The first band
they saw was an indie band: four white boys with guitars and no discernible tunes. Natalie didn’t want to be discouraging, but with the best will in the world, she couldn’t see them fitting in Upper Chewford. In fact, she was wondering what they were doing playing tonight. Most of the punters seemed annoyed they were there, and the bar staff had turned down their guitars and mics twice during their set. Natalie and Ellie drank up and drove to their next gig, five miles away in Tuteford.
“Fuck me, they were bad.” Natalie pulled out onto the country lane. But she was spending the evening with Ellie, so it wasn’t a total bust. Since they’d been caught by Fi, they hadn’t been able to have more than a fleeting coffee together. Ellie was too bogged down with her shop, while Natalie was busy with the summer festival. Plus, Nat was tip-toeing around the situation not wanting to push too soon. She guessed Ellie was doing the same thing, too.
She glanced left, to where Ellie was sitting, her long legs bent neatly in the car footwell. Her legs really did go on for miles. Natalie longed to see them in their natural form. Naked.
She turned her attention back to the road just in time to swerve left so an oncoming car could squeeze through. The roads around here were big enough for one and a half cars, which meant when a car was bearing down on you, you had to breathe in and mount the grass verge.
She had to keep her mind on the road. Now was not the night to get killed. Not when she hadn’t even slept with Ellie yet.
“Jesus!” Ellie clutched the dashboard. “That was like my driving when I first arrived and knocked you into the river.”
“Sorry, I was still distracted by how awful the last band were.”
Natalie parked up, breathing Ellie in, admiring the way her dark blue jeans cupped her shapely arse as they walked into the pub. She was still looking when Ellie turned.
“Were you just checking out my arse?” Blood rushed to Natalie’s cheeks as Ellie leaned backwards, so her lips were close to Natalie’s face. “I hope the answer’s yes.”
Okay, maybe Ellie was done tip-toeing. Natalie was down with that. She walked to the bar and ordered herself a lime and soda, and a Sauvignon Blanc for Ellie. Then she sat at the round, wooden table Ellie had snagged.
“This lot are much better.” Ellie nodded towards the stage, where a folk trio were playing. Violins swung, guitars twanged and the lead singer had a voice like melted honey. The whole pub was watching and singing along.
“We’ll get their details after.” This was more like it. Natalie held up her bottle. “Cheers.”
Ellie clinked her wine glass, and Natalie held her gaze. She could stare into Ellie’s eyes for a long time, but eventually she made herself look away.
“You look good tonight, by the way.” Ellie’s eyes roamed her black jeans and mint-coloured shirt. “That colour suits you.”
Natalie squirmed at her words. “Thanks.” She cleared her throat and they watched the band until the end of the song.
“How’s the festival coming along, or are you sick of people asking you that?”
“That’s a very perceptive question. Yes, I’m sick of people asking, but you’re not people.”
Ellie smiled. “I’m not? What am I?”
“You’re…” Natalie searched for a word. “You’re my sounding board. So almost on the committee, if you like.”
“I do like.”
“Good.” Natalie liked it, too. “It’s going fine. Harry from the The
Cotswolds Chronicles
is doing a piece every week, which is helpful. Plus, I’ve booked ads, and Jodie has been leafletting the area and putting up posters, too.”
“I saw one on the tree by the river. They looked good.”
“Jodie’s boyfriend, Craig, designed them for free. He’s got his uses. I’ve got the council on the case with the loos and bar licences, all four pubs are on-board with food specials, so now I just need to nail down the music stages, food and stalls, then delegate.”
Ellie sat back, shaking her head. “That sounds like a lot.”
“It’s okay. The only part I’m a bit rattled about is Yolanda wants me to do the opening and closing speeches. She knows public speaking is my Achilles heel, and she thinks it’s time I conquer it. She says I need to if I want to step up in the company. Which I do.”
“And stop running the shop? I’d miss you if you weren’t there.”
Natalie smiled. “It won’t be for a while, but I can’t run the shop forever. Or so Yolanda keeps telling me. She’s been trying to lure me away for a few years. I’ll give in eventually. Probably when the need for a garden overtakes me and I want to move out of the flat.”
“If you need some help with your speech, I’m your woman.”
“You are?” This was news.
Ellie nodded. “Uh-huh. I spent years in corporate land, giving presentations every minute of every day. Once you get above a certain level in a company, it’s all you seem to do. Running a shop might bring its own challenges, but not having to do presentations is a definite plus. But I’m happy to help you practise and give you some tips about getting the crowd onside.”
Natalie hadn’t thought she could like Ellie more, but right at that moment she was at peak Ellie. “That would be awesome.”
Ellie held her gaze for a moment. “Happy to help. You’ve got enough on your plate, so let me take away a little of your stress.”
The way she said it made Natalie’s insides quiver. Perhaps she could practise her speech in the morning, after they’d spent the night getting to know each other. That thought caused Natalie to cross her legs and clear her throat.
“I’m impressed with your organisation for this, though.” Ellie cupped the back of her neck as she spoke.
“I’m an organisation ninja. Plus, I have a lot of spare time. I don’t have kids or a wife, so once work is done, I organise.”
“You don’t just sit back and watch Netflix like the rest of the population? Or waste time on social media?”
Natalie laughed. “I’m one of those weird people who doesn’t do social media. Not after my divorce. When that happened, and I had to update my status to single again, it felt like it was rubbing salt into the wound. After that, I decided I could live without it. Best decision I ever made.” Her friends were still aghast at how she could possibly live without social media, but she managed just fine.
“I’ve weaned myself off looking at photos of my old colleagues knocking back cocktails at my old London haunts. The reality is far removed from the pictures. They might look like they’re having fun, and maybe they are. I never was.” Ellie shivered as she spoke.
Natalie put a hand on her arm, and stalled as she felt the connection all over her body. “It’s no fun being somewhere where everyone else seems to get it and you don’t, is it?”
Ellie shook her head with a rueful smile. “It’s not.”
“When I left Ethan, the village felt like an alien place, which was the worst. I considered leaving, to get away from it all, but in the end, I decided to stick it out. I’m glad I did. Being here with you tonight, it feels like this is exactly where I belong.”
Ellie leaned over and put her lips to her ear. “Me, too. One hundred per cent.”
Natalie’s heart thundered in her chest at Ellie’s words, just as the band finished their set and announced a 15-minute break. The audience applauded loudly.
The band got down from the stage and Natalie glanced at Ellie, holding up her index finger. “Hold that thought.” She kissed Ellie on the cheek, then went to speak to them, giving the lead singer her card. They were thrilled to be asked, and Natalie told them to consider themselves booked. She walked back to Ellie, indicating the door. “Two more bands to see, but this lot are in the bag. You ready?”
Ellie jumped up, grabbing Natalie’s arm as she did to steady herself. There it was again. That longing. That want. It had been thrumming between them all night.
Natalie pinned Ellie with her gaze as she gripped her arm. “I’m dying to kiss you later.” Her voice was a low growl.
Ellie arched a single eyebrow. “Let’s see these other two bands, then see what we can do about that, shall we?”