Page 19 of Love By Sunset

A silence grew between them before Mr Hansard spoke again. ‘A kind gesture, maybe?’

Jake’s only response was to laugh.

The man in front of him reddened and smacked a fist down on the counter. ‘Laugh all you want. Turn down this offer if you like. But we’ll get you out of this café, Bradstock. You don’t have any legal standing, and you’re a fool if you don’t accept what we’re offering!’ With that, Gerry Hansard turned on his heel and strode out, banging the door as he left. Through the window, Jake saw him get into a large and very shiny car and drive off with a spurt of gravel.

Jake’s eyes narrowed as he considered the entire scene which had just played out in front of him. According to Robbie Jones, he stood on very shaky ground, so why had someone bothered to come all the way down here and offer him money to pack his bags and leave? There had to be something else about the whole thing he’d missed. If this development company were so sure he had no claim, why try to get him to sign away his rights for a paltry fifty thousand pounds? It smacked of panic. But why? Jake heaved a sigh. Might Emily be of any help? He didn’t know what she did, but she said she’d built up her own business, so maybe she knew stuff which could help.

The café door pinged, and his heart thumped as Emily herself walked in, looking despondent.

‘Hey, sweetheart.’ Jake crossed the floor and took her in his arms, looking into her face as one eyebrow rose in a silent question. ‘You’re looking down. Not still regretting your decision to be here, are you?’ He hoped the answer would be no, even as he felt annoyed with himself for asking. Another first. He shook his head slightly. He wouldn’t think about the implications.

‘No.’ Emily gave a sigh. ‘Just… I was hoping to find something this morning, but didn’t have any luck.’

‘Find something?’ Jake sounded amused. ‘What? A present for someone?’

‘You could say that. Oh, who was the lunatic who just left, by the way? Just as well I was turning into the lane because I swear he never looked my way and pulled out at quite a speed, heading north. Idiot.’

Did he tell her what had just happened, or deny any knowledge of the man? Giving himself time to think, and because he wanted to anyway, he dropped his mouth over hers and softly started kissing her. The kiss deepened, and her hands snaked round his neck and tangled into his hair, pulling his head closer. He breathed in the smell of her skin and the light perfume of her shampoo and felt content. Hearing the bell above the door, they pulled apart, exchanging a slow and sultry look.

Jake turned to the couple who’d entered, both grinning, having obviously seen the embrace. ‘Hi,’ he said with an easy smile. ‘How can I help you?’

They gave their order and sat outside in the sun.

He felt Emily’s eyes on him as she followed him into the kitchen and watched him swiftly compile the order. In-between waiting for the meals to heat, he put napkin-wrapped cutlery on the tray, two large mugs of latte and some sugar. Jake tipped the meals onto warm plates and within five minutes was shouldering open the door to the café and then the outer door, taking the tray over to the couple and just as efficiently unloading it, all the while talking to them and making them laugh.

Coming back in, he saw Emily regarding him, her face thoughtful.

‘What?’

Smiling, she shook her head. ‘I was unfair to you earlier.’

‘About what?’

‘Saying you had no plans for the future. Apart from the fact there’s a bit of a question mark hanging over your ownership here,thisis your future, and you’re amazingly competent and well-organised in this environment, aren’t you?’

He shrugged one shoulder and walked past her, going into the kitchen where he sprayed and wiped the tray. He hadn’t expected her to see this as anything exceptional. It was the café. It was what he’d done since he was about twelve, first as washer-up, then as a waiter and finally as an assistant chef before he’d taken over. He had a flair for cooking and he found it soothing and fulfilling. Yes, it was his future, but whether he could do it somewhere else,forsomeone else, he didn’t know. He loved this place… damn! His throat closed and for a moment he bent forward over the preparation counter, feeling the pain if he had to leave. Bad enough his career had gone down the drain, but to lose this as well…

He felt her hand on his back, rubbing in slow circles, and gave a quick shiver before standing up and turning to her, his face carefully blank. ‘Yeah, well, you could say so.’

‘Can I have some coffee, please?’

Glad to have something to do, he prepared two coffees and suggested they, too, should sit in the sun. Passing the tempting array of cakes, he scooped up a slice of chocolate cake and one of what looked to be coffee and walnut, onto two plates and added forks and napkins.

Once settled, Emily dug her fork into the coffee cake and took an appreciative mouthful, making little squeaks of approval which had Jake smiling.

‘You really made this?’

‘I told you, I make everything.’

‘Will you marry me?’

His head shot up, and his eyes flew open as he tried to read from Emily’s face if she was serious or joking. Oh, fuck. How was he supposed to react?

She giggled. ‘Oh, if you could see the look on your face!’

Giving a weak smile, he returned his attention to his own piece of chocolate cake.

‘Oh,’ Emily said. ‘Yes. Who was that idiot who drove too fast out of the lane end? Did he come in here? You never said.’

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