Page 58 of Autumn at the Willow River Guesthouse
‘No, it was definitely a whistle.’
Lily couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she shrugged. ‘Perhaps I just heard a catchy song on Uncle Gus’s radio.’
‘It’s to be expected,’ Uncle Gus said. ‘They’re all catchy. The eighties pretty much defined catchy.’
Aunt Gert patted him on the stomach. ‘You just keep believing that, dear. It’s no different to how you define the perfect man.’
‘It’s the hair and personality double-combo,’ Uncle Gus said. ‘Irresistible.’
‘I’ll take these orders out,’ Lily said quickly, fearing that her aunt and uncle might start to kiss. She scooped up the ready plates and carried them through the kitchen doors out into the restaurant. The guesthouse was busy today, the restaurant almost crowded. She delivered the plates to Lucy and Dan, who were sitting by the window. They smiled, then thanked her for the champagne yesterday. As she turned to head back to the kitchen, she found Michael standing right behind her, having just come down the stairs from the guestrooms.
Lily let out a little cry of surprise which made the guests on a couple of nearby tables turn around.
‘I didn’t mean to startle you,’ Michael said, in that soothing voice Lily was certain she had dreamed about. ‘Can I sit anywhere?’
He wore only a t-shirt and jeans. His hair was still damp from the shower, but his eyes were bright behind the glasses as though he had enjoyed a solid ten hours of sleep before taking a brisk morning jog along the riverside.
‘Yes, anywhere that’s free.’
He watched her for a moment, a slight smile on his lips. ‘Thank you,’ he said at last.
Lily would have been happy to continue staring at him, but Uncle Gus suddenly called her from the kitchen.
‘You’re welcome,’ she muttered, hurrying away, immediately wondering if it was a stupid thing to have said.
‘Who’s the dish?’ Aunt Gert said as soon as the kitchen door had closed behind her, aiming an elbow at Lily’s ribs but missing and hitting Lily on the upper thigh instead, making her wince. ‘He came in yesterday, didn’t he?’
‘He gave his name as Michael Hill,’ Uncle Gus said. ‘Looks vaguely familiar. Perhaps he’s a TV weatherman or something. He has that kind of look.’
‘He’s gorgeous,’ Aunt Gert said. ‘If I were to update my rankings with Angus at one, I’d put him probably in the lower top ten, perhaps between George Clooney and that guy who used to present Top Gear.’
‘Clarkson?’
‘No, the other one.’
Uncle Gus just shook his head. ‘Haven’t seen it in years.’
‘That’s Victoria’s son,’ Lily said. ‘Hill must be his father’s surname. Perhaps he’s covering his tracks, to make sure she doesn’t find out he’s here. Not until he wants her to know.’
‘Oh my goodness,’ Aunt Gert said. ‘I thought he looked familiar. Wow, he’s quite the looker. Have you got his number? I can get it off the reservation form if you like. I know that’s technically illegal, but who’s looking?’
‘We’ve been emailing,’ Lily said.
‘Oooh,’ said Uncle Gus and Aunt Gert together.
‘It’s not like that.’
Aunt Gert patted her on the arm. ‘Well, I’d better get you something to take out to him, just in case,’ she said, grabbing a ladle with the other arm and scooping beans out of a pan on to a plate. ‘And after you get back, there’s a second coffee for that miserable sod on table three. You know, he was moaning yesterday that we should cut the top off the sycamore. Apparently he was expecting to see all the way to Exeter.’
Lily smiled. ‘Will do.’
It took all her efforts not to spill food or drink on any of the other guests while she shamelessly tried to watch Michael as much as possible. After sitting down, he had pulled out a paperback book and was making a show of reading it, only looking up a to meet Lily’s eyes on five or six occasions, each with a little smile that made her unsure of the ability to walk. When breakfast was over, however, with just Victoria’s delivery to do, Lily found him waiting in the lobby area.
‘Best toast I’ve ever eaten,’ he said, giving her a smile.
‘It took three years of catering college to learn to cook it like that,’ Lily said.
‘I bet it did.’ Michael took a deep breath, then held up a fist. ‘I’m ready,’ he said. ‘Do you think I’ll need a motorcycle helmet in case she throws anything at me?’
