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The cheeky gleam in his eyes couldn’t cancel out the wave of nausea that crashed over her. The thought of sitting on a horse was terrifying. Kitty didn’t want to make a fool of herself, but she didn’t want to come across as a wimp either. Not with Josh. At least if she agreed to help his sister, it could be an opportunity to spend more time with him. Get to know him again.

“Okay, I’ll go to see your sister,” she said, taking a large sip of the very strong coffee she’d made.

Before she could lock in a time, Julia hobbled into the kitchen, one hand on her walking stick and the other carrying her giant tabby cat, Herod.

“Joshua! What on earth are you doing here?”she said.

Kitty looked at Josh with wide eyes, pleading for him to not mention this morning’s misadventure with Dora. Giving an almost imperceptible nod, he stood and gave her aunt a big hug.

“Morning Julia, how are you feeling? I’m checking in with Kitty, making sure she has everything she needs.”

Breathing a perceptible sigh of relief, Kitty beamed. Like a knight in shining armour with the most heavenly forearms she’d ever seen, he’d rescued her. Covered up for her. As Josh sat back down, Julia threw Kitty an approving smile.

“I can report she’s in control of everything,” Josh said. “The animals love her. You’re lucky to have such a capable assistant on board.”

Under the table, Kitty nudged his foot in quiet conspiracy, and he glanced over, giving her a wink that made her heart melt.

A warm glow swelled in Kitty’s chest as the three of them sat and drank coffee together. The conversation, full of laughter, flowed easily. And for the first time, it hit her that she wasn’t stuck behind a desk and stressed to the max. Even if Dora the explorer goat had caused her thirty minutes of grief, she wouldn’t change a thing that had happened.

Even Herod, who usually enjoyed taking unprovoked swipes at Kitty, purred on Julia’s lap. Josh entertained them with stories of close shaves and sticky situations with all manner of animals, and Kitty was content to watch her old friend’s handsome face. The idea of climbing up on a horse with him was suddenly appealing.

After a short while, Josh’s phone buzzed on the kitchen table. He checked the message, and a slight frown appeared between his blond brows. He ran a hand through his hair.

“I’m sorry, I have to go,” he said, moving his chair out from under the table.

Kitty stood to see him out, and as they walked to the front door, she thanked him for his help with Dora and for his discretion with Julia.

“All in a day’s work,” he said. “And don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.”

Josh was about to leave but paused before stepping down onto the garden path.

“By the way, I don’t give enemas to Chihuahuas, Kitty. I’m a farm vet.”

He gave her one more jaw-dropping smile and left.

As she wandered back into the kitchen to join Julia, Kitty picked up the dirty mugs.

“What’s a farm vet?”

14

KITTY

The daysat Rose Cottage wore on in a familiar rhythm. Kitty would wake up, grab coffee, and head out to the animals. She maintained a healthy dislike of the goats. She hadn’t yet considered forgiving Dora for the indignity of the other morning.

Her thoughts often drifted to Josh when she was alone with the animals. Kitty came up with a million questions to ask him. Even though she had his number, she was too shy to contact him first. He was probably busy overseeing sheep getting tick baths or whatever else a farm vet did. Kitty had Googled his job, and it didn’t sound like fluffy bunnies and kittens. Quite the opposite.

Forced to submit to relaxation, she spent her afternoons lying in the garden in her string bikini, re-reading her mum’s novels. It turned out that Julia had a healthy collection.

That morning, Kitty and Julia sat together drinking coffee on the patio, the bright morning sun already searing them.

“I feel it’s time I re-entered the world of the living,” Julia said, pushing back her chair. There’s a wine tasting for the Women’s Club this afternoon. It’s at the Five Bob.”

The Women’s Club was a social organisation for ladies of a certain age. Based on Julia’s stories, the club revolved chiefly around cake baking and flower arranging.

“Wine tasting?” Kitty asked.

“Oh yes. We get up to all sorts at the W.C. It’s not all fetes and cake stalls. Some of those women are wild,” Julia said, with a glint in her eye.