Page 19 of Finding Love in Micklewick Bay

Stella’s brow creased with a frown.What’s he talking about? And why does he have to be so out of the way attractive when I’m trying to play it cool with him?

‘I mean,’ he gave a shrug, ‘I’m very happy to pay for it, but I thought I’d–’

‘What d’you mean? I’m not expecting you to pay for anything.’ She looked down at what she’d assumed was her trolley to find it contained not only the wine and beer she’d selected but also a variety of other items she certainly hadn’t placed in there. ‘Oh. Oops!’ She pushed her lips together as her frown deepened. She glanced around for her trolley to see it had been pushed out of the way and was now next to an elaborate display of chocolate biscuits. ‘Sorry about that.’

He followed her gaze. ‘No worries, it’s easily done.’

‘So it would seem.’ She hitched her black designer bag up on her shoulder and bit down on a smile, refusing to soften towards him despite what her insides were telling her, not to mention her thudding heart.

‘So, is this a shopping dash in your lunch break?’ he asked.

‘Not quite, I just managed to finish early for the day.’ Stella cut a striking figure in a fitted, crisp white collarless shirt and smartly tailored trousers which, thanks to the addition of her high heels, made her legs appear to go on forever.

‘In that case, I hope you’re going to do something more exciting with the rest of it than have a whizz around a supermarket.’

Was he hitting on her again? she wondered, her hackles rising. ‘Yes, I most certainly am. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I really must get on,’ she said curtly.

His smile fell as she went to reclaim her trolley.

‘Stella, can you just give me a moment, please?’

She turned to him, meeting his eyes, noting the frown that now furrowed his brow. ‘Why? I can’t imagine we have anything left to say.’He’s a tryer, I’ll give him that.

‘Oh, wow! Blunt! I kind of get the feeling I’ve done something to annoy or upset you – which, if I have, has been completely unintentional.’ He raked his fingers through his hair. ‘I mean you were friendly one minute and in the next you were giving methe cold shoulder. Forgive me if I got the wrong end of the stick, but I kind of thought we had a connection.’ He pushed his mouth into an uncertain smile.

Though the appealing look in his eyes tugged at her insides, she was determined not to fall for it. ‘I’m not in the habit of flirting with, never mind dating, men who are in a relationship,’ she said sharply.

‘Sorry, you’ve lost me.’ He rubbed his fingers across his brow.

‘You have a girlfriend, or have you conveniently forgotten about her – again?’

He looked utterly confused. ‘What girlfriend? I don’t have a girlfriend to forget about. I’ve been single for the last six months.’

It wasn’t the response Stella had been expecting. As she marshalled his words, she searched his face for any telltale signs that would reveal he wasn’t telling the truth, her senses screaming at her that he was being honest. If she was wide of the mark, then he was a convincing liar. The thought that Rhys could be fooling her mum in such a way flashed through her mind. Blinking, and telling herself that her eyes hadn’t deceived her – she had seen him with another woman – she said, ‘What about the girl you met at the Jolly last Friday. You know, very attractive, dark ponytail, petite? The one you were apparently overjoyed to see.’ She hitched a questioning eyebrow at him. ‘Surely she can’t have slipped your mind.’

A smile slowly spread across his face. ‘Ah, that one.’

‘Yes, that one.’ Why was he smiling like that?

‘Zara.’

‘I’ve no idea what she’s called, you didn’t introduce us – not that I’d expected you to under the circumstances, that would’ve been way too weird.’

She watched in confusion as Alex threw his head back and laughed heartily.

‘I’m not sure why you find that so funny.’

‘That explains it,’ he spluttered.

‘Explains what?’ Stella narrowed her eyes at him. She was beginning to feel really rattled now.

‘Zara’s not my girlfriend.’

‘Oh really?’

'Really.’

‘What is she then? You looked pretty close to me.’

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