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Holly turned the repercussions over. How could she be anything but honest with the beautiful woman sitting opposite her? ‘Yesterday. On the rooftop. First time in a long time. I’ve never told anyone else the whole story about Shona.’
Jen’s eyes bored into Holly’s, her features full of so much empathy and warmth that Holly swore she felt the heat. ‘I’m glad I could do that for you.’ Her voice was low and slow: this was serious Jen. No snark to be seen.
‘And what about you?’ Holly asked, almost sounding timid.
Jen straightened herself, looking a little awkward. ‘Well, you were honest, so I will be too. Not for years, but I’ve been damn close these last few weeks.’
There was that moment again. Eyes trained on each other; breath but a whisper. But Jen wasn’t going to let it sizzle this time and shifted gears quicker than a rally driver. ‘You want some of this pancetta? It’s great.’
‘No thanks,’ Holly replied, her voice dripping with disappointment that their earlier almost-tryst wasn’t rekindled. ‘Vegetarian. I don’t eat meat or fish.’
Jen froze, mid-chew, before swallowing with an audible gulp. ‘I won’t eat it if you’d rather I didn’t.’
‘No, no. You go for it, don’t let it go to waste, but I won’t touch it.’
‘Okay, but just say. I don’t mind being vegetarian around you.’
‘And scoffing bacon sandwiches when I’m not looking?’
‘As if I’d be that organised with food. You’ve seen my fridge.’
‘True that. Okay,’ Holly said, looking at her card and taking an extra-long lungful of air. ‘What do you think is your best quality?’
‘Easy, hands down, my boobs. Best part of my body, love them. Next question,’ Jen said, no hint of sarcasm.
Holly tilted her head, half her brain having a mini-malfunction, the rest gearing up for her next sentence. ‘I think it meant like, “I’m a hard worker” or something, but boobs. Okay, got it.’
‘What can I say? I know my limits.’ Jen’s rosy cheeks said she was regretting her quick-fire response. ‘What about you? Body part, please. Let’s keep this playing field level.’
Tough.There wasn’t much to choose from, in Holly’s opinion. Jen took her silence as a chance to shine.
‘Need a hand? You’ve got a great bum.’
Holly snorted for the second time today. ‘Excuse me, you’re not meant to have been looking at my bum.’
Jen threw her hands up in mock defence. ‘Listen, it’s a danger of the job. I might have accidentally had a wee squeeze yesterday.’
‘Oh, really? I didn’t notice.’
Defence turned to faux-hurt. ‘You’re kidding? I used some of my best moves on you.’
‘You must try harder next time.’
‘Noted.’
Holly danced the line again. Tiptoeing nearer the edge, hoping Jen would be the first to jump. Holly’s heart upped the ante, aware she was playing a dangerous game. Jen had been more than clear that this wasn’t romantic. Flirting was fine, but actually doing something? That was a different ball game.
It was Holly’s turn to use the hamper. Never mind being a tool for getting to know someone, her parents had created the perfect sexual barrier. Her mind grabbed onto the thought of her parents, like catching paper blowing in the wind, and held it tight. That helped cool her down, the hunger in her chest dropping back to a gentle simmer.
‘Look what else is in here,’ Holly exclaimed, scooping up the chickpea packet. ‘And it’s the mixed sharer.’ She gave the packet a wee shake in time with a shoulder shimmy.
‘And, pray tell, what’s so exciting about that?’
Holly studied the front of the packet, reading as she explained. ‘They do seven flavours in total. This packet has them all, it’s pot luck what you pick out.’
‘So risqué.’
‘We know how to be wild at Taylor’s Deli.’
