Christmas At The Café. Rebecca Raisin
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Название: Christmas At The Café
Автор: Rebecca Raisin
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Контркультура
isbn: 9781474048491
isbn:
She clicks her fingers. “A coleslaw festival!”
I giggle at the thought.
Her expression turns mock serious. “Are you telling me there’s not going to be a three-bean salad festival?”
I drop my bottom lip and shake my head sadly. “Not for a few weeks anyway.”
“Ha ha, I’ll hold you to that!” She leans under the counter and pulls some thin white books from a box. “I got these in especially for CeeCee. She sure can get through them at a rate of knots.”
I smile, thinking of CeeCee reading so many romance books a week, then talking about the characters as though they’re real. She’s got me hooked on them, after talking up so many buff men, and glamorous women. Though there’s not much chance I’ll ever be like the heroines, with their perfectly made up faces, and their sky-high confidence.
I poke around the box of books and find an old French dessert cookbook. As I flick through the pages my belly rumbles loud enough for Sarah to hear. “You can’t be hungry and run a café. That just doesn’t make sense.” She laughs.
“I think it’s living on a diet of sugar that’s doing it.”
“Take that book, Lil. I got it in for you.”
“Thank you. I can see us trying some of these recipes out tomorrow. Soon enough we’re going to need another pair of hands. We sure are getting busier these days.”
“You’ve worked hard for it. And I don’t know if it’s just the advertising we’ve done for the festival, but Ashford sure seems busier these last few weeks.”
The talk of customers reminds me of Walt, and I suddenly feel guilty talking about business improving when his shop sits closed next door.
“You know why Walt and Janey aren’t open?”
“No.” She frowns. “It’s not like them, though, is it?”
I shake my head. “CeeCee says she doesn’t know either, but I kind of felt like she did. Maybe I’m reading too much into it. I’m beginning to sound like Rosaleen!”
Sarah puts a palm to her face. “Speaking of which, I heard about Joel.”
“Rosaleen, already?”
Sarah smiles ruefully. “You got it. What are you going to do?”
“I’ve faxed Mr Jefferson the letter from Joel’s lawyer, so I’m hoping he has some magical potion that’ll make it all disappear.”
“I’m sure he will. And shout out if you need anything.”
I gather up CeeCee’s books, and go to pay but Sarah waves me off. “I’ll swap books for chocolate,” she says, grinning.
“Deal! Mosey on over when you need a fix.”
We hug, before I head outside into the fading sunlight. I take in the surroundings, the little town I love so much, with its old federation-style buildings, and the neat shops, and clean sidewalks. Aesthetically nothing much has changed here over time, other than a few cosmetic make-overs; a building gets a flick of paint, or some bright flowers sing out from new terracotta pots, but all in all Ashford stays the same.
I’m languishing in the tub when Damon gets home. It seems to be my go-to place in times of stress. There’s something about feeling weightless and submerging yourself that makes all your worries ebb away momentarily. He wanders in, his lazy, sexy smile not failing to make my pulse race.
“You some kind of mermaid or what?” he says, trailing a hand in the water.
“I think so.” I grip the edge of the bath and pull myself over the edge to kiss him hello.
“Charlie’s out with the kids next door again. She loves it here.” He sits on the tiled ledge.
“Did she talk to you about how she feels guilty loving people as well as her mom?”
He smiles. “She did, and she told me what you said, which was pretty sweet. I think she feels better now. I rang Dianne, and told her to speak to Charlie, to put her mind at ease. It’s one thing I’m grateful for, that there’s no animosity between me and Dianne any more. She’s happy with her new life, and I am more than happy with mine. Makes it easier to put Charlie’s needs first.”
I arch my eyebrow. “So you’re happy, you say?” My heart races when I watch his expression as his gaze travels up the length of my naked body.
“Hmm, I’d say right now I’m…distracted. What’s say we go take a lie-down before dinner?” Before I can answer he’s holding my hands and pulling me out of the bath.
I smirk as I say, “Oh, I’m not tired.”
His voice is gruff with desire. “That right? Well, you won’t be sleeping.” He carries me to the bedroom, as if we’re some kind of honeymooning couple.
***
Still smiling from Damon’s so-called lie-down, I change into old sweats. They’re too large, and are stained from cooking, or more likely from eating, but as comforting as a safety blanket.
In the kitchen, Damon’s at the table, his hands clasped together, looking out of the window as though he’s mesmerized by the sinking sun. Two glasses of white wine sit waiting, condensation running off the cool glasses.
“Hey, pretty lady,” he says lazily. “Don’t you just look adorable dressed like that?”
“Yeah, it’s the latest look. You know the whole sloth vibe…”
“I don’t know about that…you make sweats look good.”
I sigh inwardly. His flirty, sexy voice makes me want to ravish him again, but I know Charlie will be home soon. I can’t remember ever feeling this intoxicated by love before. It’s so powerful, like a drug, it makes it difficult to focus on anything other than him.
We sit quietly, listening to the sounds of the children’s shrieks as they play chase outside. It’s one of those very rare times when you suddenly realize nothing else could make this moment any more perfect. I’m flushed with love; it feels extraordinary, as if we’re the only ones in the world who’ve loved like this.
“So.” He turns to me, and by the look in his eyes I know what the topic is going to be. “Did you hear anything back from Jefferson?”
I shake my head. “No, not yet. I have this horrible feeling I’m going to have to pay Joel back. But, you know, I have some money saved, and hopefully the revenue from the festival will be enough to keep him at bay until I can work something out.”
He folds his arms and goes to speak then stops. Guess he’s weighing up what he ought to say and what he really СКАЧАТЬ