Julia was in awe, her eyes wide. ‘These gardens will have taken many years to nurture and cultivate into such gorgeous places of beauty.’
‘They are amazing, I fell in love with this place the second I visited,’ admitted Flynn, once again catching Julia’s eye and causing her stomach to give a little flip. ‘This is the wilderness garden.’ Flowers and plants in a multitude of colours danced up to their waists as they walked the hexagon paving stones, and once they were on the other side Julia and Eleni stood and stared.
‘Wow, just wow!’ Julia gave a little gasp. ‘Can this place get any more magical?’ The secluded woodland and ancient trees were the perfect sanctuary for the herd of sixteen fallow and red deer lolloping in front of their eyes.
‘It’s just something isn’t it?’ said Flynn. ‘This undisturbed land provides refuge for birds, roosting bats, foxes, etc. I could sit out here and watch the wildlife all day.’ He pointed over to numerous oak treehouses scattered around. ‘Up there, such fantastic views.’
‘I would have never known all this was even here,’ exclaimed Eleni, watching the herd of deer. ‘They are mesmerising.’
‘There’s something special about this place,’ remarked Flynn, taking a glance at his watch. ‘We can head back around the side of the lake.’
Julia turned and as her foot hit the tree stump in front of her, she tripped for the second time today. ‘For God’s sake,’ she muttered. Bewildered and feeling a fool she was yanked to her feet by Flynn’s strapping arms.
‘I’ve never had a woman fall at my feet twice in less than five minutes.’ His eyes sparkled and Julia wanted the ground to swallow her up, but she couldn’t help thinking he was flirting with her a little.
She smiled and brushed herself down, yet was conscious her face was burning a deep red colour. They began walking again and Julia caught Eleni watching her with amusement.
‘Did you go weak at the knees?’ Eleni whispered to Julia, who shot her a warning glance which Eleni knew only too well meant behave yourself.
‘There’s rocky ground up here. I’m just pointing it out in case you fancy falling for me for a third time,’ joked Flynn, with a look of mischief on his face, leaving a tingling pulse racing through Julia’s body which she couldn’t control.
Julia gave a sarcastic smile while Eleni came to her rescue and began asking questions about the history of Starcross Manor. Flynn chatted amiably as they walked around the lake back towards the entrance and Julia took the opportunity to steal a sideward glance at him. He was probably in a relationship, men as handsome as him were never single. Julia bet he had settled down with a beautiful wife and no doubt had equally stunning children. Taking another look towards his wedding finger there was no evidence of a ring, not even a ring mark. She had to admit she was intrigued by him, even though a little wary. Here he was being the perfect host showing them around as though nothing had ever happened all those years ago.
They arrived back at the front of the manor house. ‘This place is magnificent,’ gushed Eleni. ‘How’s the inside coming on?’
Julia was curious to see what was going on inside too, and she put a foot on the stone steps leading to the grand entrance.
‘I’m sorry ladies, inside isn’t ready yet.’
Julia thought she’d noticed Flynn stiffen, but maybe she was mistaken.
‘We don’t mind,’ pushed Eleni.
‘Health and safety and all that, plus…’ Flynn’s tone now seemed a little matter of fact, he took another glance at his watch. ‘I am waiting for a call around about now.’
Suddenly Julia felt disappointed, she was intrigued to take a look inside the manor house and took a last fleeting glance towards the entrance.
‘But we must catch up again soon. Julia, it’s been lovely to see you again after all this time,’ Flynn seemed to soften again.
‘You too,’ she replied, looking straight into his eyes. ‘Thank you for showing us around.’
Before Flynn could say any more his phone began to ring out. ‘I must take this,’ he said, looking towards Julia then back towards his phone, his eyes batting between the two like a slow game of tennis before he bounded up the steps and waved above his head.
The second he was out of sight Julia turned towards Eleni who was grinning like a Cheshire cat. ‘What are you smirking at?’
‘As if you didn’t know.’
Julia knew exactly what she was going to say but ignored her and held out her hand. ‘I’ll drive back,’ she said taking the keys off Eleni. ‘I think it’s safer that way.’
As Julia climbed behind the wheel Eleni slipped into the passenger seat and was still smirking. ‘Spit it out. I’m not having you look like that all afternoon.’
‘I’ve only got one thing to say,’ replied Eleni, pulling on her seatbelt. ‘S-e-x-u-a-l c-h-e-m-i-s-t-r-y.’ She strung out the words. ‘Talk about electricity – you pair could light up the whole of Scotland with those sparks!’
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ argued Julia, but knowing there was some sort of feeling fizzing inside her. ‘I know the kind of man he is.’
‘He seemed genuinely lovely to me and you can’t deny he is drop-dead gorgeous with the perkiest bum and that shirt clinging to every muscle! Not to mention that aftershave oozes class,’ added Eleni, taking a swift glance towards Julia, who started the engine.
Still ignoring Eleni’s comments, Julia turned the car around on the gravel carpark and gave a sideward glance back towards the entrance of Starcross Manor. Flynn was standing at the top of the stone steps with his phone to his ear. He saluted with an air of confidence and a twinkle in his eye that caused Julia’s heart to race.
Damn, he’d caught her looking. She gave a little awkward salute back, leaving Eleni chuckling away. Ignoring the laughter coming from the passenger seat, Julia drove towards the entrance then headed back along the road towards the pub.
‘He has got everything hasn’t he?’ Eleni continued. ‘The looks, the money…’
Julia was fully aware how handsome Flynn was, and of his financial status. ‘He has, but there’s right ways of making money instead of ripping people off,’ she replied, thinking back to her grandad’s house.
It only took a couple of minutes to reach the Grouse and Haggis, and Julia steered the car into the carpark and switched off the engine.
‘Retirement home did you say?’ asked Eleni, unclipping her seatbelt and opening the car door.
‘Yes, apparently so,’ replied Julia, climbing out of the car. Flynn was still very much on her mind.
‘All I can say is he was taken with you,’ declared Eleni. ‘He kept taking sneaky looks in your direction.’
‘Don’t be daft,’ protested Julia, but she knew the second she’d set eyes on him that there was some sort of pull towards him, although she felt a little confused. Bad boys were always more attractive, weren’t they? And considering their past, he’d surprised Julia by being so warm and hospitable, showing them around the grounds especially after Eleni nearly crashed into his car. He’d welcomed her like a long-lost friend. This wasn’t the man she thought she’d remember so clearly from the past, and she wanted to discover more about Flynn.