Secret Flowers and April Showers in Lily Vale Village (Lily Vale Village Book 6): An uplifting, heart-warming and hilarious romantic tale set in the British countryside by Imogen Payne

Author:Imogen Payne [Payne, Imogen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Another day, another truckload of flowers.

Though I’m not complaining, I’m one of the lucky few who can proudly declare that they love their job. Even on days like today, when I’ve had to bring my meddlesome mutt into the shop with me. Still, I’m glad to have him by my side, the poor thing hasn’t seen that much of me lately, between work and running around like a headless chicken for the party, my beloved pooch is bound to be feeling a little neglected.

He’s getting more and more comfortable with the flower shop now, the first time I had him in, there were so many different smells, it must have been overwhelming. But now, he’s quite content to lie on his bed beside my workbench, only rising to do his routine patrol of the shop floor.

Come closing time, Randall is whining at my feet, his big, dark eyes beseeching me to take him out for a walk.

‘Alright then, matey.’ I grab his red lead from the hook by the door, sending him into a frenzy of excited yips. ‘Let’s go out.’

It’s that time of year when the weather can’t seem to make up its mind, one minute, the sun is beating down on your back, the next, rainclouds have appeared out of nowhere and suddenly, you’re running for shelter. At least it seems stabilised for now, neither sunny nor rainy, but there’s no telling how it will turn.

During our relaxed stroll around the village, I make a stop off at the local supermarket, deciding to grab myself a quick snack since I missed lunch. I’ve been so inundated with work, there wasn’t a free moment to even scoff a biscuit!

While perusing the sandwiches in the chilled aisle, an imposing figure in black Lycra appears in the corner of my vision.

Ross.

My entire body flushes as hot as coals, I scrunch my shoulders inside my raincoat and stare at the selection of cheeses, pretending to have found something intently interesting about the locally-sourced Stilton. When I dare to glance over, my heart skips a beat, in the worst kind of way.

Oh no, he’s coming this way!

In my desperation to escape, I back straight into someone, stepping on their foot for good measure.

‘Ouch!’ The deep voice cries out.

‘Oh, I’m sorry!’

I whirl around clumsily, finding myself nose-to-nose with Marc.

‘We really need to stop meeting like this,’ he chuckles, taking me firmly by the shoulders and steadying me. ‘Last time I nearly ran you over, and now you’re getting your revenge by stomping on my toes.’

‘I think squashed toes are fair payback for my near-death experience,’ I giggle, sudden heat rushing to my cheeks in a torrent. I bet my face is beetroot red!

Randall, like the attention seeker he is, begins yipping and snuffling, aghast that we’re not giving him all the fuss.

‘Well, hello, who’s this little guy?’ Marc bends down to scratch under the dog’s scraggly chin. ‘It’s Randall, right?’

‘Yeah. I guess I mention him a lot, don’t I?’ I beam fondly at Marc as he pets my fawning pooch.

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