by Jenny Frame
“We need to make sure it’s healthy first. We’re not out of the woods yet.” Quade let go of her and hurried over to where the vet was.
Penny watched as all three of them, Quade, the vet, and Tom, held the calf and cleared its airways.
Please be okay, please be okay, Penny prayed.
“Sammy? Sammy? Is it okay?”
Finally, Quade turned around and smiled. “He’s made it.”
Chapter Eighteen
Quade sighed with contentment, watching the new calf being licked and taken care of by its mother. Something that could have turned out so very differently.
She turned her head and smiled. She had her arm around Penny and Penny was leaning on her chest, sleeping. Penny had done so well for a townie and had been a great support for her. Quade didn’t feel alone any more. Working hard during the day and going for dinner with Penny in the evening was her idea of a dream. If only it could be like that every day.
I’m falling in love with you.
She had started to have little niggles in her mind about what would happen next as she sat there keeping an eye on the calf. Quade imagined this was what it would be like to have Penny as her wife, having her support no matter what came up. But Penny was only meant to be here a short time. They hadn’t talked about it, and Quade was frightened to bring it up in case she got an answer she didn’t like.
Quade kissed Penny’s brow and thought she better get her back to the farmhouse. It was a bit late to take her home. The mother and calf were safe enough now, so she stood up and lifted Penny into her arms.
“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get you home.”
Quade stopped in her tracks. The farmhouse wasn’t Penny’s home, but could it be?
Penny put her arms around Quade and nuzzled further into Quade’s neck.
She carried Penny back and greeted the excited dogs as she entered the front door.
The barking of the dogs woke Penny from her snooze. She jumped when she became aware she was being carried.
“What’s happening?”
Then Penny realized she was in Quade’s arms. It’s Sammy, you’re safe.
Quade stopped at the bottom of the stairs. “I thought it was too late to take you home. I was going to put you in my bedroom—I mean, I’ll sleep in the spare bedroom.”
If it was anyone else in the world, Penny would be certain this was a ploy to get her into bed, but not Quade. She looked into Quade’s deep blue eyes and saw that her intentions were completely honourable, and she could trust her with everything, every little secret that she hid deep down in her soul.
“That sounds like a good idea.”
Penny didn’t insist on walking the rest of the way, like she did the last time. She was quite happy to stay in Quade’s arms for as long as possible.
Quade carried her upstairs and placed her on a brass bed with a patchwork quilt on top. The dogs arrived seconds later.
“Excuse the room. It could do with decorating, but I never seem to find the time,” Quade said.
“It’s warm and cosy, Sammy. That’s all you need,” Penny reassured her. “Oh, do you have a T-shirt or something I can sleep in?”
“Yeah, give me a sec,” Quade said.
When Quade left the room, Penny checked her phone quickly. She had hundreds of notifications, but she didn’t want to check them now. Her online life didn’t seem as important any more, not now that she had looked up from the screen as Quade had told her to and found a life.
She did check her emails and saw that one was from Olivia. She had set up the public appearance and book signing for a few days after Bridge and Finn’s wedding. Penny frowned when Olivia suggested bringing Quade.
Penny could see right through Olivia’s intentions. Olivia wanted to cash in on the excitement and gossip over her relationship with Sexy Farmer. The thing was, Penny had intended to ask Quade to come with her, to show Quade her world in London.
The last thing she wanted to do was give Olivia what she wanted, but why should she let it spoil her plans?
Quade came back in with a white T-shirt for her. “It’s a bit big, but it’ll work, I think.”
Penny smiled and took it from her. “It’ll be perfect.”
Quade stuffed her hands in her pockets and rocked on her heels nervously. Penny supposed it was strange for Quade to have another woman in her bedroom.
“Sorry I don’t have anything with unicorns on it,” Quade said.
Penny laughed. “I’ll need to leave one of my unicorn nighties here for when I stay over.”
Penny realized what she had said. It was clear her trust was growing and growing, and wherever Quade was, Penny wanted to be. She remembered the night that Quade had slept in the chair at her house, one of the most peaceful nights of sleep she’d had. She wanted that again.
Penny’s heart began to pound. Could she ask?
“I better say goodnight then,” Quade said.
“No,” Penny spluttered.
“No?” Quade said with confusion.
Penny touched her fingers to her forehead and tried to form her words. “Would you stay here with me?”
Quade’s eyes went wide with shock. “You want me to—”
“Sleep here,” Penny said quickly. “Just to sleep. I’d like to be close to you, in a way, without…”
Quade nodded and smiled, catching her meaning. Penny wanted to take the next step and enjoy being close to Quade without any expectations. “I’ll just go and get changed.”
Quade left and Penny started to panic. Why had she said that? It was easier to handle in her mind than in reality. She quickly got changed into Quade’s T-shirt, took off Princess’s little outfit, jumped under the covers, and pulled them right up to her neck.
The anxieties that she had started to forget of late were swirling around her stomach like a snake. She’d never slept in the same bed with anyone, apart from her sister.
What would happen if she had an attack again? I can’t handle this.
* * *
Quade was nervous as she got changed into fresh boxers and a T-shirt. She had gone for a super fast shower after she’d left Penny. There was no way she was going to spend her first night sleeping beside Penny smelling like a barn.
She quickly sprayed on some cologne Bridge had given her for her birthday, then took a moment to calm her nerves. Penny was the one who had worries about letting someone in. She had to be strong for them both.
Quade walked through her bedroom door and found Penny lying as stiff as a board, with the covers pulled right up.
She’s worried.
“Penny, you don’t have to do this. I’ll sleep in the spare room.”
“No, please,” Penny said, “I really want to.”
Quade told Dougal to get down off the bed, and Princess followed him to his basket.
She got under the covers and tried to stay as far on her side of the bed as possible. The atmosphere was tense, and they both lay silently for the longest time before Quade felt she had to say something.
“So, here we are.”
“Here we are,” Penny replied.
Quade had to find some way of making Penny relax. “So what recipe are you doing in your next video this week?”
She heard Penny let out a breath she’d been holding. “Well, I thought I’d do lentil curry with cauliflower rice.”
Quade turned her head to look at Penny. “What, rice with cauliflower mixed through it?”
Penny laughed all of a sudden and reached across the divide between them to take her hand. That was a huge step. “No, silly. Rice made from cauliflower.”
Quade screwed up her face. “Rice made from cauliflower, rice made from cauliflower,” she repeated trying to make sense of it.
Penny scooted over the bed and leaned up on her elbow. “You say that like you did with nut milk.”
Quade’s heart was happy to see Penny so much more relaxed. She wanted Penny to trust her more than anything. “Yours is a strange world wher
e you can milk nuts and magically turn cauliflower into rice,” Quade joked.
“You make it sound as if I come from some magical kingdom.” Penny laughed. “I’ll soon have you familiar with all the strange food from my world.”
“I don’t have to try cauliflower rice, do I? I have to draw the line somewhere,” Quade said.
Penny leaned to within a few inches of Quade’s lips and whispered, “If you want any of my kisses you will.”
“Ah, you’ve found my weakness, Ms. Huntingdon-Stewart.”
Penny giggled and gave her a peck on the lips. “Speaking of my world—can I ask you something?”
Quade turned over on her side so they were facing each other. “Yeah, anything.”
“A few days after Bridge’s wedding, I have to go to London. I have a public appearance to do at a bookshop—signing books, things like that.”
This was what Quade was dreading. Penny was going home.
“I hope you have a good time,” Quade said a little sharply.
Penny took Quade’s hand and lifted it onto her hip. “I was hoping you might come with me.”
“With you?” Quade couldn’t have been more surprised.
Penny stroked the side of Quade’s face with her fingertips. “Yes. If you can get someone to look after the farm for you. I thought we could go down the day before and stay at my parents’ house. I’d like you to meet them.”
“You would?” Quade was gobsmacked. Penny wasn’t trying to find a way out.
“So do you want to? I’d like you to come to the signing with me. If you can’t get anyone to look after the farm, or you don’t want to—”
Quade grasped Penny’s chin lightly. “I would be honoured to meet your family and to visit your world in London.”
She took a chance and kissed Penny, taking care to be as gentle as she could. It was Penny who responded by making the kiss deeper and running her fingers through her hair.
Quade couldn’t help but run her hand under Penny’s T-shirt and onto her bare thigh.
Penny moaned, but everything was getting too hot too fast. Quade was so turned on and Penny wanted slow. She wasn’t going to ruin this first step and this trust that Penny had given her.
She pulled out of the kiss and said, “Penny, I care for you so much…” She didn’t want to admit she was falling in love in case it spooked her. “I don’t want to move too fast. Courting is slow, remember?”
“You’re right, but you make me feel so hot, Sammy. I want you to know that,” Penny said.
Quade laughed. “Me too. Believe me.”
Penny laid her head on Quade’s chest and put her arm around her waist. “Can I sleep like this?”
“I’d love it.” Quade had never felt so happy in her life. Penny, her Penny, was wrapped around her and feeling safe and trusting her. It was perfect.
They lay in silence, and then Penny said out of the blue, “Now I know how Lady Chatterley felt being with Mellors the gamekeeper.”
“How did she feel?” Quade asked.
“Horny,” Penny replied.
Chapter Nineteen
The day of Bridge and Finn’s wedding finally came around and the whole village was mobilized for the wedding of the year. Penny had stayed with Quade the night before, as they had every night since the evening the calf was born. Penny was loving the close, safe feeling she got from being with Quade.
Every night spent together created another layer of intimacy between them, with some pretty hot kissing sessions. She was praying that she would have the courage to share more of herself with Quade soon.
Quade was so patient with her, despite the fact she must have been really frustrated. But each time Penny felt she had to apologize, Quade told her that anything worthwhile was worth waiting on.
She was just perfect, Penny thought.
Penny was setting out Quade’s wedding suit that had been delivered the day before. She knew Quade would need some reassurance because she still wasn’t comfortable in a suit. Quade had gone out with the dogs to pass some instructions to Tom, who was looking after the farm and the dogs today.
Penny heard the front door slam shut and the sound of paws running up the stairs. When the dogs came tumbling into the room, Penny held out her hand. “No dirty paws on the bed, you two. Stay down.”
Penny stroked both dogs and they ran off happily. It was so wonderful to see Princess so happy. When she first arrived in Axedale, mud on her little dog’s paws might have brought on one of her fits, but now it was a sign that Princess was having fun.
She heard Quade stomping up the stairs, but when she didn’t come to the bedroom, Penny went in search of her. She found Quade in her office smacking the side of her computer.
“What’s wrong, Sammy?” Penny asked.
“I need to order some supplies and this stupid piece of s—rubbish won’t come on.”
Penny looked closely at the ancient looking thing. “I think you need to buy a new computer, Sammy, and join the modern world. A laptop would be good for you. Then you could use it anywhere in the house.”
Quade rubbed her forehead. “I wouldn’t know what to ask for or what to choose.”
Penny sensed that some of Quade’s tension was really about the wedding and wearing the suit. She took Quade’s hand and said, “Why don’t we go computer shopping when we go to London? I’ll help you.”
Quade let out a breath. “That would be great. I really need a decent computer.”
“Now that’s one worry dealt with, come and get ready. You have to pick up Finn soon.”
Quade took a shower, and when she walked into the bedroom she found that Penny had put on her dress and was applying her make-up. The sight stopped Quade in her tracks and she was hit with a bolt of lust and want.
She stood silently and watched Penny carefully apply her lipstick. There was something so female, so erotic about the act. Quade was hungry, hungry to touch, to kiss Penny, and to have Penny kiss her with those sexy lips. She seemed to be in a perpetual state of horniness these days. Just having Penny sleep beside her was enough to turn her on, but all the kissing and touching they were doing was making her ache.
Quade couldn’t stop herself for walking over. Penny jumped when she realized Quade was behind her. “Sammy, you scared me to death.”
She bent over and kissed the curve of Penny’s neck, and she moaned. “You’re so beautiful.”
Penny stood up and wrapped her hands around Quade’s waist, then dipped her fingers under the band of Quade’s Jockey shorts. “You make me want to forget we have a wedding to go to.”
Quade grinned. “You make me want to forget I’m an old-fashioned lover, and to be honest, I’m nervous because you mean so much to me. I wish I was a confident lover like I bet Harry and Finn are. I bet they weren’t nervous about their first times with Annie and Bridge.”
“Harry had a lot of practice before Annie,” Penny said, “and Finn just does what she’s told, I think.”
Quade narrowed her eyes. “Does she?”
Penny put her arms around Quade’s neck and chuckled. “Don’t look so shocked. Have you never seen the leather strap on Finn’s wrist?”
“Yeah, I thought it was a fashion thing. You know she has this gothic style.”
Penny smiled and shook her head. “Bridge has the chain that attaches to it.”
“You mean…I knew Bridge was bossy, oh, and she has that scary whip.” Quade’s eyes went wide.
“What whip?” Penny asked.
“It used to be a joke between us. I didn’t think she was serious.” Quade felt a momentary sense of panic. “Wait, you don’t—”
Penny threw her head back and laughed. “Don’t worry, Sammy. I like my butches on top. I mean, I’ve never experienced it before, but my fantasies never include whips, or making you kiss my shoes.”
Quade pulled her closer. “You have fantasies?”
“When you’re scared to let people behind your walls, your fantasy world becomes quite important,
and it never consisted of whips.”
Quade grinned and kissed Penny’s neck. “What do your fantasies consist of?”
A touch of pink came to Penny’s cheeks. “Oh, you, tool belts, you fixing things, barns, and bales of hay are a favourite.”
Quade laughed. “Why barns?”
“People always get up to no good in barns in films, TV, and books. They have an earthy erotic feeling.”
“Funny,” Quade said, “I’ve never thought of anything erotic as I’ve stacked hay bales, but I will now.”
“Kiss me,” Penny said.
Quade was just about to when an alarm on Penny’s phone went off. She grabbed it and shrieked, “You’re supposed to be leaving in twenty minutes, Sammy. Put thoughts of barns and hay on hold, and let’s get you ready, handsome.”
* * *
The gold music room of Axedale Hall was full of noise, laughter, and chatter as they waited for Bridge and Harry to arrive at the altar.
Although called the music room, the space was huge, and there was plenty of room for the two hundred guests that were invited. The chairs in the room were divided by an aisle down the centre, but guests were encouraged to sit anywhere, no matter which of the wedding party they knew.
Quade and Finn were sitting next to the altar, which was an antique oak table. The local registrar would perform the legal part of the civil partnership, and then Bridge’s friend Kate, a vicar from Manchester, was conducting the blessing afterwards.
Quade’s attention was drawn to Finn’s fingers drumming nervously on her top hat which was resting on her lap.
“Are you okay, mate?” Quade asked.
“I’m more nervous than I’ve been in my life, but at the same time I can’t wait to get married. You know what I mean?”
Quade glanced over to the front row of seats and gazed lovingly at Penny, who was chatting to Annie and Bridge’s mother, Cordelia Claremont. Next to them, Harry’s mother was in deep conversation with Riley, another example of love healing all those emotional wounds held inside, and Riley was sweetly holding Mrs. Castle’s hand.