Page 16 of The Little Island Flower Stall
‘Yes. Sort of. I’m visiting family too. Sort of.’
‘Ah!’ Bella twisted some twine around the stems of the bouquet she’d just constructed for him. ‘That’s a bit like me, actually.’
Immediately she wanted to slap herself for giving so much away. But there was something about him that made her want to overshare.
‘You’re on holiday?’ The man looked confused.
‘I’m here for six weeks; helping my great-aunt with this place. She had a fall. Truth be told, I’m already beginning to feel like six weeks is going to fly by. I won’t want to go home; I love it here already.’
‘I can see why you would. There are far worse places to spend your working day, right?’
‘God yes! So how long are you here for?’
‘I’m not sure yet. It depends…Well, I’ve got some things to do.’
‘Something to do with the lady you’re buying these flowers for?’
‘You could say that.’ He smiled again, the smile that made her want to drop everything and stare at him, open-mouthed. He wasn’t even that good-looking…was he? Perhaps he simply wasn’t what she’d always considered good-looking when her idea of that had been Sean. He wasn’t a bit like Sean, who was all broad and muscular and alpha male. This man was slimmer, his build almost boyish, and his eyes were gentler, intelligent…sensitive even. She supposed that was good…for what it was worth, of course. What did it matter whether he was like Sean or not?
‘The flowers,’ he began after a pause, ‘they’re for a relative.’
‘I think you might have said that.’
‘But I wanted to make it clear.’
‘OK…’
He shot an awkward glance up and down the promenade and then turned back to Bella. ‘Thank you for coming to my assistance with the cloth. I appreciate it.’
‘I suppose it was the least I could do. Am I forgiven for laughing?’
‘I’m sure I’d have laughed too. Maybe I’ll see you around?’
Bella buried her hands in the front pocket of her apron. ‘Well, you know where to find me. At least between the hours of nine to five Monday to Saturday.’
He smiled again, and she wanted to call him back and make him sit with her so she could look at it all day. ‘I didn’t catch your name – if it’s not too rude to ask, of course. I mean, wehavejust met. Then again, you did just rescue me from a stained jacket.’
‘That’s true. I’m Bella.’
‘Hi, Bella. I’m Rory. So I’ll see you later…’
Bella watched him walk away, wondering what the hell had come over her. But he’d barely gone twenty feet when he turned and walked back.
‘I don’t suppose you’d like to have a coffee or something? My treat, for helping me out.’
‘I didn’t do all that much.’
‘Well, I’m also here on my own, and I might be here for a few weeks yet. It’d be nice to have some company. There’s nothing in it, but I understand if it’s…well, I suppose it might come across as forward, but I swear I’m not trying to be. I only want to thank you for the seagull thing. Of course you can feel free to say no and I won’t bother you again.’
Bella hesitated. She wanted to say yes, but they’d only just met and she knew literally nothing about him. There didn’t seem to be any threat, but you never knew. Then again, somewhere open, somewhere public…she supposed there couldn’t be any harm in one coffee, and she did want to know him better.
‘I might be able to spare half an hour this afternoon if we’re quiet,’ she said finally. ‘Or another day, of course, if that’s better for you.’
‘This afternoon is good. What time?’
‘I’m not sure…around three? I don’t want to leave my great-aunt for too long, but I will be due a break and, knowing Celestine, she’ll be adamant I take it.’
‘Three. No problem. I’ll see you then.’
