Page 90 of The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts

As she bent over, her long ponytail moved to one side, revealing the back of her neck. Josh had a sudden urge to press his lips to the pale skin at the bottom of her hairline.

Perhaps it would be better if he kept busy and out of her way for the rest of the day, he thought.

For now, he joined her at the till and looked at the list.

‘We’ve got some more tinned food out the back, as well as cleaning materials. That’ll probably clear us out though if the same level of customers come in again this afternoon,’ he told her.

‘What about milk and bread? We got through nearly all of it.’

Josh frowned. ‘The road to the cash and carry is completely blocked. As is the road to Aldwych. I could probably go the long way round, but we’re talking twenty odd miles out of the way to get there.’

‘If there aren’t any trees blocking the other roads,’ she said.

Josh nodded, just as the bell rang with another customer.

‘Hiya,’ said Tom, coming across with his mug. ‘It’s still crazy busy out there. Plus I didn’t even have time for a nightcap last night. I think my body’s gone into toxic shock.’

‘What’s the word on how the area is looking?’ asked Josh.

Tom blew out a sigh and shook his head. ‘The river’s gone down a little. It’s terrible downstream. I mean, catastrophic for some poor souls who have lost everything. We’re about to head out over that way. If we can get there, of course. So many roads are blocked, I don’t know if we can get much further than the next village. Hey, you haven’t any of that home-made cake left, have you? Molly brought some in and that’s what we had for lunch.’

Amber shook her head. ‘Sorry. It was really popular.’

‘Not surprised,’ said Tom, looking disappointed. ‘Nice to have something home-made, you know? Everything I eat these days is either dried or microwaved.’

He and Josh then consulted a map on his phone as they discussed which roads were open.

After Tom had paid for his coffee, he headed out once more.

‘We’re going to need milk if everyone wants more coffee,’ said Amber, holding up a half-empty bottle. ‘This is our last one.’

Josh looked at his phone again and zoomed in to look at the number of farms that surrounded the village. ‘I wonder…’ he said, thinking out loud.

He glanced up to find Amber watching him.

‘So the cake was really popular?’ he asked.

She nodded. ‘Absolutely.’

Josh began to pace up and down the floor as he tried to figure out what was nudging at his brain. ‘It was fresh, wasn’t it?’

‘It looked delicious,’ she told him. ‘I didn’t even get a chance to try it.’

‘So people liked it because…?’ He stopped, hoping Amber would help him out.

‘Because it was tasty?’ she suggested. ‘Home-made? Made by someone local that they had a connection with?’

‘Bingo!’ said Josh, nodding. ‘That’s it!’

‘OK,’ she said slowly. ‘So we need more cake? Is that what you’re saying?’

He stopped pacing and took her by the shoulders. ‘Why did you hate the cash and carry?’

She blushed. ‘Oh, well, it just felt a bit, I dunno, warehouse-like. Not personal.’

‘Exactly!’ he said, gripping her arms in excitement.

‘Er, ow!’ she said, wincing.