Page 69 of The One That I Want

‘Thank you,’ he says, dipping his chin to accept the compliment. When he meets my eye again, his friendly smile warms me from the inside.

‘Are you working on your article today?’ he asks.

His question breaks the spell and I nose-dive back into reality. Ewan’s not the only one who hasn’t been forthcoming about his work. And given my confrontation with Bex just now and the repercussions of keeping these things hidden, I’m wondering if I should confess to him about the real subject of my articles.

‘Er, yes. I’ve got a couple of articles I need to polish – my boss is waiting on them.’

He squints at me curiously. Oh, bollocks, is he onto me, even without a confession?

‘Are youreallyable to work in this environment?’ he asks. ‘What with the noise and everyone coming and going?’

‘Oh!’ I exclaim out of relief. He looks at me quizzically and I try to pass off my overreaction as ‘normal’ by adding, ‘I get asked thatallthe time. I’m just fortunate really – I can work anywhere. I once wrote an entire article on my phone in the middle of Euston station while waiting for a delayed train.’

I’m rabbiting. Why am I rabbiting? Any moment now, I’ll spout long, fluffy ears.

‘Well, it’s an impressive skill,’ he says, regarding me thoughtfully.

‘Thank you,’ I reply. Only now I seem to have run out of things to say, which isn’t all that surprising considering the number of words I packed into one thirty-second-long ramble.

Ewan starts to rise. ‘Well, I should get back to it and leave you to your obsessions.’

‘My obsess— right, yes.’ So much for telling him the truth about my assignment but, just like he said earlier, the moment has passed.

‘So, do you think you’ll become a permanent fixture back there?’ I ask, nodding towards the counter where there are still a dozen people in line. I’m keeping him from his work, but I don’t want him to go just yet.

‘I hope not,’ he says with a laugh. ‘My shop manager’s already teeing up some interviews to hire more staff. I’ve also been thinking about adding?—’

‘Ewan!’

We both look in the direction of the voice – it’s a woman and she’s frantically waving him back to the counter. And no wonder. A large group has just entered and have bunched up near the door.

‘Go, go,’ I say. ‘You can’t keep coffee drinkers waiting – un-caffeinated people can turn rabid in an instant.’ There, that was far wittier than the ‘Mr Coffee Man’ remark.

‘See you soon?’ he asks.

‘Same time tomorrow!’ I say cheerily.

‘Excellent.’ He goes but after a few steps, he turns back and points at me. ‘And dinner this week. Let’s make plans tomorrow.’

Before I can reply, he trots behind the counter and slips the apron on over his head.

He didn’t evenaskabout dinner – it was more of ‘this is what’s going to happen’ and I can’t say I minded one bit.

Bex gazes back and forth between us with her lips parted, stupefied. I steal a glance at Anjali, who seems unperturbed by her reaction, then at Poppy, who appears tickled.

Eventually, Bex speaks. ‘Wait,what?’

Anjali is the one to reply. ‘It shouldn’t be too much of an addition to your workload, seeing as it’s a finite series that Greta’s writing and we aim to space it out over multiple issues. Do you think you’ll be able to take it on?’

‘Oh, yes, absolutely,’ Bex splutters, nodding eagerly.

Then she looks at me, clearly uncertain. ‘So, you’re really going on these dates?’

‘Mmm-hmm.’

‘Withactualmen?’ she asks.

‘Yes. That’s why we brought Poppy in. She’s a professional matchmaker.’ This, of course, is an even bigger reveal than my assignment.

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