Page 62 of Courting Trouble
‘I know. I’m ready,’ Delilah said. ‘Run me through it again?’
‘OK… start in the darkest corner of the breadbasket, the rolls no one touches because they’re actually white inside. Take the eggs at the edge of the catering tray, where the butter has pooled, and therefore are fattier. Grab the turkey bacon that is slightly overcooked and brittle. With enough salt, it could almost pass for very poor-quality pig bacon. But don’t be obvious.’
Delilah snorted. ‘You make it sound like smuggling contraband.’
‘Itiscontraband,’ Cassie said. ‘They want us fuelled on spinach smoothies and egg whites. We’re building the closest thing to a fry-up this camp will ever see.’
Delilah shook her head, grinning. ‘Fine. But if I get caught with three butter pats in my pocket, I’m blaming you.’
A few minutes later, they carried their haul to a patio table.
‘You’re right. Thisdoeslook like a real breakfast,’ Delilah said with delight, salting her burnt turkey bacon.
Cassie was watching Delilah spooning scrambled eggs into her mouth, oblivious to the appalled/jealous looks from the next table from a young guy eating some plain yoghurt.
I managed to get you into bed,Cassie thought. And then:How?!
If Delilah had looked good to Cassie before, she was radiant now. Her warm brown hair, pulled into a messy ponytail, was glossier than ever, and her large, clear mahogany eyes seemed almost hypnotic. Her small, perfectly shaped mouth drew the eye, like a quiet invitation.
Cassie realised that when she’d first met her, she’d ignored her beauty on purpose. Because she was the kind of woman you saw and thought,Not a chance, and left it at that.
But there was a chance. More than chance. And Cassie had dared to take it.
The morning seemed to wrap itself around them as they ate together. And everything was just easy. For a moment, it was almost ridiculous how natural it felt, like this was something they’d always done.
After they’d finished eating, Cassie saw something she hadn’t spotted earlier. ‘Is that a banana on your tray?’ she asked, surprised.
‘I have to keep trying with them,’ Delilah declared, picking it up and peeling with a sigh.
Cassie watched Delilah eat a tiny piece of banana with barely concealed revulsion and then subtly spit it into a napkin. Cassie wanted to kiss her very, very badly.
But they were in public, so she simply said, ‘You can stop torturing yourself now. I grabbed you some of the giant Jelly Baby stash—they’re in my bag,’ Cassie said, pleased when she caught the spark of delight and gratitude in Delilah’s eyes.
‘You’re so cute,’ Delilah told her with a cheeky grin.
Cassie willed herself not to blush. She wasn’t very successful.
Then Cassie saw Delilah’s smile falter. She followed the line of her gaze to the fence.
Petra was over by court five, reaming out a teenager for skipping his drills.
‘Did she talk to you like that?’ Delilah asked carefully.
Cassie nodded. ‘Constantly.’
Delilah’s jaw tightened. ‘I knew I was right to hate her.’
Cassie chuckled. ‘Youhateher?’
Delilah suddenly found her cup of tea fascinating. ‘I mean, yeah. Although it started as jealousy.’
Cassie was astounded and delighted. ‘Really?’
Delilah sighed, her eyes trying to meet Cassie’s. ‘I probably shouldn’t have admitted that.’
‘I don’t hate hearing it,’ Cassie said.
Delilah cleared her throat. ‘You were together, weren’t you?’
