Page 22 of Spring Dreams at the Cornish Bakery

Squeezing her eyes shut so she couldn’t see his reaction, she spoke quietly and quickly, instantly regretting her decision to say anything at all. ‘What is this? Is this just a bit of fun to you?’

‘A bit of fun?’ Zac chuckled. ‘Do I look like a guy who just wants a bit of fun?’

Opening her eyes again, she felt a rush of heat explode across her face. ‘No, I mean. I don’t know. Up until just over a year ago, I’ve been in a long-term relationship. I’m so out of touch with the dating world.’ She cringed inside. She’d done it again. She’d jumped to conclusions. ‘Sorry, I don’t mean that I think we’re dating, I just...’

Smiling, Zac’s eyes filled with warmth. ‘I guess we should clear this all up, then?’

She nodded. There, she’d gone and spoilt whatever was going on between them before anything had really begun. Well done, Lynsey.

‘Lynsey, will you go out with me?’

Shaking her head, Lynsey laughed. It had been what she wanted – to know where she stood – but now he’d asked her, she almost felt as though she was right back at secondary school and her crush was asking her on a date. ‘Yes, of course. I’ll go out with you.’

Wiping the back of his hand across his forehead, Zac chuckled. ‘Phew, I thought you were going to turn me down then. Thank you for asking where you stood. I wanted to have that conversation with you yesterday after we first kissed, but I didn’t quite know how.’

Lynsey grinned. ‘Well, in that case, I’m grateful for my complete incompetence in the dating scene.’

‘Haha, that makes two of us. I too, was in a long-term relationship up until last year. It’s why I moved back down to Penworth Bay. I had to wind my business back in Wales up, finish a few jobs I’d promised to do, but as soon as they were over, I knew I wanted to return to the bay where I spent my childhood.’

‘Well, I’m glad you did.’ Leaning forward, Lynsey went to kiss him just as the ringtone of her mobile filled the room. Pulling it from her pocket, she held it to her ear, mouthing, ’sorry’ before speaking. ‘Hi.’

‘Hey, Lynsey, it’s Brooke. Are you still coming to the pub quiz? It’s about to start.’ Brooke’s voice was muffled, and Lynsey could hear the mumbling of chatter in the background. She must already be at the pub.

‘Oh, sorry. I didn’t realise what the time was.’ She looked across to Zac and mouthed, ‘pub quiz.’

Zac gave her the thumbs-up before moving away and collecting the tools they’d been using.

‘Yes, we’ll be there as soon as we can.’

‘Great. See you soon. Can’t wait to introduce you to the rest of the bakery family.’

‘Bye.’ Ending the call, Lynsey began helping Zac to tidy up before she straightened her back and frowned. ‘You grew up here, right?’

‘I did.’ Zac nodded as he placed the tools he’d gathered into his toolbox. ‘I’ve visited many times between then and now, too.’

‘Then do you know how big Elsie’s family is?’

Straightening his back, Zac frowned before breaking into a grin. ‘Are you talking about the bakery family?’

‘Yes, it’s just Brooke’s spoken about them a couple of times, Diane too, and from the way they talk, there’re a lot of them.’ She shrugged.

‘Haha, there’re hundreds of them. Well, not hundreds, but it certainly seems that way sometimes.’ After wiping his hands down the front of his jeans, Zac passed Lynsey her coat. ‘Elsie’s bakery family is made up of all the past and present volunteers at the bakery. Including their partners and families.’

‘Oh, I see.’ Lynsey nodded. That made sense. Shrugging into her coat, Lynsey grabbed her keys from the windowsill. She felt a flutter of excitement. If the other local previous volunteers were as lovely as Brooke, Wendy, molly, Teresa, Diane and Robyn, then hopefully she’d have another couple of friends in the bay. Now she could see progress being made on the cottage and she’d settled into her routine of working at the bakery and then renovating with Zac in the evenings, she really was beginning to feel settled here. Yes, she’d made the right decision to choose to call Penworth Bay her home. ‘Let’s go and meet them then.’

Chapter Twenty

Pushing the heavy wooden door to the pub open ajar, Lynsey looked back at Zac and grimaced. ‘The quiz has already begun. Do you think we should hang around out here until it’s finished?’

Zac shook his head. ‘Nah, I’ve known the landlord, Gerald, for years. He won’t mind us sneaking inside.’

‘Are you sure?’ She wasn’t sure she felt comfortable just waltzing into the pub mid-question.

‘I’m sure.’ Taking the weight of the door in one hand, Zac held his hand out for Lynsey, waiting until she’d gripped it before leading the way inside.

She was right. They’d stumbled in mid-question and the man standing behind the bar who she assumed was the landlord Gerald, paused as they made their way inside. They should have waited.

‘Come on in. Evening, Zac.’ Gerald waved them inside. ‘You must be Lynsey? Elsie’s new volunteer?’

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