Just a Little Fling (Landscape Lovers Book 1) Read online

  He’s still grinning.

  Oh god. Be cool, Cate. Everything is fine and nothing is weird.

  Everything is weird. I ran out on him the other morning. I’m so embarrassed. Shit.

  “I must have some special powers.”

  “Er, excuse me? What?”

  “I was just wondering how I could see you again and here you are. Right in front of me.”

  “Er, see me again? W-why?” Smooth, Cate. Smooth.

  “Because I have something to give you.” He grins again.

  Is he talking about more orgasms? Oh god. I’m really blushing now. Why did I think that?

  “Er.” I can’t stop stumbling over my words. Ugh! This man! He makes me stupid. “What is that?”

  “It’s a surprise.” He winks at me. He’s enjoying this way too much.

  “What surprise?” I almost roll my eyes at myself.

  What kind of question is that?

  “That would be telling.” His face lights up with a smirk. Just like the one that lost me my favourite undies.

  Argh! Why did I remember that right now? Now I’m blushing even harder.

  I literally look around for a hole that can swallow me and take me from this awkward conversation that was never meant to happen.

  I can’t help it though. He has intrigued me again and I need to know. “How do I find out what this surprise is? Is it a good surprise or a bad surprise?”

  He raises an eyebrow at me, “Who gives bad surprises? What kind of people are you hanging out with?”

  “Never mind that, Blake!” I stomp my foot in frustration. “What do I need to do to get this surprise?”

  He’s chuckling at my frustration and maybe it’s even turning him on? Did I just see him try to adjust himself discreetly? It’s like Wednesday night all over again. I’m being awkward as fuck and he’s lapping it up. Like it’s a show, just for him.

  I’m so confused.

  He seems to stop and think about what he’s about to say, but he could be just adding to the suspense. “Meet me for coffee tomorrow and I will give you your surprise then.”

  “M-meet you for coffee? Like a date?”

  Has he taken a blow to the head recently? What is happening?

  I look around as though someone else in the supermarket can confirm that those words just came out of his mouth.

  “It’s just coffee, but sure, why not?” He shrugs like it’s no big deal that this Thor-like man just asked my short, curvy, ice cream and craft loving self out on a date tomorrow!

  I’m gaping at him like a fish again.

  What is happening right now?

  “Er, okay? I-I guess I could meet you.”

  “Perfect!” He nods. “Give me your number and I’ll text you the time and place. Do I need to work around your other plans? Or are you free tomorrow?”

  Wait. He wants my number too? This is too much.

  “Um. I’m free any time tomorrow.”

  Way to go, Cate. Tell him how boring you are. Such a catch. Ice cream on Friday night and a no plans Saturday. Party girl!

  He nods approvingly and motions to my phone. I unlock it and open the phone app and hand it to him. He types in his number and saves it.

  Then he switches apps and texts himself something—that I can’t see—to give himself my number. He hands the phone back and I’m still staring.

  He grabs his own phone from his back pocket and saves my number with another big grin. He reaches into the ice cream shelf—that we’ve been blocking this whole time—grabs his container and winks at me.

  He whispers in my ear as he passes me, “See you tomorrow, sweet cheeks.” He takes his trolley and leaves.

  I hear my phone drop, before I feel my grip loosening and I lean down to pick it up.

  What on earth just happened?

  I snap out of it and realise that I’m still standing next to the ice cream. So, I grab my own container, put it in my basket and shuffle my way to the check out.

  I stare back at the spot where it all happened—as though it would prove that the whole conversation was a figment of my imagination—but there’s nothing there to tell me either way.

  I walk straight into the end of the check-out belt, because I’m not paying attention and the attendant laughs. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost!” she says.

  “No ghost, I don’t think. The hottest guy I’ve ever met just asked me for coffee and I can’t quite believe it!”

  Nice overshare, Cate! You’re smashing them out tonight.

  She giggles. “Oh, I wish something that good would happen to me. But I’m working here on a Friday night.” She sighs that wistful, teen girl sigh. She’s probably 16, maybe 17.

  “Don’t give up hope. There are loads more Friday nights in your future.”

  She smiles at that. “I hope you said yes!” I nod. She bags up my snacks and says, “I also hope you have an amazing time!”

  “Thanks, you too,” I say, as I wave and walk away. She gives me a puzzled look.

  You too? Oh, man! I need to get home before I embarrass myself anymore tonight.

  Being me is a trip!

  I place my bag on the bench and unpack my snacks for my movie night. I make a bowl of ice cream and put the container away.

  I change into comfy clothes and get myself all set up in front of the TV. I’m just pressing play on an old favourite, Drive Me Crazy, as my phone buzzes with a text.

  I’m expecting it to be Lottie, complaining that I’m not out partying with her. It’s Halloween weekend and she loves any excuse to dance the night away. But once this week was more than enough for me.

  It buzzes again before I can even pick it up.

  “Oh, Lottie. Next time, I promise!” I say without looking at the phone. It buzzes a third time. “Fine, I’ll answer you.”

  I look at my lock screen and see that it’s not Lottie, it’s from someone in my phone simply called ‘The Man’. Blake. That’s what he named himself in my phone. I roll my eyes. Of course he did.

  I open the messages and scroll to the top. The first text is from me. Well, him texting himself as me. It’s the heart eyes emoji and nothing else.

  Oh, god. What have I gotten myself in to?

  The Man: Hey Sweet Cheeks!

  The Man: Can’t wait to see you tomorrow. You’re going to love this surprise *wink emoji*

  The Man: Meet me at Leaf St Bakery at 12:30. I’ll buy you lunch.

  As I’m thinking up my reply, I get another text.

  The Man: Don’t hold out on me, gorgeous. You know it will be awesome.

  Ugh. This man! I can see his smirk through my phone.

  Cate: Fine! I’ll be there. This surprise better be good. I think you’ve over sold it though. I can’t think of what could be so good.

  The Man: Are you sure? Maybe you’re blanking on Wednesday night. You know just how good I can be. *wink emoji*

  Cate: You. Are. Trouble.

  Cate: See you tomorrow. Good night!

  The Man: Good night, gorgeous. Don’t think of me too much. x

  Why do I feel like I’m suddenly in way over my head? Oh, god.

  EIGHT

  BLAKE

  I glance at my watch for the tenth time.

  It’s 12:26pm and I’m waiting in the Leaf St Bakery for Cate. She’s not late, but as someone who is usually the late one, I’m worried she won’t show.

  What is this? Am I nervous? I don’t do nervous. I am confident in all things. Especially with women. I’ve got this.

  This place is full-on hipster. It’s decked out with Bentwood chairs and round timber tables for two. It has exposed brick on two walls and full glass for the other two. It’s cute as a button and I’m hoping it’s the kind of place that Cate will love.

  I check my phone for something to do and look up to check the door again. This time I’m rewarded, because Cate steps through the doorway looking around sheepishly, as though she’s not sure if she should be here.

  She’s wearing
a polka dot summer dress with a V-neck front that flares out at her waist. It has a matching belt. She’s got a short cardigan thing over her arms—because the weather is still more spring than summer—but my god she’s stunning, right down to her cork slide covered feet.

  Yep, this is her kind of place.

  I’m staring, but she hasn’t noticed me yet. As she makes her way into the bakery, eyes wide at the decor, she looks straight at me and we lock eyes. I grin at her and she steps forward and trips on a chair leg that’s sticking out from a table.

  She flushes with embarrassment.

  Man, she’s so adorable. I can’t get enough of this woman. I have no idea why.

  She apologises to the empty chair she just tripped on and shuffles over to the table I claimed for us.

  It’s at the back of the bakery along one of the brick walls. It’s open enough that it doesn’t look like I’m trying to hide her, but secluded enough that I can give her the surprise without prying eyes.

  “Hey, gorgeous!” I stand to greet her and kiss her on the cheek. She’s blushing furiously again.

  “Er, Hi!” She does a little wave and sits in the free chair. She takes another look around from this vantage point. “I’ve never been to this place before. It’s so cool!”

  “I thought you’d like it.”

  She looks at me with a puzzled expression.

  “I just got the feeling this might be your scene.” I gesture to her clothes. “You fit in perfectly”.

  She smiles at my comment and checks the menu.

  A waitress comes over to our table and asks for my order, flirting with me, with her back to Cate. She’s laying the charm on thick, touching my upper arm and completely ignoring that I’m here with someone already. I can see Cate trying to shrink back into her chair.

  Nope. Not today. I’m having none of this.

  “What do you feel like, babe?” I ask Cate. “Your choice today.”

  Cate won’t meet my eyes. Damn it. This foolish waitress might ruin everything.

  The waitress looks puzzled and suddenly realises that I’m not alone as she slowly turns to look at Cate. Her eyes flick between Cate and me, as though she can’t believe that I’d be there with someone like Cate.

  I’m getting pissed off now. Cate is stunning and I won’t let this waitress ruin what could be a great afternoon.

  “Want to go somewhere else, babe? Maybe this place was a mistake?”

  Cate shakes her head, “No. I’ll have a strawberry milkshake and a blueberry scone, please.” She looks straight at the waitress, seemingly finding her inner bitch.

  That’s my girl!

  “Make that two of each.”

  The waitress nods and scuttles off like she knows she just fucked up.

  “I’m sorry about that, babe.” I gesture to where the waitress was standing.

  Cate waves a hand like it’s nothing. “Don’t worry about it. Let’s just pretend that didn’t happen.” She still looks sheepish, but she sits up straighter as though she’s determined not to let it ruin today.

  “Tell me the best part of your week, excluding the night I rocked your world, of course. What’s your next best thing?” I grin at her.

  She huffs out a laugh and rolls her eyes at me, then tells me about her week. How she and her friend Lottie had a girls’ night and how she’s made progress on her knitting even though it’s not really the season to knit.

  The woman is an angel. She knits little baby beanies for the neonatal unit at the hospital. For the tiny premature babies. The more she talks, the more animated she gets. It’s like watching a flower bloom. I’ve never really talked to women—who aren’t my sister—to ever really see this.

  It’s awesome.

  “How was your week?” She asks me.

  I shake my head, because I got lost in the thought of how amazing she looks when she’s talking about things that make her happy. “Good. We nearly finished a project at work and it’s really starting to make the place look stunning.”

  “Oh, what kind of work do you do?”

  The waitress brings out a tray with our milkshakes and scones. “Do you need anything else?” She asks.

  “We’ve got everything we need, thanks.” I say to the waitress, but it’s Cate I’m staring at.

  Cate smiles a small smile back at me, like my gaze is too intense for her, but she doesn’t want to look away.

  “I’m a landscape gardener. We do small scale, private homes mostly. At the moment I just do the planting. But I’m studying at night to be able to do the designing part and maybe one day run my own business. I hope to be a qualified landscape architect in a year or two.”

  Her eyes go wide in fascination. “That’s so cool. You sound so driven. My job is kind of a dead end and I have no idea what I want to do next. I mean knitting and crafting isn’t really a career and I don’t know what else I’m good at.”

  “I bet you’ll find your thing. Sometimes it just takes time to figure it out.” She nods at that and sips her milkshake through a metal straw she pulled from a container in her handbag. I drink mine like it’s a regular glass, making an exaggerated ‘ahh’ sound when I finish my sip.

  She giggles and gestures for me to lean forward. Right now, I’d give this woman anything, so I do.

  She takes hold of my chin and uses her thumb to wipe away the frothy, pink milk moustache from my upper lip. She goes to wipe it on a napkin.

  But I grab her wrist, before she can, and take her digit into my mouth sucking her thumb clean.

  There’s fire in my eyes now and I can see something stirring in hers. “I’m so glad you came today.”

  She blushes again and I find myself wanting to keep a tally of all the times I make her blush.

  She taps her hand on the table to break the tension. “Where’s this surprise you promised me? Or was I here lured here under false pretences?” Her amused tone is going to kill me.

  I need to get this woman out of my system. What is she doing to me?

  “I am hurt by your accusation! I am a man of my word!” I place my hand over my chest and feign physical hurt from her words. She just laughs.

  I pull out the small gift bag I put her undies in. I even added a little left over tissue paper to the top to hide the contents, like my sister insisted on teaching me.

  Sometimes I listen to advice.

  I place it on my side of the table to show proof, but without letting her have it just yet.

  I smirk at her. “I’ll let you have it. But...” I pause for dramatic emphasis and she rolls her hand in a circle as if to say, ‘out with it’. “But you have to consider meeting me again. Your choice of location next time. But my shout.”

  She shakes her head.

  Oh shit. I thought I had this.

  She sees my face fall. I couldn’t hide it fast enough. With a little laugh she says, “I will consider meeting you again. But...” her whole face is over exaggerating the ‘but’ right back at me. “But, I get to pay!”

  I reach out for her hand as if to shake on it, but as she slides her hand in mine I pull it to my mouth and kiss the back of it. I give her a smirk to let her know I haven’t lost my touch.

  She rolls her eyes and laughs. I grab the gift bag and place it in front of her.

  “You might want to look in it rather than just tip it out.” Her eyes go wide, but she nods as though she’ll take that advice.

  She carefully pulls out the tissue paper and places it gently on the table. She looks inside and then back up at me, puzzled—or maybe intrigued—and she pulls out a small envelope.

  “See what’s in the bottom of the bag before opening that.” I suggest and she simply nods and tips the bag so she can see the last item in it. She blushes furiously again.

  Like a treat just for me.

  “You found them!” She squeaks. I nod.

  “I couldn’t let you lose your favourites, babe.” I wink at her.

  “But…but how did you know they were my favourites?” He
r eyes are wide.

  “You might have mumbled something to that effect.” I shrug casually.

  “Oh.” She can’t look at me again. “I thought I only said that in my head.”

  “Your secret’s safe with me, gorgeous.” I wink at her. “Now open the last part.”

  She quickly folds the bag down and places it in her handbag, so she won’t risk losing them again, and returns her attention to the envelope.

  There’s more careful opening from her and I’m starting to sweat. If I read this wrong, she’ll throw it at me and storm out. If not? I might have a chance. I need to tie up this unfinished business.

  Cate finally removes the greeting card from the envelope and notices a gift card loose inside. She stares at the small, pink rectangle for a moment, places it on the table and reads the card. She looks back at the gift card again, her eyes wide, as if she needs to confirm that it’s real.

  She nods at the greeting card just once. Places the gift card back inside it and carefully puts them both back in the envelope. I’m holding my breath.

  Did I fuck this up?

  She speaks so softly, I have to lean in to hear. “Thank you for that, Blake. It’s so sweet of you. I say yes to meeting you again. My shout this time!”

  I can’t help it, I let out a “YES” and I punch the air!

  She just laughs.

  That gift card was worth every single cent.

  NINE

  CATE

  It’s been hours since my coffee date with Blake at the bakery, but I’m playing it over in my head. On repeat.

  It was not going well when the waitress started hitting on my date like I wasn’t even there. But Blake shut that shit down and I found my inner bitch—who very rarely shows up.

  Then it took an unexpected turn. I started to really enjoy myself. I like that he brings out the bold in me. I don’t know what it is, but I feel more confident around him. It’s like he draws that part right out of me.

  He doesn’t seem to mind that I’m 90 percent awkward and if I’m honest, that’s kind of refreshing to be around.

  Next came my surprise. Returning my favourite undies could have been super creepy, but somehow, he made it cute.

  That he cared enough to return them and not just toss them, counts for something in my book. I noticed when I got home that they were also freshly washed and neatly folded.