Among The Roses

Andrew Pennington is tired. He's been frontman for the very popular band Manderley Dreams for years, and the constant touring, the hotels, the planes, even the girls, have all started to look the same. He wants the ride to stop, just for a while, so he can relax, and maybe smell the flowers. So he buys a country estate, a place he can retreat to, for a little peace and quiet.
Unfortunately, Langford, his "retreat," comes with a gardener, and a daughter, Chiara, who's opinionated, noisy, contrary, and always around, a thorn in his side girl who just rubs him the wrong way. She bugs him, you know?
🌹🌹🌹🌹
"Smoother? What the devil does that mean?" Drew could feel his hackles rising. People didn't treat him this way, especially not after they knew who he was.
"You know, in photographs you're usually clean-shaven, and your clothes are less--rumply," she said. "You're all stubbly, and your shirt and trousers look like they've been folded up in a cupboard for a long time, and your hair--"
"Right, right, hammered shit, I remember, you can stop," Drew interrupted, raising his hand. "Just let me use your phone to call someone, and you'll be well quit of me, yeah?"
She handed over her phone wordlessly, and Drew looked at it, racking his brain for a phone number.
Any number.
Shit.
He looked over at the girl and bit his lip. "I don't usually have to remember numbers, I just click on the name, you know?"
She continued to stare at him, eyebrow raised.
Drew stared at her. She was beginning to seriously annoy him.
He finally looked up the number for his car service, and called them. They'd be there in two hours.
Great.
He looked at overalls girl, who'd gone back to her gardening.
He tapped her on her shoulder and she turned around, with the flowered hat turning even wider on her head.
He handed back her phone and turned to go wait in front of the house. At least his headache was abating.
"You're welcome," she called, shaking her head.
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
Cover by @n