Page 48 of Barging In
Victoria wasn’t sure how to respond to that or to Clem’s soft, disarming smile. She matched it as best she could. “If you are out of pocket at all, you must let me cover everything.”
She was all too aware of how much Clem had given her already in time, effort, and kindness. The last thing she wanted was for her to be financially burdened.
“It’s fine,” Clem said, shaking her head. “It’s nice to get a break and do something different.”
“You mean make sausage rolls within four different walls?”
“Something like that.” Clem chuckled. “Florence can get a little claustrophobic.”
“You don’t need to tell me. I went inside one of those things many years ago. I’m not in a hurry to repeat the experience.”
Clem pulled a wry moue. “Noted.”
“But I am going to insist on repaying you for today by cooking you dinner one evening.”
“That would be lovely,” Clem said, her expression brightening into one of her enormous smiles. “After spending all day in the kitchen, the last thing I feel like is cooking.”
“That’s a date then. I mean an, erm…” Victoria grew flustered, heat rising in her cheek as she battled her brain for help rephrasing the sentence. She soon gave up. “Oh, you know what I mean.”
“I do.” Clem smiled. “And I’m looking forward to it — not just for a peek inside of your house.”
“Noted,” Victoria returned. Emboldened by their easy conversation and newly formed truce, she added, “Whilst I’m already pushing my luck…”
Clem raised a perfectly timed eyebrow. “Yes?”
“Were you serious this morning when you said ‘anytime’?”
“Erm. I guess. Why?”
Though she was tempted to backtrack based on Clem’s suddenly uncertain tone, desperation spurred Victoria on.
“I don’t suppose I could impose upon you to supply me regularly with cakes. Just until I sort out a new catering manager?”
Clem’s forehead creased in mock offence. “You’d go back to your shitty cakes then, would you?”
“Ideally not.” Victoria laughed. “I will definitely be voting to keep them.”
Victoria watched Clem’s face twitch.
“I’d need orders in advance,” she finally said. “No dropping panic bakes on me.”
“Everything would come through Emma,” Victoria reassured her. “She could give you forty-eight hours’ notice. Would that be enough?”
Clem gave a firm nod. “It would.”
“Thank you,” Victoria said with relief, feeling lighter at the prospect of one problem finding a resolution.
“I haven’t told you my terms yet,” Clem said, hands resting firmly on her hips.
“Go on,” Victoria said, drawing in a breath.
“I will supply you at twenty per cent under my retail price — on one condition: You don’t undercut me. I rely on passing trade, and you have something to attract people, so I don’t want to see any of your special offers. Okay?”
Victoria thrust out her hand. “Deal.”
Clem took it. Her grip was firm and warm, like her eyes. Victoria held on, meeting Clem’s gaze and mirroring her smile. The warm, tingling sensation spreading through her body made Victoria reluctant to let go.
The kitchen door burst open then, and they jumpedapart like teenagers caught doing something they shouldn’t.
