Page 71 of Tricks & Treats at The Cosy Cornish Bakery

‘Ah. I agree with you there. With Nik, if he feels stuff deeply, it stays hidden. Doesn’t get revealed. Think he’s just naturally very reserved. Likes to stand back and observe. You really ought to apologise, you know. I know what you’re like when you get on one. Nik’s too nice a man to deserve that.’

‘Gee, thanks.’

‘You know what I mean. I know the real you, but you can come across as being ever so brittle. Tough.’ Ginger turned to her. ‘Why don’t you tell him how you really feel?’

Chloe felt her face heat. ‘What do you mean?’ Around them the crowd roared its approval as the Morris side finished the dance and began another.

‘You like him, don’t you?’ Ginger yelled over the din.

‘Yeah. As you said he’s a nice guy.’

‘But you really like him.’

‘I’ve been sort of trying to accidentally bump into him all week.’ Chloe bit her lip and caught Ginger’s expression. ‘And yes, all right, to apologise. I was vile to him and you’re right he didn’t deserve it. But in between Mum and the bakery and Pammy, I haven’t had the time.’

‘Nonsense. You’ve been avoiding him.’

Chloe sighed. ‘Okay, smart arse, I’ve been avoiding him.’

‘Why?’ Ginger asked curiously.

‘Oh, Ginger.’ Chloe felt perilously near to tears. She blamed the scrumpy. ‘Because you’re right. As ever. I do like him. I fancy the pants off him. Would very much like to rip the pants off him, as a matter of fact.’

Ginger’s mouth dropped open. ‘Blimey,’ she said. ‘Think you’d better tell him, then. Because if I know Nik, unless he absolutely knows, is certain you have feelings for him, he won’t make the first move.’

Chloe absorbed what Ginger had said. Had she the confidence to do what her friend advised? What if she’d misread the situation and what Nik felt for her was purely friendship? They had to co-exist in the same small village; it would be utterly mortifying if she declared her feelings only to be rebuffed. And she wasn’t sure she could take any more rejection after the fiasco that had been Jasper. She watched as Liam staggered past carrying three glasses of cider, spilling most of it, and nearly getting whacked with a Morris dancer’s stick. She remembered how leery he’d been when handing over her Scarecrow Competition prize. Something puzzled her. ‘Don’t know why Nik is friends with Liam.’

‘Neither do I. The man’s a prick.’

It was so unlike Ginger to utter anything negative that Chloe laughed. Then she stopped abruptly as she saw who was striding across the green towards them. ‘Ginger, don’t look now but it’s–’

Ginger whipped round. ‘Oh.’ The sound came out as a squeak.

CHAPTER 34

‘It’s Josh. Oh, Chloe, he’s back.’ Ginger was vibrating with nerves but, before she could greet him, Chloe shot in front of her. Planting her feet firmly apart on the green’s trampled grass, her friend folded her arms, ready for combat.

‘Chloe, hi.’ Josh looked uneasy. He also looked knackered.

‘What the fuck did you think you were doing?’ Chloe launched in without preamble. ‘Have you any idea how heartbroken Ginger is?’

‘I can explain.’ He pushed a distraught hand through his hair, making it stand up.

One or two people looked their way with puzzled expressions on their faces. ‘That guy looks familiar,’ Ginger heard one say. ‘Where have I seen him before?’ If recognised, Josh might be mobbed. There were a lot of out of towners here tonight, drink was flowing, and they probably weren’t as blasé about the rich and famous as most Wheal Kitty residents.

‘Chloe.’ Ginger put a hand on her arm. ‘Let Josh explain. Or let us go somewhere so we can talk.’

‘He can talk here. Whatever he’s got to say to you he can say in front of me.’

‘No, Chloe, he can’t. This is between me and Josh.’ Ginger was unusually firm. This was her battle. Then she relented. ‘Please, Chloe, I know you’re doing this out of love, but I’ll be fine, really.’ She cast a glance at Josh, who looked cold and was turning alternatively red and green in the flashing lights being given out by the fun fair. His face was tight and drawn and she almost felt sorry for him. Almost. ‘I want to hear what he has to say.’

Chloe turned on her. ‘But he’s hurt you so badly–’

‘Which makes me even more curious as to why he disappeared without a word.’

‘What do you mean, Ginger?’ Josh took her arm, looking concerned. ‘I got Dana to get a message to you.’

‘You got your assistant to send a personal message?’ Chloe exploded, spitting the words out.