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I stared at Max. “Ever heard a cat meow like that?”
He glanced at the door. “Only while in a fight to the death in an alleyway.”
“That’s what it’s like to live with a cat. Winston particularly enjoys shouting at me when I have to leave him alone, so yes. I was arguing with my cat.” I hiked the strap of my bag back up on my shoulder. “Don’t worry, I haven’t left any windows on the latch. He won’t be escaping anytime soon.”
Max pressed his lips together. “Good to know.”
I paused for a second and when he didn’t say anything else, I said, “Was that all? Or did you need something?”
“No, I was just passing.” He glanced at my bag. “Have a nice day.”
“Thank you.”
He turned away, and I watched him walk for a moment.
“Hey,” I called out.
Max looked back at me. “Yes?”
“Um, I’m going into Windermere to get some lunch. Is there anywhere you’d recommend?”
“Thank goodness. I thought you were about to invite me.”
“I’d rather scoop out my eyeballs and choke on them.”
“Charming.”
“You started it.” I stepped down. “You know what? Never mind. You’ll probably just recommend somewhere that’ll poison me.”
He raised his eyebrows and watched me as I walked over to my car and got in it. His gaze was intense, almost glaring at me, but I swore I could see a twitch of a smirk on his face as I drove past him.
Ugh.
That was exactly the kind of face my hero would make at my heroine.
•••
Windermere was the most wonderful, delightful village I’d ever stepped foot in, and I’d been to a lot of places.
The uneven, cobbled street was dreamy, even if worn down after years of foot traffic, and every row of little terraced cottages I walked past had their cream walls brightened by window boxes full of vibrant flowers. I should probably have been able to name more than I could, but the only ones I really recognised were violas, and that’s because they were miniature pansies.
I stepped to the side to allow a woman with a pram and a Jack Russell on a lead to pass me. She smiled and nodded gratefully, and I continued until the cobblestones gave way to a flatter paved ground that was equally as charming but far easier to navigate.
Kudos to the woman with the pram. I could barely get my feet over the cobbles, never mind four wheels of a pram.
The road opened out onto a sort of plaza area, and it wasn’t until my gaze found the clock in the middle that it clicked.
This was the town square.
Dainty shops, cafés, and a bar circled the area, and the central circle where the clock sat had four small water features, benches, and large barrel planters that were an explosion of summer flowers.
This place really liked its flowers, huh?
There was a large, regal building on the other side of the road in front of the river that wound its way through the village, and the sign outside was clear enough that I could see it was the museum, even from here.
I’d never been to a museum in a village. Only in larger towns and cities.
What was inside? Was it local history? Something wider? I doubted there’d be a dinosaur section.
