Page 14 of The Damaged Hearts Bargain

Cal tried to move and couldn’t. “You could express that sorry a lot better by letting me get up.”

“I can’t do that.”

Whatever was trickling down the side of her face was warm and tickled her. “Why not?”

“You’re a shoplifter.”

“I absolutely am not.”

“Yes, my boss—”

“Your boss what?” said Mr. Gupta, appearing unhurriedly. “Why are you pinning that woman to the ground, Lucy?”

Lucy looked up, looking even more confused than before. “Because you said to look out for the shoplifter,” she began.

“I said watch out shewasa shoplifter,” said Mr. Gupta. He looked down at Cal. “Which I think we can both agree is true, is it not?”

Cal cleared her throat. It turned out that lying on the floor put you at a disadvantage in a serious conversation, and as much as she’d like to be indignant, she’d like more to be able to stand up. “Sort of.”

“Sort of?” Mr. Gupta said. “Sort of? Four packets of Monster Munch, a pack of Rollo’s, four penny chews and a copy of, let me see, Smash Hits, was it?”

“I was seven,” said Cal.

“Ah yes, but as they say, a leopard does not change its spots, isn’t that so?”

“Oh god,” said Lucy. She’d freed Cal’s arms but was still sitting astride her in a way that made Cal’s stomach feel tight and funny. “Oh god, I’ve… I’m so sorry. Oh god.”

“Again, that apology would appear far more genuine if you were to allow me to stand up,” Cal said dryly.

“Christ, yes, of course, yes.” She moved, climbing off Cal and standing up, holding out her hand.

Cal, not one to bear a grudge when it came to women with high cheekbones, took the hand and let herself be pulled to her feet.

“I’m so sorry,” Lucy said. “So, so sorry. I just… I’m sorry, really, I had no idea, I thought… Crap.”

“It’s alright,” said Cal, even though it really wasn’t alright.

“It’s not. It’s not at all. I’m really sorry. I must have misheard and then I tried to play the hero, and I really don’t know what I was thinking.” Lucy looked down at her with wide eyes. “And you’re bleeding.”

“Am I?” asked Cal, looking into those eyes and getting brieflylost in them.

“Yes,” Lucy said decisively.

“Huh.” Cal braved a smile.

Lucy smiled back. “Lucy,” she said, holding out a hand again. “I haven’t seen you around here before.”

“Cal,” said Cal, shaking her hand. “And I don’t live here. I grew up here, but… moved on. Just, um, visiting.” Probably best not to come out with the whole dead parent thing on the first meeting. Not that there’d be more meetings. Unless…

“So you’re staying?”

“For a few days,” Cal said.

Mr. Gupta rolled his eyes. “So, my employee was just doing due diligence, and we are not in America, so you cannot sue my shop for millions of dollars. I do not have millions of dollars. I apologize for Lucy’s over-zealousness and now, if you will forgive me, I must return to my business.”

He walked off and Cal watched him go.

“You weren’t going to sue, were you?”

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