Page 18 of Watch For Me By Candlelight

Something shifted in her expression and her eyes hardened. ‘Oh, yes? That would be Jenna’s invitation then.’

Theo grinned, remembering Jenna’s attempts to spend the evening with him. She wasn’t his type — he preferred women with a little more substance to them. ‘You could say that. I popped in here earlier and she sort of asked me along.’

Kate rolled her eyes. ‘Typical. Oh!’ Her eyes widened. ‘Were you the one who came in to see me when I was out?’

‘That would have been me,’ he admitted. ‘I was hoping to hold you to the extra visit on the one ticket. I’m sorry it failed.’

‘You clearly got a much more exciting offer.’ She smiled to take the edge off her words.

Theo laughed. It was nice talking to Kate, with the evening settling around them and the warmth holding in the dusty track and the grass nearby. He leaned on the dry-stone wall and felt the rough texture beneath his fingertips, the softness of the lichen in fluffy green patches here and there. It felt easy and it felt familiar.

‘Yeah, well. I decided against it. Apparently the food’s not great, and I’d kill for something to eat.’

Kate’s eyes slid across to the track behind him and she studied the pathway silently, seemingly wrestling with something beyond his comprehension.

‘I was just about to make a cup of tea and some cheese on toast,’ she said. ‘You’re welcome to have some if you want. If you’re still hungry.’

He wasn’t completely sure who was the most shocked at that offer. She stared at him, her eyes wide, as if she was just about to apologise for even suggesting such a thing.

But something inside him told him that this was a perfectly natural thing to do. In fact, it was something they had done many times before. It was the oddest sense of déjà vu.

‘Yes,’ he said slowly, ‘I would love that. Thanks.’

She nodded, a little stiffly. ‘Good. Come in through that gate then. You can wait here while I sort it all out.’

And she stood and hurried over to a door which must have led up into her flat above the museum.

He wasn’t going to argue. He was very happy to have cheese on toast and a cup of tea with Cat.

Cat? No. He meant Kate. Of course.

Chapter Seven

Kate’s cheeks were burning. Had she really just suggested a snack to a complete stranger?

It’s not a snack, it’s a feast, a little voice told her; and he’s not a stranger.

Regardless, she took the steps up to her flat two at a time in case she suddenly began to regret her offer. She grabbed two mugs from the dresser and flicked the switch on the kettle to boil. She put a teabag in Theo’s mug.

Will likes his tea strong. Don’t forget, it’s three spoonfuls of sugar and a fair drop of milk.

The cheese on toast, meanwhile, was bubbling away nicely under the grill and she slathered a good dollop of Worcestershire sauce onto both their suppers. It’s not to everyone’s taste, but we both like it. He introduced me to it and I—

‘Stop it!’ Kate dropped the spoon into the sink and pressed her hands over her ears, muffling the clatter. She clearly hadn’t woken up yet — her subconscious was still in the dream and she was still in — well — in a relationship with Blacksmith Will. No, she wasn’t; it was Cat. But how was it possible for her to know that? This was really creeping her out. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then she opened her eyes, flung the kitchen window wide and leaned out. Theo was standing in her garden, his hands clasped behind him, staring out at the fields and the river.

‘How do you like your tea?’ she shouted. She was steadying herself by holding onto the window frame and therefore he wouldn’t be aware that she was crossing her fingers, half-dreading the answer.

Theo turned and looked up. ‘Quite milky. Fairly strong. Three sugars.’

Kate swallowed. ‘Great. And you do like Worcestershire sauce, don’t you?’

‘I love that stuff!’ he called back. ‘Thanks.’ He smiled and her tummy did a funny little leap thing.

‘Me too.’ Kate was fairly certain that came out in a squeak, but Theo didn’t seem to notice if it had. ‘I’ll be down in a second.’ She was sure her smile was brittle as she closed the window and leaned against the counter, staring at the cups — the perfect tea and the cheese on toast just how he liked it.

‘Good grief.’ The smile slid off her face. She wasn’t quite sure where this was going. Her gaze travelled across to the corner of the room where a light on the laptop was still blinking, indicating that Chris had possibly left it on sleep mode after he’d used it earlier today. Chris, her boyfriend.

And here she was, entertaining a stranger who was camping up the road, and making him supper exactly as he liked it.