‘Can I?’
She smiled at the excitement in his voice. She had her answer.
‘Of course. If you’re sure you’re okay with that?’
‘Yes!’
‘Sheena has a spare toothbrush she can give you. And PJs.’
‘Oh, what about my story?’
‘Sheena will read you your story too.’
Lou chatted to him for another couple of minutes, making sure he was happy, before ending the call.
‘Okay, that’s sorted,’ she said, going back into the kitchen.
‘Oh, brilliant. Thank you,’ Aidan said. ‘Lou’s going to help out this evening,’ he told Shane as he came back into the kitchen carrying armfuls of ingredients.
‘Great!’ Shane grinned at her.
It was a busy service, but most of the customers were early and they’d finished and closed up by ten thirty.
‘How was that baptism of fire for you?’ Shane asked her as he pulled on a beanie hat and slung his backpack on one shoulder.
‘It was great! I really enjoyed it.’ Lou was tired but buzzing at the same time.
‘Well, thanks for all your help. You were a lifesaver. Are you on lunch tomorrow?’
‘No, I’m off.’
‘Okay, see you Tuesday, then. Night, Chef!’ he called to Aidan who was in the back, putting things into the fridge.
When he’d gone, the kitchen felt weirdly quiet and empty. Aidan came in from the back, and once again it was just the two of them.
‘Fancy some dessert?’ he asked. He was carrying two little ramekins.
‘Mmm. Yes, please. Is that the crème brûlée?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Good. I really fancied trying that.’
‘Well, you’re in luck. There are just two left.’ He handed her one, then grabbed a couple of spoons and they sat opposite each other at the counter.
Lou tapped her spoon on the caramelised sugar topping and it cracked with a satisfying snap. ‘This is gorgeous. Thanks.’
‘It’s the least I can do after you saved our bacon tonight.’
They ate in companionable silence. ‘Well, I suppose I should go,’ Lou said with a sigh, pushing her dish away.
She didn’t want to go. She wanted him to kiss her again. She wanted him to lead her upstairs and take her to bed. His eyes dropped to her lips as she licked sugar from them and she was sure he was thinking the same thing.
‘I can’t seduce you, Lou,’ he said, as if he knew what she wanted.
‘Seduce me!’ She jolted upright, startled into anger. ‘Bloody right you can’t.’ She snorted and cringed at the ugly sound. ‘I’m not some little milkmaid from a Victorian novel, powerless to stop the lord of the manner taking advantage of me.’
Aidan’s lips twitched in amusement. ‘Believe me, no one’s going to mistake you for someone who can’t handle herself.’
