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“Oh dear, a hazard of the job,” he said, with not the slightest guilt. “Some of these older groupies are very demanding. One of them chased me across the pavilion, asking me to sample her cream horns.”

Kitty smiled, knowing it was more likely to be a brush with someone far younger. She didn’t care about whose cream horns tempted Daniel.

Josh stepped forward, about to speak, but a loud clanging rang in the room. It was time for the match to resume.Saved by the bell.

“We’d better head back out,” Daniel said as he gave Kitty a quick kiss on the cheek and headed towards the bar. “Are you coming, Joshua?” he said over his shoulder.

The fury on Josh’s face surprised her, but when his eyes returned to hers, the murderous look slipped away.

“I’ll see you soon,” he said as he headed towards the changing rooms.

45

JOSH

Josh squinted into the sun.His sunglasses were still on the top of his cap. His stint in the outfield was quiet, thanks to Jonty’s bowling skills. The other team was being picked off one by one, leaving him free to think about Kitty.

Since seeing her this morning, he’d settled on a plan of action. He’d find her at lunch or after the match, and—assuming she’d talk to him—he’d tell her how much he wanted her. And if she didn’t feel the same way, he’d go back to the farm and lick his wounds. It all sounded so simple.The problem was growing the balls to do it.

Another wicket fell, and yet another batsman walked onto the field to face Jonty. One of Josh’s teammates called his name and pointed for him to move to a spot nearer the action. Although disappointed to be leaving the shade of the trees, he was sick of the self-pity party he was having on his own. Lowering his sunglasses onto his eyes, Josh walked towards the pitch and took his position, covering the batsman's left.

He glanced around and couldn’t help but smile at the quintessential scene of rural England before him. Like Wimbledon’s centre court on a rare hot day, the grass this close to the pitch was verdant green. A patchwork of picnic rugs and pastel colours at the fringes mingled with pink, sweaty skin, and sun umbrellas.

He loved his life in this little village.

Jonty was ready to begin, and Josh, needing to be far more alert this close in, bent over, ready to catch.

“Hello, old sport. Fancy seeing you here.”

His head turned to find a grinning Daniel Cunningham standing a few meters away.

Awesome.

Josh wasn’t interested in chatting with Daniel. He wanted to get the match done and dusted and then find Kitty.

“Looks like we’re going to be working together for a bit,” Daniel said. “How does it feel to be brought in from the cold? I thought you were asleep back there.”

The sarcasm in his voice set Josh’s teeth on edge. He shrugged.

“Perhaps you needed the help. One good thing about being on the outer fringes is you can tell who’s on their game.”

Daniel raised one eyebrow. “I’m always on my game. It seems to be others who drop the ball.”

The grin on his face made Josh’s blood boil. He was referring to Kitty, no doubt. His brow knitted together. Don’t bite. It was just what he wanted. He looked at Daniel and shook his head.

“Let’s get through the next few innings without talking.”

“That’s the spirit. Eyes on the prize, Joshua.”

Jonty delivered a blistering ball which was hit far to the boundary. In the game's lull, a murmur of voices flowed through the spectators.

“Now that’s a prize worth keeping your eye on,” said Daniel.

Josh looked at him and followed his eyes into the crowd. Like she had a spotlight shining on her, Kitty arrived. He held his breath as she picked her way through the picnic blankets and ice buckets, her long legs glowing in the sun. She looked incredible. The white sundress she wore skimmed her thighs, and her bronzed shoulders wore her thick, dark hair like a cloak.

She carried a cooling bag in her hand, and on her feet, she wore flip-flops. From where he stood, open-mouthed, he could almost hear the clack-clack of their rubber against her feet. At that moment, all his focus was on her, his brain tracking every tiny movement of her body.

Kitty spread out her rug on the grass, sat alongside Julia and opened a bottle of something bubbly, the pop of the cork reaching his ears. She scanned the field, and the moment her eyes found him, a smile lit her face. Josh’s mouth ran dry. She’d looked forhim. Not Daniel, but him. Kitty put up her hand and gave him a tentative wave. Blushing behind his sunglasses and with a ridiculous grin on his face, Josh waved back.