Page 41 of The Bookshop By the Loch

I turned, smiling, nodding and thanking others for their good luck wishes and enthusiastic congratulations as they mingled around. Business was brisk. Ok, curiosity would be playing its part, but nevertheless, Trevor was grinning from ear to ear, so my one-year timeline to improve Book Ends was off to a flying start.

A waft of recognisable, citrus aftershave emerged from behind me. My heart jumped in my chest.

It was Tobias. “Things seems to be going very well,” he said, close to my ear.

I disguised the electric shock that shot through me as his breath touched my neck. “They are. How is it for you?”

Tobias took a sip from the champagne glass he was holding. “I have to say, it’s all going very smoothly.” He waggled his champagne flute. There was a devilish twitch at the corners of his mouth. “Can I tempt you?”

I whipped my attention away, before he could spot colour flooding my face. Why the hell were my cheeks scalding like this? “Thank you, but no, I’d better keep a clear head.”

Tobias twinkled at me from over the top of his glass. “Scared you might let your guard down?”

I prickled. “About what?”

His attention lingered on my mouth. “You tell me.”

I jutted out my chin. “Not at all. In fact, alright. I will have a glass.” I shot him a look. “Actually, I think that’s a bit rich coming from you.”

Both of his eyebrows arched up to his thick hair as he fetched a glass of bubbly for me and handed it over. “Sorry?”

“Thank you.” I gathered myself together, clutched my champagne flute and pushed on. “Well, all this secrecy. Why did you come back here? Why did your uncle change his mind about helping you?”

Tobias switched his attention back to drinking his pale gold champagne. “I’ve no idea why my uncle did what he did. You’d have to ask him that.” He took another gulp from his champagne flute. “Maybe he felt obliged to help me because of my investment in the shop.”

Our conversation was interrupted by Rhiannon shimmying past with an attractive young spiky-haired blond man in a sharp blue suit and pillar-box red shoes.

She waggled her fingers in a jokey wave.

“Who’s that Rhiannon’s with?” I asked Tobias.

“Lester Graves. He’s an immersive artist.”

“Immersive?”

“Yes. It’s a bit like stepping into a computer game. He’s big on using water effects like dolphins, waves and jelly fish in his work.”

“That sounds impressive.”

“He likes to think so,” glinted Tobias. “He’s also an infamous womaniser.”

“And does it take one to know one?” I remarked. Bugger! Why did I say that? I wasn’t bothered about what Tobias did and with whom, so why ask the question?

I noticed Tobias was widening his green eyes. His mouth flickered at the corners. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

I pulled a sarcastic face as Rhiannon and Lester were swallowed up by the chattering throng. “You seem to have recruited three supermodels as your new employees.”

Tobias shrugged. “I’m more concerned about them being good ambassadors for the gallery.”

His attention followed Rhiannon and Lester again.

“I hate to admit it, but Mirror Image does look very classy.”

There was a look of surprise on his handsome face. “Good grief. Another compliment. I should have these recorded for posterity.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes. Well. You’ve obviously worked very hard on the gallery.”

“It’s a jungle out there,” replied Tobias, deadpan. “I always sleep with one eye open.”