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Each day, she made progress in organising. There were empty spaces on the desks now, and she’d created a proper filing system for the reams of paperwork once littering the surfaces.

Kitty stood, studying the day’s chores on the notice board, trying to work out which task would get her geographically nearest to Josh’s cottage. Thea came in, grasping a cup of coffee, hair wild like Medusa's.

“Morning, boss,” said Kitty.

“Oh, thank goodness you’re early,” Thea said. “I’ve organised the food and water for the rabbits and guineas, but I need to collect some feed and bedding donations. Can you man the fort while I’m gone?”

“Sure can.”

“Great. I fed the moggies. They’re camped out in the house. It’s going to be stinking hot today. Amelia’s with Pamela, so they shouldn’t bother you.” Thea’s childminder was a bloody godsend but wasn’t interested in helping with the animals.

“Okay then, off you go. I’ve got the rest covered.”.

“Thanks, Kitty, you’re amazing. Belinda will be in a later, so leave the stables to her. The horses are in the paddock already. Josh took Madonna out for a ride at the crack of dawn.” Kitty’s ears pricked up, and her heart skipped.

“Why so early?” she asked. And more importantly, why didn’t he ask her?She was still waiting for the promised riding lesson.

“Why does Joshie do anything?” snorted Thea. “Perhaps he wanted her exercised before it got too hot.”

Kitty bunched her hands into fists. Exactly. She had to stop looking for hidden meaning in everything. Josh was just a nice guy, grateful she was helping his sister. That he was gorgeous and kind had nothing to do with it. Still, it felt like he was avoiding her, and Kitty didn’t like it.

“I won’t be long,” said Thea, heading out the door.

The morning was Kitty’s favourite time of day at the sanctuary. It was still and peaceful, and hearing the birdsong put a spring in her step. Unfortunately, it wasn’t working today, and as she set to her tasks, Kitty spent most of her time ruminating on “Mr Hot and Cold.”

The birds at the pond were her first port of call. The heat was sweltering already, and as Kitty wiped the sweat off her brow, the thought of jumping into the green water wasn’t entirely unpleasant. Though still nervous about the geese, the pond gave her a fantastic view of Josh’s cottage. Not that she cared, but if Josh was at home or working in the yard, she’d glimpse him.

Kitty cast her eyes around one final time. No sign of him. With a sigh, her shoulders slumped. What had her life come to? This time last month she’d been a high-flying corporate powerhouse. Now she was caked in dust and stalking the local vet!

22

JOSH

Josh pulledup outside his surgery with a sigh. He’d had a tough morning, euthanising several sheep attacked by a fox. He turned off the engine and walked to his cottage, planning to make a strong coffee.

As he stood at his kitchen window, leaning against the counter, his mind drifted to Kitty. Why the hell had he suggested she help Thea? It was the worst thing he could’ve done. The possibility of seeing her every day was torment. He had the biggest crush on her. She was leaving town soon, and there was every chance she’d leave him heartbroken if he didn’t keep his feelings in check.

It had been such a long time since he’d had feelings for anyone. About anyone. His life was solitary, and he rarely let others into it. Thea always gave him a hard time, but nobody had made it through his walls. Until Kitty arrived.

Glancing out of the window, something caught Josh’s eye down at the pond. He picked up his mug and wandered outside into the courtyard. The sight that greeted him made his heart lurch and the corners of his mouth twitch. A bedraggled Kitty stood at the water, fending off an army of angry geese.

Sweaty and flushed, she was holding a bucket, dressed in tiny shorts and a pair of old, oversized wellies. Her ponytail swung around her, and she was shouting obscenities at one enormous bird, kneeing it away as it chased her in circles.

He chuckled. The sight was hilarious and so sexy. Josh sucked in his bottom lip. Her legs, long and brown, were lithe and toned, and her small, high breasts strained at her top as she jostled the goose away.Josh took a breath, and his dick stirred in his pants.

With a groan, he turned away. Her looking so bloody adorable was the last thing he needed to see. Since he’d left the Snickers bar for Kitty, he’d purposely stayed away from her. The last few days were an exercise in convincing himself he shouldn’t get involved.

She’d made it clear her career would always be her focus. They were too similar in that respect. Although he wasn’t sure, he hoped the attraction might be mutual. But what if he was wrong? The thought of making a fool of himself brought burning bile to his throat.

Josh glanced down at his white knuckles as they grasped the handle of his mug. He needed to focus on himself. Get through the weeks until Kitty left to go back to London. With a nod, he was about to walk back inside but looked over his shoulder to check on her one last time.

As he did, he almost dropped his coffee mug. Kitty had abandoned her bucket and picked up the old blue hose, turning it on herself. She held it over her head, and water cascaded over her body, coursing down her olive skin. Her tight crop top was plastered to her body, and her nipples were hardened by the cold of the water.Fuck. The sight was absolute torture. She looked magnificent. And if his dick had stirred earlier, now it was growing more solid by the second. He had to get inside. Get his mind off her body.

After thumbing through a magazine on livestock farming and checking his phone eight times, Josh could no longer contain his need. He had to find Kitty, even if it was just to say hello.

He headed across the farmyard, looking for her. After a fruitless search outside, he went to the stone barn housing the pigs. If she were there, would she talk to him? He’d hardly given her any encouragement of late. He shook his head, his heart thundering as loud as his work boots on the cobbles. It didn’t matter. Just seeing her would be enough.

He gently pushed open the door to the barn, and there she was, bent over the pig’s gate. Droplets of perspiration snaked between her shoulder blades, and her cotton shorts clung to her like a second skin. Josh's dick threatened to re-harden, and he cursed his body for its poor timing. He leaned up against the stone wall of the barn, enjoying the touch of cool rock on his skin.