Page 4 of Eternal Love (Timeless Duet #1)

“S hit!” she screamed , proceeding to spit out her entire mouthful of champagne. Screw it, she thought, tipping the rest on the floor and brandishing the glass like a weapon. “Get out now or I’ll call the cops!”

Oh God, I don’t even know the postcode to this place...

“Easy, easy, it’s just me,” said Theodore, stepping into the moonlight. It carved across his face like a mask. He grinned. It made him even more captivating. “You can put down your weapon.”

She breathed out so hard that it ruffled her hair. “What are you still doing here? I thought you’d left hours ago.”

He had the decency to look sheepish, running his hands through his hair.

“I’m sorry I startled you. I came to say goodbye, I’m done for the day, but to also ask your permission to stay on the grounds.

There’s a small guesthouse in the gardens.

It’s where I’ve been living since starting work on the property last week. It’s easier than going home.”

“Of course,” she said. Then she thought it over. Despite the sunny weather, it was cold, and there was no central heating out there.

“Or ... or you could stay in the house? The heating system isn’t set up properly out there, you’ll freeze to death.”

He gave her a funny look. “I’m fine, really, I’m made of strong stuff.”

Fine, okay, she wasn’t going to argue with the man. She wasn’t going to beg him to stay in the house. With her . Besides, would she really want him wandering around the house, free to go wherever he wanted?

Although he can wander into my bedroom anytime he likes...

No, thoughts like that were not helpful.

He raised his eyebrows, and her cheeks flamed. Oh God, how long had it been since she’d spoken? Get it together, Julia .

“Fine, suit yourself, Theodore,” she said, dredging up some semblance of dignity. “Good night.” As always, fate laughed at her, and she walked straight into the table leg. The sound echoed around the room.

A musical chuckle. “Good night, Julia.”

Alone in her room, she pushed her back against the door and took a deep breath.

This was her piece of calm, of tranquility.

It was huge. You could fit her entire old apartment into the room.

The walls were painted sky blue, and there was a huge poster bed in the center, like the cherry on top of a cake, but the true highlight was the giant bathtub.

She peeled off her clothes and climbed into the lavender scented bubbles. Bliss. She could get used to this.

Buzz.

Her phone, a text from Camilla.

Sorry, sorry! Things got hella hectic at work. So, what’s this I hear about a handsome handyman? Do tell xo

Julia grinned. Trust Camilla to focus on that aspect of her message.

She dragged her prune-like body from the bath, wrapped herself in a towel and proceeded to get dry. She rooted through her bags but couldn’t find her pajamas. Fine, underwear it was, it’s not like the handsome handyman was going to be wandering around.

She climbed into bed, luxuriating in the feel of the silky sheets on her bare skin. She pulled up her message chain with Camilla and set about replying. By the time she’d finished, her eyelids were dropping like heavy bricks.

It wasn’t long until she drifted off, her dreams full of manors and handsome princes who looked suspiciously like Theodore.

****

A fter a hearty, ahem , breakfast of tea and dry toast, and wearing a huge shirt and biker shorts, Julia decided it was time to get to work.

Her gaze was pulled to the outbuilding that sat in the garden.

She hadn’t seen Theodore leave it yet. Maybe he was sleeping in.

He could do that. It wasn’t like she was his boss .

.. not really. Or maybe he was already up and working, it wasn’t likely they would bump into each other—this place was huge.

Julia wasn’t going to do any of the building work, oh no, the rooms that needed no structural work was where she would shine .

.. she hoped. She’d got all the supplies she needed, different types of paint, tools, everything.

She was going to start on the ground floor and work her way up and around.

Dining room first. That’s what led her to be covered in dust and paint a few hours later, but she was fully absorbed in what she was doing, and she hadn’t had that feeling in ages. It made her soul sing.

A knock at the door.

“Good morning, Julia.”

She turned around and his smile made her weak at the knees. “I see you’re getting into your work,” he said, gesturing to her appearance.

Julia caught a glance at herself in the mirror. She was filthy. “Oh.”

He frowned. “No, I like it.”

“Me too,” she said in a small voice, climbing down from her stepladder to face him. “I know now that I made the right choice. I feel...” she trailed off.

He waited patiently for her answer, like he really needed to hear what she would say. Like she was water, and he wanted to drink her in.

“Like I have a purpose, like I belong to this house, and it belongs to me. If that makes any sense.”

“I’m so happy for you. God knows this house deserves a good guardian. Someone who cares about it. You’re perfect,” he said.

Her heart raced.

He cleared his throat. “You’re the perfect guardian, I mean.”

“Thank you.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “So, what’s the plan?

It will be a few weeks before I can really get to work, as I’ll need the full team.

But there must be things I can help you with .

.. minor fixings, painting, even if it’s just following you around, holding the paint can,” he said with a small smile.

Her lips parted. He would be following her around for ... weeks if she wanted.

“Yes, okay, um, you could help me with the painting. Your height could definitely come in handy,” she said, gesturing to her short-ass frame.

He grinned. “Looks like you’re stuck with me, then.”

She couldn’t help herself from grinning right back. Oh God, she was in trouble. And he was trouble. A distraction.

So, she and the distraction got to work.