'Is it raining? I hadn't noticed.'
Heat raced through her as if her car had caught on fire. She blinked and tried to speak but no words came. She held his gaze.
His smile grew broader. 'I suppose we'd better get our vehicles off this road. If you follow me, Neva, I'll take you to your cottage.' He straightened up abruptly, turned and marched back to his Range Rover but he glanced back at her and flashed her a smile before he got in.
'I'd follow you anywhere,' she said, quickly closing the window. 'Sorry sat-nav but you're history.' She switched it off and restarted the engine.
Adam waved as he eased his Range Rover past. Neva followed close but not too close behind and he led her back to the turning she had missed. He indicated right and she did likewise then she followed him onto another lane, this one narrower than the last. He drove slowly and she could see he kept checking his rear-view mirror.
Excitement bubbled inside her. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt like this. Or even the last time she'd been interested in a man. She hadn't had a proper boyfriend for a while. Not since her last relationship had ended badly. Finding your boyfriend in bed with another girl was bad enough. Finding him in bed with two was completely unforgiveable.
She had been on lots of dates since then, but none of them had led to anything. Some of them had been rejected by her, and some hadn't called after the date. Rob had tried to set her up with a few of his friends. But she hadn't fancied any of them so in the end he had given up. She had overheard him one day telling Jo that enough was enough.
'She seems to think she's too good for my mates,' he had said.
'She doesn't think anything of the sort,' Jo responded, somewhat irritably. 'Although one or two of the ones you've set her up with, she is far too good for.'
'Do what? They're my mates you're slagging off.'
'And Neva's my best friend. I've known her all my life and I love her more than I love you, especially right now, so be careful what you say about her or this relationship will be over.'
Neva hadn't been able to see them, just hear what they were saying and that was only because they thought she was out, but she'd cancelled her date and stayed in that night. She thought the ensuing silence meant trouble, but Rob had caved.
'Sorry, babe. You're right. Some of them I wouldn't let my sister date. I shouldn't have set Neva up with them. It's just I'm running out of guys to date her. Not everyone wants to. She's cute, but she's not as pretty as you, by a mile. She's short, too. Not all guys like short girls.'
'That's enough, Rob. Neva's gorgeous. And she's kind and loyal and loving, once she decides she likes you.'
'That's great. But she's not very sexy, is she? I'm not saying she's fat but losing a couple of pounds wouldn't hurt. And maybe if she showed a bit more of her boobs ... OK. I'll stop. But I just thought it would be nice for us to go out in a foursome. That way you wouldn't have to go out with her on your own so often.'
'I think we need to get something straight, Rob. I'll always want to go out with Neva, on our own. Just me and her. That's what best friends do. That'll never change, no matter what. So you'd better get used to that. And as for her flaunting her body just to get one of your friends interested, well, that says more about your friends than Neva. A girl shouldn't have to show her boobs to get a guy's attention. Not if he's a decent guy.'
And to Neva's surprise, Rob had apologised and changed the subject.
But from time to time over the last four years, Neva sometimes felt that Rob resented the relationship she and Jo had. A feeling that had only intensified during the last few weeks. He'd seemed somewhat smug now that he and Jo were engaged, and he positively glowed when she and Jo got the offer on the flat and it all went through so fast to exchange of contracts. Completion was set for the 10th of January and Rob would probably come to gloat, and be grinning from ear to ear.
She didn't know why, but she had started having doubts about Rob. If he made Jo happy, that was fine, but if he didn't. Well, she would set her niece on him. Sasha would do more damage than Neva ever could.
She was being silly though. It was the mere fact that everything was changing between her and Jo that was making her feel this way. It probably had nothing at all to do with Rob. What she saw as his smugness was probably merely him being deliriously happy that he was going to be living with the woman he loved, and one day in the future, that woman would become his wife. That would make any man in love feel smug, wouldn't it?
Adam's Range Rover drove across an old stone bridge and Neva recognised it from the website. She glanced momentarily to her right and left. The river was closer to the top of the banks and flowing much faster than it had on the video she had watched. She expected it to be more of a burbling stream than this full-blown, fast-flowing and rather fearsome looking river. The River Thames never looked like this. And that was four times the width of this one.
The River Wynter might not be burbling but her stomach was as she drove across the bridge. The huge Christmas tree right in front of her on the other side cheered her up though. Even in this inclement weather, it stood proud and the multi-coloured lights shone out through the heavy rain. The branches held up against the downfall and the baubles bounced up and down but they remained firmly fixed in place, as did the gold star at the top of the tree.
As she followed Adam's vehicle past the tree, two rows of colourful cottages came into sight, one either side of a cobbled, puddle-filled street. A sign on the front wall of one of the cottages read: High Street, and Neva smiled. There was only one street, so that was a bit of a misnomer.
Adam stopped and got out of his vehicle, pointing behind it for Neva to stop. As he walked towards her, the rain began to ease, but her heart beat faster and goosebumps of excitement erupted on her skin. She'd definitely been too long without a man if just watching one walk towards her had this much of an effect. But there was something about the way he walked. There was a confidence about him and an air of authority. He smiled as he reached her car and she opened her window a fraction.
'This is yours.' He pointed to the lime green painted cottage to her left in the middle of the row of five.
'How did you know which cottage my family were in?'
He raised his brows comically and grinned. 'Special powers. Do you need a hand with your stuff?'
Neva smiled. 'No thanks. We'll be fine.'
What was she thinking? Why hadn't she said yes? Too late to change her mind now without sounding foolish.
'I'll see you soon then, Neva Grey.' He winked at her and waved as he walked back to his car.
Like an idiot, she sat in hers and watched him. There was definitely something in the way he had said those words that sent a new rush of tingles all over her body.
The front door of the cottage burst open and Neva's mum and dad dashed out, holding umbrellas above their heads and waving wildly at Neva whilst giving Adam rather odd looks but huge smiles.
As he got into his car, he smiled back as if he knew them. He was gone by the time her dad reached her side.
'What a pleasant young man,' Dennis said. 'I see you got all the plants your mother wanted. And what a lot of presents. We'll grab your things and then I'll park your car in the car park round the back of the pub. As you can see, the road's a bit too narrow to leave it here.'
He held his umbrella up so that Neva could get out without getting drenched, and she kissed him on the cheek.
'Hello sweetheart.' Her mum came and joined them, kissing Neva and hugging her with her free arm. 'Was it an awful journey? We had a smooth trip. Hardly any traffic and clear skies all the way, although it was barely light when we arrived.'
'Mine took ages, as it always does to get out of London. And the weather didn't help.'
Dawn shook her head and her damp, auburn bob swung limply around her face as she linked arms with Neva. They splashed their way to the boot, unable to avoid the large puddles amongst the cobble stones.
'Lucky for us we packed the b
rollies,' Dawn said. 'Always prepared. That's us. There's a lovely fire inside and I've made some mince pies.'
Neva pressed the boot release several times. 'Sorry. It sticks. I need to get it looked at.'
'Oh, darling,' Dawn said, holding the umbrella over herself and Neva. 'Is that a dent in your car? How did that happen?'
'I bumped into Adam. The man you just saw. Well. He bumped into me. But it was actually my fault.'
'Adam?' Dennis said. 'You and Adam Wynter had an accident on the first day of our holiday? Oh dear. That's not a very good start.'
'No indeed,' Dawn said. 'But he didn't seem upset or annoyed.'
'Did you say Adam Wynter? He's one of the Wynters from the big house?'
Dennis nodded. 'Yes dear. Didn't you know? We met him earlier today. He was the one who handed us the keys this morning and told us how everything in the cottage worked and where it all was. Fortunately for us, he was here when we arrived, so he let us in early. He'd come to check it was all as it should be and to give the keys to Roger Pyke, who owns the village shop. His wife works at the house.'
'Adam has a wife?'
'No, no. Roger's wife, Penny. She's the Wynter's cook. We were supposed to collect the keys from Roger at the shop.'
'I'm confused. But never mind. How odd though. When he introduced himself to me, he didn't mention he was a Wynter. But he did say he knew the Wynters intimately. I wonder why he didn't just tell me who he was.'
'I don't know, sweetheart. But he seems like a lovely young man. Will he make a claim on your insurance? Was there any damage to his vehicle?'
'None that I know of and he didn't mention making a claim.'
Was that why he had said he would see her again soon? So that they could exchange insurance details? But if so, why hadn't he just said that?
Neva hoped it was for an entirely different reason.
Damn it. Now she'd have to wait and see. Not that she was interested. Men were definitely not on her agenda. Not even for a holiday fling. Not even one as gorgeous as Adam Wynter.
Finally, the lock clicked and the tailgate popped open. Dawn took Dennis' umbrella in her other hand and held both brollies over all three of their heads while Dennis helped Neva unload her holdall and the bags of presents.
'We'll come back for the plants. But should we take all my work stuff too?' Neva asked.
Dennis shook his head. 'The village is tiny and Adam told us the pub car park is safe, so I think it's probably OK to leave it. But we can come back and get it if you'd rather.'
'No. It's fine.'
Neva wasn't sure about it but neither did she relish the prospect of unloading it all right now. There was also the small problem of where she could put it all. The boxes and crates would take up quite a bit of space, and the cottage didn't look that large from outside, or from the photos she'd seen on the website, and her sister, Rowan would be bringing everything but the kitchen sink, as usual.
'Just these bags, your holdall and the plants then, darling?' Dennis smiled at her and nodded his head towards the door. 'We can either all shuffle beneath the brollies, or we can make a dash for it.'
'Shuffle,' Neva and Dawn said simultaneously, laughing as they did so.
It took a little longer and anyone watching would probably have thought they were all barking mad but they made it to the cottage, without getting completely saturated and did the same thing again until all the presents, plants and foliage were deposited in the cottage.
Dennis took Neva's keys from her. 'I'll go and park your car and be back in a jiffy.' He smiled at Dawn. 'Put the kettle on will you, darling, and we can have one of your mince pies, a cuppa and a catch-up when I get back.'
'I'll go, Dad.' Neva stepped forward but Dennis shook his head.
'No, no, sweetheart. You sit and relax. You've had a long journey.'
'So have you.'
'Yes, but we got here before it rained and I've been sitting on my behind for hours, waiting for you, Rowan and the rest of the family to arrive. Your mother wouldn't even let me help her in the kitchen because she says I always make a mess.'
'You do always make a mess.' Dawn smiled lovingly at her husband. 'Now off you go, and when you get back, we'll open a bottle of sherry and have that instead of tea. It is Christmas, after all.'
Dennis beamed at Neva and Dawn and headed out the door with his brolly, singing, I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas.
Neva smiled at her mum. 'Dad's getting into the Christmas spirit.'
'You know your father. He's been belting out Christmas songs since the beginning of December.' Dawn shook her head but her eyes and her affectionate smile showed the deep love she had for her husband. 'If only he could sing in tune. But never mind. Let's go and sit by the fire and you can tell me about the accident with Adam. How did it happen? He's a very handsome young man, isn't he? You're not dating anyone at the moment, are you, sweetheart?'
Neva gave a little laugh. 'No. And I agree. He's definitely gorgeous. But I'm putting romance on a back-burner for a while. At least until I get my business up and running and into profit. Plus, I need to decide where I'm going to live. Besides, if he's a Wynter he's obviously loaded and way out of my league. I'm no Cinderella and girls like me rarely end up with a Prince Charming. In fact, no matter how many times I kiss them, the men I date just turn into bigger frogs.'
Chapter Three
Neva opened her eyes and it took a few minutes to remember where she was. She glanced around the bedroom with its apple-white walls, wildflower printed curtains, matching bedlinen and pale green painted wood floors and smiled. The river may not have looked anything like it had on the website, and the village definitely hadn't been so appealing in the rain, but this room was exactly as it was in the gallery of photos she'd scrolled through.
She hadn't meant to fall asleep. She had only come upstairs to unpack and to try Jo again, having left a message on her voicemail shortly after she arrived. After mince pies and sherry with her mum and dad, she'd helped her mum bake cinnamon rolls, shortbread biscuits, and Christmas spiced iced biscuits for the tree. Then they'd had lunch of homemade, butternut squash soup and freshly baked wholemeal bread and afterwards had gone to the sitting room to relax and grab a few minutes of peace before Sasha arrived with her mum and dad. Neva had left her parents snoring softly in the comfy armchairs by the fire but when she came upstairs and saw the cosy room, she couldn't resist the chance to curl up on the inviting ivory-painted iron-framed bed. This time her call was answered just as the voicemail was about to kick in.
'Sorry, sorry, sorry,' Jo said. 'I missed your call because we were, well, let's just say, we were testing out our new bed. Then his mum and dad and sister arrived earlier than expected so it was a bit of a mad rush to get dressed and downstairs to greet them. And his mum wouldn't let me out of her sight. I said I needed to call my best friend and do you know what the silly woman said? “But surely Rob's your best friend now, dear. Marriage won't work unless you're the best of friends. Take it from one who knows.” I thought I'd walked into an episode of some dystopian fantasy.'
Neva laughed as Jo regaled her with all the helpful tips Mrs Ashford had been giving her future daughter all morning.
'She called you her daughter, not daughter-in-law? I suppose that's a good thing.'
'It's bloody creepy is what it is. No wonder Rob's kept me away from the woman for most of the four years we've dated. Prior to today, the longest amount of time I've spent with her is about two hours. We went away last Christmas, and the one before that, I spent with you and yours. And the one before that. Oh yeah. Another disaster with my own mum. But enough about me. I'm hiding in the shed. Can you believe that? Tell me what Hibernation Central is like before Charmaine Ashford comes and finds me. Or mother, as the stupid woman is now insisting I call her.'
'You know you've got a lifetime of happy Christmases such as this, don't you?'
'If I get through this one. Which frankly, at this point in time, is looking doubtful. Anyway.
Any good-looking guys hidden away in one of those cosy cottages?'
'I haven't seen anyone else in the village yet. But as it happens, I have met an incredibly handsome, not to mention super sexy guy.'
'W-hat! Sod it. I knew I should've come with you. Tell me, tell me, tell me.'
'His name's Adam. Adam Wynter. And he makes the word 'gorgeous' seem lame.'
'Wait. What? Wynter? As in the Wynters of Wynter House. That massive pile of luxury we saw on the website. The one you have to pay to get into just to wipe your feet on the mat.'
'The very same. He's so hot, Jo, the paintwork on my logo nearly melted. Oh. I haven't told you how we met.' Neva told Jo all about it and Jo 'ooh-ed' and 'ahh-ed' appropriately.
'Wow. Are you seeing him again?'
'I hope so. We didn't exchange insurance details so if he doesn't come and find me, I'll go to him and ask if he wants to do that. But I really hope he doesn't 'cos I don't want a claim on my insurance, especially as it's now for my business too.'
'Why don't you simply take him a Christmas card. It is the time of year to spread joy and goodwill to all men. Or invite him round for one of Dawn's mince pies. He'll never leave you after that.'
'I've got to do something. Not to be a drama queen or anything, but I'll simply die, darling, if I don't see that man again.' Neva bent backwards and placed the back of her hand on her forehead for dramatic effect, even though Jo couldn't see her. It was a routine they often did.
'What happened to your 'no men until my business is sorted' rule?'
'Adam Wynter happened. Besides, it's Christmas and as you said yourself, the time to spread joy and goodwill to all men. A holiday fling might be just what I need.'
'Wyntersleap sounds like the place to be this Christmas. You rock that man's world, Neva.'
'I'll certainly try. I can't believe a man like him would be interested in me, although he was definitely flirting, I can tell you that for sure. But if he's not, it's not all bad. Mum says Rowan's definitely bringing a dog, so that's something.'
Christmas at Wynter House Page 3