Out Of The Woods
WRITTEN BY LYDIA JONES
Between lively Josh and gorgeous Adam, summer at the castle is more complicated this year…
“Miss, I can see your knickers from here.”
Josh is prone at my ankles.
“Really, Josh? What super x-ray vision you must have to see through denim.”
“I have. I’m like Superman, me.” He charges off.
I call him Jellybean Josh. He can’t keep still and of all the children in my care this summer, he is the most troublesome.
“Don’t go near the dig,” I shout. “You might fall in a ditch.”
With admonishments to the others to stay put, I give chase.
I find him: legs dangling into an archaeologist’s trench, deep in conversation with Mr Ponytailed Perfection.
My stomach does a stupid sizzling thing
Professor Linley and the rest have been here excavating the castle since my first day, but this tanned, toned specimen only appeared recently. When I see him my stomach does a stupid sizzling thing.
“Josh! I’m sorry, he’s bothering you.”
“No bother.” He smiles: white teeth against tanned skin. Cue stomach doing total disappearing act.
“See you tomorrow, Adam.” Josh scrambles up.
Mr Perfection-now-called-Adam high-fives my chaotic charge; grins at me. Gulp!
“Can we do some digging, Miss?” Josh skips alongside.
“No, Josh. We need to leave it to the professionals.”
I’m exhausted handing children back to work-stressed parents
Somehow we get through our day and as usual I’m exhausted handing children back to work-stressed parents.
“You’ve – err – got a new recruit?” I say when Professor Linley comes to sign back keys.
His face flickers startled rabbit. “Yes.”
He signs the key-book as if his life depends on it.
My colleague suggests I do some digging…
“You won’t glean anything from that female-freaked fossil,” my colleague, Miranda says, as Professor Linley leaves. “If you’ve got your eye on his handsome young assistant, you’d better do the digging yourself.”
“I haven’t-”
“Course.”
“Miranda, you might be my work mentor but that doesn’t entitle you to badger me about my love-life.”
“What love-life?”
“OK, OK.”
“Get in there, girl. I would have done at your age.”
Easy for her to say.
Josh is missing…
Total panic until I spot him talking to Adam. He scurries back and all goes well until the boys bring me their “present”.
“Honestly,” I agonise to Miranda later “- the biggest cockroach you’ve ever seen. I’m surprised you didn’t hear me screaming back in the visitor centre. Adam heard. I saw him staring: probably thought I was demented.”
“No progress with Adonis?”
“No, and there won’t be now he thinks I’m some shrieking lunatic.”
The next day…
I manage a weak smile in Adam’s direction the following day. Mistake: the mini police are on to me immediately.
“He your boyfriend, Miss?”
“Don’t be silly.”
“You got a boyfriend, Miss?”
“Mind your own business.”
“I bet you do. What’s he like?”
“Enough with the personal questions.”
“Is he a good kisser, Miss?”
“OK. I do not have a boyfriend – satisfied? Now can we get on?”
Josh smirks. I could strangle him.
How is anyone allowed to be that gorgeous?
At day’s end, instead of Professor Linley, it’s Adam with the keys. Miranda winks, makes herself scarce.
“Actually-” He runs a hand through collar-length curls. Arm muscles ripple. I try not to stare.
“I wanted a word. Do you think the children would like to do some digging? I could sort a site we’re finished with.”
“I – I’m sure they’d love it.”
“Cool. Can I walk you down the drive?”
I nod. How is anyone allowed to be that gorgeous?
“I was thinking – we could go for a drink – err – discuss what to do with the kids,” he says as I pick up my bike.
“OK.”
“Great. The Bell, about eight?”
“Fine.”
I’m just thinking he didn’t ask my name when he flashes me the stomach-sizzler smile.
“Thanks, Tina.”
“You know – how?”
“Josh lives next door to my parents.”
Remembering all the boyfriend questions, I giggle. I think we might just have been set up by a seven-year-old.
It just shows you never know what treasure you might find digging about in old ruins.
Don’t miss the other stories in our Romance Series…
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A Night At The Movies
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Love On The Line
-
So Many Horror Stories
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The Lucky Red Dress
-
Holiday Of A Lifetime
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Best Behaviour
-
Little Arrows
Allison Hay
I joined the "My Weekly" team thirteen years ago and, more recently, "The People's Friend". I love the variety of topics we cover both online and in the magazines. I manage the digital content for the brands, sharing features and information on the website, social media and in our digital newsletters.
