Page 40 of The Best Book Boyfriend
“What’s up sugarpuff?”
I cover my eyes as if I can hide from my confession. “I think I fancy Luke.”
“No shit babes.”
“What am I gonna do?”
“You could try shagging him?” she says. I haven’t told them about what happened that night on the sofa. When they asked how our evening went, I’d fibbed and said that we had dinner, talked about book club, and then I went home. I know I can tell them anything, but I was embarrassed and I know they’d want to interrogate the whole thing so much that I couldn’t bear to relive it. Except privately, at night, in my own bed, over and over.
“I’m not you, Hattie. I can’t go from twelve years with someone to a one-night stand. I’ve got too many feelings.”
“I know. It’ll happen in the right way.”
“Not with Luke, it won’t. He’s grieving, he needs a friend, and I’m enjoying his friendship. I feel like a terrible person when I have all these impure thoughts about him.”
“What do you want to do?”
I groan and pout. “As much as it pains me, I think I should start dating.”
“Seriously?” she pulls her head away from me to get a proper look at my face.
“Yeah,” I say, although I can’t quite believe I’m voicing what has, until now, been just a tiny ember of an idea. “You always say the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else. Maybe the thing I need to get over is my Luke crush rather than my Adam relationship.”
“OK,” she nods. “I think I see where you’re coming from. I can’t guarantee it will work, but it probably won’t do any harm to try. Even if it’s just chatting to guys and going for a drink, it’s all good practice for when you eventually meet the right person.” She pulls me in for a hug. “Want me to help you make a profile?”
“Yes. But you have to promise not to pester me into having sex with them.”
“I can’t promise that babes, you know I want everyone to be shagging all the time, but I will try.”
Chapter 16
Kara
Theantiquefairstartsearly, so I’m outside Luke’s at 6am with a forty-five minute drive ahead of us. I picked up the van before the local rental place closed last night, and I’ve loaded the back with blankets and cushions to protect anything I buy.
I’m buzzing. Despite the early start, I love the thrill of the chase when it comes to antique fairs. It’s like a treasure hunt, but you don’t have a map and you never know what you’re going to find.
Luke saunters down his path in jeans and a hoodie with a red checked jacket thrown over the top, looking every bit the sexy lumberjack that he is in my fantasies. Fuck, I’m supposed to be cooling it, not spending the day ogling. This will be tougher than I thought.
“I’m sorry it’s so early,” I say as I pull away from his house. “You’ve got to be at these things first if you want the best stuff.”
“It’s OK, I’m up this early if I’m opening the shop, and I don’t sleep much, anyway.”
“I usually go to these things alone because no way could I drag Megan and Hattie around a field at 7am.” The image makes me laugh. “I mean, Icould, but I’d have to literally drag them.”
We listen to the radio as I drive and the quiet roads pass quickly. When we arrive I unload and unfold my pull-along wagon and we head off into the rows of stalls. The grass is damp with morning dew and I can hear skylarks chirping away somewhere in the sky above us.
“Right Luke, you’re gonna be my second pair of eyes today. You do this job well, and I’ll buy you an incredibly average bacon roll at the end.”
“Oh my gosh,” he gasps, one hand splayed across his chest, “not an incredibly average bacon roll. Here I was thinking this day couldn’t get any better!” He jabs me with his elbow and smiles brightly.That had better not be flirting. Keep your head, Kara.
“What are you after today?”
“I’m on the lookout for brass fittings; wall lights, lamps, switches, handles, anything like that. Any unusual light fittings, really. I’m also after vintage fabrics, so look out for curtains, bedding, blankets and whatnot. I need a few side tables for this place, ideally with drawers. And I’m always keen to pick up interesting artwork and frames. Got it?”
“Lights. Fabrics. Side tables with drawers. Art,” he counts them off his fingers.
“You’ll do well. I also need to source an incredible farmhouse dining table at some point, but I’ll be annoyed if I find one here because it won’t fit in the van. But if you see one, tell me anyway because it will help inspire me.”
