‘Didn’t you read the booking log for today?’
I shake my head. ‘No, I didn’t.’
‘Well, we have a celebrity coming. He knows Frankie from his PR agency days. I think a few of his fans have come to gawp at him.’
‘A celebrity?’
Noah nods. ‘A film actor. He’s popular on social media so we need to impress him and his celebrity girlfriend. Rocco Reid. He’s going to propose, I think.’
‘I’ve never heard of him,’ I say as the crowd at the door parts, and everyone hushes. I stare in shock as the man from the sea strides into the café.
Clamping my forehead with my hand, my neck starts to feel itchy and hot. Why did Frankie’s important customer have to be the man I plucked from the sea earlier?
His brown eyes lock onto mine and with a tanned hand he sweeps his almost black wavy hair away from his handsome face. I can’t help but think back to seeing him half naked on the beach. My mind kindly replays soundbites from our strained conversation and I am back to feeling irritated by the sight of him.
Noah comes up beside me and outstretches his hand. ‘Welcome to The Little Love Café, Rocco. I’m Noah and this is–’
Rocco interrupts Noah and says, ‘The woman who wrestled me out of the sea this morning and kicked me when I didn’t listen to her commands.’
Noah casts me a worried look and mouths, ‘You kicked Rocco Reid?’
I give him a nervous look. I need to sort out this situation quick. ‘Right then,’ I say, with a false smile, ‘shall I show you to the Snug?’
Rocco turns to look for someone behind him. ‘Where did she go?’ He asks one of the men stood by him.
‘Outside. Instagram shots,’ replies the man, with thick rimmed glasses, tapping something into a tablet.
Something flickers across Rocco’s face, and he turns to me. ‘Do you want to show me to the Snug?’
Once in the Snug, Rocco catches my eye. ‘I suppose I better say thanks for this morning.’
‘Huh?’ I wasn’t expecting this.
‘You did the right thing.’ He sits down and fiddles with the jewelled cufflink on his crisp white shirt. ‘I’m sorry if I was a little short with you. Please have a seat.’
I sit as far away from him as possible, crossing my arms tightly across my chest. ‘You looked like you were in trouble.’
Rubbing his neck, he bows his head. ‘I was in trouble but too proud to say.’
‘Where’s your girlfriend?’
Rising from the sofa he paces the perimeter of the Snug. ‘She’s more concerned about her Instagram feed than me.’ I detect a disappointed tone.
‘Is she famous too?’
Rocco smiles and stares at the flower wall. ‘Yes. She’s a pop princess. Impressive flower wall.’ He returns to his seat. ‘Look, I don’t even know your name.’
‘Alice.’
‘It is good to meet you, Alice. Aren’t you going to ask me about my next film?’
I cast him a puzzled look. ‘I’m sorry but I have never heard of you, but I can ask you if you want?’
His shapely pink mouth falls opens in surprise. ‘You hadn’t heard of me?’
‘Nope.’
He runs a tanned hand through his glossy wavy hair and looks a little lost. ‘Blimey, this is new territory for me.’
