Chapter Twelve

‘ T hank you. Hope you have a lovely day.' Debbie smiled as the woman retreated to the door, her toddler in the buggy she was pushing gripping hold of the iced bun so tightly that Debbie could just imagine it falling apart under her grip.

‘Here we go, ladies.' Teresa balanced a tray full of steaming mugs on the counter. ‘I think we all deserve a little caffeine after that morning.'

Debbie picked up a mug, thankful that the famous lull had arrived. ‘Thank you. I don't think I could keep up the busy pace all day!'

‘Haha, you should see what it's like in the summer holidays.' Diane grimaced. ‘We're grateful for two minutes to pause then!'

‘I bet!' Taking a sip of her coffee, she watched a couple walking out of Molly and Wendy's wedding service office. They were both grinning ear to ear, and the woman was clutching an A4 folder, presumably full of carefully created ideas for their big day.

Looking behind her, Teresa followed Debbie's gaze before turning back and looking at her. ‘So how about the other happy couple? How did your after-hours talk with Richie go last night?'

Debbie gulped some more drink, the hot coffee hitting the back of her throat and making her cough.

‘Don't choke on us!' Brooke slapped her back. ‘You okay now?'

Debbie cleared her throat. ‘Yes, thanks. Sorry.'

‘I'm guessing things went well with you and the cute bartender, then?' Diane raised an eyebrow.

‘Err, no.' She looked down into her mug, twisting it in her hands and watching the liquid slowly spin before she looked up and towards Teresa again. ‘The opposite, actually. I thought it was going well and then...'

‘Then, what?' Diane frowned.

‘It didn't. He suddenly seemed to back off.' She felt her cheeks flame with the memory. Why had she gone to kiss him? She shouldn't have done. ‘I've probably gone and lost what I'd hoped could be a good friendship, at least.'

‘Ah, well, there's no time like the present to clear things up.' Teresa sighed and tilted her head.

‘Talk to her? No, no, no, if I don't see him again for a week, it'll be too quick.' She shook her head vehemently. There was no way she'd be able to step foot inside the pub now. Not for a long time. A very long time.

‘See who?'

The voice cut through the silence of the bakery, and it was a voice Debbie recognised only too well. Debbie widened her eyes and flared her nostrils as she glared from Teresa to Diane to Brooke. She mouthed silently, ‘You could have warned me!'

Teresa grimaced and shrugged, mouthing back, ‘Sorry.'

‘I need to get some more rolls.' Brooke placed her mug back on the tray and disappeared into the kitchen.

Diane pulled the breadbasket towards her and picked it up, seemingly oblivious to the fact it was almost overflowing. ‘I should help her.'

‘And I need to get these mugs back to the coffee and cake counter.' Teresa picked up the mugs, coffee slurping over the rims and pooling on the tray.

With no one to offer her any cover or distraction, Debbie slowly turned around, still gripping her coffee mug in her hands. ‘Hi.'

‘Hey.' Richie shifted position. ‘I don't blame you if you were referring to me.'

‘What?' She looked down into her mug. ‘Of course not.'

‘Have you got a moment so I can explain?' He rubbed his hand across his face.

Debbie shook her head and tried desperately to cover the audible sigh of relief which escaped her lips as a customer walked into the bakery. She nodded towards them before lowering her mug to the counter. ‘I'm sorry, I do need to get on.'

‘I can wait.' Stepping back, Richie plunged his hands into his coat pocket.

Turning, Debbie tried to forget he was there and instead focus on the customer in front of her. ‘Morning, what can I get you today?'

The man tapped his wallet against the glass of the counter. ‘I'll have one of your flapjacks today, please?'

‘Of course. Coming right up.' She could almost feel Richie's boring into her as she picked up the tongs and placed the slice of flapjack into a paper bag. Why did he want to talk to her? To embarrass her further? She'd kicked herself enough times since making that stupid move last night. She didn't need him reminding her. ‘Here you go.'

‘Thank you.' Carefully counting out his change on the counter, the man smiled and left.

Sliding the coins into her palm, she kept her eyes down as she opened the till drawer.

Dropping the coins into the till drawer one by one, she willed another customer to walk through the door. When they didn't, she pushed the drawer closed with a ping and looked up at him. ‘Look, I know I overstepped the mark. I thought I felt something between us that clearly wasn't there. I'm sorry I should never have presumed anything, and I definitely shouldn't have leaned forward when we were standing at the bar and gone to kiss you. I don't...'

‘Stop.' Richie's voice was quiet.

Shaking her head, she looked away. ‘Haven't you embarrassed me enough?'

‘No.'

‘Huh?' She jerked her head back to him and watched as his lips flickered at the corners. He was laughing at her. Or at least trying not to. She narrowed her eyes. Why did he have to make this situation even more awkward? Why couldn't he just let it go? ‘What do you mean, no?'

‘I mean this.' Leaning across the counter, he cupped her cheeks, gently pulling her towards him.

With barely a centimetre between them, Debbie spoke, her voice shaking, ‘I thought you didn't want this?'

‘I didn't want to kiss you when you'd had one too many cocktails. I wanted to know if it was real.' He leaned in a little closer, his lips moving against hers as he spoke. ‘I wanted to know that you wanted it. And it wasn't just the drink talking.'

‘I want it.' She whispered back as she closed her eyes and felt his lips against hers.

As he stepped back again an applause rang out across the bakery and Debbie felt the fierce heat of a blush flood across her face.

‘Told you I hadn't embarrassed you enough.' Richie grinned and took her hands in his.

‘So last night... at the pub?'

‘Last night when I didn't kiss you, I was being a gentleman.' He chuckled.

‘Right, okay.'

‘So, do you fancy dinner tonight?' Richie gripped the back of his neck with his hand and dipped his head, suddenly unsure of himself.

Debbie smiled. ‘Yes, I'd love to come to dinner.'

‘Great. Will you meet me at the pub, say, around seven?'

Debbie nodded and watched him leave before biting down on her bottom lip. He'd kissed her this time! He hadn't been brushing her off yesterday because he didn't like her. It had been the opposite. She wrung her hands together as she watched him walk away across the cobbles and held up her hand when he glanced back.

‘Ooh, so is seeing him in a week's time still too soon?' Diane laughed as she walked back around the counter and joined Debbie by the window.

‘Haha, nope. I think I'm pretty happy to see him a little sooner now.' Debbie watched as he disappeared from view.

‘Well, I'm pleased for you.' Diane squeezed Debbie's shoulders.