. ‘You’re no fun.’
‘Well a gentleman never kisses and tells.’
Amethyst’s bottom lip lifted once more, along with the corners of her lips. ‘Which means you kissed, which is all I wanted to hear.’ Amethyst offered him a quiet slow clap. ‘Good work, you. Finally. Honestly, watching you and Han dance around each other with all that smouldering tension and all those unresolved issues and quiet, flickering lust – I’ve had to stop myself yelling at you both to just deal with your inner demons and get it on already more times than I care to count.’
Grey went to the fridge and took out the milk for the tea. ‘Here I was thinking my issues and tension and interest were well hidden.’
‘You’d make a terrible actor. Both of you would.’ She took the milk, added it to her tea then carried the mug to the small table in the corner of the kitchen. ‘So, if you’re not going to let me in on the nitty-gritty, then can you at least tell me that things are going to work out?’
Grey shook his head, not quite understanding what Amethyst meant. ‘What do you mean “that things are going to work out”? We didn’t go our separate ways last night on bad terms, if that’s what you’re getting at.’ A tendril of hope stirred low in his stomach and began to weave its way upwards. Did Amethyst know something he didn’t? Had she and Hannah talked about Hannah’s future? What she wanted? Who she wanted? Perhaps most important of all… where she wanted to be?
‘Well that’s a start, I guess.’ She anchored her hand in her mussed hair and tugged at it, frustration causing a tiny line to bloom between her brows.
‘Watch it, your Botox is cracking.’ Grey stuck his tongue out.
‘He jokes. Who knew?’ Amethyst softly kicked him under the table. ‘It’s funny to think that when I first got here you were so surly I was afraid to look at you. Now you’re all sunshine and rainbows and jokes-at-my-expense. A joke, I’ll have you know, that is unfounded. At the moment. Excellent genetics are at play on this forehead of mine, for the time being. But, never say never. Like, I’d prefer to remain Botox-free, but I love my job and if that means a smooth forehead ensures I can get youthful jobs longer and help navigate that tricky middle-age period we actresses go through…’ Amethyst shrugged and gave him an unapologetic smile. ‘Sometimes we have to do the things we’d rather not for the things we love, right?’
Grey tensed as he worked out what Amethyst was telling him. He’d have to do something he’d rather not in order to be with Hannah for good? Like leave the cottage? Leave his job? Leave Strawberry Farm? He attempted to suppress the shiver that started at the base of his spine. Failed.
‘Cold?’ Amethyst’s brows rose as she lifted her mug to her lips. ‘Or realising changes are on the horizon?’
Grey dragged his hand over his eyes and let out a stress-relieving sigh. ‘How do you do it, Ams? Let people in? Trust them?’
Amethyst shook her head. ‘I don’t understand?’
‘Well, take Matt. He’s so light-hearted I’m amazed he doesn’t float away on a breath of wind. I wouldn’t be able to trust someone like that, and you have, even though he could sell his story of the time he’s spent with you to a tabloid. Or take me? You happily came to stay at mine not even really knowing me.’
‘I see what you mean.’ Amethyst sipped her tea, then placed it back on the table. ‘In your case I knew I’d be fine because Hannah trusted you. And if Hannah trusted you, then I knew I could too. As for Matt? Would you believe I had him sign an NDA?’
‘A non-disclosure agreement? Really? I mean, I don’t live with my head in a hole – I’ve read that sort of thing happens. But I can’t see Matt signing one of those just for a shag?’
Amethyst slapped her hand on the table repeatedly as silent laughter shook her shoulders. ‘Another bad joke. The guy’s a comedian! Who knew? God, Grey, you’re a treasure. No wonder Hannah’s into you. “Just for a shag”. Charming.’
Another flush hit his face. First one foot in his mouth. Then the next. At this rate he’d be all of out of limbs to fit in his gob.
‘Want to further insult me? Or would you rather grill me about Hannah?’
He tried not to squirm in his seat. A fresh burst of laughter from Amethyst told him he’d failed. He covered his face with his hands and shook his head. ‘I’m just going to shut up. Say nothing. Not that it’d help, it seems you’ve got it all figured out anyhow. You know better than I about what’s going on with the Hannah situation.’
Firm fingers gripped his wrists and pulled his hands down. ‘I don’t have all that much figured out. Not really. I’m just good at seeing what’s right in front of my face. The rest is guesswork. Experienced guesswork. The joy of slipping into people’s shoes for a living.’
‘So does that mean Matt didn’t have to sign any kind of agreement?’
Amethyst released his wrists and sat back in her chair. ‘No. He offered to before I even had to ask – not that I would’ve. Honestly, for a flirt his romantic timing is terrible. I was just about to go in for the kiss and he stopped me and got all nervous.’ She shook her head at the memory. ‘I thought he was going to tell me that I’d read the situation wrong and he didn’t like me like that.’
‘But he just wanted to do right by you…’ Grey finished her sentence off.
‘Exactly.’ Amethyst spun the mug around lazily. ‘But doesn’t everyone? Want to do right by the people they care about?’
Grey thought back to the people who’d cared about him throughout his life and how they’d done right by him, even when he hadn’t thought they were.
His father had taken off, abandoned their family, never to get in touch again. Grey had always thought it a selfish thing, but the flashes of arguing he remembered between his parents made him wonder if it wasn’t the best thing his father could have done – left them alone to live a more peaceful life. His mother had gone on to work herself to the bone, perhaps even to death given the heart attack that had taken her away at an early age – she’d chosen not being there in order to give them food, shelter, security. To do her best by her boys.
And then there was Hannah. Hannah who’d loved him the most, or so she’d said. Hannah who’d left him without a word and avoided him on the rare occasion she’d returned. Hannah who’d apologised, Hannah who’d explained, Hannah who’d spent her childhood trying to do right by her father only to believe her right was wrong, and that she needed to find her own right.
But she was back. And happy. And she’d kissed him. Did that make him her right? Did it make her his?
And could he trust her to do right by him whatever their future held? To not hurt him any further?
‘I can almost see the cogs in your brain spinning out of control. Does your head ache?’ Amethyst cupped her chin in her hand. ‘Mine aches just looking at you.’
‘Are you leaving soon?’ Grey shot back. ‘Because I’m not a fan of being inspected and picked over and found wanting.’
‘You don’t like feeling like a second-rate strawberry, then?’
‘Does anyone?’
‘No.’ Amethyst shook her head then stood. ‘I guess they don’t. Speaking of leaving, I h
ave to finish packing and then get out of here before your mad mob of festival lovers arrive. Walk with me.’
Grey saluted Amethyst and followed her through to the guest room. Clothing was draped over every available space and the dressing table was a mess of makeup.
‘How did you manage to create this much of a tip in such a short time?’
Amethyst shrugged as she rolled clothing into tight wads and stuffed them in her suitcase. ‘I’m used to having a maid.’
‘I feel sorry for your maid.’
‘And I feel sorry for the woman who falls in love with you and is forced to keep things as tidy as you do.’ Amethyst swept her makeup into a massive hot-pink cosmetics case. ‘I’d warn Hannah but it’s too late for her to back out. You’ll just have to learn to live with her cluttered ways.’
‘Hannah’s cluttered?’ Grey hadn’t thought about what adult-Hannah would be like. What her quirks were. How she lived her life. Hell, even as kids he hadn’t known. Between Sylvia and Jill, the Beety household was a tightly run ship. Everything had its place and everything was always spotless. He’d assumed that would’ve rubbed off on Hannah. Not that it mattered. It wasn’t like they were going to move in together.
Or would they one day? But what would that look like? Who would be the one to take the risk? To move their world to the other person’s? Or would they have to? Could Hannah have a base at the farm, or at his cottage, and travel for work?
‘There goes that brain again. Click-click-click.’
Emotional exhaustion hit Grey like a tsunami. He was tired of trying to figure everything out when he didn’t know anything to begin with. Tired of trying to see through Amethyst’s hints and meaningful words that meant nothing to him.
He leaned into the doorframe and let it take the weight of his body. If only it could take the weight off his mind. And his heart. ‘Are you saying that Hannah and I have a chance?’
Amethyst finished rolling and stuffing her clothes into her suitcase and zipped it up with an air of finality. One that Grey couldn’t help but think echoed whatever was going to happen with him and Hannah. This may be their second chance but it also felt like their only chance. Whatever happened next would echo through the rest of their lives.
‘All I’m saying is that she likes you, you like her, but something – or someone – is going to have to give if it’s going to work. If you two can figure that out you’ll be set.’ She hauled her case off the bed and set it down on the floor. ‘Call me a sucker for a romance, but I really do hope you two get your happy ending.’
‘Thanks, Ams. So do I.’ And to Grey’s surprise he meant it, wholeheartedly. Nearly three weeks ago the last thing he’d wanted was anything to do with Hannah, now he wanted everything to do with her.
Everything, forever.
But as Amethyst had rightly said, something or someone was going to have to give, and he didn’t know how or what that would look like, let alone who would have to do the giving. The way he saw it, both he and Hannah had as many cons as they had pros in giving up their lives for the other.
The optimism that had arisen during his chat with Amethyst dampened as fear clenched his heart and sat heavy in his belly. Could he leave everything he’d ever known and loved for a life with Hannah? Could he let go of the security that had kept his heart safe?
‘Click-click-click.’
Amethyst’s gentle teasing brought him back to earth. He returned her gentle, empathetic smile.
‘You know, for a person who could suck all the oxygen from the air if they wanted, you’re all right, Ams.’
‘And for a person who has the chance to break my best friend’s heart, I’m really rather fond of you, Grey.’
Her smile transformed into a grin as she stretched her arms wide for a hug.
He stepped into it and swallowed her in a bear hug. ‘You’re welcome here, anytime.’
She stepped away, shouldered her tote and grabbed her makeup case. ‘Matt too?’
‘As long as he promises not to flirt with my girlfriend.’
‘That’s fighting talk. I like it. You fight, Grey. You win.’ Amethyst shouldered her tote, grabbed her makeup case and with a cheeky wink let herself out of the cottage.
A rev of her car’s engine told Grey she was off, ready to tell another person’s tale.
As for him? Grey had a feeling his next chapter was about to begin.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The happy honk-honk of a car’s horn disturbed Hannah from going over her mental checklist of all the things that needed to be done before the festival opened. She glanced up to see Amethyst’s hand waving madly out of her car’s window.
She jogged the few steps over to her and leaned in for a hug and kiss on the cheek.
‘You’re off I take it?’
Amethyst nodded. ‘I am. But first I’ve got to pick up a boy.’
‘Another one? You move fast.’ Hannah wrinkled her nose and stuck the tip of her tongue out to show she was joking. ‘So you and Matt are going to be more than a holiday fling?’
Light danced in Amethyst’s eyes that had nothing to do with the early morning sun that was peeking up over the horizon. ‘I think so. I hope so. He’s a bit lovely, that one. So much fun, totally unpretentious, and I like that he’s not threatened by my fabulousness.’ She widened her eyes and tossed her hair back in a dramatic fashion. ‘I’m not going to hold my breath that this is going to last because, Lord knows, my track record’s not the greatest, but I’m not going to let this chance pass me by either.’
Hannah grinned as Amethyst pinned her with a meaningful stare. She didn’t have to ask to know that was her way of telling Hannah not to stuff things up with Grey.
‘So where are you two lovebirds flying off to?’
Amethyst drummed her fingers on the steering wheel and pursed her lips in thought. ‘First, LA. I have meetings and Matt’s keen to check out the surf that way. Then I’m shooting in Australia, so if he’s not sick of me by then I told him he’s more than welcome to stay with me and use the time to head home and visit family, surf some more, whatever suits.’
An unbridled grin broke out on Amethyst’s face that told Hannah this fling with Matt was more serious than Amethyst was making out.
‘He told me he wasn’t going to be my Adonis-like surfing toy boy and that if he was with me he’d need to be working as well. I mean, really. He’s almost too good to be true.’
‘Almost?’
‘He doesn’t leave the room when he farts. Doesn’t lock the blankets down either.’
‘What a caveman.’ Hannah shook her head in mock-disapproval.
‘I know, right? Still…’ Amethyst let out a long-suffering sigh ‘…if that’s what I have to put up with in order to keep him around, and he’s willing to put up with my silly wigs and at times covert lifestyle, then I guess we’ll muddle along just fine.’
‘I guess you will.’ Hannah leaned in and hugged Amethyst once more. ‘I’m happy you’re happy.’
‘And I’m happy you’re happy,’ Amethyst whispered back. ‘You are happy, aren’t you?’
Hannah pulled away and met her friend’s serious gaze. ‘I am.’
‘And what do we do when we find happiness?’
‘We don’t screw it up.’ Hannah gritted her teeth into the best facsimilie [HN48]of a smile she could manage.
‘There’s a reassuring smile if ever I saw one.’ Amethyst laughed. ‘Just promise me you’ll listen to your heart and not your head. And that you’ll make time in your busy farming schedule to do my makeup when I really, really need you.’
‘You make it sound like I’m planning to stay. I have a job, remember, and a life back in London? One that I’m due to go home to later today?’
‘Sure you do. For the time being.’ Amethyst’s knowing stare was back as she put the car into gear and revved the engine in a final farewell.
Hannah stepped back and watched her friend until she curved her way around the bend in the road onto what Han
nah hoped would be her happily ever after. Amethyst, with her big heart and loving ways, deserved it.
Her heart twinged as she realised how much she was going to miss having Amethyst around. It had been a treat to have her stay for as long as she had, their work keeping them apart for long periods at a time. And when they did chat over the internet it was fleeting, their schedules keeping them too busy for deep and meaningfuls.
Hannah turned to Grey’s cottage, her heart filling with happiness as she saw him standing in the doorway, taking up almost every inch of available space.
Part of her wanted to run to him, to wrap her arms around him, bring him close, and smother him in kisses. The other part warned her that doing so would give him hope, would eventually hurt him when she went back to her life.
Promise me you’ll listen to your heart and not your head.
She’d only just left but already Amethyst’s words were ringing urgently in Hannah’s ears.
What did her heart want?
Grey. To be with Grey. To do her best by Grey.
To love Grey.
Because she did love him. Because part of her, a part she’d buried as far down as she could, had never stopped loving him.
And what did doing her best by Grey look like?
Returning home. For good.
Could she?
She knew the answer. It was the same answer that had been buried with her love for Grey.
She could. It was what she’d always wanted, but dared not dream of after hearing her father’s doubts. But those doubts had been cleared away, which meant there was nothing stopping her from returning home. From being with Grey.
She’d need to return to London to finish up her existing commitments. Find a tenant for her flat. Tidy up loose ends. Then she’d be free.
Grey wanted all or nothing? She was ready to give him her all.
‘Morning.’ She half-skipped, half-ran towards Grey, her heart bubbling with excitement. ‘Ready for a big day?’ She tilted her head up in order to kiss him.
‘Sure am.’ He turned from her, like he’d not seen the tilt of her head, locked the cottage’s door and headed up the path, across the lane and back onto the farm, leaving her to jog in order to catch up with him.
Sunrise at Strawberry Farm: As delightfully delicious as strawberries and cream, this is the perfect summer romance to read in 2020. Page 17