Page 53 of The Damaged Hearts Bargain

Lucy closed her eyes and then shook her head. No. She didn’t think Cal was telling her everything.

“Solving a mystery without all the info is going to be hard,” George said gently. “Maybe you need to go talk to Cal about this.”

She opened her eyes. “All this for someone who’s going to be leaving in the not too distant future.”

“You asked her then?” George said, going back to his sandwichslicing.

“Asked her what?” said Lucy, jumping down from the counter.

“To go to London with you,” George said. “I was wondering when you would. I mean, she’s not happy here for obvious reasons, so I figured you’d get round to it eventually.”

But Lucy wasn’t listening anymore. She was already thinking about London. Thinking about the two of them going together. Thinking about spending more time together until Cal eventually realized that long term wasn’t so bad, until…

“Earth to Lucy,” George called out.

Until maybe they could build something together. If Cal wanted. If Lucy wanted. And Lucy was becoming more and more sure that she did want.

“Lucy!”

“What?” She snapped to attention.

“If you’re going to help, take these to the front, will you,” he said, pointing at the tray of finished sandwiches.

She could ask, she thought as she picked up the tray. Cal might say no. But she could ask. What was the harm in that?

Chapter Twenty Two

Cal stopped at the cafe on her way back to the pub, hoping she might find Lucy there. But George was sweeping the floor all alone.

“Looking for Lucy?” he asked as she came in the door. “You’ve just missed her.”

“I thought I might catch her for lunch,” Cal said, feeling weird about being alone with George, unsure about what he knew, about what he thought about her.

George grinned. “She was here, but then she had to go home to pretty herself up and change her dress. I did ask her why she was changing just to go and pack dusty boxes, but she didn’t have an answer to that.”

Cal laughed. “Alright, alright. I’ll admit that I was on the way to the pub to change my shirt too, if that makes you feel any better?”

“It makes me far more suspicious,” George said, still smiling. “And how about a sandwich since you won’t be having lunch with your paramour?”

Cal looked over the sandwiches on display.

“I made them, so be careful what you say,” said George, standing the broom up and going behind the counter.

“I was only going to say that they look absolutely delicious,”said Cal, starting to like him more by the minute. “And I’ll take a ham and cheese.”

“Ah, one of my finest creations,” George said. He started pulling out a paper bag and getting tongs. “So, is this the part where I tell you that you’d better look after my friend or I’ll hunt you down in the night?”

Cal eyed him warily. “I don’t know, is it?” she asked, trying to sound neutral.

George winked at her. “Lucy’s a big girl and she’s a good judge of people. She had to be, living on the streets and all. If she thinks you’re alright, then you must be.”

There was a funny warm feeling in her stomach and Cal realized that she felt… good maybe? Something pleasant. Accepted. Or was it… was it safe? Lucy looked after her. The realization came in a rush.

From day one, Lucy had defended her, spoken up for her, had made her feel like she was important like she… wasn’t alone. It was an odd feeling. One that sat comfortably inside her, one she hadn’t felt for a long, long time.

Someone on her side. Someone who believed in her. Someone… someone who could be a partner. Cal swallowed. Who knew that it would make such a difference having someone believe in her?

“Cal? Cal?”

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