Page 49 of The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday
‘I’ve been meaning to ask,’ she said. ‘What’s next for your cooking? Now you’ve got your second-place accolade, are you going to try anything else?’
‘I’m going to spend an afternoon with Marcus Belrose in his beachside food truck,’ Ben replied. ‘The one he’s running at weekends.’
‘Wow! Really? That sounds like … fun.’
He laughed. ‘You don’t sound convinced.’
‘It’s just that he seemed very … intense. Quite an exacting boss.’
‘I’m sure he is, but his food’s the best, and I get the chance to learn from him for an afternoon. I’m not sure if I want to do anything with it other than improve my own cooking skills; I don’t have any grand plans of giving up the day job to become a chef, or anything like that. I just want to get better.’
She nodded. ‘When are you doing it?’
‘Friday after next.’
‘My last day,’ Thea said.
‘I know.’ There was a pause, and then he added, ‘I want to go out and get some fish before then, because Marcus said I could bring whatever ingredients I want, and I want a chance to practise. I’ll go out with the guy I mentioned to you, Finn’s friend, and I wondered if you’d like to come?’
‘I’d love to,’ she said. ‘I have a feeling I’d enjoy beingonthe water a lot more than I enjoyed beinginit.’Apart from that one moment, she thought, but didn’t say it out loud.
Ben grinned. ‘And to think, Meredith and Finn go swimming every day, even in February. The world’s thickest wetsuit wouldn’t convince me it was a good idea.’
‘Ugh.’ Thea shuddered. ‘Just the thought of it is making me feel cold.’
They reached the cottages, Scooter sitting in front of Ben’s door as if he was never planning to move again.
‘I think he might want some dinner,’ Ben said. ‘Thanks for a great day, Thea.’
‘Thankyoufor a great day. I’m not even sad that I didn’t read any of my romance novel, which shows you just how good it was.’
‘I’m flattered.’ He paused for a moment, then bent to kiss her on the cheek. She could feel how hot and tight her skin was, despite the care she’d taken with the suncream all day, and his lips felt like a soft, cool balm against it. She might have hummed with pleasure, but it was too late to do anything about that.
‘Night Thea,’ Ben said.
‘Goodnight Ben,’ she replied. ‘Sweet dreams.’
They went to their respective front doors, the gentle echo of wood hitting the frame almost synchronised as they both stepped inside, and shut out one of the best days Thea had had in a long, long time.
