Page 91 of The Best Little Christmas Shop
Marco studied me for a moment. ‘Yes. I do.’
‘Anyway, I meant it in a good way. It suits you. You always were too skinny for your height.’
Marco indicated the way and hooked my arm over his as we headed towards the large Jacobean house where our table awaited.
‘You know what it’s like with trying to get everything lighter all the time. Including the drivers!’ He pulled a face.
‘I know. I just always had an urge to feed you cake.’
‘I would have taken it if you had, damn the consequences!’
‘You look good for it.’ We stepped throughthe large wooden door and into a marble-floored hallway.
‘Thanks. I feel good for it. At last.’
His tone caught my attention. ‘Marco? Did something happen?’
‘Ah! Mr Benoit. It’s so good to see you back. Your table is waiting.’
Marco nodded at him. ‘Thank you,’ he said, then turning he gave me a quick squeeze and dropped a quick kiss on the top of my head, ‘Everything is good. And, hopefullyabout to get even better. Come on. I’ll tell you over lunch.’
The food was amazing and I could see how the place had kept its stellar reputation, not to mention several Michelin stars, for so long. The menu didn’t have prices and frankly, I was kind of glad. In all likelihood, I’d have probably just ordered tap water if I’d known what they were charging. When Marco had suggested this place, I’dcountered with my own classy suggestion of Pizza Express, which would at least have given me the option of paying half the bill. He’d pretended to think about it and then rejected it, along with my argument of wanting to pay half.
Marco had insisted that as he was going to be asking me for some advice at some point during the meal, that it was a business lunch. And because he was the one askingfor help, then he should also be the one to pay. It was pretty thin reasoning to my ears but he clearly wanted to eat here so I’d accepted his terms, albeit grudgingly.
‘So. What’s this advice you wanted?’ I asked, finishing the last of my cheesecake. It had been passion fruit and something else with a fancy name that I hadn’t been entirely clear on. What was clear was that it had been deliciousand I’d happily have eaten it all over again given the chance. It had also been nice to see Marco digging into proper food and enjoying it, rather than some of the meagre portions he’d sometimes had to restrict himself to, to maintain the weight needed for the car.
‘You haven’t heard anything then?’
I frowned at him. ‘Heard anything about what?’
Marco looked at me. ‘Anyone else, and I’d thinkthey were playing me. But you, I give the benefit of the doubt to when it comes to honesty.’
I gave him a look. ‘Wow. Thanks,’ I replied flatly. ‘And for your information, I am being totally honest. You’re going to have to give me more of a clue as to what you’re talking about before I can tell you whether I’ve heard anything about it or not.’
‘How in touch with the world of F1 are you at themoment?’ he asked as he signalled a waiter for coffee.
I shook my head. ‘Honestly? Not at all.’
I saw the shadow of surprise flit across his face.
‘I know. I never thought I’d want a break from it either. But actually? It’s been really nice. I’ll always love the sport but I gave it a lot, and spending the past year banging my head against a wall trying to get back in was hard. I’ve got thisother offer now so I’ll catch up then but for now, I’ve kind of kept out of it all, purposely. Going home and getting involved with the shop again has been different, that’s for certain, but it’s been good. And I’ve loved being close to everyone again, knowing I’m not rushing off in a couple of days and having to try and cram everything in.’
‘You sound like you’ll be a little reluctant to goback, if you take this other job.’
I fiddled with the sugar tongs, which was probably against etiquette but I had a fidget gene so by my reasoning that excused me.
‘I will, in a way. But it’s sort of like when you’ve had a lovely holiday and you know you’ve got to go home, but you don’t want to. You know it’s going to happen and once it does, it’s fine. But until then you want to make the mostof the holiday.’
‘What if you had a better option?’
‘Huh?’ I was pretty sure saying “huh” in such an establishment was another social faux pas but oh well.
He studied me for a moment.
‘Marco, what’s going on?’
The smile he was so well known for spread across his handsome features. ‘I have some news …’
