Farm Fatale (52 page)

    There was no way she could avoid him. "Jack," Rosie said, walking up to him, glad of the gloom hiding her blushes as she remembered their last furious exchange. "I've never seen you in here before."

    "Aye, well, I've never been a big fan of this pub."

    Rosie could have bitten her tongue out. Of course. It was in the Barley Mow that he had met Catherine. Please, she thought, don't let him start banging on about all that again.

    "But Susan thinks I should get out more. Great concert, wasn't it? Matt's pretty good, I reckon."

    Rosie nodded, trying not to look amazed. "It was. He is. And thanks for saying so."

    Jack's teeth shone in the gloaming. "Maybe I'll get some of his CDs. You get sick of Jennifer Lopez…This is Susan," he added suddenly as the dark-haired woman, having finished her conversation with Ann, turned bright, inquiring eyes on Rosie. "My fiancée."

    "Congratulations," said Rosie, meaning it. From the way Susan was beaming at him with mingled love and pride, it was obvious Jack would have no trouble from the woman he was with in the Barley Mow tonight.

    "Rosie's an, um, illustrator," said Jack, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot. He was, Rosie noticed with astonishment, wearing shoes, not wellies. Moreover, the shoes were new.

    Susan's face lit up. "Wonderful. I need someone to do some drawings for the brochures I'm planning for Spitewinter. Advertising bed-and-breakfast, farm-fresh produce, and so on. Would you be interested? When we get back from our honeymoon, that is?"

    "Of course. I'd love to." Rosie was about to add that she'd done quite a few Spitewinter sheep and cows already but thought better of it.

    "Thanks." Jack grinned as Susan disappeared to retrieve her coat. "We're getting married on a beach in the Seychelles. Susan thinks I need a break from the farm."

    "She's right. Have a great time."

    "We will."

    Rosie screwed up her courage and looked directly into his eyes. "Be happy, Jack. You deserve it."

    "So do you. You be happy too."

    "I will." Spotting Susan returning and Matt coming back in, Rosie crossed her fingers behind her back. Was the something he had to ask her what she hoped it was? Or was he merely wondering if she'd seen his guitar pick?

    "Oh, and if you're thinking of buying us a wedding present…" Jack added.

    "Yes?" Matt and Susan were getting closer. Rosie did not want to be discussing toasters when he reached her.

    "Forget the asbestos gloves. I don't think I'll be needing them after all."

    Susan, overhearing, shot Jack a puzzled glance. Matt, meanwhile, was rummaging hard in his pocket.

    "I will." Rosie smiled at Jack, hoping that she wouldn't be needing them either.

    "You've answered my question," murmured Matt, sliding the pale blue Tiffany ring box into her hand.

Wendy Holden was a journalist for the
Sunday Times
,
Tatler
, and the
Mail on
Sunday
before becoming a full-time author.
She has now published nine novels, all
being top-ten bestsellers in the UK, and
she is married with two young children.
Her novels include
Beautiful People
,
Bad
Heir Day
,
Simply Divine
,
Gossip Hound
,
The Wives of Bath
,
The School for Husbands
,
Azur Like It
, and
Filthy Rich.