Page 39 of The Best Little Christmas Shop
Chapter Nine
Having demolished the lasagne and two Rocky Road sundaes, Cal ordered us coffees. I could see him keeping an eye on the state of the nearby road and he’d checked his phone for traffic and weather reports. He wasn’t in a hurry to rush off so I trusted him in the knowledge that he wouldn’t put himself or me, or – come to think of it – his new purchase, in danger. I was satisfiedthat the weather wasn’t a problem.
We sat over our coffee, the accompanying mints having disappeared within seconds of their arrival. I’d had a large glass of wine, so I was now feeling a little more brave, and possibly less inhibited than usual.
‘The comment you made earlier … about having someone care whether you were lying in a ditch or not …’
Cal kept his eyes on his coffee cup, the longlashes shading his expression. ‘Hmm?’
‘Was it really that bad? Your childhood, I mean?’
He took another sip before replacing the cup in the saucer, and still without looking at me, stretched his long fingers out to reach for the balled-up foil wrappers from our after dinner mints.
‘I’m assuming you’ve heard from somewhere that I had a bit of a rough childhood. My best guess would be Xanderand Giselle?’
‘Yes. They sort of mentioned something like that, but literally that was all they said. All they seemed to know, actually,’ I said, honestly. A thought suddenly flew into my mind. ‘They weren’t gossiping about you! It’s only because they care.’ This was true and the last thing I wanted to do was drop my best friends in something, especially as one of them worked for this man!
‘I know. Don’t worry. I’m not about to fire anyone, if that’s what the sudden look of panic on your face is about.’ His own expression was one of amusement. I relaxed a little at his reassurance.
‘Admittedly, that’s taken some getting used to though, I can tell you.’
‘What? People caring about you?’
He set the foil ball aside. ‘Yes. And I suppose, letting them care.’
‘Sometimes there’s no stoppingthem. Especially not in our little corner of the world.’
A smile lit his face and he laughed. ‘That’s true.’ He ran his hand through his hair and glanced out of the window again for a moment.
‘I’m pretty sure there’s far more interesting things to talk about than me. Like you, for instance.’ He flashed a grin and I knew that most women would have been flattered, which was clearly what he wasintending. Cal Martin obviously had a few moves up his sleeve for use when he required them. The compliment, combined with that heart-stopping smile was a sure-fire ego boost for any woman. But me being me immediately just homed in on the fact that he’d just shut down my attempt to delve into his history. Again.
‘How are you finding being back in the village after living away from it for years?’
I nodded. ‘It’s good. Nice. I hadn’t realised quite how much I missed it actually.’
‘So does that mean you’re thinking of staying?’
I shrugged. ‘I don’t know. It depends how things go really. I thought I’d totally burned my bridges in that field but I actually got a reply back from one of the teams yesterday. They’ve offered me a position. I have a meeting with them just after Christmas butbasically if I want it, the position is mine.’
‘Right. Wow. That’s great!’ Cal looked at me and tilted his head, ‘It is great, isn’t it?’
‘Of course. Yes. I mean. It’s what I want. What I’ve been trying for since I lost my last job.’
‘So, you’ve accepted?’
‘Not quite.’
He said nothing but raised a dark brow.
‘I will. I mean, obviously.’
‘Forgive me for saying, but you don’t seem as thrilledas I thought you would be about it all.’
I let out a sigh and blew my fringe out of my eyes. ‘I know. I am. I will be. It’s just that …’
‘Go on.’ Cal’s voice was soft as he touched my hand, prompting me.
I gave him a half-embarrassed smile. ‘I hardly know you and I’m blabbering away.’
