Page 36 of Tricks & Treats at The Cosy Cornish Bakery

‘You mean another reiki session? Of course.’

‘No, not reiki. Chloe mentioned the other evening you did massage, too. Think I underestimated how tough running on the rough ground around here would be. I’m normally on a treadmill.’ He winced. ‘And I don’t think I warmed up properly. Want to stave off a calf injury. Do you do that sort of thing?’

‘I’m not a sports masseuse.’ Ginger went hot at the thought of her hands all over Josh’s body. At least her style of reiki had been strictly hands off – and that had been intimate enough. Wrongly so. ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea.’

‘Oh.’ He looked despondent. ‘Why not?’

Because I fancy you like mad. Because I’m not sure my hands would massage you in any kind of professional way. Because it would drive me wild with lust. ‘Not sure I have the time today,’ Ginger said lamely.

‘Oh, come on, Ginger.’ Josh gave her his best starry smile. ‘It would really help with the stiffness.’

I hope it won’t, Ginger prayed.

‘I’ll grab a quick shower, then head into the treatment room. See you there in half an hour?’

‘Okay,’ she replied weakly. She couldn’t really say no. Massage was on her list of treatments offered at The Sanctuary. Rising on wobbly legs, she made her way into her treatment room to prepare for it.

Half an hour later Ginger stared down at Josh’s prone body on her treatment couch. She’d added on the special extension that had a space for her clients’ faces when lying on their front. Helpfully, Josh, obviously used to receiving massages, had slid on and laid face down. Unhelpfully, at least as far as Ginger’s hormones were concerned, he’d arrived downstairs clad in one of The Sanctuary’s white towelling robes and nothing else. His naked body, glowing from a hot shower and her complimentary organic lavender shower gel, was now covered by a completely inadequate towel. She’d taken a second to indulge in his physicality. Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, well-shaped buttocks and long, muscular thighs. Josh had claimed he’d stepped down his fitness regime now he was in between films but, as an example of the male species, he was magnificent.

Gulping, she tried to get a hold of herself. How she was feeling was breaking every single code of ethics in the complementary treatment canon. ‘Right,’ she murmured. ‘You can do this. You are a professional. Josh is a client. His body is a vehicle for your care.’

‘Ready whenever you are,’ came Josh’s muffled voice.

‘Just warming my hands,’ she replied for him to hear. ‘Concentrate on slowing your breathing.’ Looking wildly around for an excuse not to begin she saw the candles were lit, the essential oil burner was diffusing soothing clary sage and neroli, the CD player was sending out relaxing music. There was no reason not to start.

Closing her eyes and holding her palms together, she incanted her healing prayer. She’d never needed it more. But, as she began, sweeping movement across Josh’s trapezius and hearing him groan with pleasure, her insides tightened with desire.

Afterwards, Ginger turned away as Josh gradually came to. She busied herself with wiping her hands and stoppering the bottles of oils she’d used. Once she’d begun, thankfully, her professionalism had taken over and she’d been able to conduct the massage as she usually did. True, there had been a couple of bad moments, including one when Josh turned over and she’d had to steel herself not to stare at the trail of dark hair that led from his chest over his stomach arrowing downwards. She’d screwed her eyes shut and repeated the healing prayer again, which had brought her back to reality. There was no denying, however, that Josh’s body was beautiful.

‘That was something else, Ginger,’ he now said, his voice curiously strained. ‘Epic.’

She heard him slide off the couch and throw on his robe but still lacked the courage to face him. ‘Glad you enjoyed it. Hope you found it did the trick. Helped ease the calves, I mean.’

‘Sure did. I’ll see you later.’

By the time Ginger had turned around, he’d gone, leaving only a trace of lavender and fizzing sexual energy in the air.

CHAPTER 19

The morning, which had already begun badly, was getting worse.

Dulcie had dropped around to Grey Seal Cottage with the instruction that she had a hospital appointment, and could Chloe look after Ziggy for the day? She hadn’t given Chloe the chance to object. She’d asked if everything was all right only to receive Dulcie’s brush off answer of ‘Don’t take on so,’ before her mother had disappeared in flurry of purple batik patterned scarves and jangly earrings. Chloe felt a twinge of concern, remembering how her mother had struggled up the harbour slipway after her swim. Was there something wrong? Neither Dulcie nor Hannah had said anything at the family evening meal but, Chloe thought with a twist of the lips, they probably wouldn’t confide in her. She’d always been on the outside.

Ziggy had taken himself off to the sofa and had slumped there, asleep, until Chloe made a sandwich for lunch. Coming suddenly to life, nose quivering, the spaniel leaped up and snatched the ham sandwich out of her hands mid-air. Chloe was making another when someone knocked on the front door. Ziggy let loose a volley of barks and Chloe hurried to the door hoping it was Dulcie come to collect him early.

‘Hey, Chloe.’ Nik held out a small black case. ‘Thought I’d drop the binoculars off I promised you. Is that Ziggy I can hear?’

‘Nik, hi. Thank you.’ She took the binoculars off him with a sigh. ‘Don’t. He’s been a nightmare.’

To undermine the point, Ziggy arrived at the front door to greet Nik, tail wagging furiously and looking angelic.

He bent down. ‘Hey, boy. Good to see you.’ Nik scratched the dog’s rump and Ziggy writhed in ecstasy. ‘What’s that in your mouth?’

‘Has the little bugger stolen my other sandwich? He’s already had one. That’s the second I’ve made.’ Chloe bent to have a look.

‘No, it’s some material, I think. Ziggy, sit,’ Nik commanded.

To Chloe’s surprise the dog sat, his tail still wagging, swishing across the door mat.