Page 14 of Daring to Love

5

Amelie

He wants to know what my favourite dish is? Really?

“Really?” I don’t hide my disbelief. “You want to talk about food?”

His lips tip up in the corner, but his eyes are sharp, alert.

“I’m just making small-talk.”

I don’t believe him.

“A journalist never asks a question he can’t use against someone at a later date.”

He blinks, and I cross my arms in front of my chest.

“What do you have against journalists? Or, is it just me you dislike?”

I wet my lips, unnerved by his direct gaze. It takes me longer to suppress the need to squirm in my seat, but years of disciplining myself come in handy, so I sit still.

“I don’t know you, Finlay, thus I can’t dislike you.”

“But,” he leans forward in his seat, resting his arms on the table, “you don’t like me, either?”

I sigh and shake my head.

“Like I just said, you’re a stranger, and I haven’t decided yet.”

“Hmm. Interesting.”

“Why?”

He shrugs and opens his mouth, but he doesn’t get the chance to reply because Gavin’s wife, Maggie, appears next to our table.

“Amelie, dear.” She smiles down at me and places a hand lightly on my shoulder. “How lovely to see you, dear. How are you?”

Some of the tension I’ve been feeling ever since I found Finlay waiting for me back at the dance studio leaves my body, and I smile up at her friendly face.

“I’m well, thank you. And you?”

Her eyes dart curiously between us as she squeezes me fondly. “Oh, I’m good. Same old,” she laughs. “Now, what can I tempt you and your friend with tonight? It’s late, though, so I don’t have much to offer. If I’d known you’d stop by, I’d have saved you a piece of pie.”

“Please don’t apologise.” I rest my hand on hers to reassure her. “Do you have any soup left?”

She nods. “That I have, dear. Your favourite, too.”

My mouth waters and my belly rumbles.

“You know I can’t say no to that,” I smile up at her. “Then I’ll have that, please.”

Maggie winks at me and takes a step back, looking down at Finlay, and I have to bite my lip to prevent myself from laughing when her smile vanishes at once as she takes him in.

“And what about you, lad?”

He smiles politely at her and juts his chin in my direction.

“The same for me, please.”