Still, nothing ventured…
“I was just going to have some lunch and a cold drink,” I tell him. “Would you like to join me?”
He stares at me, obviously taken aback. I wait, expecting a rejection. But he just says, “Okay,” walks over and places his tool bag by his Ford Ranger Raptor—what Kiwis call a ‘ute’ or utility vehicle and Americans call a truck—clicks his fingers at Jack to follow him, then crosses the yard and follows me inside.
I’m lucky enough to work in a beautiful office. Usually, I share it with Sandra or Rachel, the two women who work shifts, helping me out with the animals, but today I’m on my own, and the office is empty. Its front windows look out over the fields and the valley beyond, and it’s filled with sunshine. The back windows face the Ark. As I glance out, I can see Leon and Nix walking across the square, heading for the office block. A woman has arrived with a scruffy terrier, ready to have it washed and trimmed in the brand-new grooming rooms. In the distance, I can see Noah, walking with his girlfriend, his two German Shepherds bouncing around the stroller he’s pushing that contains his new baby boy.
I turn away and walk over to the small kitchen in the corner, and take out a couple of cans of Sprite Zero from the fridge. I show them to Marc, who nods, and then add some ice to two tall glasses and pour the Sprite over them. He comes and collects them as I put a bowl of water down for Jack, along with a dog biscuit. Then I take out the box of bread rolls from the fridge and bring them over to the small table by the window.
“Do you mind if I leave this off?” Marc gestures to the top of his coveralls. “I’m a bit hot after working on the fence.”
“Not at all.” I glance up and meet his eyes briefly. I can smell his warmed body spray from here. It makes my mouth water. I drop my gaze to the box and remove the lid. “Chicken salad or ham and mayonnaise?”
“Ham, please.”
I take one out and pass it to him, and I choose a chicken one. We both take a bite and munch away.
“So…” He has a swig from the glass of Sprite, then wipes his mouth on the back of his hand. “To what do I owe this honor?” His eyes gleam with amusement as he has another bite of his roll.
I shrug. “You were working hard, and I thought you were probably hungry.”
“I’m always hungry. But that doesn’t explain why you made extra rolls for lunch today.”
He’s got me there. I’d done so in the hope that I’d spot him around the grounds. “All right,” I scold him. “Enough with the third degree. Yes, I planned this.”
His lips curve up. “Okay.” He sits back in his chair and studies me, eating his roll in another two bites. He has the perfect amount of chest hair—not too much so he’s like a gorilla, but enough to illustrate his masculinity. He works outside a lot, so his skin is very brown all over. Well, almost all over. I wouldn’t imagine he’s tanned down there…
I lift my gaze to his. There’s laughter in his eyes, as if he’s able to read my mind.
“You look lovely today, by the way,” he says softly.
I blink a few times, taken aback by a second compliment in almost as many minutes. “Oh. Thank you.”
“That color suits you.” He gestures at my orange T-shirt. “It goes with your hair.” His gaze caresses it. And then, I realize what he’s thinking, what he’s concluded from my asking him here for lunch. Shit.
“I haven’t changed my mind,” I tell him, as gently as I can. “About going out with you.”
His smile fades, to be replaced with a frown. He turns the glass around in his fingers before returning his gaze to me.
“Why?” he asks.
That stumps me.
“I told you last time, I don’t want a relationship,” I remind him.
“You don’t want a relationship with me? Or with anyone?”
I take a piece of lettuce out of the roll. It’s soggy, and I don’t like soggy lettuce. “With anyone.”
“Is this to do with Daniel?”
I give him a sharp look. How much does he know about my ex? I broke up with Daniel last Christmas. The only person I told what happened was my brother, Albie…