‘Then you’ll have foreseen this, too.’ Zach’s up against my body before I know it, his chin resting lightly on my forehead. Instinctively I circle my hands around his waist and he moves his lips close to my ear. ‘I’ve missed this,’ he whispers and my heart continues its gradual defrost. Suddenly Zach’s stepping back, untwining my hands and looking triumphant. I cast around to figure out what he’s up to. He’s put the soap dish in my trolley!
‘Hey! You tricked me,’ I grumble. I’m not usually befuddled by sexiness like this. Whatever’s going on, I quite like it.
‘Players gonna play,’ he says, face crumpled in amusement.
I fold my arms, stifling a giggle.
‘In that case, I’ll race you to the restaurant. Last one there buys the meatballs,’ I call, blocking him in with the trolley as I run off.
With Zach and the clunky trolley in hot pursuit, I finally screech to a halt at the canteen, plonking myself down at the nearest table and throwing my hands into the air with a double victory sign. I’m about to shout something triumphant when I realise that I’ve got a stitch. Ouch. Zach pulls up next to me, his thick dark hair looking extra messy from the run.
Finally catching my breath, I say: ‘I win!’
‘You cheated,’ he objects, leaning against the table.
‘I merely saw an opportunity.’
‘You hemmed me inandleft me with a trolley that won’t turn on its wheels.’
‘Excuses, excuses. How does it feel to be a loser?’
‘I will be getting my own back on our next date, you just wait.’
‘Oh really?’
‘Really. Well if you’d still be up for another date that is?’ He grins, eyes twinkling and I nod. ‘Why are you sticking your fingers into your side like that?’
‘I got a stitch from the run,’ I admit.
‘So you thought you’d treat a sharp, stabbing pain under your ribs by poking it?’
‘What can I say, the medical profession was my second career option if floristry didn’t work out.’
Zach laughs, easing my hand away from my side and instructing me to take slow, deep breaths. He kneels down next to me, matching his breathing with mine until the pain starts to ease. It’s the sweetest moment.
‘Better?’ He asks after a while.
‘Better. That actually worked. Thanks!’
‘Glad to be of assistance, ma’am. Now, I believe I’m buying. What do you fancy?’
I rub my hands together. ‘I can’t decide between a hotdog or a plate of meatballs so I might go for both?’
Zach stands up straighter. ‘Both?’
Seems reasonable?
He checks his watch. ‘It’s not even eleven a.m. so what you’re saying is, you’d like a hotdogandmeatballs for brunch.’
‘Yes,’ I cheer.
I can’t tell if Zach is impressed or incredulous as he walks towards the canteen.
Predictably, Zach opted for a more stylish elevenses of coffee and cake which he wolfed down within minutes.
‘Who’s laughing now? You’re all done while I’ve still got a lot of balls to get through,’ I say before pulling up short. Smirk.
‘Looks like you’re doing a pretty good job to me,’ he grins, eyebrows raised. ‘I was wondering if you’d let me have a bite of that sausage. You’ve got a lot on your plate, after all.’
