To Love a Way of Life Read online

  To Love a Way of Life

  Natalie Hart

  Published by Natalie Hart, 2015.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  TO LOVE A WAY OF LIFE

  First edition. June 17, 2015.

  Copyright © 2015 Natalie Hart.

  Written by Natalie Hart.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  To Love a Way Life | Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  Torment’s End Teaser

  Further Reading: Bad Boy, Tough Woman

  Also By Natalie Hart

  About the Author

  To Love a Way Life

  Chapter 1

  A nose pressed into Emma’s crotch.

  “Push him away if he’s bothering you,” a man called. “Stan. Come!”

  The dog didn’t move, he was enjoying his ear scratch too much. His tail waggled, he was obviously delighted by the attention. He really was a good dog.

  Emma appreciated the relaxed attitude in Grant’s. If someone looked after their dog, and it sat and was friendly to the customers then most people wouldn’t have a problem with a hairy mutt paying a visit.

  “He seems to like you.”

  “He’s adorable,” Emma said.

  “He’s a chancer, he’s looking for food.”

  “You mean he doesn’t like his ear scratch?”

  “No, he loves them, but food is always top of his mind. I have to walk him five miles every day. He’s too fond of dinner, and lunch, and treats.”

  The man stood from his stool at the bar and walked over. He was drinking a coke, or a coke and a spirit. He was tall, Emma would best describe him as wizened, not from age but from an outdoor life. His clothes were all practical, sturdy boots and an expensive rain coat. His jeans were well worn, but in good condition. A manufacturer of designer clothes would pay someone a fortune to have a brand new pair of denims look worn like that.

  His hair was a mixture of near-black and grey, not a salt and pepper look as some would say it took more of an earth and rock tone. His skin was well used to the elements. He looked rugged.

  “Stan, sit.”

  Stan did sit, but he didn’t leave Emma’s side. He stayed near her, well within reach of belly rubs and ear scritches. His tail thumped against the floor as he looked up at his master.

  “I’m Patrick,” the man said.

  “Emma.”

  “If he’s bothering you I’ll take him away.”

  “No, I had dogs growing up, I love them. I’d love one of my own,” she said. “He’s not a working dog is he?”

  “Him? God no, he chases ducks and then gets frightened when they chase him back.”

  “You keep ducks?” She asked.

  “A few, and chickens. For the eggs.”

  “Are you a farmer or—“

  “No, well, I keep a few animals. I like it, they give me food, I look after them. I work with farmers though, small farmers.”

  “Does Stan come with you when you work?” She scratched his ear again and he lifted a paw up onto her leg. She patted it and he dozily let his tongue droop out of his mouth while giving her a lazy, contented squint and long blink.

  “I help small producers handle their business affairs, helping them sell at farmer’s markets, I’ve helped up a few set up for regular customers and restaurants, delivery boxes too.”

  “I’ve heard of those delivery boxes, they’re big in other parts of the world.”

  “These guys are only catching onto business possibilities now, they have to. Supermarkets are barely worth it unless you’re a huge commercial producer. These guys barely keep their business receipts let alone accounts.”

  “Well, if you’re looking for someone to help with accounts I’m looking for work.” Emma didn’t like saying that, pushing herself forward. He was just being friendly, not looking to hire someone from the pub, but she needed work. She had to put herself out there.

  “You’re an accountant?” He asked.

  “I’m trying to set up on my own, my firm recently downsized.”

  Patrick slapped Stan’s belly and gave him a vigorous rub. “Good boy, Stan. Sniffing out an accountant.” Stan looked surprised, he had done something well but he didn’t know what that was.

  “I’m sorry about your job,” he said. He did look sorry. “Do you have much experience on your own?”

  “No, I always worked for a firm, mainly handling small accounts. I was low on the commercial ladder there, hence the layoff.”

  “It must be difficult rustling up clients.”

  “It’s the marketing, and promoting yourself. I just can’t do it.”

  Irish bars were so strange. In a good pub you could run into anyone, and so often interesting people from a diversity of areas. Emma was waiting for a friend and she had accidently found someone who wanted to talk about accountancy, when accounting was supposedly the most boring job on the planet. The last time she was here she ended up talking to a sculptor who welded steel, that was far more interesting than taxes and books.

  “I used to work in marketing,” he said. “In London, it wasn’t for me. So I left for the countryside and raised Stan. Didn’t I Stan?” On hearing his name the dog perked up, he sniffed in Patrick’s hand, obviously looking for a treat but when none were forthcoming he rested his paw back on the ground and returned his head to Emma’s lap.

  “The dog’s obsessed with food,” he said. “Do you drive?” Patrick asked.

  “Why do you ask?”

  “A few of my farmers need an accountant, someone just to show them some basics. We’re out the country though. If you can get out to me I’d be willing to pay, and I can help with some of your marketing.”

  “That’d be amazing.” Going to the pub was the right decision. She might get a few billable hours in if this worked out, she might even gain a client or two.

  “Don’t agree to anything now, sit and think on it for a while.”

  Emma took out her phone and exchanged email addresses with Patrick. She would think over this business proposal but she already knew what her response would be. She had some savings she could access immediately, but she didn’t want to dip into them. She almost had enough saved for a deposit on a house, and she could have afforded mortgage payments by herself before getting laid off. Losing her job had put a real dent in her plans.

  “Would you mind if I check up on you?” Patrick asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, I’d need to check references and all that. Keep everything above board.”

  “Oh, of course. I’ll email you my old university lecturer’s number, my professional accreditation is online, and Paul Desmond at Desmond, Desmond and O’Malley will be happy to provide a reference.”

  “It’s just formalities. Stan has already given you his woof of approval,” Patrick said. “Isn’t that right you hairy, little monster!” He rubbed Stan’s belly and the dog did woof.

  “See!” He said. Stan looked pleased with himself.

  “Stan’s a better recruiter than any of the people I’ve talked to,” Emma said.

  A woman walked through the door in Grant’s and Emma waved hello. It was her friend Sandra, and Emma finally had some good news.

  “I’ll leave you alone, it’ll take a few days for me to e-mail you. I’ll need to evaluate which clients need accounting help.” Patrick smiled and Stan followed him back to the ba
r. Emma missed having the cuddly dog’s body pressed into her, even if Stan did drool.

  “He’s a bit old to be chatting you up, isn’t he?” Sandra said.

  “He wasn’t chatting me up, his dog was being friendly and—“

  “That’s the oldest trick in the book. Get the good looking girl to fawn all over a dog and swoop right in.”

  “We were talking about business, actually.”

  “Business? Sure,” Sandra said.

  “Anyway, he’s not that old. In his early forties I’d say, if even that.”

  “I honestly can’t tell,” Sandra admitted. “He’s kind of grizzly.”

  “He works outside a lot, with farmers, helping them sell their produce.”

  “Perfect for you then. Some hippy selling organic veg at a market.”

  Emma actually considered the idea, she wouldn’t mind a quiet life. Working hard in her career hadn’t helped her. She was the first one on the cutting block at Desmond, Desmond, and O’Malley. Twelve hour days, from eight in the morning until eight at night, and skipped lunches or a salad at her desk didn’t seem to count for anything in the corporate world. Would it really be so bad to have a more relaxed life? A life helping nice clients even if it meant she’d always have to buy a second hand car?

  “What’s wrong with farmer’s markets?” She asked.

  “You were way off for a while there,” Sandra said. “Thinking about his pickle?”

  “No. I was thinking about having a satisfying job and a good work-life balance.”

  “Satisfying something alright.”

  “I don’t know why I hang around with you,” Emma said. “Your mind is pure filth and my mother already disapproves of your bad influence.”

  “Your mother wanted you to go to London and work for one of the Big Four.”

  “She could have been right, I did the 12 hour days anyway and look where it got me?”

  She turned around to look at Patrick. He was still drinking his coke. He read a book that was covered in plastic and looking a little bit battered. It was probably from the library. Stan rested his head on Patrick’s bag on the floor. He looked contented.

  ***

  As the days passed Emma became more and more excited. She had spent her time looking up tax code for small farmers, write offs, market producer legislation, depreciation on small farm equipment, social protections, and even European Union grants for green producers.

  Patrick had confirmed he was looking through his own notes to rustle her up some clients. There was a lot of room for a small producer to operate in, the government had been good to them. Not as good as they were to the major agri-business corporations, but a good accountant could be a lot of help to an independent farmer.

  She really should have been focusing on promoting herself to small traders over the past few days, but she figured getting this gig with Patrick was a real opportunity. If she could establish herself as an expert in the area she could work with a lot of clients, and this was just the type of experience she needed to get started.

  Emma sat and daydreamed about owning a small house in the countryside, or maybe a house in a little countryside village, one with three pubs that let you carry your pint from one bar to another if you needed a change of scenery, or you just fancied a different crowd. She even found herself imagining quiet drinks with Patrick in front of an old style hearth with Stan sitting in front of the roaring flame. She really wanted a dog, she just couldn’t look after one if she was working in an office.

  She checked her e-mail again. She had forced herself not to check it every ten minutes, she’d only get worked up over nothing coming in; nothing from small businesses and nothing from Patrick.

  Except now there was a new e-mail, from a real e-mail address and not a corporate newsletter or Amazon promoting the next great thriller for her Kindle.

  She opened the e-mail, straight away she saw Patrick still wanted to do this, and he wanted to know if she was still in. He had twelve different farmers lined up for her, some might need a payment plan but he testified to their ability to pay. She knew from her research that farmers were reliant seasonal income, it was something she expected from this.

  As well as the farmers he had a few artisanal food producers who wanted her help, nothing long term, just looking to get their existing accounting systems looked over and help in case they missed anything. She was excited, this would be more work than she’d had since she was laid off!

  She immediately texted Sandra, “Patrick is amazing. He has so much work lined up. I’ll be busy for a month, at least.”

  Sandra texted back, “That’s how men work. They line you up with a steady financial income and next they want your panties off.”

  “This is good business for me.”

  “I’ll miss you when you’re living in a thatched cottage with your hippy boyfriend.”

  “What would be bad about that?” She responded.

  “The countryside smells of cow poo,” was Sandra’s response.

  She looked back at Patrick’s e-mail. He had included a list of tax-related reading material. She was impressed by how thorough he was, he had found a lot of the main tax law she needed. She had found more, of course, but it was her profession. If this was how he advised his clients then they were in good shape, but she could squeeze more out of their earnings for them.

  The end of the e-mail seemed to get a little more personal. He said he’d be up in the city at the weekend and he’d like to take her to dinner. He had some files he wanted her to look over, so it wasn’t like it was a date. A relaxed business dinner, in a restaurant she already really wanted to go to. She had held back on taking herself there as a treat, she couldn’t justify the expense when she didn’t have a job.

  She e-mailed back that she was excited about the plans and was looking forward to seeing him Friday night.

  Chapter 2

  Friday night came, and Emma had a little notepad and a few documents stashed away in her bag. The past few days had been miserable. She had no news of new clients that she could secure on her own, she was really relying on these small producers. She’d have to nail this dinner with Patrick.

  She walked to the restaurant and went inside. Patrick hadn’t arrived yet and Emma was a little put off by the amount of couples sitting around. Some looked romantically into each other’s eyes. She was glad to see there was at least one date going badly, the place wasn’t full of lovey dovey emotion.

  “You must be Emma,” a waiter said.

  It was a really hip restaurant, the waiter was casually dressed and didn’t look like he was wearing a uniform. The restaurant wasn’t big on the culinary scene yet. It hadn’t featured in any newspaper reviews but any foody worth their salt was dying to get here. It would hit the big time soon.

  “Yes,” she said. “How did you know?”

  “Patrick said to expect someone for a business meeting. I can see the files sticking out of your bag.” He smiled.

  “Come on,” he said. “You have a quiet table so you can talk business.”

  He led her to an area that looked like it was carved out of the stone cliff that ran behind the building, she knew she was under tonnes of rock. The table was large, and there was a working light above it. Emma figured it would normally be lit by the two spots above the table, and with a few candles. It looked like a table that would usually be reserved for an engagement dinner, to give the happy couple some quiet, romantic time together.

  She sat and the waiter brought her some tea straight away.

  “I didn’t ask for this.”

  “Patrick wanted you to try it, he’ll be a few minutes late.”

  The tea was gorgeous, a really rich red berry fruit tea with just a hint of tartness. The waiter brought some honey with it and when she added a spoonful it brought the drink to a whole new level.

  After a few minutes Patrick arrived. He scrubbed up well, a nice shirt, good jeans but still the black boots. They looked well cared for though. And he
had brushed his hair. His deference to ruggedness was a showing of stubble. He carried a leather bag, not quite a briefcase, not quite a satchel, it was far more decorated and luxurious than that. It looked like it was handmade and the leather was soft.

  He smiled at her, “Hello Emma,” he said. “I’m so glad you agreed to this.”

  “No problem, I’m excited about it,” she said. “It seems you’re well known here.”

  “One of my farmers provides buffalo steaks and cheese. I helped him get a contract with the chef. Well, a handshake, but everyone is on the same page.”

  “I don’t see any menus.” She said.

  “Actually, I have a different motive. I want you to try some of the produce my guys and girls provide for here. You can taste the quality you’ll be working with.”

  “That sounds amazing.” Emma was a little surprised. She thought she was signing up to be an accountant for a few small producers. They may be small but they must be influential if they were getting into restaurants like this. Or maybe it was Patrick? He had that rugged, relaxed look to him but maybe he was a lot sharper than he appeared.

  A starter came, it was a simple meat and crudité platter served with a crisp white wine. The veggies were delicious, really full in flavour and Patrick regaled her with stories of food. He really knew his stuff, she started thinking about him cooking her a meal.

  They finished their starter and Patrick tensed up a little, “I hope you don’t mind getting a little business done.”

  “This is a business dinner, even if it is in the most romantic spot in the restaurant.”

  “Why wouldn’t I want to entertain an attractive woman?”

  Emma couldn’t believe she actually blushed. He was buttering her up, he should already know she was fully committed to this venture. She’d sent him her qualifications and her résumé, and her old boss even called her to say he had spoken to a gruff sounding man asking about farming taxes.

  “I don’t think beauty has much to do with tax,” she said.

  “Believe me, a smile from you and some of these stubborn old farmers will melt,” he said. “A qualified accountant will be a big bonus. When I talk accounts with them it’s like pulling hen’s teeth.”