Page 73 of The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts

She wished she could talk to Josh about it but knew that was impossible. He was her friend, that much she hoped after their time together.

But she had crossed a line in asking him to kiss her. She didn’t know what the future held, but she was pretty sure that it wouldn’t involve the both of them working together in the shop.

She was so cross with herself for ruining what had been a perfectly nice friendship. And for what reason?

Because you wanted to kiss him, said her innermost thoughts.And you’ve wanted him to kiss you for a long time.

She gulped back her feelings, trying to wish them away. But it was no good. She’d have to face him at some point.

Thankfully it was Halloween and they had quite a few people coming into the shop for sweets and pumpkins. Amber found she could keep busy serving them, as well as preparing a tub full of jellied spiders and chocolate frogs to give away to any trick or treaters later that evening.

In fact, she managed to have avoided talking to Josh about anything other than work for the whole day, mainly by way of leaving a room every time he entered it. Once or twice she had caught him looking at her and he even began to make conversation, but she had quickly made the excuse of having to restock some shelves.

It was only once she was standing on the veranda with Josh, saying goodbye to the last of the trick or treaters that they were finally alone.

For a second there was silence and then Amber went to turn around. ‘That was fun,’ she said, her words coming out in a rush with nerves. ‘I think I’ll head up and have an early night.’

But he was too fast for her and had already moved to block the doorway into the shop.

‘We’ve hardly spoken all day,’ he told her.

‘I just feel rubbish, that’s all,’ she said.

He stared down at her, his eyes boring into the top of her head as she looked anywhere but at him. ‘Amber.’

She gave a small start as he took her chin in his fingers and slowly drew up her chin so that her face was close to his.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said, finally, when she could bear the silence no longer.

‘For what?’ he asked, smiling.

‘Last night. All of it,’ she said, closing her eyes in mortification.

‘Well, everyone was drunk,’ he said softly.

Her eyes flew back open at that. Perhaps she hadn’t been the only one to make a complete fool of herself.

‘Of course, nobody else asked me for a goodnight kiss,’ he added.

She groaned, blushing. ‘Oh God, it was the punch. That stuff was lethal.’

He stared down at her for a long time. ‘I’m sorry to hear you say that,’ he said finally.

‘Why?’ she whispered.

He smiled. ‘Because I was hoping that it wasn’t just the punch,’ he said softly, his thumb brushing her lower lip.

Then he let go of her and left her even more confused than ever.

30

The following morning, at his usual time of half past nine, Stanley arrived with his travel mug.

‘Black, no milk, please,’ he said.

Amber was pleased that he was getting into the habit of ordering a coffee along with his daily newspaper. He seemed to be a little lighter in spirits with an excuse to linger in the shop for a while.

After Amber had poured out his drink, Stanley took a sip. ‘Oh, that’s good,’ he told her. ‘It’s always a luxury to have nice coffee. I used to treat myself to a cup of coffee when I was at the hospital with my late wife. Feels like I’m in an American movie somehow.’