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Back A Place to Call Home Save as PDF
Chapters (62)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. Epilogue
  58. Author’s Note
  59. Acknowledgments
  60. More from Fay Keenan
  61. About the Author
  62. About Boldwood Books

‘Ssh,’ Holly said softly. ‘They’re only doing it because they’ve spotted a semi-famous face. And it’s not like you’re doing anything wrong. Well, not yet, anyway,’ she raised a suggestive eyebrow.

Charlie groaned. ‘Take me back to your place. Now!’ he said. ‘Or I really won’t be responsible for my actions.’

‘Your wish is my command,’ Holly replied. ‘But I wouldn’t be surprised if you and I ended up on an Instagram feed later.’

‘I’ve got quite adept at stalking myself online since I got this job,’ Charlie admitted. ‘It seems better to know what they’re saying about you than not.’

‘Forewarned is forearmed,’ Holly said. ‘Although, in your job, I’m not sure I’d want to read everything that was said about me on social media! I can’t imagine what it’s like to be under such public scrutiny the whole time,’ she added. ‘Sort of like being a celebrity, but without the adulation.’

‘Sort of,’ Charlie said. ‘Although I’m up for a bit of, er, adulation for the rest of the day if you are!’ He grinned at her.

‘Oh, let me take you away from here and adore you!’ Holly replied, laughing. ‘It’s not like I’ve got anything better to do.’

‘Thanks,’ Charlie said dryly.

Swiftly they packed up their picnic and began the descent back down the hill, to an afternoon of more earthly delights.

32

Slow, lazy lovemaking left them both sated but also starving hungry. Holly, who had nothing in her fridge as she hadn’t managed to do any shopping since the previous weekend, suggested a bite to eat at the local pub. Called The Travellers’ Rest, it was the heart of the town, and one of the most ancient buildings, to boot. Rumour had it that Elizabeth I had stayed the night on the way back to London after a trip to the South Western provinces, and had allegedly been terrified by the spirit of a long-dead prioress, who’d been beaten to death in the grounds by Elizabeth’s own father, Henry VIII’s troops during the dissolution of the monasteries. Chances are, it was just the wind whistling down the large chimneys and flapping at the curtains, but it all added to the sense of mystery that surrounded such a historic building.

‘I’ve been meaning to pop into this place since I moved here, but drinking on your own isn’t a great look,’ Charlie said. ‘I’m glad I’m going to discover it for the first time with such wonderful company.’

‘Why, thank you.’ Holly wandered over to the bar, ‘What would you like to drink? My treat.’

‘Are you sure?’ Charlie asked.

‘Come on, Charlie, we’re well into the twenty-first century now!’ Holly laughed. ‘Besides, Willowfest is the most profitable weekend of the year for ComIncense, so I’m sure I can at least buy you a drink.’