Page 36 of Barging In
“Green Jag. Yes, I know.”
Victoria gave a nod.
Max jumped onto the gunwale and hopped across to the towpath, offering Victoria a hand up. She took it with a smile.
“Victoria?” Clem called.
“Yes?”
“Have a coffee, won’t you? Make sure that cider’s fully worn off before you drive.”
Victoria flashed her a warm smile, making Clem’s chest tighten. “Of course.” She turned and walked away.
Clem watched her cross the bridge, still feeling the echo of that smile, as Max dropped into the chair beside her.
“That was a bit flirty,” he teased.
“What?” Clem scoffed. “No, it wasn’t.”
“‘Behave and I won’t have to’?” Max mimicked. “Come on. That wasmajorlyflirty.”
“Well, it wasn’t my intention.”
“If you say so.” He shrugged in a way that suggestedhe didn’t quite believe it. “I can read body language as well as you. I saw the way you looked at her.”
“What way?” Clem asked defensively.
“Your eyes went all glassy. You couldn’t take them off her. And touching your hair? A classic tell. When you sat down, you turned your whole body to face her.”
“I was simply giving her my full attention.”
Max raised an eyebrow. “She’s a bit older than you, right?”
Clem shrugged. “I guess.”
“And there you were, defending age gaps not ten minutes ago. Now I know why.”
“She’s married,” Clem protested.
“But you’re not denying your attraction to her.”
She shook her head. “We’re not going there.”
“Well, I would have told her to get lost, not offered to go shopping with her. You’re too soft.”
Clem had to laugh at his comment. There was a time she might have done just that, but today she was applying a different tactic to see if it would change the outcome. So far, it had. She was now in possession of Victoria’s phone number and would soon be zooming into town with her in her cute classic sports car.
When Max seemed to be awaiting a rebuttal to his comment that she was too soft, Clem replied, “Says the man who gave her a hand off Florence.”
“I was being courteous and neighbourly!” he said. “It’s not my battle.”
Clem narrowed her eyes at him and scrunched her face. “Anyway, I’m not soft. I just have a heart.”
“Same thing. More scrumpy?”
“More? I haven’t had any yet. Victoria skulled mine, remember? But no, thanks. I’d best keep a clear head forlater. Oh! Which reminds me: I’ve written you a marketing plan.”
Max’s brow furrowed. “Okaaaay.”
