Page 10 of Summer at the Cornish Garden Café

‘Oh… OK then. Thanks.’ She chanced a smile, and he noticed how it made her face even prettier. She’d removed the clip holding her hair up and now her red waves caressed her cheeks, hung tantalisingly against her neck and teased her collar bones.

A warning shot through his head. She probably used those looks to entrap people into believing she was good, honest, trustworthy, then she’d sell them out for a story. For a headline. For whatever she wanted, exactly like all the other journalists he’d encountered. The last thing he wanted was to become another headline. He just wanted a peaceful life now.

‘Hello there!’ Bligh had returned to the table, and he smiled down at the woman, making her look tiny in comparison.

She turned and peered up at him and Bligh held out his hand.

‘Bligh Kellow. Pleased to meet you,’ he said in his deep, rumbling voice.

‘Lena Teller,’ she replied as she shook his hand.

‘How do you know Thomas?’ Bligh asked, looking over at him.

‘Thomas?’ she asked.

‘Oh, you haven’t been properly introduced?’ Bligh laughed. ‘Sorry, guys. Thomas Dryden this is Lena Teller.’ Bligh’s eyes were filled with curiosity, but he was sensitive enough to read the room. He was certainly able to think on his feet.

‘Hello Thomas,’ Lena said. ‘It’s lovely to be properly introduced.’

‘Hi Lena.’ He coughed to clear his throat; wishing Bligh would stop staring at him like that.

‘Right then… Are you sure I can’t get you anything?’ Lena asked.

‘No thanks. I’m good.’ Thomas folded his arms over his chest and nodded to confirm that he really was fine. Would be even better if this conversation ended and he could enjoy the coffee Bligh had bought for him in peace.

‘Nice to meet you both.’ Lena turned and walked away, and Thomas looked down at the mug of coffee.

‘You two just met?’ Bligh asked, taking the seat opposite Thomas.

‘We… uhm… met the other day but I didn’t get her name and then in yoga she got a cramp in her foot.’

‘She seems nice.’

‘I wouldn’t know.’ Thomas gave a one shoulder shrug then realised he was doing a fair bit of shrugging.

‘Well, I think she does anyway. Has she moved here or is she on holiday?’

‘Not sure.’ Thomas almost shrugged again but he caught himself in time.

‘Right.’ Bligh frowned then he wrapped his big hands around his mug. ‘She seemed to like you.’

Thomas coughed and took a sip of coffee. ‘I wouldn’t know.’

‘Yeah, she does. First impressions and all that… I think she liked you, but you were being a bit cold.’

‘And?’ Thomas shook his head. ‘What are you now, Cilla Black?’

‘What?’ Bligh frowned.

‘Trying to set me up on a blind date.’

‘Oh!’ Bligh laughed. ‘Not exactly blind though is it, seeing as how you know each other now.’

‘Yes but… no, don’t even go there.’ Thomas scowled at Bligh. ‘I am not interested and neither is she.’

Bligh held up his hands and smiled. ‘Hey… I’m not interfering, Thomas. But I haven’t seen you react like that to a woman in years.’

‘Like what?’ Thomas realised his voice was a bit harsh, so he sighed. ‘Like what?’ There was resignation in his tone now.

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