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Claudie loves living in the countryside and close to the
forests. She’s a film maker and works for the wildlife trust. One night she
steps onto her patio and sees a man sheltering there. She confronts him and he
runs away.
Jasper has watched Claudie for a year. He fell in love with
her, but he has a secret, one that might mean he can never approach her.
Teaser:
Claudie couldn’t concentrate on her
work anymore. She Skyped another member of the documentary team and they
discussed the weekend program they were to film. It was about the influx of
starlings that came for the winter and about the red kites that were now so
prolific in that part of the country. Afterwards she sat back in her desk chair
and gazed into space. She got up and walked to the kitchen. Maybe a cup of
coffee would help, but she left the percolator bubbling, took her jacket from
the hall, and walked out into the garden.
She couldn’t shake the unease that
gripped her since she’d seen the man in the night. Claudie locked up and set
off to walk in the woods. She chose her favorite path. It wound through the
remaining elms and ash. Claudie knew the forestry commission had to cut back
the trees a couple of years before because of disease. Since then they planted
Scots pine in a group and the young trees were lovely.
Claudie scrunched along the path
thinking about work, then about the blue man, then about the coffee that would
be stewed by the time she went home.
Jasper heard her long before he saw
her, and he went to lean against the tarp covered trailer.
Claudie saw the man. She knew the
foresters parked there in the clearing and saw the trailer. She assumed Jasper
was a forestry worker. She’d met them before as she worked or walked and often
stopped for a few words. As she approached and saw him clearly, something
stirred in her heart. She’d not felt attracted to a man in a few years. This
man was gorgeous. He was tall, broad shouldered, muscled, and slim hipped, like
some movie star. She knew she was openly staring at him, and so she greeted him
as hikers and walkers often did when they passed each other.
“Hi, nice day.” It was an inane
greeting, when her heart pounded at the way his jeans rode low on his hips, and
his chest muscles filled out the forestry commission shirt. She couldn’t take
her eyes off him as he pushed a hand through his dark hair and then smiled at
her.
“It’s stopped raining at least.”
Jasper heard his own voice echo in the clearing. He took a step towards
Claudie. “I’m waiting for the others to come back before I unpack the tools.”
He waved at the trailer, as if his tools were in there, alluding to having been
dropped off, so that she wouldn’t wonder where his vehicle was.
Claudie instinctively knew he wanted
to talk to her. She stopped a few paces away on the soil path strewn with red
and gold fallen leaves.
“What are you going to do here? Not
chop down more trees I hope. They all look healthy to me.” She smiled at him.
He’d be about her age, she thought. She looked for a ring on his hand, even
knowing not all men wore a wedding band. There wasn’t one. Claudie stepped a
little closer. He seemed familiar. Fringed with long dark lashes, his lovely
green eyes held an unspoken emotion. He’s very good looking. She stared at his
inviting lips. What would it be like to kiss him? Get a grip he’s a total
stranger.
Jasper watched her carefully. He saw
the glance she gave his left hand, and saw her eyes darken a little as she
gazed at him. His heart started to pound.
“No chopping down, just taking care
of the young trees.” He hoped it was the truth and the trailer didn’t hold
chainsaws.
Claudie felt drawn to him. She
wondered what it took these days to show a guy you liked him. She’d not had
much luck with men, never had a lasting relationship, and stopped even thinking
about dating around two years ago. She didn’t expect to meet a man who
instantly interested her the way this guy did. She had male colleagues and got
on well with them, but as for sex or love, Claudie had given up hope for them.
She looked around her thinking about
how she might continue a conversation. “Have you been waiting for the other
workers long? It’s starting to get cold again.”
Jasper knew he’d have to keep lying.
He didn’t like it, but there it was. “I think they’ve forgotten me.” He smiled.
“I might walk down the lane and meet them as they come back. Are you going that
way?”
Claudie was going in the opposite
direction, but knew an invitation when she heard one.
Copyright Elodie Parkes 2013 Hot Ink Press
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Fantastic tease, Elodie, well done!
ReplyDeleteLOVE LOVE LOVE!
ReplyDeleteI like the development we see of Jasper's character in that he feels guilty about deceiving Claudie.
ReplyDeleteGreat Tease, Elodie!
ReplyDeleteI love this gentle introduction to the characters and the hint of conflict to come. Great teaser, Elodie.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great meet, and of course she has to take him up on the invitation!
ReplyDelete