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Aaron cocked an eyebrow. “What’s she fundraising for?”
“Her school trip to Japan. Raising money for the orchestra.”
“What are they doing?”
“A quiz night,” Carts mumbled.
A sudden wolfish grin swept across Aaron’s features. “I love quiz nights. I’ll come. When is it?” Carts’ mouth dropped open. “I’d love to support Avery,” Aaron added, smooth as silk.
“Bet you would,” Carts muttered darkly.
“That’s below the belt, mate.” Aaron’s eyes smouldered.
For all the world they were behaving like two prize fighting cocks about to rip out each other’s feathers. And it really wasn’t on. Alice didn’t need all this testosterone flying around the shop this early in the week. She started to slam pens in her pen holder to try and defuse the tension. As if realising he was out of order, Aaron gave an easy laugh and punched Carts lightly on the shoulder. “Seriously, mate, I am the king of useless information. I’d love to join you.”
Wheels were turning in Carts’ brain, you could tell. Alice felt his pain. To say no to Aaron when Carts had just invited her would look suspiciously like only one thing… maybe Carts saw that too, as he conceded grudgingly, “Okay, mate. Come if you like. But you’d better be worth the invite. Our table better win, or you’re history.”
Aaron smirked. “History was my finest subject at school. We’ll smash the other teams.”
For a while they stood talking, the energy between them still as spiky as broken glass. Finally, Carts got up from his stool with clear reluctance. “I have to go. I’ve got a meeting. Why don’t you walk back with me?”
“I’m in the law courts all afternoon,” Aaron said, as if he’d been cemented to the spot.
Carts’ mouth took on a sullen hue, his shoulders sagged. Then, as if giving himself some internal talking to, he stood up to his full height. A tug of sympathy pulled behind Alice’s ribs. Sometimes, Carts reminded her so much of herself. Except for the height differential, of course.
“Bye, Alice.” To her surprise, Carts swooped and planted a stubbly kiss on her cheek. “I’ll text you the details. Bye shit face,” he muttered to Aaron as he loped off.
Painfully aware that the shop had emptied out towards the end of lunch time, Alice fiddled with some paperclips on her desk. Her stomach growled loudly.
“Do you mind if I eat my lunch?” she said. Aaron standing so close was making every one of her cells zing, as if her whole body was starving. And not for a banh mi either.
“Sure, go ahead,” he replied with a shrug.
As she scooted into the storeroom, the hairs on the back of her neck told her he’d followed her. When she glanced around he was leaning on the door frame, one ankle casually crossed over the other.
Stay cool. Don’t blow it.She released a slow breath through her nostrils. She was Aphrodite rising from the waves, pure minted sex goddess material. She just had to remember that.
“So, how’ve you been?” she asked as she sank her teeth into the soft sweet bread and tore off a mouthful. She had to wipe a dribble of sauce off the side of her mouth with a fingertip and saw his jaw tighten as he watched her.
“Since yesterday?” His voice was gravelly. “Kind of been thinking of what you said, actually.”
Oh no! He was going to turn her down. Now the heat of shame was prickling her stomach, the back of her neck, up into her cheeks. A lump of bread stuck halfway down her throat and she barely managed a gasped, “Ah-hmmm?”
“Yeah, so…” The grin widened as he watched her near total meltdown. “I was wondering whether tomorrow you’d like to…?”
Oh, golly gosh…was he suggesting…thatsoon?All she could do was give a little nod, clasping her roll in two tight fists.
Aaron shifted off the door and strolled towards her. “Maybe we could go for a quick bite to eat after I finish work, then back to my place…”
She needed to play it cool; nigh-on impossible when she was burning up inside. As she stalled, searching for words, a slice of beef drooped out the side of her roll, then flopped to the ground.
Aaron smirked. “Nice tofu?”
“Oh—I—I needed some meat.” As she realised what she’d said, the heat from inside spread out in a red-hot blush.
Aaron gave a snort of laughter and Alice couldn’t help bursting into a giggle of her own, dropping her banh mi onto the plate. He was standing whisper-close now. Her legs turned boneless, her body screaming out for his touch. His fingers curled softly around her waist and her eyelids fluttered as he dipped his head and murmured in her ear, “I could suggest something else you could eat—”
“Aaron!” Her eyes flew open, the laughter bubbling, stopping when beyond Aaron’s shoulder she saw Esther Brown, her neck craning to peer into the storeroom.
“Alice,” Esther called out querulously. “Are you in there?”
Flustered, Alice broke away. “I have to go.”
“Why don’t you meet me at my work?” Aaron’s voice was thick, laden with promises. Her body brushed against his, felt the pressure of him against her as she exited. “Let’s say 6 p.m.?”
“Okay.” She was barely able to see straight as she flew out to the counter. “Esther, I’ve been meaning to call. Mum’s found that copy ofMrs Beeton’s Household Managementfor you.”
