Page 43 of Tricks & Treats at The Cosy Cornish Bakery

‘So,’ she murmured on a long, drawn-out breath, addressing the mug. ‘What are you going to do about it?’ The mug remained stubbornly silent. ‘Do what Ginger is doing, live for a moment’s pleasure?’ Chloe knew, though, that however much her friend protested otherwise, the woman was going to be hurt. ‘As am I. I could jump Nik’s delicious bones. Treat it as a fling.’ She laughed sourly. ‘He’d be the rebound guy,’ she told the teapot. But she knew that once she’d tasted him, she’d want more. And that was dangerous. She didn’t want to stay in Wheal Kitty Cove and knew his life was rooted in the village. Better to keep it strictly as friendship, however difficult that might prove to be. He might even turn out to be a good friend. And besides, she didn’t want to hurt him.

‘See,’ prattled a caller on Kernow Toons. ‘I’m in love with this woman, like, and she don’t know I exist. What do I do about it?’

Chloe gathered the tea things and put them back on the tray, taking it into the kitchen. She really needed to get the bread baked before Pammy crashed into the bakery. Yawning, feeling sleepy, she answered the radio. ‘You tell her, you daft goon. If everyone said exactly what was on their mind, the world would turn much more smoothly.’ And then, seeing the oven was at the right temperature, shoved the loaves in.

Nik marched resolutely home to the Surf School and his flat above. Usually, his home would be his solace, his quiet space away from the world, its soundtrack provided by the eternal rhythm of the sea. But tonight he knew he’d lie awake, staring at the ceiling. If he’d been sleepless before, then sleep would truly be impossible now.

How could she not have known? How could Chloe not have seen how attracted he’d been to her in that moment when she’d taken off that ridiculous blue hairnet, releasing her glorious hair? All he’d had to do was lower his mouth millimetres to capture hers. Her lips had been open and moist, willing him on, begging him nearer. He could have sworn she was disappointed when he’d reared away. She was always so cool and self-contained, and difficult to read. Hiding her emotions behind that cynical front. And she’d made it clear her future definitely didn’t belong here in Wheal Kitty Cove, whereas his most certainly did. Or at least for the foreseeable future. He’d tried long-distance relationships, they never worked. He wanted commitment, he wanted that warm body by his side each and every night. Angrily thrusting the key into the lock, he opened his front door, slamming it behind him. Running up the stairs, taking two at a time, he threw himself on the bed, trying to rid his mind of the vision of Chloe Pengelly’s dark, glossy hair waterfalling over her shoulders, and ignore the erotic things it was doing to his body.

CHAPTER 22

‘It’s not Trick or Treat until next week, you know,’ Ginger laughed at Josh, who was in his Jim disguise. They were standing on the green in the queue for entry to the Scare Fest. Behind them the fair was going strong, with the Ghostbusters theme belting out. It was another cold, crisp night, perfect for anything spooky. She’d warned Josh not to expect too much from the Scare Fest, but it was likely to be good fun and he’d been enthusiastic. Thankfully, whatever had been on his mind seemed resolved and their relationship was back on easy terms. Ginger couldn’t deny she loved his company and was craving more, regardless of how foolish an idea this was.

He leaned in and whispered, ‘Do I look that much of a horror?’

She reached up on tiptoe and tweaked his bucket hat. ‘Nope. In fact, I’m getting very fond of this hat.’

‘Are you?’ He came to within breathing distance, a wicked grin playing about his lips. ‘Ruins my hair.’

Ginger stared, willing him to kiss her. He had perfectly shaped lips, full and wide. His mouth, like the rest of his face was mobile and expressive. Backing away a little, she resisted the temptation to kiss him. His presence at The Sanctuary as Jim seemed to have been accepted by the village. If anyone thought they were more than friends it would attract far too much attention. There was nothing Wheal Kitty Cove loved more than a possible love story, and she hadn’t offered them anything in the way of gossip for years. A hot and heavy snog in public, however delicious an idea, would stir the blabbermouths into action. And, if it led to Josh’s cover being blown, he may have to go away. Something painful stabbed at her heart. She didn’t want him to go away. Ever. Best then, to pretend to the world that Josh was Jim, a Welsh friend of hers. A strictly platonic friend.

Josh, however, appeared to have other ideas. He caught her chin between his finger and thumb. ‘You’re looking utterly delicious tonight. I love that knitted beret.’

‘Crocheted. It’s crocheted.’ Ginger sighed, unable to breathe. Their mouths inched closer. ‘I crocheted it.’

‘What do you mean, I can’t take the kids?’ a familiar voice yelled from the front of the queue. A woman with children had been holding everyone up for some time now. Ginger peered round the tall man in front of her. ‘Oh, it’s Hannah, with Maddy and Isaak.’

‘Who?’

‘Chloe’s sister.’

The argument got even more heated. ‘It’s ridiculous you’re putting on a Halloween event that’s adult only,’ Ginger heard Hannah say. Tina from the Drama Society, who was issuing tickets, replied but it was muted and inaudible. It was hard to hear over the music blaring from the fair. ‘Yes, I will take them trick or treating but I wanted them to do Scare Fest an’ all.’ Hannah seemed to wait for an answer, then grabbed the children by the hands and marched them off, muttering irritably.

As they strode past, Ginger hissed, ‘Quick, duck behind me. Maddy and Isaak are big fans.’

Josh slid nimbly to the other side of her, bending his knees slightly so he appeared much shorter and hunching his shoulders, transforming into his alter ego.

‘It’s okay. They’ve gone. Coast is clear. How do you do that?’ she asked once he’d straightened to his normal height.

Josh pulled his hat further down over his eyes. ‘What?’

‘Change yourself.’

He winked and kissed her quickly on the cheek. ‘I have magic powers.’

The queue shuffled forwards. When they got to the front, Tina looked up from the little table she was sitting at. ‘Oh it’s you, Ginger,’ she said in relief, adjusting her witch’s hat. ‘Don’t need to ask you if you’re over twelve.’

‘Not sure how to take that,’ Ginger replied with a grin. ‘But seeing as Hannah gave you a hard time, I’ll just pay my money. Two, please.’

‘It’s Health and Safety,’ Tina explained importantly, ripping off two tickets. ‘It’s really not suitable for little children.’ She gazed at Josh through narrowed, avidly curious eyes. ‘Oh, are you Ginger’s friend who’s staying? Nice to meet you.’

Josh reached out his hand to shake hers. ‘Jim,’ he said in his Welsh accent. ‘Jim, er…’

‘Jones. Old friend.’ Ginger didn’t like the way Tina was examining Josh, so she held out her palm for the tickets. ‘Anything we should know, Tina? Only, because of Hannah we’ve been queuing for a while. We’d quite like to get on.’

‘Dead keen, see. Just hope it’s not too terrifying,’ Josh put in, rolling his ‘r’ with ridiculous emphasis.

Josh, you’re enjoying your disguise a bit too much.