Page 60 of Best Summer Ever

I checked the time on my phone. It was later than I thought.

‘If you run me a bath, I’ll tell you while I’m in it.’ I smiled winningly, batting my lashes.

‘Why do you want a bath?’

‘Because I’m due for my shift at the pub soon and I feel sticky as hell covered in all that sunscreen.’

‘Fair enough.’ Josh grinned. ‘Bubbles or no bubbles?’

‘Bubbles,’ I laughed. ‘Always bubbles.’

Having explained to Josh why Penny was running the café, and then shared a bubble bath with him and then the bed, I had to dash next door to the pub to make my shift on time.

‘You’ve just made it,’ said Sam, with a nod to the clock above the bar.

‘I know,’ I said, stowing my bag away and hoping my hair wasn’t too tousled. ‘I know.’

I looked around as I caught my breath.

‘Not that you would have missed me, had I been late,’ I pointed out, as Marguerite came in from the garden carrying a tray full of empty glasses. ‘Marguerite seems to have everything under control.’

She flashed me a smile as she joined me behind the bar and started to empty the tray.

‘Here she is,’ she announced theatrically, her eyes suddenly fixed on my face, ‘the one woman in this village that I liked the look of and who was already spoken for.’

‘And straight,’ Sam pointed out. ‘At least, I think she is.’

I had wondered if Marguerite might mention something about what she’d said to Josh about liking me, but I hadn’t for a moment thought she’d make such a vocal declaration in front of a rapidly filling pub. Or rope my boss into the conversation either. I felt myself colour from my roots to my feet.

‘I can’t imagine you’ve seen every woman in the vicinity, Marguerite,’ I told her, deciding to go with it. ‘And yes, Sam, I am straight. But that doesn’t mean the interest isn’t flattering.’

Marguerite laughed at that and Sam shook his head.

‘And knowing that I’m working in such close proximity to you, will keep Josh on his toes,’ she winked, then added, ‘I didn’t mean that to sound stalkerish.’

It was my turn to laugh then.

‘But you shouldn’t be working,’ Sam said to her.

‘I like to keep busy,’ she insisted. ‘And I’m actually enjoying myself. This place is quaint. I really like it. Everyone knows everyone.’

‘And everyone knows everyone’s business,’ I pointed out,thinking of the conversation I’d endured over breakfast with Mum and Dad.

‘I think it’s nice that you all look out for each other,’ Marguerite said, stepping forward to serve the customer I hadn’t noticed was waiting.

‘That’s one way of putting it,’ Sam chuckled, thankfully not spotting my ineptitude. ‘I’m going to see if Tess needs a hand in the kitchen.’

Having Marguerite to work alongside made the busy evening far more entertaining and less stressful than it might have been. I still wasn’t a dab hand when it came to remembering and totting up large orders, but she didn’t think twice or miss a beat.

‘It’s literally years of experience,’ she said kindly, when I commented on her speedy skills. ‘I daresay you’re brilliant at loads of things I’ve never tried.’

I didn’t contradict her comment because she was being kind, but thus far in my life, I didn’t think I’d had the opportunity to excel at anything and I was now beginning to wonder if I ever would. Thankfully, Josh walked in at that moment and distracted me from the sudden downward spiral my thoughts had taken.

‘Hey gorgeous,’ he said and grinned, leaning over the bar.

‘Hey,’ Marguerite and I both said together, then burst out laughing.

A few weeks of fun, I reminded myself, that’s what I was supposed to be having. My best summer ever.

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