by Lisa Hobman
He shrugged. ‘With Dillon’s shock departure. You being forced to go to Scotland under duress. And Abbie from Accounts was in tears this morning too. There’s just this weird atmosphere. No one’s saying anything and Noah’s walking round like a bear with a sore arse.’
Zara sighed and nodded. ‘Yeah, I know what you mean. It does feel a bit strange. I’m hoping it’s just an ego thing where Dillon’s concerned. Maybe he feels he’s not being challenged any more. And there’s no law against moving jobs. Like they say, all’s fair in love and business.’
Marco scrunched his brow. ‘War, Zee. All’s fair in love and war.’
She raised her eyebrows. ‘Okay, Shelley.’ She laughed. ‘But you said it yourself about the atmosphere. Pretty war-ish to me.’
Marco sighed. ‘Ugh, this is just too depressing. Let’s change the subject, eh?’
‘Okay, let’s. So how do I get out of this camping trip without letting Noah down big style?’
Marco huffed. ‘Oh, honey, I think that ship has sailed. I think you’re going and I think you know it. So, anyway, do you want me and Shells to come shopping with you for camping gear?’
Zara shook her head. Although she loved them dearly, she knew, from past experience, that the two of them would only make matters worse and that the outing would drag on longer than necessary. Besides, she was in the perfect situation to find everything she needed, seeing as Josh managed an outdoor clothing and accessories shop. She’d simply wait until he could fit her in for some very personal shopping. ‘Nah, it’s okay. I think I need to put on my big-girl knickers and do this alone.’
He grinned. ‘Oh, you’re so brave. And you never know, this might all be a ruse to get you into one of the places the stars go to holiday.’
If only, Zara thought. ‘Not with my luck.’
Shelley returned with a tray of drinks that she placed carefully on the table. ‘So, when are we off shopping for camping gear, Zee? I’m guessing sooner rather than later. Oh, and you’ll need bloody comfy shoes, that’s for certain. I discovered, to my horror, that hiking in normal trainers just doesn’t cut it. When Jake took me walking last summer I thought my feet were going to drop off at the end. Had to soak them for days after. And you need a good rucksack. One that you can get everything in but that isn’t too heavy. And you need a breathable one too or your back will be all sweaty. Yuck.’
‘Bloody hell, Shells, let the woman get a word in, will you? She doesn’t want us to go shopping with her,’ Marco informed Shelley in his inimitable bitchy way.
Shelley flopped into a chair. ‘Seriously? You’d deny your best friends the chance to help you?’ She stuck out her lip like a petulant child.
Zara cringed and took a large gulp of her wine before speaking. ‘I think I can probably get everything I need from Josh’s store. And I need to get used to the fact that I’ll be out there, alone, in the wilderness, all by myself. Might as well start as I’m being forced to go on.’
Marco snorted. ‘God, you’re being so bloody melodramatic. It’s a camping trip, you’re not being sent to the bloody front line. Honestly, Zara, you’re such a wuss.’
‘Oh, yeah, and you’d be so-o-o brave out there camping all alone, wouldn’t you?’
‘Yes, Shelley, I would be brave. Because it’s a bloody holiday, not a concentration camp. I think you’re overthinking it. I really do. And anyway, it’s me you should be feeling sorry for. I might end up living in a bloody tent for real.’
Both women turned their attention on him simultaneously. ‘What do you mean by that?’ Zara asked, concern for her friend now taking over the worries about midges and blisters.
Marco huffed. ‘The guy who owns my flat has decided to sell. I’ve got a month left to find something. I… I didn’t want to say anything because I thought I’d find somewhere relatively easily – I mean, I’m the perfect house-mate. And I know what you two interfering old biddies are like when you’re worried about me,’ he said, a teasing tone to his voice.
‘Oh, my God, Marco. You should’ve said something. Jake and I have a spare room if—’
‘Really, Shells? And listen to you two shagging all hours of the day and night? Ugh, no chance.’ He was laughing but Zara could sense a hint of sadness in his expression.
‘Move in with me!’ Zara blurted. ‘It’s the perfect solution! I’ve been thinking that it would be good to get a lodger and at least I know you, warts and all. It would be fun.’
‘Really?’ Marco’s brow crumpled in disbelief. ‘You mean it?’
Shelley folded her arms and feigned annoyance. ‘Oh, so you won’t listen to me and Jake shagging but you’ll listen to Zara singing out of tune in the shower?’
Marco mirrored her stance. ‘Honey, at least Zara showers alone.’
Shelley shrugged. ‘Fair point.’
‘But, Zee, what about Josh? Won’t he want to move in?’
Zara shook her head. ‘I don’t think he’s ready for that yet. We haven’t talked about it but if something like that happens in the future, we’ll deal with it then. At least you’ll have a home in the meantime, eh?’
Marco clapped his hands and did a little chair dance. ‘Thank you so much, honey. You’ve literally saved my life.’
Shelley snorted. ‘Now who’s being a drama queen?’
Marco scowled at Shelley and a sense of relief washed over Zara. At least now she wouldn’t return home from Scotland to an empty home with no one to rant at. ‘So, are you in?’
‘Hell, yes, I’m bloody in. Girls’ nights here we come!’ Marco lurched forward and hugged Zara tight. ‘When can I move in?’
‘Whenever the heck you like!’
5
Zara was rudely awoken by her Florence and the Machine ringtone and, with closed eyes, she reached out to grab her phone.
‘Hello?’ she croaked.
‘Hello there, gorgeous. Have you missed me?’
Zara sat up and grinned. ‘Hey, Josh. I really have missed you. When did you get back?’
‘Oh, not until late last night so I didn’t want to bother you. How are you doing? I didn’t really understand your text. Something about hating Noah and being eaten alive?’ He chuckled.
She sighed. ‘Ugh… yes, he’s given me a terrible assignment and I can’t get out of it.’
‘Define terrible.’
‘Five hundred miles of cycling and bloody camping.’ She knew her despondency shone through in her monotonous tone.
‘Really? Don’t tell me he’s sending you on the NC500?’
Zara scowled. ‘How did you figure that out? And yes.’
‘Oh, Zara it’s a fantastic route. The scenery, the fresh air. Honestly, it’s bloody awesome!’
‘Says the man who’d happily live in a tent permanently.’
‘Yeah, I know but, wow. I’m actually jealous of this assignment. That’s a first, eh?’
It was true. Josh was outdoors obsessed. Whether it was rock climbing, white-water rafting, camping, you name it and he loved it. Zara often wondered what the hell he was doing with someone so outdoors averse.
‘And you know what this means? You can come to the shop and I’ll kit you out. I can’t wait to see you in some sexy walking boots and combat pants,’ he said huskily.
She couldn’t help giggling at the mental image he’d just created. ‘Oh, yes, so very sexy.’
‘Oh, it will be, you just wait. And you never know, if it’s quiet we could sneak into one of the fitting rooms.’
‘Josh! I’m not having sex with you in a bloody fitting room.’
‘Spoilsport. Anyway, movie and a takeaway at yours tonight?’
‘Sounds good. Can’t wait.’
‘It’s a date, then. See you later gorgeous.’
*
Zara cuddled up on the sofa with Josh but couldn’t help the twinge of guilt that tugged at her. Marco had chosen the same day to move in and, knowing Josh was coming round, he had exiled himself to his new room, insisting it was absolutely fine.
They were on to their second bottle of wine and the film had finished. Josh turned to her and stroked her cheek with his thumb. ‘God, I’ve missed you. We need to try and organise our time better so that our trips away coincide in future.’
He leaned close and brushed her lips with his. She slipped her hands into his shaggy, dirty-blond hair and deepened the kiss as heat rose from within her and her desire for him grew. Josh was simply gorgeous, in that tall, rugged surfer way. Originally from the north east of England, he had a sexy as hell accent that she could listen to all day and never tire of it. He was muscular and lean on account of all the climbing he did, and his eyes were sometimes blue but sometimes green depending on the light.
He pulled away from her and rubbed his nose down the length of hers. ‘I want you naked now, Bailey.’ He grinned.
Her stomach flipped and she began unbuttoning her shirt under his watchful, lust-filled gaze. Once her shirt was open he swiped off his T-shirt and quickly unzipped and slipped off his jeans and boxers. Zara could feel her pupils dilating as she took in the epitome of masculinity before her and she reached up to drag her nails lightly down his toned abdomen.
‘Ooh! Hi, Josh, it’s fine, thanks; I don’t need a parking space for my bike. Been working out, have you? Very nice,’ Marco said as he appeared in the living room.
‘Shit… fuck…’ Josh, now as red as the pillar boxes on the street, immediately crouched to grab his clothes and cover his manhood.
Zara burst into a fit of nervous giggles. ‘Whoops! Sorry about that, Marco. I guess we need to remember that I don’t live alone any more.’
‘Yeah, sorry, mate, got a bit carried away there,’ Josh squeaked in a strangled tone as he dragged his clothes onto his body.
Marco was still cheekily appraising Josh’s physique as he walked through to the kitchen. ‘Oh, don’t mind me, lovebirds.’
Once the new lodger had disappeared back to his room, Josh flopped down onto the couch. ‘Ugh, talk about coitus interruptus.’
Zara, who was now re-buttoned into her shirt, cringed. ‘I’m really sorry about that. I suppose we should have taken things to the bedroom a bit earlier.’
‘Never mind. Anyway, I should go. Work tomorrow. Hey, why don’t you come along and we’ll see what we can do about sorting your camping gear?’
Zara pouted. ‘If I must.’
‘Well, you have to do it sometime and there’s no time like the present. Or tomorrow, seeing as the shop’s shut at this time of night.’ He grinned.
‘I suppose.’
He walked to the door and pulled her along behind him. ‘Oh, your enthusiasm is so overwhelming, Bailey.’ He bent to kiss her again and she almost melted into him. He rested his forehead on hers. ‘Kiss me like that and I’ll not make it home. See you tomorrow?’
‘See you tomorrow,’ she replied with a protruding bottom lip.
*
The following day she walked into the huge shop and was immediately overwhelmed by the number of displays before her. Thank goodness she had Josh to help with this, otherwise she might be tempted to run away and emigrate.
‘Hi there, you look a little lost. My name’s Josh, I’m the manager – can I help at all?’
She turned to see her very handsome man standing there in his uniform of polo shirt and cargo shorts. The muscles on his arms stretched the banding round his biceps and his dirty-blond hair had that just-got-out-of-bed sexiness to it.
She smiled widely at his silly game and fluttered her eyelashes. ‘Oh, yes, kind sir, I’m a completely lost damsel in distress. I need… camping stuff?’
Josh chuckled. ‘Yup, oddly enough most people who come in here are looking for exactly the same.’ He stepped forward and, after surreptitiously glancing around him, he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her, making her legs weaken. Once he pulled away he stepped back as one of his staff appeared. He cleared his throat and scratched his head, as if to prove he was innocent of any possible insinuation of wrongdoing. ‘Oh, Sam, can you unpack that order of waterproof coats in the back, please?’
‘Okay, boss.’ The spotty teen saluted him.
‘So, gorgeous, are you feeling any happier about your trip?’
She sighed. ‘Not really, no.’
He gestured for her to follow him. ‘I still can’t believe you’ve never been camping,’ he admitted, shaking his head.
‘Well, I went camping as a kid but since then, with the nature of my job, I’ve got rather used to the finer things in life, I suppose. Being out in a field in the middle of nowhere just fills me with dread.’
He shrugged. ‘Think of it as an adventure. Getting back to nature. Taking some time out for yourself away from the stresses and strains of work and your sex-mad boyfriend.’ He chuckled.
Zara rolled her eyes. ‘You sound like Noah. Apart from the sex-mad bit, of course. Do you know, I really don’t see why he couldn’t go instead. It’s so much more his kind of thing.’
Josh clapped his hands and then rubbed them together. ‘Right, no point being all sulky, eh? Regardless of how cute you are when you pout. You know you’ve come to the right place and you know I’m the right person to help, so let’s go get you kitted out, gorgeous.’
She followed Josh through the store and watched as he piled items up in his arms, feeling relieved that the company credit card was going to be getting a battering and not her own. He explained the need for each item he picked up and kept talking about travelling light. She explained she would be picking up a mountain bike in Inverness and that it had already got paniers fitted. He seemed to think that was a good thing and proceeded to talk about sleeping-bag weights and how many seasons they were suitable for.
He placed the huge gathered pile on the floor by a display of tents and pulled a tiny package from a shelf. ‘This little thing is like dynamite.’ His eyes widened and he looked like a kid in a sweet shop.
She was a little bewildered as to why explosives were stored near the tents and, more to the point, why the hell she needed them. She stepped backwards and glanced round to see if anyone else was within striking distance. Thankfully the area was clear.
Josh pulled at the package and suddenly out sprang a bundle of canvas, which miraculously turned into a tent before her eyes and landed, ready erected, on the floor before her. She felt very foolish as his meaning of dynamite became very clear and was thankful she hadn’t decided to question him on it before. Her stupidity would remain her own secret.
Josh waved his hands excitedly at the bright green pod. ‘So, madam, there you go. A few pegs at the end of the guy ropes and you’re ready to sleep. Built-in ground sheet. Nice and compact. Lightweight too. Three thousand hydrostatic head. Roomy enough for you and your backpack. Little porch that comes out enough for you to sit in the doorway of the tent and cook just outside. And all for two hundred quid.’
She had no idea of the meaning of some of what he’d said but he seemed enthusiastic enough and she trusted him, so she figured if he, the expert, was happy then so was she. Next it was on to clothing.
She was instructed to sit down by the fitting room whilst Josh pulled things from rails and flung them over his arm. The scene reminded her of a less glamourous Pretty Woman and she wished she were on Rodeo Drive instead of in a camping shop in South London.
Her self-proclaimed personal shopper returned about five minutes later. ‘Now, Scotland can be wet, as you know. So you need waterproof trousers and jacket as well as comfortable footwear that still lets you cycle as well as walk. I’ll go and grab some suitable boots while you try on these clothes. Bear in mind the trousers need to be stretchy enough for you to cycle but not baggy enough that they could get trapped in the chain on the bike. Seeing as I don’t know the age or condition of the bike they’ve sorted for you, I brought legging-type trousers that wick the water away and are quick drying. There are also some lightweight long-sleeved tops too because… well… midges.’ He plonked the pile of clothing inside the fitting room. ‘Obviously if
you need any help undressing, I’m more than happy to help.’ He did a silly wiggle with his eyebrows and marched off in the direction of the footwear section. He was such a knowledgeable person and she was quite impressed. She had never seen him in his work domain before and couldn’t help the pride she felt for her man.
Ten minutes later Zara was standing before a full-length mirror in all of her outdoor regalia, complete with a backpack that would fit all the essentials she would need. The backpack looked as though it would probably fit half of her apartment, but Josh had insisted she only take what she needed and no more. No make-up or nice going-out clothes, then, she grumbled inwardly, knowing that she’d also have to get used to letting her hair dry naturally unless she found a campsite with a really good shower block and hairdryers that worked.
‘Well, I think you look incredibly sexy,’ Josh told her from his position by the fitting room where he leaned against the wall, muscular arms folded.
She rolled her eyes at him and made a very unladylike snorting noise. ‘Well, you would say that – I’m your girlfriend.’ She stared at her reflection. The face still belonged to her, but the attire was completely different from what she was used to. She didn’t know what to say so said nothing.
‘In fact,’ he whispered conspiratorially, ‘if you’ve got the time we could have a little meeting up in my office.’
Her focus snapped to him and she felt her cheeks colouring, as she fought her threatening smile. ‘Josh,’ she hissed as she glanced round. ‘I’ve told you that’s not happening at your workplace,’ she informed him again, even though she secretly liked the fact he fancied her so much.
He held up his hands and feigned professionalism once again. ‘Please forgive me, madam. I don’t usually come on to customers.’
She laughed. ‘I should bloody hope you don’t.’
He stepped a little closer and his cologne infiltrated her nostrils. He smelled divine and her heart skipped a little. ‘You know I only have eyes for my little roving reporter, don’t you?’