Page 9 of A Spot of Tea
“I haven’t tried these yet,” she said, sitting down across from him. “They need tea to be properly enjoyed.”
“Agreed,” he said, promptly picking up the teapot to fill his cup.
Eliza used a fork to sample the edge of the cupcake. The blueberry mixture was sweeter this time – she’d added a little extra sugar and vanilla – and the lemon wasn’t as overpowering as the last batch, where she’d somehow used the sourest lemons on planet earth.
“Better,” she said slowly, “but I think I need to add more vanilla.”
He stared at her, wiping a crumb from the corner of his mouth. “How long have you been doing this?”
“Baking cupcakes?” She shrugged. “Since I became the laughingstock of the island.”
“Wait, really? You’re not a professional?”
She took a sip of tea and shook her head. It was so hot it burned the roof of her mouth – but still so good. “No. I’m just helping here for a while.”
He stuffed the rest of the cupcake into his mouth, then added another to his plate. “Too bad. I was going to say you could take your half of the reward money and open a bakery.”
Eliza rolled her eyes. “Right. The reward money we’d totally get because we’d find this guy.”
“We would. I believe in us.”
She couldn’t help but laugh – really laugh – this time. “You must be desperate for money.”
“Who doesn’t need money?” He finished the second cupcake and took a swig of tea. “I’m just saying we would make a unique team.”
“Uh huh.”
He flashed a smile. His teeth were exceptionally straight – the kind of straight that could only be achieved with braces. Had his parents really needed to do that? Make him more handsome through orthodontics?
“Okay, I know I don’t seem super impressive, and you could probably recruit a much more qualified team, but hear me out.”
She sat back, tea in hand. She didn’t know what he was going on about – recruiting a team – but she liked to watch him talk. His eyes lit up every time she brushed him off, and he had a dimple in his right cheek when he smiled.
“I’ve worked on a fishing boat in Alaska. I flew a private jet for a billionaire who referred to me as his ‘air horse.’”
She frowned. “Weird.”
“It was.” Joey nodded and went on. “I got shot at flying out of Ghana, and I’ve flown through thunderstorms and landed in hailstorms. I’ve survived flying through fog thick enough to send a bomber into the Empire State Building.”
Eliza gasped. “You can’t joke about plane crashes! Didn’t that actually happen?”
A smirk crossed his face, the dimple engaging. “That crash was like eighty years ago. What about the Hindenburg? Too soon to joke about that, too?”
“I don’t know.” Eliza set her tea down. “Probably.”
“Well, sorry.” He cleared his throat. “I’m telling you, I’d be a great partner for this.”
Men and their confidence. Eliza leaned in. “Let me tell you something. I’m not doubting you. I’m telling youI’dbe a terrible partner. I ruin everything I touch. I destroy lives – usually just my own, but I’m pretty sure I have the capacity to ruin others’ if I put my mind to it.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I don’t believe any of that.”
“Well, it’s true.” She sat back, arms crossed over her chest.
He downed the rest of his tea and set the cup onto the saucer with a clatter. “I guess I have to prove you wrong. No one who makes cupcakes like that can destroy lives.”
Eliza stood. “I assure you I can.”
He stood and stepped closer, towering above her. “Will you be here Saturday?”
