Page 69 of The Pop-Up Cake Shop

I hesitated too long and she pounced. ‘Aha! Look, you deserve some happiness after Richard. Caleb could be just the tonic you need so why not go for it?’

*****

We were a little shy with each other over breakfast later. I guess both of us were processing what had happened and more importantly, what was going to happen now...

I’d dived into the shower, worried that I might be tempted back to bed when Caleb woke up. And when I emerged, fully clothed, he’d gone and I’d heard him down in the kitchen.

When I appeared, we’d smiled rather sheepishly at each other and he’d offered me coffee, which I’d taken gratefully. He was barefoot again, in jeans and a T-shirt.

He’d placed a plate of croissants on the table and fetched butter and strawberry jam from the fridge. Then we’d eaten in companionable silence, the radio on in the background, and I couldn’t believe how hungry I was. When he offered me a second croissant, I wolfed that down as well.

‘I need to get over there,’ he said apologetically, with a nod in the direction of the building site. ‘But I’ll come back for you when I hear the van’s ready and drive you over there, okay?’

I nodded gratefully. ‘It’s so good of you.’

He winked. ‘You’re worth it.’

At the door, he paused. ‘Last night was...’ He smiled at me a little sheepishly.

‘I know. It was.’ I smiled back.

He leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. ‘See you later.’

I watched him get in his car and drive off. Then I retreated inside, closed the door and leaned back against it, still feeling weak and trembly from that one brush of his lips against mine.

This was ridiculous.

What on earth had I got myself into?

*****

As I tidied up and stacked the dishwasher, Ellie’s words kept running round inside my head.

You deserve some happiness after Richard. Caleb could be just the tonic you need so why not go for it?

I’d no idea what last nightreallymeant to Caleb. Obviously, he’d enjoyed the time we spent together. With a delicious shiver, I thought back to our hot and steamy night together. ‘Enjoyed’ was a definite understatement!

But while for me, last night had altered everything, maybe for him it was simply a one-night stand? I really didn’t know.

But he’d kissed me on the doorstep and he’d looked...shywhen he’d mentioned our night together. He hadn’t looked like a man for whom nights like we’d shared were the norm. He wasn’t a flirt like Ivan.

Last night had been . . .amazing.

Maybe Ellie was right. If it was what Caleb wanted as well, perhaps I should forget the nagging voice in my head warning me that I’d be on the rebound after Richard, which really wasn’t healthy.

I should just go for it!

Feeling happy and light-hearted after coming to a decision, I glanced at the tray of cakes from the van that was still sitting on the kitchen worktop, where Caleb had put them the night before.

I’d felt terrible about not making it to the last two stops, Primrose Wood and Hawksley Rise, because I’d had no way of letting them know I wouldn’t be there. I only hoped the customers would still come back the following week.

Now, looking at the whole Victoria sandwich cake still in its cake box, I remembered what Ivan had said about ‘Vicky sponge’ being his favourite. It was a shame to return with baking unsold and possibly wasted.

I glanced out of the window at the sunny April day.

A walk would be lovely. It was only eight-thirty but Ivan would surely be on site by now. They seemed to have early starts and early finishes there. I’d take this cake over to the site and give it to Ivan as a thank-you for helping me get the van back on the road.

Caleb had left me a key ‘just in case’, so I pulled on my jacket, hitched my handbag over my shoulder and left the house with the cake in its box, pulling the door shut behind me.

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