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Kate loved being out in the gardens at Aubrey Hall. Her hands deep in the soil as she planted new flowers and different varieties to see if they would grow.
She wasn’t very good at it but there was something comforting and grounding about being on your hand and knees in the mud.
She had a rare child free afternoon. Anthony was working and Benedict and Sophie had come and taken the boys out for a walk and ice cream clearly in preparation for their own bundle that was due in a few short months.
It was just an ideal opportunity for her to get some gardening done without a 3 and 1 year old trying to get in the mud with her.
She worked her way around the little patch the gardener left just for her, pulling up the weeds, turning over the soil and carefully planting new seeds.
In the summer sun it was glorious, her dark skin whilst used to the heat but not the exertion so she was covered in a light sheen of sweat by the time she was done.
She’d planted two new beds of tulips and a set of roses. They were new varieties and Eloise’s boyfriend said they were fool proof. Anthony had bet her £50 they wouldn’t grow and not because of the seeds but because of how much of an inept gardener she was.
She was determined she would not lose. She couldn’t not lose.
She’d followed Phillips' written instructions carefully and to the letter. Double and triple checking she’d done everything right.
As she stood back and looked at her handy work she became aware of someone or something lurking. She felt like she was being watched.
She spun around and saw her husband, leaning against the wall with a smirk on his face. A smirk Kate knew far too well, it was his “up to no good” smirk.
“Well hello dear” Anthony smirked as he watched her, he had the garden hose in his hand and was swinging it carelessly around his hand as he let his eyes roam up and down and grinned.
Even after 4 years of marriage, he still adored and loved his wife, he craved her every moment of every day. He had known she would be out here today with the boys out in her short shorts and a little vest and he could barely concentrate.
He’d had to put his papers down and come and find her. He watched her from a distance as she worked, her tight bottom in the air as she planted seeds.
He’d leaned against the wall and watched her when he got closer to her and spotting the hose had a very, very wicked thought cross his mind.
Kate had spotted him and her eyes had widened as she took him in as he greeted her.
She took a step back “you… wouldn’t?” She said her voice was hesitant and unsure.
Anthony smirked “well my love you do look awfully hot after your hard work… surely some cold water would be nice and cooling?”
Kate shook her head “Anthony…” she said warningly, take a step back towards the bucket of water she’d been using to wash her hands.
“Kate?” He asked his brows raised in amusement as he watched her moving.
“Don’t you dare!” She squealed as he squirted the hose in her direction. Missing her by inches.
She leaned down, picked up the bucket and quickly turned as Anthony laughed.
Just as Kate threw the water at him, mouth open he spluttered as he was soaked from head to toe, his pristine white t shirt spotted with soil and went see through instantly.
Kate burst out giggling and took off at a run as Anthony Roared “Kate!!” And chased after her, the hose on full pelt as he chased her.
They were both soaked to the skin within seconds, giggling and squealing like children, laughing until they had stitches in their sides.
As they ran back towards the house Anthony still soaking Kate they ran into Benedict and Sophie who just blinked at the state of them both and shook Their heads.
“Suppose we best take these two to bed…” Benedict laughed at his brother “honestly you’re 34 Anth… not 14”
Benedict and Sophie laughed as they walked away with Kate and Anthony’s boys.
Kate turned to Anthony, her eyes raking over his deliciously wet form, the garden hose still in his hand… “shall we maybe take this into our bathroom?”
“And get really wet?” Anthony smirked
Kate nodded.
With lightning fast reflexes Anthony threw his wife over his shoulder, running through the house dripping to their bathroom.
The tulips and roses long forgotten… and Kate wasn’t even made she lost that bet.