Page 88 of Sunrise over Strawberry Hill Farm

This time, she lost all sense of time and reality. This time, he didn’t hold back and neither did she.

Minutes, possibly hours passed until finally they drew apart, both breathlessly staring at each other. He studied her, his eyes unfathomable in the darkness now sweeping over the landscape around them. Then, with a soft smile, he took her by the hand and led her through the kitchen and upstairs, their journey punctuated by many stops and short, sweet kisses, often accompanied by murmured Italian words whispered in her ear.

It was only once they were in the darkness of the upstairs hallway, that the kisses once more deepened back into pure passion.

But the sound of Flora’s phone ringing brought her back to earth with a bump.

‘Don’t answer it,’ urged Nico, as he dropped a line of kisses all the way down her neck.

‘I must,’ said Flora, despite every fibre of her being just wanting to stay in the moment with Nico. ‘It might be Grams. She’s still out.’

Nico swore in Italian before straightening up. ‘You’re right,’ he said. ‘Answer it.’

She brought out the mobile and in the darkness the name Tyler lit up on the screen. Flora glanced over and saw that Nico was looking at the mobile as well.

She quickly pressed the button for the call to go to voicemail, but the moment had been broken.

‘Scusi,’ he said, dragging a hand through his hair. ‘It’s been an emotional evening and I got carried away. I apologise. It won’t happen again.’ He turned and went into his bedroom, closing the door behind him.

‘Nico,’ called out Flora, but there was no reply.

In a daze, she turned around and went into her own bedroom, sagging against the doorframe after closing the door. She didn’t think she could even take a step at that moment, such was the power of his kiss. The chemistry between them both excited and terrified her. What if she had ruined everything by not pushing him away? What if she never stopped wanting him and gave into her true feelings for once?

She shook her head. He was right, of course. It had been an evening where he had been terribly homesick. They had both got carried away, that was all.

But, right at that moment, all she wanted to do was to drag him back into her arms and kiss him once more.

53

Flora came from the camping field one afternoon to find Nico and Tyson standing next to the old motorbike. The Ducati had received a major overhaul since being dragged out of the old stables. Now it was polished and, she realised as Nico turned the key in the ignition, working as well.

He looked delighted. ‘This is great,’ he shouted above the noise.

Tyson merely nodded and smiled.

It was wonderful how much the teenager had come out of his shell since the beginning of the summer when he had first begun to visit the farm, she thought. Nowadays, he was always popping in, eager to help wherever he could. She and Nico had even discussed giving him a Saturday job, such was the amount of work and help he had been around the place. Nico had told her that it would give him security and routine which he seemed to be badly craving in his life.

Nico turned off the engine once more and looked over to see Flora. He smiled at her, but it didn’t reach his eyes, she noticed and immediately looked away.

Neither of them had discussed the kiss after their meal out a couple of days ago. But she had done nothing but think and dream about it every hour since then. It had affected her so deeply, changed her, it almost felt. It had made her feel things, a passion, that she had no idea she had even had.

Despite the awkwardness she still felt, she wandered over to join them, as if pulled towards Nico by an invisible thread.

‘I can’t believe that old thing is finally working,’ she said, smiling. ‘Well done, Tyson. You’ve worked a miracle.’

‘Old thing!’ Nico pretended to look offended. ‘I’ll have you know that bike is a classic.’

‘Too right,’ added Tyson.

‘And, as such, a classic bike like this deserves a good run-out,’ said Nico.

He walked away towards the Ferrari to open up the car door. Then he pulled out a large box and carried it towards them.

‘I got these last week,’ he said, pulling out two crash helmets. ‘Just in case.’

Tyson’s eyes grew wide. ‘You’re going to actually ride it? You trust me?’

‘Of course I trust you,’ Nico told him. ‘It’s not licensed to be on the main roads yet, but I think we can give its maiden voyage this century around the farm, don’t you?’