Page 61 of New Beginnings on Railway Lane

‘Yes, you do,’ replied Flora, nodding her head.

Katy sighed. She couldn’t keep lying to herself any longer. ‘Yes, I do,’ she said finally.

Flora smiled at her. ‘He’s a nice guy,’ she told Katy. ‘There are far worse guys to fall for.’

‘I know, but how am I meant to face him now?’ Katy groaned.

Flora looked over her shoulder and then quickly back to Katy. ‘I think you’re about to find out,’ she whispered.

Katy spun her head around, which caused stars to form in front of her eyes. As she winced and rubbed her forehead, she saw Ryan head into the waiting room.

‘Good morning,’ he said, with a wide smile. ‘From your pale faces, I’d say I made the right decision to stick with the beer last night.’

‘Absolutely,’ said Flora, getting up. ‘And your smugness is so sickening that I’m off to find some painkillers.’

Katy looked at her friend, desperate for her to stay, but Flora gave her head a little shake.

‘Good luck with facing all that heavy, noisy machinery today,’ said Ryan, laughing before heading into the kitchen.

‘Ugh,’ said Flora, rolling her eyes. ‘Good luck to you too,’ she whispered, giving Katy a brief hug before leaving.

Katy took a deep breath and then found herself giggling, despite her predicament. How her life had changed in such a short time! From having no life at all outside of work, now she was going to parties, having fun, eating cake, getting a little drunk and kissing Ryan!

She might be embarrassed after her behaviour, but she was finally out there living again. And that was worth all the mortification, she reckoned. Just as soon as she’d apologised to Ryan with a promise to herself that she wouldn’t kiss him again. No matter how much she really wanted to.

33

‘Happy birthday!’ chorused Ryan, along with the rest of his family as they clinked their glasses together a week later.

They were sitting at a table in the Black Swan Inn in Cranbridge to celebrate Bob’s birthday. It was a warm and inviting space and Ryan knew that the food was excellent, which was why he had reserved a table for four. However, his dad had insisted on upping the reservation to five so that Katy could join them.

It had been almost a week since they had celebrated Libby’s birthday party at the Black Swan Inn after which Katy had unexpectedly kissed him. She had apologised to him earlier in the week, blaming it on one too many cocktails. And yet he had found himself hoping that it had been because she had really wanted to, rather than the alcohol. He hadn’t responded when she’d kissed him because she was obviously drunk and he was a gentleman. And yet those soft lips had caused him endless sleepless nights since.

And he really needed his sleep at the moment because each day since had been so busy decorating and readying the coffee shop ready for its grand opening.

The ceilings, walls, window frames and doors of Platform 1 were now painted and the whole place felt much more fresh and modern. Flora had suggested a pale pink, which Ryan hadn’t been keen on until both he and Katy had seen it painted on the walls and he had instantly realised how much warmer and modern it made the place feel.

The long green leather benches had been buffed and polished until they gleamed and so had the dark wood panelling on the back wall as well as the wooden tables and chairs.

It had been exhausting and hard work for them both, thought Ryan. And yet Katy was sitting on the opposite side of the table looking as glowingly pretty as always.

She was surrounded by three generations of Connolly men. Worst behaved by far was his brother Ethan, who had arrived that morning. Ethan had quickly sidled into the seat next to Katy as soon as they had arrived and was now doing his utmost to flirt with her.

Ryan felt somewhat relieved that Katy was having none of it and was refusing to play ball with him.

‘Has anyone told you that you have wonderful eyes?’ asked Ethan, leaning in close to her with a winning smile.

Katy gave him a firm look before picking up the menu. ‘My optician six months ago when he gave me the all-clear on my annual examination,’ she replied briskly.

Ryan gave his brother a hard stare across the table, but Ethan was too busy looking at Katy.

‘Come on,’ he laughed. ‘I’m sure you enjoy a man’s company just like anyone else.’

Katy continued to look at her menu and not at Ethan. ‘The main time that I enjoy a man’s company is when he owns it,’ she replied. ‘Well, I can’t decide what to eat. This all looks wonderful.’

‘It tastes good too,’ Eddie told her. ‘We’ve eaten in here a couple of times, haven’t we?’

Bob nodded. ‘I think I’ll have the steak,’ he said, still studying the menu.