Page 10 of Finding Love in Micklewick Bay

‘Seems we’re destined to meet.’ He gave a barely discernible hitch of his eyebrow, still holding her gaze. The Labrador looked up at her, its tail swishing back and forth.

‘You would think so, wouldn’t you?’ Aware of her heart beating rapidly, Stella drew in a slow, deep breath. She was attracted to him and was in no doubt he was attracted to her; she’d been in this situation many times before, but this felt different. She needed to get a grip on the unfamiliar emotions currently hurling themselves around inside her. ‘Are you new to town or just here for the day?’

‘I’m new; just moved in this morning. Thought I’d leave the unpacking, head out and get a feel for the place.’ She noted his North Yorkshire accent had a polished edge to it.

‘Hmm. Good plan. And do you like what you’ve seen so far?’ She wound a tendril of hair around her finger and tilted her head coquettishly.

His eyes fell to her full lips. ‘Mmm. Very much so,’ he said, his voice taking on a husky tone. A frisson of attraction danced in the air between them. The Labrador sat down, he clearly thought they’d be there some time.

‘Who’s next, please?’ Mandy, the Jolly’s landlady called, her cockney accent standing out amongst the local voices. ‘Who’s next in the queue?’ she asked again. But her words had fallen unheard by Stella and Mr Hot, each apparently as reluctant as the other to break eye contact.

Stella was utterly lost in the moment.

‘Oy, laddo, do you want to order a bloomin’ drink or what?’ The rough tones of Lobster Harry, who was standing behind Mr Hot, jarred them back to the present. ‘Some of us are gagging here, while you’re too busy making eyes at her ladyship.’

Stella snapped her gaze away from Mr Hot, shifting them to the fisherman, whose familiar mariner’s hat she’d spotted earlier, hanging from the nipple of the reclaimed figurehead at the other end of the bar. The thought that he must be sweltering in the navy-blue gansey he always wore crossed her mind. ‘Sorry, Harry, you’re welcome to go before me if you’re desperate.’

‘Aye, too right I’m bloomin’ desperate, ’specially with this red-hot weather we’re having.’

‘You might want to take that sweater off then, Harry, mate,’ said Ando Taylor, looking down at his short, stocky friend. ‘That’d cool you down a bit.’

‘Don’t be so daft, lad. I never take me gansey off! Our lass’d have me guts for garters. How else d’you think they’d be ableto identify me if I had an accident somewhere out of town? Thought you knew this pattern’s only worn by fishermen from Micklewick Bay! Soft lad!’ Lobster Harry shot him a look of outrage.

‘But you’re hardly going to get swept out to sea in here, are you?’ said Ando, wearing a confused expression. ‘And I thought you said you’d never been out of Micklewick Bay other than in your boat.’

Lobster Harry gave him an unimpressed look. ‘That’s beside the point. Anyroad, out me way, I’ve got a pint glass here, needs topping-up with some of that Micklewick Mischief; right good stuff it is.’

Stella and Mr Hot stood back, sharing an amused smile as Harry pushed his way to the front of the queue.

‘I’m Alex, by the way, Alex Bainbridge, and this young rascal is Fred,’ Mr Hot said when things had quietened down.

‘Hi, Alex, hi, Fred.’ Stella bent to ruffle the Labrador’s soft ears. ‘You’re cute, aren’t you?’

‘I assume you’re addressing Fred and not me?’ Alex said teasingly when she stood upright.

‘You assumed right.’ She couldn’t help but laugh. ‘And I’m Stella.’ She held out her hand. ‘Stella Hutton.’

‘Good to meet you, Stella Hutton.’ He took her hand, his touch sending a bolt of electricity shooting up her arm.

Wow! What was that?Her eyes flickered and she looked at him, wondering if he’d felt it too. Had his smile faltered momentarily, or was it just her imagination? she wondered, as colour rose in her cheeks.

‘Good to meet you too,’ she said when she’d gathered herself together. ‘So which part of town have you move?—’

‘Sorry I’m late, Al,’ said an out-of-breath female voice beside them, cutting Stella off.

‘Oh!’ She was startled to see a young woman with a dark ponytail and a pretty heart-shaped face link her arm through Alex’s. She was gazing up at him, smiling broadly, affection in her eyes. Fred’s tail-wagging went into overdrive. She was clearly a regular fixture in “Al’s” life. Stella felt her anger spike. How could Mr Hot think it was acceptable to flirt so blatantly with her when he had a girlfriend? It was a perfect example of why she was right to keep men at arm’s length. If there was one thing Stella really didn’t like, it was cheating rats.

She was pulled out of the moment by Immy, one of the Jolly’s servers, who leant into her, giving her arm a quick squeeze. ‘Just so you know, flower, your fish and chips are waiting.’ Her cheeks were flushed from dashing in and out of the kitchen.

‘Oh, righto, Immy, thanks.’

‘No probs.’ Immy flashed a grin before hurrying off.

Stella glanced up at Alex, pushing her mouth into a smile. ‘Right, well, it was nice to meet you but I’d best get back to my friends,’ she said coolly. Giving him no time to reply, she turned on her heel and headed back to the table where she spotted her friends regarding her with interest.

‘How did it go?’ asked Florrie, her eyes wide.

‘Who’s that woman who just came in?’ asked Maggie.

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