‘I don’t really know her, but I do know her husband Kyle slightly. I met her for the first time at the antique market in St Aubin a few months ago.’
‘She’s one of my oldest friends,’ Lettie said reminded how small the island was and how different it was living here where most people knew each other as opposed to the anonymity she mostly felt living in London. She decided liked the idea of a curry and didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to enjoy one. ‘You’re on then. What time do they start serving, do you know?’
He checked his watch. ‘In about ten minutes. We could go and have a drink while we wait and at least we should get a good table.’
‘Let’s go then,’ she said feeling much better than she had when she’d entered the shop.
Just as she had expected it would be, supper at the pub was not only delicious but also enormous fun. Joe’s jokes were silly butfunny and she managed to put Brodie’s blanking of her to the back of her mind for most of the evening.
He looked thoughtful and was staring at her plate just when the bar staff took them from their table. ‘What is it?’
Joe watched the plate as it was taken away. ‘I wish I’d chosen the chicken curry like you did. How was it?’
‘I’m sure you can have it next time,’ she said. ‘Anyway, yours looked tasty enough.’
‘There’ll be a next time?’
She couldn’t miss the glint in his eyes. ‘Maybe, if I ever have enough energy after another day’s work. To answer your question the chicken curry was wonderful.’
‘Will you join me when I come here again? They serve a pretty mean cottage pie.’
She saw the unmistakable mischievous look on his face and shook her head, smiling. ‘So that’s it.’
‘What?’ He laughed when she didn’t immediately answer.
‘You just want a dinner companion, don’t you?’
He looked up towards the ceiling, and his hand went to his chest as he pretended to be hurt by her insinuation. ‘I’ve no idea what gave you that idea.’
She drank some of her cider. ‘Are you saying I’m wrong?’
‘Yes.’ He dropped the act. ‘And stop avoiding the question. Will you join me here again?’
How could she say no, especially after all he had done to help her at the farm? Anyway, she mused, why would she want to? It might be Brodie who made her heart flutter, but Joe was great fun and adorable. As long as he didn’t get the wrong idea about them seeing each other, it would be fun to spend more time with him. ‘I’d love to.’
‘Good, that’s tomorrow’s supper sorted then.’
It was her turn to sit open-mouthed. ‘Tomorrow? I was thinking more like sometime next week.’
‘What?’ He laughed. ‘Are you telling me you’re busy elsewhere tomorrow night?’
‘Yes, the way I feel right now I’ll probably be collapsed on my sofa after another exhausting day on the farm.’ She shook her head. ‘Anyway, I usually spend my evenings with Spud.’
‘I love your dog.’
She sighed, happy to hear him say so.
‘But I’m sure Spud will be perfectly fine by himself for another evening. Another drink before we go?’
Why not, she thought. ‘Just the one then,’ she said standing. ‘And as it’s my round I’ll buy it.’
He tried to argue but she wasn’t having any of it. She also intended paying for their meal when they were at the bar. She realised that even if they were in a relationship she would do the same. Somehow though it mattered more now she had decided there was to be nothing romantic between them.
27
BRODIE
Brodie took Thistle down to the beach for a walk just after dawn. He would have loved to let him run free but didn’t trust Thistle’s recall and the last thing he needed was to lose the dog. Thistle seemed friendly with the other dogs they came across and although he tried to pull away a couple of times to go and play with them he soon settled down.
