She turned her gaze back to Tim. He could have it all if he wanted. It would be so easy. She reached over and, teasingly, traced the line of his face with a buttercup.

"Why don't you come back here and live", she enquired then I could come and visit you every weekend and help you make your wine.

Lying on her tummy now, she watched his face carefully. He was looking up dreamily at the clouds chasing across the blue sky. Sarah followed his gaze. It was hard to believe the clouds were inanimate objects. They looked so alive in their huge white splendour as they twisted and turned and then sped off into the distance.

Her attention turned back to Tim. He was also gentle on the eye.

"Oh my, he looks gorgeous", she thought. "My goodness - if only...". She sighed quietly to herself. From the recesses of her mind, came her mother's voice.

"No room in the world for tarts except on a plate, dear!" Nevertheless, his fair hair swept delightfully across his face and she was struggling with a very strong desire to run her fingers through it.

Without really thinking but just to get better view, she moved a little closer resting her arm on his chest, and continued to work on his face with the buttercup. He opened his eyes, turned his head towards her and fixed her with a blue eyed gaze openly and frankly.

"Now you wouldn't have something on your mind would you young lady"? His smile was gentle, understanding and teasing all at the same time. Sarah could see that he understood the effect the countryside was having on her. She wondered if he felt it too.

"And if I have", she replied coyly, playing with a strand of her brown hair and with a cheeky smile, observing him under long eyelashes.

"You weren't thinking of taking advantage of a poor, aching, old man, were you", he said softly, almost issuing a warning. She felt his steady gaze challenge hers and then reach right down into the secret places of her being. A wild abandon welled up inside her entreating her to throw all cares to the very wind that brought the smells and sounds of the early evening. She sighed.

"Oh it's just that you look so scrumptious, young man", she said wistfully, tracing the buttercup again across his eyebrow.

"And, quite honestly, I'm getting a little fed up. My husband is knocking off a young good looking domestic help / programmer and goodness knows who else and all I get is an old university professor and a course in PROLOG programming. Super romantic, don't you think".

She pulled a very unladylike face.

"I know that the only reason we are here is to further the cause of your business. But nevertheless here I am with my eyes full of beautiful countryside and a good looking young man. Intoxicating sounds and smells all over the place. I feeling warm and cosy after a good lunch and an extraordinary elixir of elderberry wine. Can you blame me if natures passions start to wander just a tiny bit through my soul".

Tim chuckled and encircled a friendly arm around her shoulders pulling her to him. Her head snuggled to his shoulder and his arm tightened around her in a hug.

"You really are full of surprises", he said protectively. "Well thanks", she thought, but his arm felt very right.

"I can't believe how full of life you are", he continued. "I bet you would make a lovely home in any valley you chose and any man would be privileged to have you look after it for him".

His voice was cheerful and comforting but restrained. Yet she thought she could hear a catch in it as if, for some reason, the thought brought him pain.