Page 31 of The Reality of Us
“Excellent timing!” Lulu called once he’d closed the door.
Alice’s cheeks reddened as their gazes met, her lips falling into a flat line. Great. She was still annoyed about yesterday. He wasn’t exactly happy about it, either.
“Help me convince Alice to have lunch with us,” Lulu said, smiling at them both. She turned to Alice, half dragging her over to the counter and nodding towards one of the shaggy grey stools behind it. “There’s always too much. Do you like corned beef?”
Alice paled. Owen didn’t blame her. He felt the same way about boiled meat. Always had, but it had been a staple in the James household when he was growing up. Alice’s hands fluttered around the handle of her bag. “I don’t want to intrude.”
Lulu scoffed, knocking shoulders with her affectionately as she placed a candle back on the counter. “Rubbish. Look at the super cute candles Alice has been making, Owen!” She threw a pointed stare at him, tilting her head towards the stool next to Alice. She’d never get any points for subtlety. “I’ll go get my chair from my office. Better for these old bones anyway.”
Owen made a show of checking his watch. He had a phone meeting with Jessica in forty-five minutes to go over their plan for tomorrow’s mediation session one last time. “Why don’t we catch up another time, Mum?”
“Don’t be silly. You’re here now with the food. Sit down.”
He readjusted his grip on the bag, weaving between the tables of trinkets and curios until he was on the other side of the counter. “I’ll get the chair.”
When he returned, Lulu was trying to convince Alice to take half her sandwich.
“No, no, it’s really okay. I had breakfast not long ago,” Alice said, smoothing her hands over her hair. It was braided again, but not in the funny crown style, instead in a long golden rope down her back. Her hands fell to her side when her stomach growled.
“There’s extra gravy.” Lulu pointed towards the takeaway container with her half of the sandwich. “And Owen gets himself a coffee, but my drink’s always a fun surprise. What is it today, darling?”
“Mulled wine.”
“I’d better not,” Alice said.
A light bulb went off in Owen’s mind. “Is this about what Phoenix said yesterday?”
Alice scratched her neck, a red line marring her milky skin. Shit. He wasn’t supposed to notice things like this about her. But it was hard when she kept visiting his dreams.
“Was this when he called you fat?” Lulu asked as she peeled the top off her drink.
The red line on Alice’s neck extended towards her chest. “Does everyone know?” she mumbled.
Lulu tipped half of her drink into an empty water glass, smiling apologetically as she pushed the keep cup towards Alice. “You know what they say about small towns.”
Owen picked up one of the candles in front of him, reading the label. The tropical, fruity scent reminded him of a Piña Colada. “The Banana Hammock?”
“Aren’t the names great? Look at this one.” Lulu thrust another candle towards him. Clean as a Whistle made him think of fresh sheets and lavender. Which made him think of Alice in bed, hair rumpled, lips swollen from kisses. His kisses.
He cleared his throat and dropped his gaze to the counter where more candles were arranged in a straight line.
Centred in the middle of each label in a reddish sparkly print was her company name: The Emancipation of Alice.
“Interesting business name.” He unpacked the knife and fork he’d brought from the office.
“We’re going to do a trial run of stocking the range here once Alice has finished her website.”
Owen mixed his salad together. “You’re going to sell candles?”
Alice sipped her drink slowly, her tongue darting out to catch a drop that escaped. Owen stabbed at a piece of chicken and missed, a cherry tomato ricocheting over the side of the takeaway container.
“I’ve been making them to keep myself busy. Figured I may as well try selling some.” Alice frowned at her drink, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. “If they take off, I’ll have to find somewhere else to make them, though. The kitchen at home isn’t ideal.”
“You’ve been making them in the apartment?” This was no good. Her determination was dangerously sexy. “How many do you have?”
Alice cleared her throat. “Five hundred.”
“Five hundred is a …” He paused, gobsmacked. Teddy hadn’t said anything about candles, and he hadn’t noticed them during his visits to borrow the shower. They must be in her room. “It’s a lot.”
