Page 61 of Cupcakes and Kisses in Micklewick Bay

‘Love one, thanks.’

‘Great.’ Hilda’s advice about Max had never been far from her thoughts since she’d got home, and now he was standing in front of her, she found herself feeling suddenly nervous. Pulling herself together, she invited Max to sit down as she busied herself filling the kettle and throwing teabags into the pot, all the while aware of his eyes on her.

‘So, to what do I owe this pleasure?’ she asked, after a few minutes’ small talk, hoping she sounded normal and not at all like a giddy schoolgirl who had a crush on the popular boy at school, which was exactly how she felt right now.

‘I wanted to tell you, before you heard it from anyone else, that I’ve?—’

Jasmine’s heart froze but she plastered a smile on her face as she anticipated what he was about to share. ‘Let me guess, you and Sabrina have finally given in to your feelings for one another? Can’t say I blame you, and you do make a great couple.’ If that was what he was going to say, then at least she hadn’t made a fool of herself and let him know she liked him. She was going to bury her feelings, make sure he was none the wiser. She busied herself pouring the tea, taking the time to compose herself.

‘What?’ Max looked at her in disbelief. ‘No! That’s not what I was?—’

A loud banging at the door sliced off his words, making Jasmine start such that the tea missed the mug and went all over the table instead. ‘Oh, my God, who’s that?’

‘Someone who’s very keen to get your attention by the sound of things.’ Max ran his hand over his hair impatiently.

Setting the teapot down, Jasmine rushed to the door, eager to find out what was so urgent. Her hackles prickled when she found herself faced with Dodgy Dick and Wendy.

‘What are you doing here?’ she asked, unable to hide her displeasure.

‘What sort of welcome’s that?’ Dodgy Dick smirked, sending Jasmine’s irritation rising.

‘How rude,’ said Wendy, as the pair of them pushed their way in.

‘Excuse me, but what do you think you’re doing?’ said Jasmine, her hand on her hip. ‘You can’t just barge your way in here like you own the place.’

‘We’ve booked another viewing, that’s what we’re doing. We needed another look at the place before we put in our offer,’ Dodgy Dick called over his shoulder on his way to the kitchen. Wendy followed, sweeping past in a cloud of her cloying perfume.

‘Now hang on a minute. I haven’t been told about any of this.’ Jasmine closed the front door and hurried after them. ‘I was on the phone to the estate agents an hour and a half ago and no one mentioned anything about viewings, least of all one today.’

‘That’s nowt to do with us, blame that Don Carswell, he doesn’t know his head from his ar—’ Dodgy Dick’s expression darkened when he saw Max sitting at the table. ‘What’s he doing here?’

‘He’s a guest, not that it’s any of your business, Andhe’swelcome.’ Jasmine couldn’t believe the nerve of the man. As soon as she could get rid of him and his wife, she was going to get on to Micklewick Mansions and give that Don Carswell a right royal earbashing.

Max got to his feet. ‘Did I hear you say you’d come for another viewing?’ He loomed over the slippery businessman.

‘Aye, you did. Not that it’s owt to do with you.’

‘That’s where you’re wrong.’

‘How d’you work that one out, then?’ Dodgy Dick sniggered. He turned to his wife. ‘Got a right smart alec here, love.’

‘That’s just what I was thinking.’ She gave a derisory sniff as she looked Max up and down.

‘I think you’ll find you’re wasting your time here. I put an offer in on this place this morning and it was accepted straight away.’

‘What? No one’s told me about it,’ Dodgy Dick spluttered angrily.

‘I suggest you take that up with Don Carswell,’ Max said, calmly.

‘Too right I will. Useless moron that he is.’

Jasmine blinked, slowly processing what she’d just heard.Max was going to buy this place?Why would he do that?

She watched in a daze as he ushered a grumbling Dodgy Dick and Wendy out of the house.

‘Is it true?’ she asked when he came back into the kitchen.

‘It is, it’s what I’d come to tell you. I wanted to stop you worrying about having to find somewhere new to live.’

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