Page 35 of Coming Home to Wishington Bay
‘Well, you’re obviously about to eat so I’ll get us two mutts out of your way.’
Suddenly the thought of sitting here alone was too much.
‘Would you like to … stay? To dinner, I mean,’ I clarified. The blush returned as I cringed over my possible faux pas.
‘For the record, I realised that was what you meant.’
‘Oh. Right. Yes. Good. I just …’
Shut up, Holly.
‘Are you sure?’
‘Positive. Unless you have something ready, of course. I wouldn’t want you to waste anything.’
Gabe laughed, and looked both exhausted and far too gorgeous at the same time. ‘The only thing I have ready is a ready meal.’
‘Well, that’s settled then. Have dinner here.’
‘Should I protest a bit more, you know, just to seem polite?’
I laughed, shaking my head. ‘No. Not at all. It’ll be nice not to eat dinner alone.’ As soon as the words were out, I slapped my hand to my forehead. ‘Oh my God, that sounds like such a sad muppet thing to say! Why do things always come out so differently from how they sound in your head?’
‘Yeah, that can happen. But if it makes you feel better, I know exactly what you mean and it wasn’t at all in the muppet realm.’
‘Well, that’s something. Thank you.’
‘Have I got time for a quick shower?’
‘Of course.’ I gave the dish another peek through the glass. ‘It should be ready in about fifteen minutes.’
* * *
Ten minutes later, Gabe was back, his hair damp from the shower and the faint tang of a citrusy shower gel lingering. He’d swapped the motorbike leathers for a white T-shirt that made his tan and his blue eyes pop, and a pair of faded Levi jeans that made his bum look almost as delicious as the aubergine parmigiana.
‘That smells so good!’ he said, glancing over from where he was pouring the elderflower cordial I’d bought in town.
‘Fingers crossed it tastes it too. It’s such a long time since I cooked anything properly, I’m wondering now about the wisdom of inviting you for dinner.’
He grinned and took the bowl of green salad I handed across and placed it on the table. ‘I’m sure it will be delicious.’
I hoped so. While I was second-guessing the wisdom of the food aspect of having company, the rest of it I was pretty sure of. It felt so nice to have someone there, someone to laugh with as I wrestled with the stringy mozzarella while attempting to serve it in a manner that didn’t look like I’d slung it in the bowls from the other side of the kitchen. We’d fed Bryan and he was now sat back in his bed, busying himself with a chew twist. For the first time in longer than I wanted to remember, I felt happy and relaxed in my own home. OK, so it wasn’t my usual residence but for now it was, and right this moment, I was going to enjoy that fact, and the company, both two- and four-legged.
* * *
‘That was so good,’ Gabe said, setting his knife and fork to the side after finishing his second portion.
‘You don’t have to say that, you know.’ I smiled. ‘I love your dog so I’ll still talk to you anyway.’
He laughed. ‘Well, I guess that’s put me in my place. Seriously though, that really was delicious.’
‘Thank you. I was a bit nervous but I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out in the end, and I’m glad you enjoyed it too.’
‘I did. Thanks.’
He passed me the plates and I stacked them in the dishwasher. ‘And thanks for inviting me over this evening. I wasn’t sure whether to accept.’
I stood, frowning. ‘Why not?’
