AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Zara was just stepping into the entrance hall as we got back inside the house and gave a start of surprise when she saw Lucy. “Got some samples for you,” Lucy said, flashing Zara a friendly smile.
“Oh! Thank you. It’s so nice of you to bring them over.”
“It is, isn’t it?” Lucy replied, giving me a sly wink as Zara led the way into the kitchen.
“I was just about to make some coffee, if you’d like some.”
“Sounds fantastic.” Dropping the box on the kitchen counter, she said, “Matt’s got some phone calls to make, so he can take his to go.”
“Oh… Sure…” Zara replied vaguely, completely oblivious to Lucy’s shenanigans.
“You mind if we start checking out the samples?” Lucy looked at me fixedly behind Zara’s back.
“It’s up to the client,” I replied, a smile in my voice.
“I don’t mind.” Zara turned to look at me over her shoulder and as our eyes met, I felt it like a kick in the guts. It made me want to kiss her again. She tilted her head to the side. “What’s that noise?”
“Just Bess, scratching at the sliding door.”
Zara looked at me in surprise, mixed perhaps with a little indignation.
“What?” I asked innocently. “She’s not allowed inside client’s houses, she knows that. Remember the last time she came in here? You fell off the counter.” Zara kept staring at me, unblinking. “Okay, fine. I’ll let her in.” When I opened the sliding door, Bess trotted into the kitchen happily, heading straight for Zara. “She sure knows a sucker when she sees one.”
“It’s not my fault she’s got such gorgeous puppy-dog eyes. Can I give her this?” Zara moved to the fridge and pulled out some slices of ham.
“Sure, but you should make her work for it.”
She looked at me questioningly.
“Like this. Bess, sit. Up. Now dance.” Zara grinned as Bess rose on her hind legs and turned a circle in front of me on the kitchen floor.
“I will never get sick of watching her do that,” Lucy said.
“Awww, she’s such a clever girl.” Zara gave her a vigorous scratch behind the ears before dropping the ham on the floor.
I was acutely aware that Lucy was observing the whole scene with keen interest. Time to get out of there. “I’ll just head outside to make these phone calls.”
“Okay. I’ll bring your coffee out when it’s ready.”
“Great. Thanks.”
CHAPTER11
Zara
Iturned back to the coffee machine as Matt left with his phone, my mind buzzing. Everything had happened so quickly. The kiss. The conversation. Trying to keep it from getting awkward as we walked back to the house. Then, to top it all off, Matt’s sister arriving. “I think I’ve got some chocolate cake, if you’d like that with the coffee?” I turned to look at Lucy, trying to hide my nervousness.
Not that having coffee with Matt’s sister should make me nervous. Of course not. And Lucy’s gaze was open and friendly enough, making me feel calmer. But I’d just been kissing Matt a few moments ago. Had been on the verge of spilling my deepest, darkest secrets to him. So this was a bit of a leap. “Well, I probably shouldn’t, but I can’t resist a good chocolate cake,” Lucy said with a smile. With her blond hair and steady green gaze, she had a similar energy to Matt. I couldn’t help but be drawn to it.
“Good! You won’t regret it. My friend Ally made it. It’s actually atorta caprese. Italian flourless cake. She makes them for her parents’ restaurant. They sell like, well, hot cakes.” I grinned as Lucy chuckled. “I’ll just take Matthew his coffee and then take care of the cake.”
“Sure. I’ll wait here if that’s okay,” she replied, gesturing to the dining table.
“Great.” I went outside to take Matt his coffee. He was leaning against the hood of Lucy’s car, looking down at his phone. My heart thudded hard, and heat pooled in my belly. One kiss. That was all it had taken to send my body into overdrive.Get a grip, I told myself. It was one kiss and he’d regretted it immediately afterward. Forcing myself to ignore the churning in my gut, I smiled as I handed him his coffee.
Oh, God. It was even worse when he looked at me.
“Thanks.” Our fingers brushed as he took it from me, and I quickly pulled my hand away. He noticed. “Zara, I—”
