Amelia Grey's Fireside Dream Read Online Free PDF Page A

mean?’ Darren said.
    ‘It’s really spacious, Jack,’ I said, swinging my arms around me in the hallway. ‘I thought a cottage might be small and poky inside, but it’s not at all, is it?’
    ‘Come and take a look at the other rooms,’ Darren said, crossing the corridor. ‘The kitchen is a great size, and was recently installed – the owners updated all the electrics and put in a new boiler when they moved in three years ago.’
    Jack nodded approvingly. I peeked out of the kitchen window at the manicured garden I’d admired on the estate agents’ website.
    ‘And the garden is a gem. Go outside and take a look for yourselves.’ Darren opened the back door, and motioned for us to pass. A stone path led through rose bushes to a neat green lawn. At the back of the garden was a wooden summer house shaded by a weeping willow. ‘Feel free to explore – and do take a look in the summer house. It’s a wonderful bonus.’
    Jack and I went outside and walked up on to the lawn. After a few steps I turned round and looked back at the cottage: the grey stonework was every bit as attractive from the back.
    ‘We could have barbecues out here, Jack,’ I said. ‘Picnics in the summer – we’d both have a chance to fine-tune our gardening skills.’
    He gave me a look. ‘Fine-tune?’
    ‘Look, we just haven’t had the opportunity yet, that’s all. Come on. Tell me this isn’t beautiful,’ I said, stretching my arms out to take it all in. ‘It even smells gorgeous – take abreath.’ The lilac climbing up the trellis gave off a sweet aroma.
    ‘OK, I admit, it smells nice.’
    I smiled at this small victory.
    ‘Are you certain this in our price bracket?’ Jack asked.
    ‘We’d be able to afford it, yes. Especially if I get that promotion.’
    ‘Really quiet, isn’t it?’ Jack said.
    ‘In a good way or a bad way?’
    ‘Good, I think.’
    We stood together for a moment beside the wooden summer house with its little desk and padded window seats. Strands of weeping willow swayed gently in the breeze.
    This was it – this was the haven I’d been looking for, ever since I was young.
    ‘Let’s go in and see the rest of the place,’ Jack said, taking my hand.
    *
    Darren met us in the kitchen. ‘What did you think? Lovely out there, isn’t it?’ he said, his ginger eyebrows raised. ‘But the best is yet to come.’
    As he left the room, I picked up my pace to keep up, eager to see the rest of the house. Jack held me back gently and whispered in my ear, ‘Try and play it a bit cool, eh?’
    ‘How’s this for an entertaining space?’ the estate agent said, showing us into an elegant dining room. Jack’s handwas clasped in mine, and I squeezed it hard, trying to hide my enthusiasm from Darren.
    ‘It’s cosy,’ I said, fighting the urge to squeal. ‘Is the fireplace original?’ I let go of Jack’s hand and crouched to peer at the attractive blue and white tiles.
    ‘Yes, and it’s in working order too. As you can see, the dining room leads directly through to the living room, and in the corner there’s another original fireplace, similar to this one.’
    ‘Imagine Christmas here,’ I said quietly to Jack. ‘Dinner at the table, and then wandering slowly through to relax by the fireside. How lovely would that be?’
    ‘It’s a practical layout,’ Jack said calmly. Beneath his restrained expression, I could see a glimmer of excitement in his brown eyes. ‘And the bedrooms?’ he said, turning to Darren.
    ‘Come upstairs. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.’
    We followed him up the staircase. There were two good-sized double bedrooms and a smaller third one, all with lovely views out over the garden or surrounding countryside. The bathroom, which we saw next, had been sympathetically decorated in the style of the cottage, and was dominated by a large white free-standing tub with claw feet.
    ‘Room for both of us in there,’ Jack whispered in my ear.
    ‘Jack,’ I said, nudging him