Page 56 of The Mended Hearts Bookshop

“I thought it was an address book,” said Ash, looking surprised.

“Who keeps an address book nowadays?” asked Pen.

“Well… Mary was… older?”

“Not ancient. Jesus,” said Pen. She took a step closer to Ash. “Did you call the solicitor?”

Ash shook her head. “Not yet. You’re right. There’s too much conflicting information here. Whatever that Peter guy said, my mum seemed to know about Aunt Mary, so I suppose I should at least check with her first. And maybe read that journal.”

“Maybe,” said Pen. “But whatever happens, I’ll support your decision. Even if you move to Argentina.”

“Not really an option. But good to know.”

Pen looked down at the table. “I, uh, got my debt consolidation paperwork today. I’ve got a payment plan and everything.”

“Good, good,” said Ash.

She swallowed. “So, uh, want to go and check out that journal?” She peeked a look at Ash, whose sharp features were disappearing into the shadows now that it was starting to get dark.

“No, not right now,” Ash said softly. “Want me to check out that debt consolidation paperwork for you?”

Pen shuffled a little closer. “No, not right now.” She took a breath and could smell Ash’s scent. “Want to take your evening walk on the beach?”

This time it was Ash that moved closer, close enough that if Pen reached out she could touch her. But she kept her hands to herself, being patient, letting Ash control whatever was happening here.

“Not right now,” said Ash. She swallowed. “So, uh, I guess we had our first fight, huh?”

Pen nodded. “Yeah, a bit of a milestone that. But, you know, there is a silver lining.”

“With you there’s always a silver lining,” Ash said. But it didn’t sound like a criticism this time, it sounded like Ash was charmingly exasperated.

“After a fight, you get to make up.”

Ash was even closer now, and Pen could feel her warmth. “I see,” she said. “So that’s the accepted thing to happen now? We make up?”

Pen grinned. “If you want to.”

“Hmmm.” Ash looked serious. “That sort of depends. I mean, what exactly does making up look like?”

Pen had a flash of Ash’s naked body writhing on the cool tiled floor of the bakery. She coughed. “Um, well, firstly, it probably looks like it should happen upstairs maybe? Where it’s a bit more comfortable.”

“That sounds good,” said Ash. But she wasn’t moving toward the stairs. She was moving toward Pen, reaching down and tucking a curl behind Pen’s ear, cupping her chin with her hand, leaning in until their lips brushed and Pen’s heart did a weird triple-beat.

Pen pulled back, breathless now. “I didn’t mean we had to, um, you know.”

“You don’t want to, um, you know?” Ash asked, half smiling in the dim light.

“No, I mean, yes, I mean…” Pen took a breath. “I mean, I want you to know that you’re in control here and that things move as fast as you like, that’s all.”

“In control,” Ash said. Her face relaxed a little. “Mmm, yes, I like the sound of that. I think I can do in control. So, are you inviting me upstairs, Pen?”

A little of Pen’s confidence came back. Ash really did want this. “I am inviting you upstairs,” she said. She took Ash’s handand turned, leading her toward the stairs. “Let’s just see how in control you can stay, little miss grump.”

Ash growled but it was unclear whether she was cross at the nickname or turned on by the implications of what Pen had just said. Pen was very much looking forward to finding out.

Chapter Twenty Four

Ash’s heart was jumping and flipping in her chest like a caught frog. She’d honestly never felt like this before in her life. But she wasn’t foolish enough to be afraid. Nervous, sure, nerves were natural, not afraid though.

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