Page 10 of Spring Dreams at the Cornish Bakery

Glancing down, she pinched the bridge of her nose. Was she imagining it? He’d accused her of trying to swindle extra work out of him or something to that avail and now he’d followed her back here to give her a quote? ‘Don’t bother.’

‘Pardon?’

‘I said, don’t bother. I don’t want a quote from you.’ Pursing her lips, she glared at him.

‘You won’t get another builder here for months.’ He stood rooted to the spot.

‘So?’

‘So, you won’t get your work done. You’ll be living in...’ Holding his hand out, he indicated the surrounding room. ‘This.’

‘Maybe I don’t want anyone to do the work.’

‘No?’

‘No.’ Her breath quickened just as easily as the anger grew inside her. What gave him the right to come into her home uninvited and try to tell her what she did or didn’t need? ‘Maybe I’ll just do it myself.’

Widening his stance, he lifted his hand to his mouth as his lips tugged at the corners.

‘Don’t laugh at me. What? You think just because I’m a woman I can’t do this? You think I can’t plaster, or paint, or...’ The words came tumbling out of her, all the while watching him snigger behind his hand.

Holding his hand out, palm forward, he coughed as he regained his composure. ‘No, I don’t think you can’t do this because you’re a woman. I think you can’t do this because you originally asked me to quote you to knock a wall down. An easy enough task and certainly easier that making his place habitable again.’

‘Oh, right.’ Feeling a hot flush of embarrassment flush across her skin, she looked down at the floor.

‘But if you’re telling me you don’t need me anymore, then I’ll respect your wishes and leave.’ Shoving his hands in his jean pockets, he slowly turned.

Did she let him leave? She wouldn’t get another opportunity, and Ian had spoken highly of him. Well, he’d said he knew Zac’s dad, anyway. But that was always good, wasn’t it? To have someone to give a recommendation. If she let him leave, then this would be it - the cottage would lie in this state and she’d have no choice but to sell, take a hit on the selling fees and possibly have to take it to auction again. And if she did that, there were no guarantees it would even sell. Yes, it was ina gorgeous location but with the amount of work that needed doing to it, the market would naturally be a whole lot smaller than if it was even in a liveable condition. She ran towards the door, the fallen plaster crunching beneath her trainers. At the front door, she gripped hold of the doorframe and rose her voice. ‘Wait.’

Spinning on his heels, he looked at her and raised her eyebrows. ‘Wait?’

She rolled her eyes. He wasn’t going to make this easy for her, was he? ‘Just a quote. You can give me a quote.’

Nodding, Zac made his slow way back down the cracked front path and walked past her inside. ‘I can’t do mates’ rates, but I will agree to take on the job because Ian asked me.’

She frowned. She wanted nothing more than to send him packing, but she knew he was right, she wouldn’t get anyone else, and he knew she needed him too. ‘I wouldn’t expect mates’ rates. I’m not your mate.’

‘As long as we’ve got that fact established.’ He pulled out the clipboard he had tucked beneath his arm and drew a pen from behind his ear. ‘Give me half an hour or so and I’ll come back into the bakery and give you the quote.’

Pulling the key from her pocket, she looked down at it in her hand before glancing at him.

Shrugging, he shook his head. ‘I’m hardly going to run off with a whole cottage, am I? And there certainly isn’t anything in here to take.’

She nodded. He was right. Stepping forward, she dropped the key into his waiting hand. It would be fine. She was just getting a quote. She didn’t have to agree to have him do the work until she’d seen how much he was going to charge her. She was still in control of the situation.

Chapter Eleven

‘Thank you so much. Have a great day on the beach.’ Lynsey passed across a bag of pasties as the couple in front of her grinned back.

‘I’m sure we will. And I’m glad we have a chance to try Elsie’s famous cheese and onion pasties.’ The man took the bag before they turned to leave.

Sidling up to her, Brooke sighed. ‘So much for hoping for a quiet day today. Judging by the number of customers we’ve had, there must be a coach trip down here from somewhere or other.’

‘Yes, the couple I’ve just served said they were on a coach trip. They’re stopping off in a few different places.’ Lynsey dropped the money the couple had given her into the till. ‘They visited somewhere else this morning and then are going to finish today off in somewhere called Trestow for a cream tea, I think they said.’

‘Trestow. That’s the closest town to us. Umm, at least it should get a little quieter soon then.’ Brooke stretched her arms out in front of her before stepping towards the counter again.

‘Who wants to go on their lunch break first?’ Ian walked behind the counter, apron in hand.

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