“I wanted to apologise.” I pull at my coat zip nervously.
“What for?” he asks, puzzled.
“I shouldn’t have picked up the phone.”
“Harri…” He rubs his head with his hand looking at his feet. “You don’t have to apologise. He is your—” He stops himself. “Wasyour fiancé. That is difficult, right?” He looks at me, longing to hear that it’s not difficult and I just want to spend all day kissing him. Which I do. But it’s difficult as well.
“It is a little…”
He nods and faces back down towards his shoes. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable last night. I get you’re in an awkward situation.”
“Uncomfortable?” I choke. “Sam. You made me feel far from uncomfortable and I am in an awkward situation, but what I wanted to say is that… I like spending time with you and eventhough I’m not, like, in the best place right now, maybe we can hang out still? No labels, just Harri and Sam. But I understand if that is not something you want to do.”
“Of course, I do.” His dimples show as he smiles that great big Cheshire cat grin.
“Cool.” I downplay my excitement of getting to spend more time with him even if it leads to just a friendship. I can’t think of a better person to be my friend right now. “So maybe we can spend time together tomorrow night? I am going to be working at Jim’s for a bit, give him a break, so we could grab a coffee at Gloria’s… I mean, your nana’s after work?”
“Wow-wee, Miss Harri, a job? And doing a good thing for a fellow villager? Sounds like you have really settled here.” He smiles. “Maybe you are no longer a city girl! One of us, one of us, one of us,” he quietly chants at me, punching his fists in the air.
I laugh. “I’m just doing him a favour and it also makes me feel less of a dosser at my granny’s and aunt’s.”
“So, she is smart, funny, thoughtful and kind? Oh, and not forgetting she has the looks as well. I have said it before, but, man, that Greg guy really is an idiot.” He blushes.
“Shut up.” I playfully push his arm off the counter. “I won’t be able to get my head out the door.”
“But to answer your question, yes, Harriet, I’ll go on a date with you.” His voice matches my playfulness with a hint of sarcasm.
“Not a date, Sam! Just hanging out and having a coffee.”
“Such a flirt.” He winks.
“Sam!”
“OK, OK, just teasing! I finish at five tomorrow so I’ll come by as you are closing?”
“Yeah, that’d be nice.”
We stare at each other for a moment. I can imagine he is also thinking about our kiss last night in the light of the fire. Theheat between us. His hands on my skin tracing my body with his fingertips. For a moment I am back there, looking into his jewel-like eyes. What could have happened if my phone had not interrupted us?
Chris appears from the back, breaking the spell of lust between us. “Right, lover boy, I need a hand with these boxes in the back. Enough trying to flirt with the pretty girl.”
“Ah. boss, she’s been trying to flirt with me,” he teases.
“I doubt that!” Chris chuckles. “Come on.”
Sam turns to me and pulls a face. “See you later.” He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear, lingering on his touch.
“See you tomorrow.” I swoon before shouting to Chris in the back. “Bye, Chris, nice to meet you!”
“And you. Nice to put a face to our Sam’s desperate ramblings.” He pats Sam on the back.
“Shut it, you.” He playfully pushes Chris who ruffles Sam’s hair in return. He is unbelievably cute.
I head out of the shop and out onto the village green. The single lamppost lighting the sign of the village switches on ready for the incoming darkness. The houses light up and smoke with their fires burning, warming the residents within them.
In the short space I have been here, I have fallen in love. This village is everything that resonates in my soul. The people. The houses. The peace. Going back to London feels like a daunting idea.
Thirteen
