Beth's POV

As Harry navigates his rover towards town, I hear the boys talk quietly amongst themselves, going back and forth between pointing out things of interest to them as we drive past and just checking out Harry's 'cool' car in general.

Chloe just simply sits gazing out the window, a dreamy smile on her face as she occasionally kicks her Harry boot-covered feet up so she can admire them.

Harry turns the radio on and music plays softly in the background as we drive.

Now that I've had a chance to sit and relax a little, I'm kind of now shocked and angry at the behaviour and attitude from someone who is essentially, a complete stranger to me.

I mean, I don't know James and the suggestions he implied and the way he insulted Harry was very nasty and uncalled for, just completely unacceptable.

I'm actually quite surprised that someone as kind and as lovely as Mrs. Watkins has a son that seems to be the complete polar opposite to her.

There's obviously some sort of history between James and Harry and I find myself frowning as I wonder what it might be.

They're not close in age so I don't think it's a friendship type falling out.

Maybe it was a business issue? He was wearing an expensive suit so that could be it?

I'm so engrossed in my thoughts that when Harry puts his hand over mine and gently squeezes it, I jump a little.

"Are you okay?" he asks, "you look a bit annoyed."

Okay.

Let's just straight up ask him.

"I was just going over what happened with James, that's all," I say.

Harry's eyes narrow and his mouth sets itself into a thin line.

"Had he been there long before I arrived? Did he say anything..." he trails off, "did he touch you?"

His last question comes out quite harshly, something I've never heard from Harry before.

I shake my head in response.

"He'd hardly been there Harry I promise, just a couple of minutes maybe?" I reply.

"As long as he keeps his distance from you..." Harry trails off.

I don't say anything for a moment.

Is Harry saying that as a sign of possessiveness or as a warning?

"Harry?" I finally break the silence.

"Hmm?" he replies as he concentrates on the road ahead.

"Can I ask why you dislike him so much?" I ask.

Harry lets out a deep sigh.

"Dislike is putting it mildly," he says.

"Oh?" I reply, waiting for him to continue.

"When mum and dad split up years ago, he hounded mum a bit, wouldn't take no for an answer," Harry says, "went on for a good couple of months."

"I assume he was just as charming back then as well?" I ask.

"Absolutely," Harry lets out a cynical snort, "I think he's tried it on with just about every woman in town," Harry smirks, "I'm sure he thinks he's Britain's answer to George Clooney."

"Eww...seriously?" I ask incredulously.

"What's worse, he even tried to get a bit too friendly with Gem a few months ago," Harry goes on, "sent her flowers, showed up a couple of places when she was there, messaged her on Twitter a lot..."

I actually shiver a bit thinking how much he makes my skin crawl.

"I mean," Harry continues, "he's nearly twice her age."

Ouch.

Okay.

I bite my lip and look down at my boots, starting to withdraw into myself at his comment.

I can't help it, it's what I do sometimes.

A few minutes go by until Harry speaks to me again.

"Beth?" he says, "you alright, you've gone a bit quiet," he runs his hand through his hair, "you're not worried about him are you?"

"I'm fine," I reply, hoping he'll leave it alone.

Instead he chuckles a little and sighs.

"Beth, I've lived with mum and Gems long enough to know that when a woman says they're fine, it means they're usually not," he squeezes my hand again, "did I say something wrong?"

I kind of feel a bit stupid now.

Maybe I am actually being stupid.

"Tell me," he gently urges as he pulls my hand to his mouth and kisses my knuckles.

I shake my head and sigh.

"I'm nearly twice your age Harry," I say quietly.

"Oh shit...no..." Harry instantly replies, "our situation is different, completely different."

"How?" I ask shrugging my shoulders in confusion.

"Hang on," he says as we near the main street of shops and Harry pulls into a parking spot outside the supermarket.

I think he's going to continue the conversation now that the car is stopped, but instead he opens his car door and hops out.

Okay.

He comes around to my side and opens the door for me. Harry holds his hand out for me to take and pulls me out when I grab hold of it.

He then puts his head inside the car and says something to the kids before shutting the door.

He now faces me, putting his hands on my upper arms so I'm looking up at him.

"We're completely different because we want this," he gestures between the two of us, "it was unwanted and unwelcomed from mum and Gem's perspectives," he says, "I don't even think about our ages when I'm with or without you Beth, I just think about you and how you make me feel. I mean, this is something we both want, that's the difference."

He leans forward and places his mouth next to my ear.

"I'm crazy about you Beth," he whispers before pulling back and smiling at me.

Well okay then.

And now I'm blushing like a nun in a locker room.

"I'm sorry," I mumble an apology, finding my boots rather interesting again.

"You've got nothing to apologise for love," he says, bending down so he's at eye level with me, "are you good now?"

I nod and smile shyly that I am.

"Okay," he leans around me and opens the car door, "let's go inside and get some picnic supplies eh?" he says to the kids.

"Finally!" Jamie says as they all climb out.

They walk into the supermarket, Harry and I trail behind them.

I grab a shopping basket and head down to select some fruits. I put a mixture in, knowing what the kids are eating this week.

You know what they're like.

They 'love' something so much you have to buy them a week's worth only to find it all starting to go off at the end of the week because they don't eat it anymore and clearly I should know that.

They can only 'love' it for two to three days.

I put some strawberries in that look plump and red.

Much like Harry's lips after a bit of kissing.

"Strawberries...yum..." Harry says as he puts a mango into the basket.

I screw my nose up at it.

"You don't like mangoes?" he asks.

"Bleh," I say, sticking my tongue out.

"But you wash in it," he almost sounds exasperated with me, "you literally smell of it."

"Yes I love the smell of it Harry but I don't like the taste of mangoes," I reply, "I love chocolate but I don't bathe in it either Harry, goes both ways."

His face suddenly lights up and he wanders off without saying another word.

I shake my head and smile as I wander around the supermarket, adding items to the basket that we can all nibble on without having the added difficulty of having to prepare anything.

I'm aware of a couple of people pointing and whispering at Harry, however none of it is directed at me.

The kids come over and throw things in willy nilly and I'm starting to think this picnic might go on for days with the amount of food in the basket.

"I don't think we need this much..." I start to say but it falls on deaf ears as they disappear.

Harry comes back over and laughs when he sees the basket is quite full.

"Don't worry about it," he says as he places a couple of items in and takes the heavy basket from me.

I reach in and pull one out.

Chocolate dipping sauce.

"Is this to put on the strawberries?" I ask, looking at the bottle.

"No," he says, taking it out of my hands and putting it back into the basket before leaning down and whispering in my ear, "it's to put on you later..." he smirks as he walks off, leaving me standing there wide eyed.

Oh my.

A woman walks past and shoots me a dirty look.

I'm thinking she overheard Harry.

Oh my fuck.

He goes over to where the kids are and helps them pick out which drinks they'd like.

Harry then turns around and gestures with his head for me to walk up to the front counters.

I know my face is blazing red right now as we wait behind the other customers.

"You look a little pink there love, you okay?" he asks.

I simply give him a glare as we continue to wait.

"Pink...green...amazing what colours we can change to isn't it Harry?" I smirk at him.

His smile lapses for a moment and we both stand there, eyeing each other.

"Next!" a counter assistant calls out and we follow Harry as he walks up and places the basket on the counter.

Oh fuck my life.

It's the same girl yet again.

"Oh it's you," she says, a look that's a cross between disdain and disbelief.

Whatever happened to 'how are you today?'

Chloe leans on the counter, ever so casually.

"Has anyone ever told you how rude are?" she asks ever so politely.

The girl's mouth drops open at the question.

"Judging by the look on your face I'll take that as a no," Chloe continues, "mic drop," she says before taking a step back from the counter.

The girl looks from me to Harry and back again.

I reach out and gently push the basket forward, a subtle reminder of what we're actually here for.

"So..." she starts scanning the items, "this is for all of you?" she begins making small talk.

What is it with this chick and her interest in my groceries? Or is it because Harry is attached to them?

I have no intention of engaging in conversation so I simply cross my arms over my chest and turn away a little.

"Yep, we're going on a picnic!" Jamie answers excitedly before he stops and frowns, "actually where are we going Harry?"

"Uh...Westport Lake," he smiles at Jamie, "you're going to love it."

"So you're all going together?" the girl asks.

She must have woken up on the side of stupidity today.

"I think Harry just said that," Chloe replies, rolling her eyes before turning and looking up at Harry, "are you staying over again tonight Harry?" she then looks back at the girl and gives her the sweetest smile.

Not today Satan.

I step back even further, suddenly very interested in the magazines in front of me.

He can take this one.

It's what he does best.

"Um...how much is it again?" he asks, pulling his wallet out and getting his credit card.

The frown on this girl's face is only getting deeper and angrier and I'm biting my lip furiously so as not to laugh.

Nick and Jamie pick up a bag each and I follow them out the door with Chloe out to Harry's car, turning around and realising he's not behind us.

A few minutes later he comes out and his expression is as black as thunder.

Without saying a word, he unlocks the car so the kids can put the bags in the back before they all sit back inside Harry's car.

I don't like him being upset and I haven't had the opportunity to work out what he needs when he is so I feel quite awkward.

But I'm not given any more time when he walks back to me and holds my face between his hands.

"Harry..." I start speaking but he stops me from speaking any further as he kisses me firmly.

"I really, really like you," he says once he pulls away.

Yep.

I like me to.

I mean you.

I like you very much to.

Sorry where was I?

"I like you to Harry," I say, a little breathless.

"I just wanted to tell you that, no matter what anyone else says," he pauses, "I just think you're...yeah..." he smiles and sighs a little.

"I think you're yeah as well," I laugh.

A tapping on the car window interrupts us and we turn around to see Chloe holding her hands up and mouthing 'when are we going?'

Harry runs his thumb over my cheek before pulling the door open for me and closing it after I get into his car.

He jogs around to the other side and hops into his seat.

As he waits for some other cars to pass, out the corner of my eye I see the girl inside the supermarket pointing her phone at Harry's car.

Good luck with the tinted windows love.

Harry finally pulls into the traffic and we're off.

I'm busy studying all the cute little shopfronts on both sides as we drive along and I see an old bookstore nestled between a couple of cafes.

"Ooh," I say out loud.

"What?" Harry asks with a smile.

"I saw a lovely bookstore back there," I reply, "I can't wait to come in and spend some time exploring the shops here."

"Well, you should come and do that by yourself one day, spend a bit of time without the kids," he suggests.

"As lovely as that sounds Harry, I'm not going to leave those three by themselves," I say.

"Course not," Harry smiles, "I'll drop you in and I'll stay with them and look after them and I'll pick you up when you're finished."

"Harry you don't..." I begin.

"Yes I know I don't, but I want to," he says, "you have to learn to let people do things for you because they just want to," he says as he reaches for my hand again, "just say yes and stop being so stubborn!"

I gasp out loud, pretending to be offended but I know deep down I can be.

Occasionally.

"Okay, fine," I huff, "now tell me more about where you're taking us."

"It's a beautiful place," Harry says, "it's so green and lush, there's a massive lake, walking track, there's a playpark, ferries on the water to take you around and there's something else but I want to surprise you," he pauses, "it's really big so I hope we won't be disturbed too much."

"I'm sure it'll be fine Harry and I'm sure they'll love it, thank you," I say, "obviously we haven't explored much outside the farm so this is going to be awesome for them."

"You know what I'm really looking forward to?" Harry asks me.

"Goodness only knows with you!" I laugh.

"I'm looking forward to sitting and talking with you, getting to know all about you properly," he says.

I could say the same thing.

"I agree, that will be nice," I reply, "is there anything else you're looking forward to doing?"

And I ask this with regards to what else there is to do at this park.

"Yeah," he says, and his hand lets go of mine and rests on my thigh, his fingers grazing the inside of it, squeezing it lightly.

Is it me or is it suddenly hot in here?

I glance over at Harry who is looking straight ahead, a smirk on his face.

Oh really?

Two can play at that game Styles.

I place my hand on top of his and I'm sure he thinks I'm going to remove his hand from me.

Instead, I pull it down between my legs and I'm sure his fingers can feel the heat there.

I feel him jerk in surprise and look over at me.

I smirk and raise my eyebrow before biting my lip, keeping my eyes on the road.

I reach up with my other hand to move my hair out of my face and accidentally graze my fingers over my breast.

"Oh look," I say, "we're here!"

Harry removes his hand and places it back onto the steering wheel, gripping it tightly as he concentrates on the path ahead.

Sure enough, there is a huge sign welcoming us and the kids have now noticed and are excitedly pointing out everything they see.

We drive up to the entrance and wait behind a couple of cars in front of us.

Once we reach the booth, Harry pays for us to enter and we slowly drive towards the car park.

"Look at the ducks!" Chloe cries out, "they're so cute!"

"Oh Nick!" Jamie says, "look at those! They look like trains on the water."

Harry and I try not to giggle.

We pull into the car park and Harry chooses a spot right in the back corner, as far away as possible from everyone else.

We all climb out and Harry and I decide to have a walk around the lake and explore a bit before we eat lunch.

He goes to the boot and pull out Jamie's soccer ball, throwing it up high into the air so it lands on the grassy area ahead of them. They immediately start to kick it further along, away from the parked cars.

Harry shuts the back of the rover and I'm about to walk off when he pulls me back roughly, pushing my front up against the car.

His body is then against mine as his hand runs up my thigh and around to my stomach before going lower to where his fingers were only moments earlier.

Harry's mouth is on my neck, slowly going up behind my ear as his hand grips me between my legs, the denim of my jeans suddenly feeling restricting and uncomfortable.

"Think how much better it'll feel when you're naked later..." he whispers.

Oh my fuck.

He suddenly grinds into the back of me before pulling away, leaving me pressed up against his rover.

"Ready for some soccer love?" he smirks as he grabs me by the hand and pulls me over to where the kids are.

Right.

Yes.

Not quite the ball I just had in mind.

I let Harry lead me over to the kids and he starts to kick the ball around, instructing and guiding them how to do it properly.

It's going to be a great day; I can just feel it.