Page 29 of Tricks & Treats at The Cosy Cornish Bakery

‘Hi, Chloe.’ Ginger bounced into the bakery bringing with her a rush of crisp autumn air. She peered into the paint tin. ‘Lovely colour. I approve. Josh is on his way. He volunteered to wash up after breakfast. Have to say it’s lovely having a guest willing to pitch in.’

‘And not just with the washing up,’ Chloe teased, sitting back on her knees. ‘You two looked completely wrapped up in one another last night.’

Ginger sank gracefully onto the floor beside her, sitting cross-legged and unwinding a long stripey scarf. ‘We had such a lovely time. Talked books. We’ve read a lot of the same ones. I can’t believe he’s such an avid reader. He even bought me a copy of Little Women, can you believe?’ She sighed happily.

‘Really? With the money he’s got,’ Chloe said drily, ‘he could buy you a whole set of first editions.’

Ginger chose to ignore her. ‘Then we cuddled up and drank hot chocolate and mulled cider and stargazed. It was magical.’ She was lost for a moment and then added, ‘We couldn’t dance unfortunately. Didn’t want to risk Josh getting outed. When he and Pinky had a convo earlier in the day Josh pretended to be this Welsh guy called Jim. You should have seen him change. It was incredible. He turned into a completely different person right in front of my eyes.’

Chloe expelled a breath. ‘Ah! That explains it.’

‘What?’ Ginger picked up a paint chart and examined it.

‘Had the misfortune to have my ears bent by Pinky and Mum who were in the pub. They were banging on about your Welsh friend and did I know anything about him.’

Ginger giggled. ‘I’m hoping that will be Josh’s alter ego from now on. Only problem being he has to wear that horrible hat and those awful glasses. I can’t see his lovely blue eyes behind them. And his eyes! You could drown in them!’

‘Ginger,’ Chloe said gravely. ‘This thing with you and Josh. Is it getting serious? It all seems to be happening incredibly quickly.’

‘What do you mean?’ Ginger said, examining the paint chart with an intensity Chloe didn’t believe for a minute.

‘You sound quite loved-up.’ She paused, struggling for the right words and realising she’d said similar to herself only moments before. ‘He’s only here for a while. And you’re from very different worlds.’ She stopped. Ginger’s head had drooped, her spark extinguished. Chloe hated seeing it. ‘I just don’t want you messed about again,’ she went on gently. ‘Like–’

‘Like Ryan did?’

‘Yeah.’

Ginger lifted her head and met her friend’s concerned gaze. ‘Don’t worry, I’m being sensible. Living in the moment. Enjoying it for what it is.’ She shrugged. ‘Just a twinkling in time the universe has given me. Let me have that, Chlo. And Josh is a surprisingly sincere man.’

‘He’s an actor, Ginger. He can be anyone he chooses. You’ve just said how easily he can morph into someone else. That’s what he’s trained to do.’

‘I’ll be careful. I’m taking it for what it is.’

‘Okay.’ Chloe wasn’t convinced but let it go. She wasn’t sure her warning had been in time; the girl gave every sign of being too far gone. Ryan, a painter and a dreamer, had led Ginger on for years with the promise of commitment and then had disappeared. Last heard of living in an artist’s community in Zakynthos. Ginger had been hurt and confused when he’d left her and hadn’t allowed herself to fall in love since. Chloe worried Josh’s stargazey appeal was too potent to resist. And they were living in such close proximity. Being thrown together like that would inevitably make them close.

‘Did you have a good time last night?’ Ginger asked brightly. ‘Wouldn’t have thought it was your sort of thing. Didn’t see you, did you stay in the pub?’

‘Yeah. It was okay,’ Chloe said, vaguely. ‘I stayed for a bit but, as you say, not really my sort of thing.’

Thankfully Ginger didn’t pursue the topic. She jumped up. ‘Better grab me a paintbrush, otherwise we won’t get this place painted and dry before opening tomorrow.’ As she did so, the door opened again, this time to allow in Josh and Nik. ‘Here comes the cavalry, just in time,’ she cried. ‘Get yourself sorted with a brush, boys.’

Josh, in his bucket hat, grinned. Nik crouched down near Chloe. ‘What would you like me to do and where do you want me?’

He was looking long and cool in old jeans and an even older-looking sweatshirt, the sleeves pushed back revealing powerful forearms and glinting light brown hair. Chloe remembered the feel of his soft wool sweater from last night and bit down what she’d really like him to do. That would definitely not get the bakery painted. ‘What are you like on ladders?’

‘Not bad,’ he answered cheerfully. ‘Don’t often have to use them if I’m honest.’

‘Don’t suppose you do, what with being so tall.’ She nodded to the corner behind the serving counter. ‘Could you have a go there? It’s where Pammy will brush past when she comes in first thing and, if it’s not completely dry, she’ll get her clothes ruined.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘And I’ll never hear the last of it. She doesn’t see why we’re painting the place anyway.’

‘No probs.’ He rose to his feet. ‘Brushes and paint trays over there?’

‘On the sheet covering the counter. And, Nik?’

‘Yes?’ He gazed down at her, his expression neutral, unreadable.

‘Thanks.’

‘It’s my pleasure.’