Muriel's POV - Present

After nearly dying of anxiety about what had happened in the early morning hours with Ollie, I needed to get out of the house. ASAP.

The summer sun shone brightly through the bedroom windows, eliminating the implications of what I enabled last night like a spotlight. The harsh light should offend me based on my lack of sleep due to the midnight romp in the grass, however, I'm wired like I've stuck my fingers into an electrical socket.

I dress quickly, stepping into a brown lightweight summer skirt and a white shirt that knots at my midriff. While brushing my teeth I scoop up my heavy hair and pull it back into a ponytail tail, fixing it in place with a beige scrunchy.

Before leaving I fix my clear glasses to my face and grab my phone and wallet, dashing out of my room.

If Ollie is going to be in this house, then I will go where he isn't and avoid him at all costs.

Every step I take down the gravel driveway bringing further from the confusing good-looking man back at Thomas Manor the more clear everything becomes.

Yes, I know undoubtedly, I am physically attracted to Oliver. He's tall, fit, with chiseled cheekbones and a jawline that could cut you open if you aren't careful. Not to mention, those striking green eyes that always seem to stare to the point of feeling nearly exposed. 

I let out a frustrated but awakening sigh coming to the full realization of just how attracted I am to Oliver Thomas.

Great, I've joined the rest of the pathetic female population.

By human nature, I knew I couldn't hide my attraction towards him, no matter how hard I tried. But, because I am a human with a brain and free will I also can control my impulsions, which I had obviously failed miserably at last night.

It felt so good to fail. To do something I wanted for once-.

I stop in my tracks as a massive monarch butterfly flutters before my face. Lifting the tip of my finger I follow it wanting it to land on my finger, but the little pretty thing flutters on around in front of me then back behind landing on a purple wildflower.

I watch it until it finally disappears against the morning sky.

Now, where was I?

I spin back on the toe of my white Tom shoes and track on towards the small village.

🦋🦋

"Morning, Lass. What will it be?" An older gentlemen ask me in a small quaint bakery made of old stone with ceilings I could reach if I lifted my arms.

I peer into the glass at all the baked goods, the buds in my mouth watering at all the sweet sights before me...I'm sure Ollie would want one...

Yes, it is prudent I avoid him, but the large chocolate chip muffin has his name written all over it. If he knew I came here and didn't get him something it would start a fight, I'm sure. "I'd like a dozen please." I begin pointing and naming off all the muffins that caught my eye. All of them larger than my fist and made fresh this morning.

Tucking the pink box under my arm I take a long way back through the small village stopping to eye a cheese shop not yet open. I eat a Lemon poppyseed muffin, surely leaving crumbs in my wake, but finally find myself on the old long driveway leading out of town into the hills.

I've been gone for nearly three hours by the time the face of Thomas Manor comes into view framed by old stone walls with a heavy layer of moss covering the majority of it. It stands tall and marvelous against the rolling landscape with the only other building as the barn a football field away from the main house.

Growing up with the Thomas's I knew they came from a wealthy family on both George and Jane's sides. George, a family of writers and playwrights while Jane's brother and father were actors.

But in the old days, when things were much simpler, the Thomas's bred strong and healthy horses here in Cornwall and were one of the most popular horse breeders in the UK back in the 1800s.

I clamber up the gravel drive, eyeing Ollie's black car carefully, like anything attached to him may reach out and try to dig its claws into me again.

Stepping into the mudroom, my ears listen carefully for any signs of Oliver Thomas, but the only sounds that grace my ears are the sounds of an old large house. I leave the box of muffins on the kitchen island and go to my room.

🦋🦋

Inside my room, I lay on the bed with my leg crossed over my bent knee, not caring the skirt was doing nothing to cover my embarrassingly childlike undies that featured multicolors of balloons and kittens.

I check my email to see if my email had been responded to about doing another tour for the red cross, but nothing of importance has come through.

There are several emails sent from my dad, but those are deleted before I open them. My curiosity to check Ollie's Instagram nearly gets the better of me. But a loud clanking bangs through my open windows.

It's a hot day, and it's nearing noon, so I'm slightly impressed he's still working. The sound of power tools and hammering has been sounding off since I arrived in my room hours ago.

I'm dying to know what he's been working on, but I am more terrified to face him after last night. I had hoped the muffin offering would have been a symbolism of a white flag but I still wanted to be sure we kept our respective boundaries.

My internal battle wages on, however, I only realize I've made my way outside when I'm standing just outside the back entrance to the barn gazing inside the dirt-covered old barn.

My eyes adjust to the darkness of the large hallowed building and I take a step inside avoiding a large thick beam marveling at how different it looks from the last time I was in here.

The crumbling horse stalls are all gone. Beams that had fallen from their place at the high point in the roof have been replaced with new ones. And the roof also looks new.

Towards the front of the building, scaffolding has been erected and Ollie stands at the top, applying new sheet boards to the roof, hammering nails down to hold it in place. I have to crane my neck and squint gazing up at his legs while he stands on the top tier hammering the sheet of wood down to the large opening in the roof. His bare shoulders, chest, and abs glistening under the hot sun.

I take a step back to get a better look at the portion of the roof he's already completed but my heel catches on the large thick wood beam causing me to drop right to my rear.

"Woah, watch yourself, Murry." He calls down to me with a megawatt smile that already does something to my lady parts even if he is twenty feet up in the air.

"Right." I dust my palms and push myself up from the dirt ground wishing I somehow could disappear with the snap of my fingers.

Ollie sets his hammer down and removes the tool belt from around his waist and climbs through the scaffolding like he's some sort of Olympic gymnast. When he lands he removes his hat, wiping the sheen from his forehead with his arm, and replaces it adding, "You good?"

I glance at the beam wanting to burn the thing, and then answer, "mmhmm."

"Serves you right for spying on me." He teases with a smirk and grabs a plastic tumbler filled with water. He takes a haul off it, water falling from the sides of his mouth and wetting his perfectly sculpted bare chest.

The old barn fills with static electricity and my body feels like I've stepped into a sauna. Aware of all the places my clothes and underwear are sticking to me.

Oh, God. Why did I come in here?

"Hey, I'm only playing," He takes a step towards me, concern drawing his dark brows upwards.

The tension I'm feeling spooks me to the point of being unable to breathe.

"The barn...looks nice." I squeak and then high tail it out of there. Speed walking back to the main house like my life depends on it.

"Murry, wait! Hold on, we have to talk!"

Oooh, no. We don't.

I fly through the mudroom door only taking a quick glance over my shoulder to watch Ollie jogging inside keeping his hardened green eyes on me, "Oh right, babe. Where do you reckon you're going?"

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Eek, run Murry!

It gets 🔥🔥🔥 very soon.

Like the next chapter soon...😘😘