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‘Hi, ladies. Thanks for covering for me, Lot. I’ll make it up to you.’ Jake bent forward to brush a kiss on Lottie’s cheek and offer his palm to Zach, who rolled his eyes at being included in the female greeting. Jake then turned his attention to Millie and switched on the charm. ‘I don’t think we’ve been introduced. I’m Jake Fisher.’
‘Jake, this is Amelia Harper. She’s overseeing the renovations at the Croft villa,’ said Zach.
‘Hi, Amelia.’
‘Please. Call me Millie.’ She smiled as she met Jake’s eyes, framed by the longest lashes she had seen on a man.
‘Millie is also the supplier of those dainty little cupcakes that Andy has been handing out to the clientele with their coffee – perfect if you’re hosting a birthday party for Barbie’s pet unicorn. And careful you don’t upset her. She bites.’
‘I do not bite!’
Zach leaned forward to deliver a stage whisper to Jake. ‘Don’t mind her – she’s French. Ooops, no, sorry, sorry.’ He held up his palm to Millie’s face, tossing her a mischievous look. ‘HalfFrench.’
‘Which half? Top or bottom?’
Millie saw Lottie shoot a glance at Zach, her eyebrows raised in question, before flicking her eyes over to Jake – she had clearly forgotten about her anxiety over Dylan’s flirtation. The corners of her lips turned up with mischief and Millie widened her eyes and shook her head to signal a silent warning to her new friend not to go there, but Lottie ignored her.
‘That’s three shifts in the last week that you’ve been late, Jake. You owe me.’
‘Hey, chill, Lottie – a guy’s got to do what a guy’s got to do.’
‘And did that involve saying farewell to that Swedish blonde I saw you leave the restaurant with last night?’
‘No. I had some business matters to attend to, if you must know. Anyway, I should get to work before Andy spontaneously combusts. Bye, Millie. Great to meet you.’ And he strode to the bar, studiously avoiding the stony expression on Andrew’s face.
Millie felt herself relax. Jake was handsome and he was definitely her type. But whilst she had decided that she might be ready to start dating again, she didn’t want to plunge into those turbulent waters in St Lucia.
Lottie jumped from her chair. ‘I’ve got to go, too. I promised Anisha I’d cover for her in the shop for a couple of hours before I go out tonight. There’s a party on at the Blue Oyster if you fancy coming along?’
‘Not for me, thanks, Lottie,’ said Zach. ‘Got some work to catch up on for tomorrow. You should go, though, Millie.’
‘No, thanks, Lottie. I want to get back to see how the kitchen fitters have got on today. There’s bound to be a mountain of cleaning to catch up on.’
‘Hang on a minute then.’
Lottie trotted into the restaurant and leaned over the bar to exchange a few words with Jake. He shot a glance over to where Millie and Zach were finishing off their drinks, flashed his movie-star smile, and nodded.
‘All fixed then,’ said Lottie as she returned to the table with Zach’s change. ‘You have a date with Jake next Wednesday night which is his night off. That gives you plenty of time to get ready.’
‘Oh, no! Lottie, I really don’t…’
‘Byeee…’
Zach let out a burst of laughter. ‘Shame she’s not as proficient at arranging her own love life,’ he chuckled, indicating the beach where Dylan had joined Ryan as he headed towards the veranda of the Purple Parrot.
‘Hi, Millie. How’s things? Hi, Zach. Just spent a great day out on theNigelladiving the reef and exploring the coves out by the marine reserve. Could certainly murder a cold beer!’ Dylan slumped into the chair that Lottie had just vacated next to Millie. ‘Four Red Stripes, please, Jake.’
‘Not for us, thanks, Dylan. We were just leaving, but I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘Sure thing. Was that Lottie I saw skipping off?’
‘Yes, she’s gone to help Anisha with the shop.’
Millie saw Dylan nod as he took a slug of his beer. She tried to interpret his expression but failed.
‘Bye.’
Millie wriggled her fingers at Dylan and Ryan and followed Zach to the Roadster for the drive up the hill. Suddenly, her problems with motivating Fitz and his men paled into insignificance when she thought of her forthcoming date with Jake. She was already worrying about what she would wear and whether they would have anything in common, not to mention the fact that there would be an audience at the Purple Parrot watching their every move.
