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‘Ah.’
‘Ah?’ Looking across at him, she watched as the muscles in his jaw tightened. His arm was still around her waist, despite the fact Jeremy had long gone.
Shrugging, Max kept his eyes on the path in front of them. ‘Just that he’s a creep.’
‘You can say that again.’ She’d known she was safe. She’d known she could have called out and Diane or Ollie or anyone from the bakery team would have come running out, but he’d still made her skin crawl. ‘You can definitely tell me, ‘I told you so’ now. Go on, you deserve it.’
Max chuckled and Brooke smiled as she saw him relax his shoulders.
‘Okay, I’ll do it for you. You were right. I should spend more time getting to know a potential date online before meeting them. I’ll remember that in the future.’
‘I was rather hoping you wouldn’t want to go back on those apps again.’ His voice was quiet, barely above a whisper.
‘What do you mean?’ She paused. Had Ollie been right, after all? His arm was still around her waist and a pale red blush had flushed across his face.
‘I... umm...’ Lowering his arm from her waist, he turned to face her. ‘When you kissed me to get away from that creep, I felt a connection.’ Shifting on his feet, he glanced at the tarmac before looking her in the eyes. ‘If I’m honest, I felt a connection with you way before that and I wondered if you did too? And if you did, whether you’d like to spend a bit more time together?’
Brooke grinned. Ollie had been right. How hadn’t she seen it? Taking his hands in hers, she nodded. ‘Yes, I’d like that. Very much.’
Max grinned back at her before leaning forward, their lips mere centimetres from each other. ‘Shall we see what it’s like for real this time?’
Nodding, Brooke closed her eyes and leaned closer. His lips were soft and warm against hers. ‘That was good too.’
Pulling away, Max laughed. ‘What do you mean, that was good too?’
Shrugging. Brooke laughed. ‘I thought your kiss the other night was good, and that one was too.’
‘I see. Well, always glad to be of service. Although I’m kind of hoping you won’t need to use my kissing skills to get you out of another dodgy date again.’
‘Haha. Hopefully not.’
‘Did you want to go back to the pub or do you fancy a walk along the beach?’
‘The beach sounds good.’ She’d been having a good time at the pub quiz, but it would be perfect to spend some time with just Max.
‘I was hoping you’d say that.’ Turning around, he held out his hand to her.
Taking his hand, she leaned in closer. ‘You said you felt a connection before the kiss? Was that when I chucked latte and coffee over you, by any chance?’
‘Maybe.’ Max chuckled before looking across at her. ‘Don’t go getting any idea though. I don’t think we need to recreate that scene.’
Shaking her head, Brooke laughed. ‘Fair enough.’ How hadn’t she seen it earlier? How hadn’t she realised that he’d felt a connection? Why had it taken Ollie to point it out to her for her to realise how she’d been feeling about him? She’d just assumed he’d wanted to be friends and even after the kiss at the restaurant, she’d put any feelings to the back of her mind.
