While Will started eating biscuits, Ginny visualized him in uniform aboard a ship. She kind of liked the look. She kind of liked how he looked now, snug and happy dunking bickies.
‘I’ll show you how to make up food parcels after this,’ was all she could think to say.
He nodded. ‘Sure.’
Ginny swallowed hard. ‘And just so you know, if you ever need anything, I’m here for you too.’
They locked eyes, and Ginny was sure her heart skipped a beat.
She looked away first. ‘I just know how it can all get a bit much sometimes.’
‘Yeah, I guess we all need some respite every so often.’
Ginny felt she needed a lifetime’s worth. ‘I normally sit down by the harbour for five minutes. That’s my break from life.’
Will glanced up as he cuffed his bottom lip. ‘Hey, how do you fancy a road trip at the weekend?’
That floored her. ‘What?’
‘I’m putting down roots here, so need to fetch the last of my things from my flat in Wales. It’s on the market now, and the estate agent reckons it will get snapped up. So the sooner I get on with the job the better. You ever been to Wales?’
Ginny had hardly been anywhere. ‘Nope. Have you found somewhere here then?’
‘Not yet. But I’m looking.’
Should she mention the tenants living in her flat were moving out in a few days? The plan wasn’t to rent it out again, not that she had much of a plan. Her tearoom wasstill on the back burner until her mum was sorted with new accommodation. Should she sell now and help her mum? Her dad would turn in his grave. Her dream was the tearoom. She must stick to that. At least that idea didn’t drive her round the bend.
‘Would we drive there?’ she asked, thinking a change of scenery would be good.
Will nodded. ‘Yep, got my truck. The only thing is, we’d stay over at mine, then head back the next day. Would that be okay with you? I have two bedrooms.’
Ginny smiled. ‘Sure. That’s fine.’ All she had to do was pay Suzanne more money for extra hours and double-check with Annie that the café would be fully staffed.
‘We’ll leave Saturday morning after breakfast. Sound good?’
‘We can have breakfast together, chick,’ she blurted, surprising herself.
His warm smile hit her straight in the heart. ‘Yeah, okay. Yours or mine?’
Ginny laughed. ‘On me, in the café.’
‘Ooh, not sure I like a woman paying for me.’
‘Don’t be sexist.’
‘It’s not sexist. It’s tradition.’
‘That comes from what? Oppression? The gender pay gap?’
Will laughed. ‘What?’
Ginny shook her head. ‘I like to pay my own way.’
‘Fair enough.’
She folded her arms, snuggling into the comfy chair. ‘Good. So from now on, don’t oppress me. If I want to treat my male friends, I will.’
Will laughed again. ‘Good for you. However, I might kind of like buying things for you too. I’ve always been a giver, see.’
