Free Short and Sweet by Anna Jacobs Page B

know.’
    ‘Can I apply for the job?’
    ‘You?’
    He looked at her with that steady expression on his face. ‘Yes. Me.’
    ‘I can’t pay much.’
    He grinned. ‘I’m fairly self-sufficient financially. I was thinking more of payment in kind. Meals. You’re a very good cook, Louise.’
    ‘Oh.’ And why she should start blushing, she didn’t know. For heaven’s sake, she told herself as she fussed over one of the displays. What’s got into you, woman? He’s only interested in your cooking.
    When the colour in her cheeks had died down, she turned back to him. ‘Sounds like a good idea. We’ll give it a try.’
    After that, Richard seemed to be popping in at all times of day. It was nice. It was . . . neighbourly. He put in some fast-growing border plants and the gardens quickly began to look better.
    The next time she went into town, she took the opportunity to buy herself some new clothes, younger styles, more attractive. She had a good figure, after all. Why had she not made more of it before? Because she’d been brought up to wear sensible clothes that lasted.
    The change was nothing to do with Richard, it was just – well, you had to look smart when you were meeting the public, didn’t you?
    Three months after Louise took over the café, her sister got back from Europe and came to visit within a couple of days. Until now, Louise had been free to do what she liked and it had been wonderful not to receive those sharp phone calls, not to hear Rosemary’s strident voice telling her what to do.
    Typical of her sister! thought Louise, fuming. No warning. Turned up right in the middle of the busiest time, with her two teenage daughters in tow. And she expected Louise’s instant attention.
    ‘Lovely to see you,’ she said, showing them to the only empty table. ‘Can’t stop to talk till I’ve finished serving this family.’
    She came back a few minutes later. ‘Sorry about that. Do you want a cup of something?’
    ‘The coffee smells heavenly.’
    When she went into her kitchen, Louise leaned her head against a cupboard and thumped the wall with her fist.
    ‘Is something wrong?’
    Two strong arms turned her round and Richard peered at her anxiously. ‘Are you all right?’
    She leaned against him for a moment and it felt good. His body was every bit as firm as she had fantasized. Fool! She told herself. He’s just being kind to you. Will you never learn that men don’t think of you like that? You’re an eternal sister as far as they’re concerned. But she didn’t move away, because it felt so good to be held like that.
    ‘It’s my sister and nieces, actually,’ she confessed. ‘They’ve just turned up out of the blue and I’m rushed off my feet. Kerry couldn’t come in today. I think I’m going to have to hire a more reliable part-time waitress.’ The café was doing quite well, better than she’d expected at this stage.
    ‘Can I apply for the job?’ His voice was as gentle as ever, his brown eyes soft with concern.
    ‘Only if you’ll let me pay you. Could you manage a few hours at the weekend?’
    He gave her a quick hug that sent her heart tangoing round inside her chest. It was a moment before she could speak and then her voice sounded softer than usual, but she couldn’t help it. ‘You’re hired, Mr Crossley.’
    ‘That’s great. It’ll give me plenty of time to see to the gardens during the week. Now, you get some coffee ready and I’ll take it out to your sister. Which one is she?’
    They peered through the glass porthole together. His arm was still round her shoulders, and his body was still close to hers. Stop it! she told her imagination. Stop it right now! She pointed. ‘That’s her.’
    His breath fanned her cheek as he spoke. ‘She looks a bossy sort.’
    ‘She is. People think I’m bad, but she’s worse.’
    He grinned. ‘You’re not bossy, just efficient. I love to watch you work. You’re so neat about everything and you move gracefully.’
    It