The next morning my eyes gradually focused on my surroundings and a quick peep at the clock told me I’d finally slept a full eight hours without waking up. Feeling rather refreshed and pleased with myself that I’d finally beaten the jetlag, I threw back the duvet and pulled open the curtains. My mood dampened a little when I noticed there wasn’t a chink of sunlight in sight, only dark clouds looming in the sky. All the cows in the far field were lying down under the enormous oak tree, obviously shielding themselves from the rainfall that was about to teem down at any moment.
Slipping my feet into my slippers, I padded downstairs towards the kitchen. This morning I was home alone. Grace had left early for an audition across town and hopefully she’d be back around lunchtime so we could grab some food at the café. Last night, I hadn’t shared Grandie’s amazing offer with either Grace or Connie, I’d wanted to mull it over a little longer by myself before I told them the real truth about my life in New York.
After switching on the kettle, I noticed a note left in the middle of the table:
Sorry, Alice! I’ve used the last of the milk. Take some money out of the pot and grab a couple of pints from the corner shop. Grace x
Grace kept an old coffee canister by the side of the breadbin full to the brim with loose change. The kettle clicked off and I tipped a handful of coins into the palm of my hand before staring out of the window. The shop was only at the bottom of the road, I could be there and back in a few minutes, before the rain started.
Despite my desire to quickly get changed, I slipped my feet into my pumps, grabbed the keys from the kitchen table, then hurried towards the shop.
I’d convinced myself my PJs could actually pass as everyday lounge wear, until I witnessed the odd looks and mutterings from an elderly couple who were standing in the queue behind me in the shop. Swiftly paying for the milk, I stepped outside just as the heavens opened.
Damn.
Admittedly, this was not the best idea I’d ever had.
This wasn’t just rain but huge, fat dollops of water. The sort of rain that drenched your body in seconds. Clutching the milk, I ran as fast as I could, dodging the puddles until the garden gate was in sight. Suddenly, I heard the roar of an exhaust and glanced over my shoulder to see a car within inches of me.
Jumping away from the curb, it was too late. Like a rabbit caught in headlights, I froze then squealed as a tidal wave of cold, muddy water was thrown over my entire body.
‘Idiot!’ I raged, staring in dismay at the car with my arms held open wide as the water dripped from my face. ‘Don’t mind me,’ I shouted after the car, which suddenly pulled in and parked a little further up the road. The engine cut out and the car door swung open.
‘Urghh,’ I grumbled, swiping the water from my bare arms.
‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t see the puddle,’ he said, all apologetic.
I was momentarily thrown by the pair of deep-hazel eyes staring back at me. The same pair of eyes that had locked with mine from the computer and the theatre programme, the same pair of eyes that belonged to Sam Reid.
‘You …’ the words died in my throat. ‘Look at the state of me,’ I croaked, shivering in the cold. My hair was completely flattened, the rain dripping off the end of my nose, and I was soaked through to the skin.
He took a cautious step back and his eyes swept over my entire body. I could feel the burn in my cheeks intensify.
‘I’m looking …’ he said, running his hands through his wet, unruly hair. I glared up at him, his shirt now drenched from the rain, clinging to every muscle in his chest. Then I followed his gaze and was mortified to see my sodden, wet top clinging to my breasts.
Oh God.
I quickly folded my arms, trying to draw his gaze away from my chest to my face.
‘Obviously, my clothes are ruined,’ I said with a twinge of irritation.
‘They kind of look like pyjamas to me,’ he grinned, dazzling me with his perfect white smile.
‘I would like to stand here arguing but it’s raining, I’m cold, and I want coffee.’ I was justifiably outraged. ‘I could have drowned.’
I knew as soon as the words left my mouth that they were a little over-dramatic.
‘That’s a little unfair,’ he protested, with a look of amusement written all over his face. ‘I didn’t wake up and say to myself, I’m going to drive through a rather large puddle and attempt to drown a beautiful girl in the street.’
‘Oh really, are you sure?’ I huffed, trying not to focus on the word beautiful but feeling my heart start to thump a little faster and my annoyance soften a little.
‘I’m quite sure,’ he grinned, thrusting his hand forward. ‘Can we start again? I’m Sam.’
I hesitated before shaking his hand.
He raised his eyebrows.
‘Alice,’ I finally said.
‘That’s an accent not from around these parts.’
‘America,’ I grumbled.
‘And where are you going this morning, dressed to impress, Alice?’ he grinned, his eyebrows shooting up. ‘Can I give you a lift somewhere? It’s the least I can do.’
‘Actually, I’m already home.’
‘Home?’ he queried, giving Wild Rose Cottage a sideward glance.
‘I live here.’ Which I knew wasn’t strictly true.
‘Call it male intuition, but I kind of think we may be bumping into each other a lot,’ he smiled.
‘Don’t count on it,’ I said, making sure I didn’t show I was suitably flattered by his flirtatious smile. ‘I need to go inside before I die of hypothermia.’
I turned and walked towards the gate and he followed me.
‘What are you doing?’
‘I’m going home.’ He jangled his keys in the air and I watched in astonishment as he strolled, larger than life, up the path of the cottage next door. It was safe to say my jaw had fallen somewhere near my knees – Sam Reid lived next door?
‘You live there?’
‘I do indeed!’
Oh God.
‘I’m sure I’ll be seeing you very soon, Alice …’
‘Parker,’ I finished off his sentence.
He held my gaze for a second longer than necessary before I turned quickly away, feeling my face heat up a notch. There was something about Sam that had me blushing uncontrollably.
There was no denying I was secretly delighted that Sam lived next door. I knew after only being in his company for five minutes that I wanted to spend more time getting to know him. Fumbling with the keys to Grace’s cottage, I summoned up enough courage to glance back over my shoulder one last time, only to find his eyes locked with mine, and we grinned foolishly at each other.
I pressed my lips tightly together to hide my smile before squelching into the hallway, relieved to be back in the warmth. When I closed the door, I did everything in my power not to whoop out loud.
Sam Reid lived next door! Even though I was cold and wet, this little bit of information warmed my heart.
‘Urgh, urgh,’ I shivered, peeling the wet shoes from my feet and looking down at my dishevelled, dirty, sodden clothes. After putting the milk in the fridge, I jumped into the shower and let the hot water cascade over my body, relieved to finally feel warm and human again.
About thirty minutes later I finally sat on the sofa, hugging my hot morning cup of coffee. I powered up my laptop while flicking through the programme of Mamma Mia that had been left on the coffee table.
Thoughts flooded my head. All these years it had been my dream to appear on stage and see my face in one of these magazines, but was I really destined for that? It hadn’t worked out so far. My head was still swimming with Grandie’s proposal and I sighed. It was a perfect opportunity, a fresh start, if only I could persuade Mum to come back too.
I turned to the page that featured Sam, and the pair of eyes that belonged to the boy next door once more stared back at me.
Reaching for my phone, I punched a text to Grace.
‘Why the heck didn’t you tell me that SAM REID lives next door? Sorry for the shouty capitals but don’t you think this was important information?’
Almost immediately my phone pinged, ‘I thought you’d find out soon enough!’
I rolled my eyes, ‘You could have told me!’
Grinning at Grace’s message, I logged on to Facebook. I’d had boyfriends over the years, but nothing that had ever set my world alight in quite the same way as Sam Reid looking at me. His air of confidence and that twinkle in his eye ensured that I was instantly attracted to him.
Noticing I had a new notification, I clicked on the icon. ‘Sam Reid has accepted your friend request.’
I swallowed, feeling a little flutter of pleasure knowing I now had full access to his profile.
For the next ten minutes, I clicked on everything – his photos, his status updates and people’s comments. He had over six hundred friends and now one more was added to his list … me.
Once more I received a notification and clicked on it. ‘You are now connected to Sam Reid,’ the message read, ‘say hi with a wave.’ The green circle next to his name showed me he was online. For a second I hovered over the button wondering whether to press it, but I couldn’t believe my eyes when he beat me to it.
‘Thanks for the friend request x’
The smile hitched wide on my face.
‘You’re very welcome! x’