Page 55 of Sunrise over Strawberry Hill Farm

‘I think I should have a fling with an Italian playboy,’ she said. ‘Kiss me and find out how good we would be together.’

He swore in Italian to himself. He couldn’t help but glance at her lips and had to force himself to do the right thing and unwrap her hands from behind his neck.

‘This isn’t going to happen,’ he told her.

She took another step forward. ‘Why not?’

‘Because you’re drunk and not thinking straight,’ he replied. ‘Trust me, you’ll regret this in the morning.’

She made an impatient sound. ‘I’m thinking straight for the first time in a very long time,’ she said, before inclining her head to stare at him. ‘Is your head moving?’

‘No.’

‘Is the whole room moving?’ she asked, suddenly reaching out to hold on to the back of a nearby chair.

‘It might be,’ he said. ‘How about that glass of water?’

‘Make it stop,’ she groaned, closing her eyes but still swaying.

‘I can’t,’ he told her. ‘But some black coffee might help.’

‘I need to lie down,’ she said, moving from clutching one chair to the next until she was almost out of the kitchen.

Nico had thought she would go upstairs but she only made it as far as the lounge, where she fell onto the sofa and pretty much had passed out before he had even had a chance to cover her with the blanket that was on the back of the chair.

He stared down at her for a moment. For a second in the kitchen, he had been sorely tempted to kiss her.

Despite his every inclination, it appeared that he had real feelings for Flora. He was just grateful that she had been too drunk to realise it.

33

The following morning, Flora woke up on the sofa with a bad headache and a sense that something had gone awry.

‘Good morning,’ said a cheery voice nearby.

Flora peeked through narrow eyes and saw Grams sitting with a mug of tea on the armchair, looking at her phone.

‘Is it?’ mumbled Flora. ‘I’m not so sure what’s good about it.’

‘I think Libby should patent her gin cocktails,’ said Grams, with a smile. ‘Perhaps the military could use it as some kind of weapon against the enemy.’

Flora groaned. ‘Why did I drink so many?’ she said, rubbing her aching forehead.

‘I don’t know,’ Grams answered. ‘You obviously needed to let off steam.’

Flora frowned. ‘Why?’

‘You tell me, darling girl,’ replied Grams, getting up. ‘Anyway, I’ll make you a nice strong coffee and some of my pancakes.’

‘I don’t think I could eat a thing,’ said Flora, her head and stomach churning in unison.

‘Nonsense,’ said Grams. ‘You’ll feel much better afterwards. Besides, you’ve got a busy day ahead with the campsite opening today! Nico’s already gone to make some final checks.’

Nico! Flora sat bolt upright, her eyes wide as she remembered asking him to kiss her. She groaned and fell back against the sofa. Of all the dumb things to have done!

What had happened to her? Sensible Flora, who always contained herself and never put a foot out of place, had asked Nico to kiss her!

Well, she needed to put an end to that immediately. So as soon as she’d had a very cold shower and two coffees and a large pile of Grams’ pancakes, she decided to face the day. And Nico.