The Cottage (Amor #4)

The Cottage

Amara breathlessly watched from the passenger seat as the English countryside on the other side of the window passed her by. Her eyes scanned the rolling green acres. The Melodic's 'Plunge' was the perfect soundtrack for the scene that played in front of her, the song playing from Thor's phone connected by the car's Bluetooth feature. Thor gave a quick glance at her and smiled.

"We'll be there shortly."

Amara turned away from the bucolic scenes to him. "No rush." She sighed.

Amara recalled the phone call she had received last Saturday from Thor. He invited her on a weekend away at his family's cottage in Woodgreen, New Forest. Their courtship had gone on for a couple of months. They were pretty comfortable with one another in each other's homes but this was being alone for a weekend. She hesitated but it was only for a few seconds before she mustered up the courage to accept. She had butterflies in her stomach from.

"You're not moving in, love," her roommate, Kate, reminded her several times. "You're just spending a few days with him."

"This was a great idea," Amara smiled at Thor. "Taking a weekend away. How many times do you come here?""It depends now. When I was younger, I'd spend the whole summer there with my family. When I got old enough to drive, I would take frequent trips here with my friends. Now I do it whenever I feel like it."

They entered Woodgreen in the New Forest district, a quaint civil parish with thatched and gabled buildings. There was fauna, horses and ponies grazing in the grass near the road. The car went over a small bridge overlooking the River Avon.

"This is such a cute place."

They left the village and entered the forest district. The road was lined with towering trees.

"We're here."

Amara saw a thatched two story cottage facing the river and fields across the bank. There was a smaller two story building.

"Oh, my goodness," she said quietly but it was laced with awe.

They stopped at a small gate. Thor stopped the car and put it on park.

"Give me one moment," Thor said as he took off his seatbelt, opened the door and got out. Amara watched as he dug into his pocket and produced a key. He came to the gate lock and unlocked it. He pushed the gate open and fixed it to stay. He jogged back to the car and got in. He put the car in drive and moved inside, situating over the dirt spot.

Amara took off her seatbelt as Thor put the car back on park.

"You're going to love New Forest. It's one of the most beautiful forests in the U.K.."

"I bet."

They stepped out of the car, closing the door behind them. Sunlight greeted them with warm streams of light. Thor clicked the trunk open with his key. There were two luggage bags. Thor lifted them out. Amara observed his muscles curves as he picked them up. She reached for her bag but Thor held out his hand.

"I got it."

"Are you going to be able to get the door at the same time?"

Thor thought about it. "Fair point."

Amara chuckled as she lifted the handle of her bag. She looked at the surrounding gardens of the cottage. She inhaled Nature's perfume, the trees, the flowers and the river created an aroma that mixed with the air. She heard the trunk slam down behind her.

"Do you have a caretaker here?"

"Yeah. Dudley," Thor dug back into his pocket as they walked down the cobbled path. "He lives in the village. You'll see him over the weekend. Just to warn you, he's a bit eccentric but he's nice."

"Totally prepared."

They transitioned from sunny to shade as they stepped under the roof over the door. Thor stuck the key into the lock and turned it, hearing a click. Thor pushed the door open. Amara took a breath in.

"Wow," she breathed as she peered in the sitting room.

She followed Thor upstairs, the wood creaking underneath their foot. He led her to a wooden door.

He turned it open. Behind it was a quaint room.

"Do you like it?"

"I love it," she said, stepping in.

"It's yours."

"Thank you." Amara looked out the window. She saw the river and the bank outside. "Amazing view." Amara journeyed to the comforter bed. She sat down on the firm mattress and gently jumped up and down

"Comfy," she said in a childlike voice. Thor chuckled.

"Where are you going to sleep?"

"My room is down the hall," he said, pointing outside the hall. "Whenever you are settled, call me and we can go into town."

"Okay."

Thor smiled and closed the door as he left. Amara flopped the rest of her body on the bed. She stared dreamily at the exposed beam ceiling.

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