Free Passionate Harvest by Nell Dixon Page B

direction of the tea room. He didn’t have to take his dog out for exercise at the precise time the tea rooms were due to shut or be in that area when he knew he was likely to bump into Lucy.
    He was about to cross the lane to walk towards the vineyard when a small red car drew to a stop by his gate and the driver wound down her window.
    “Jo, what brings you out this way on your day off?” He fixed a polite smile to his face. He’d been aware for some time that his assistant had been trying to manoeuvre situations where they spent more time together. While he was fond of her as a friend and colleague, he’d never harboured any other kind of feeling towards her. Unlike Lucy.
    “I’ve been to collect some cakes from the tea room for my mother. She’s got guests tonight.”
    “Was it busy over there?” Perhaps Lucy hadn’t gone in to help today after all.
    Jo pouted a little. “I think it had quietened down by the time I arrived. There wasn’t much choice left in cakes though so I presume they must have sold well.”
    Mutley had grown bored with waiting for Dominic to take him across the field. Before Dom could react the big dog jumped up the side of Jo’s car resting his paws on the open window as he sniffed interestedly at the box of cakes on the passenger seat.
    “Get down, Mutley.” Dominic jerked on the leash and the dog dropped back to look mournfully at his owner.
    Jo frowned in distaste at the dog. 
    “I’d better take him for his walk. I don’t suppose you saw Lucy over at the tea rooms while you were there did you?”
    “Lucy? Why would she be there?” Blank astonishment replaced the frown.
    “She helped Izzy out yesterday. I don’t know if she intended going to help today too.” Lucy may not have kept her word about assisting Isabelle.
    Angry pink colour flooded along Jo’s cheeks. “Well I’m sure I didn’t see her and Isabelle certainly never mentioned her to me.”
    Dominic waved goodbye as Jo rapidly wound up her window and drove off. Something about Lucy’s name had caused Jo to react but for the life of him he couldn’t think what it could have been. Perhaps Lucy hadn’t gone in to work after all.
    Mutley pulled at his lead, anxious to be off. Dominic followed his dog along the track. A short while later he rounded the bottom of the path to discover the car park was almost empty. His pulse quickened when he saw Lucy’s dark green car parked in the far corner. He was surprised Jo hadn’t seen it unless of course the place had been busier when she’d been there.
    His steps slowed as he crossed the car park. Mutley pulled impatiently on his leash. The dog knew that the tea room invariably meant a biscuit from Isabelle and he was intent on dragging Dominic over there. 
    Isabelle noticed him as he entered the tea room. “Hi Dominic.” She bent to fuss the dog. The room was empty of customers.
    “Hello Dominic.” Lucy was busy mopping the quarry tiled floor in the far corner.
    Isabelle bustled behind the counter to fetch Mutley his treat. “We were about to close up.” 
    “I can tell. Have you been busy?” He kept a tight hold of the dogs lead as Lucy walked past to put the mop away. The last thing he needed was a repetition of the other day when Mutley had flattened her.
    “Run off our feet.” Isabelle confirmed.
    Lucy came back from the kitchen to stand at her side. “We have to get Isabelle some more help for next weekend.”
    “I’ll ask Jo to give the local college a call. They have some catering students who might want weekend work.” Dominic sighed as Mutley crunched his biscuit scattering crumbs onto Lucy’s freshly mopped floor.
    “Thanks, I’ll put a card on the window here too.” Isabelle untied her apron and rolled it up into a ball before tucking it inside her bag. Lucy followed suit.
    “I’d better let you ladies lock up.” He walked Mutley outside and waited while Lucy and Isabelle collected their things. 
    Isabelle produced a huge bunch of keys