The Little Book Café. Georgia Hill

bungalow. She seemed interested. Gave me some more of her brownies. It’s the only thing I’ve managed to eat all day.’ Emma craned her neck. ‘Oh good, here they are. Hope they’ve got some of Millie’s sausage baguettes. They’re delish.’

      Ollie waggled his eyebrows at Tash. ‘In the peak of physical health and eating sausage baguettes.’

      Kit stepped over the bench and straddled it. ‘Great buzz in town and I love that café. I’ve got the coffees and Millie’s special cherry and almond cake and Amy’s got the sandwiches.’ He put the pink tin tray with the flowery mugs down on the table. ‘Will that do you, Emma?’ He clocked Tash. ‘Oh, didn’t see you there. Hi Tash.’ He began to stand up. ‘I’ll go back and get you something, shall I? What do you fancy?’

      Tash looked up at him mutely. ‘You,’ she wanted to say. Instead she smiled. ‘I’m sure there’ll be more than enough.’

      Amy perched next to him. ‘Think there’s enough to feed half of Berecombe here. Millie’s portions are huge.’ She began to dole out sandwiches. ‘Only one sausage baguette left so that’s yours Emma. I’ve got tuna mayo. Hand-carved ham and mustard, Ollie and Kit? You can share my tuna if you like, Tash. I won’t eat all of it.’

      Amy would be able to eat the entire picnic, Tash was sure. But like a lot of chubby women, she was too self-conscious to eat too much in public. Tash knew the signs. She’d been like it once. ‘That’s really kind, Amy, thank you. It’s great this, isn’t it? I love the Red Arrows.’

      Emma looked at her through narrowed eyes. ‘You’re in an unusually good mood. And why have you got Benji?’

      Tash tightened her hold on the dog as he got a sniff of ham and sausage and wriggled. ‘Parents flew out to Portugal this morning and the kennels cocked up. He’s staying with me for the duration.’

      ‘And how does Adrian feel about that?’ Emma’s eyes went huge. ‘He hates dogs. Won’t it mess up his perfect shag-pile?’

      ‘Adrian’s fine with it all,’ Tash lied. ‘And we don’t have shag-pile, as well you know,’ she said stiffly. She felt Kit’s eyes on her and her face heated. ‘Let’s dig in, shall we? I’m hungry too.’ She accepted the half a sandwich Amy offered. ‘Bookshop not open today?’

      ‘Millie’s given me a couple of hours off.’ Amy blushed. ‘Patrick’s covering. He’ll do a lot better than me. Knows much more about books.’

      ‘I’m sure that’s not true.’

      ‘I’ll go back in once it’s over. The Red Arrows bring a lot of people into town and I’ve done a display of books about them and stuff,’ Amy added eagerly.

      Tash warmed to her. She’d thought the girl was a bit of a milksop when she first met her but she came alive at the mention of books. ‘I’m sure that will go down well.’

      The cheers from the crowds on the beach told them something was beginning to happen and a roar of planes swooping in low over the cliffs behind them, followed by trails of coloured smoke, told them the Red Arrows had arrived.

       Chapter 21

      Kit accompanied Tash and Benji back along the prom. The crowds were gradually dispersing but there was still a buzz about the place. Cars inched along the road, heading out of town, windows down, music blaring.

      ‘I love it when it’s like this,’ Tash said. ‘All happy faces and suntan lotion, buckets and spades and sandy feet on the prom.’

      Kit scuffed his feet through a puddle of sand on the hot concrete. ‘Certainly half the beach along here. Have you always lived in Berecombe?’

      ‘Yes. Berecombe born and bred. I couldn’t ever imagine living away from the sea.’

      He followed her gaze to the sea, a vividly deep blue, glistening in the hot sunshine. ‘I take your point.’

      ‘What about you?’ Tash steered Benji past a yappy dachshund. He was getting tired after his long walk, and grumpy.

      ‘Oh, lived all over the place. Grew up in Bristol, trained in London, ended up here.’

      Tash looked up at him. He wasn’t giving much away. ‘And no girlfriends or wives lurking in any of those places?’ She bit her lip, horrified that the question had slipped out.

      ‘I was married once. Briefly. A long time ago.’ He flashed a grin at Tash. ‘All ended amicably I’m happy to say and she’s now living in the States with her new husband.’ He laughed. ‘And much happier.’

      ‘What happened?’ Benji dragged her to a bin where he sniffed with interest. Tash leaned against the railings separating the prom from the beach below, letting the dog explore. She lifted her face to the sun, drinking it in. It really had been the most glorious summer. Then she realised what she’d asked. ‘I’m so sorry. That was nosy.’

      Kit joined her, his shoulder resting companionably against hers. ‘It’s not rude at all. Just curious. We met when we were dental students. Rushed into something too young too soon. I think Melanie was fully-formed at twenty-two but I most certainly wasn’t. She’s still a friend and having a lovely life with another dentist. Howard is a great bloke.’

      ‘You’re very calm about life, aren’t you?’ Tash wasn’t sure how she felt about Kit having an ex-wife somewhere. She knew she had no right to be jealous but she was. Great swooping waves of jealousy filled her. She stamped down on them. ‘You’re very—’ she searched for the right word ‘—zen, aren’t you?’

      Kit laughed. ‘Am I? I suppose I am. Takes a lot to get me riled.’

      Tash turned and leaned her elbows on the railings behind her. She held her hair out of her eyes and looked at him. ‘Tell me then, Kit Oakley, what gets you riled?’

      He scuffed his feet again, maybe embarrassed. ‘Oh, I don’t know. Injustice, cruelty, unfairness. That sort of thing.’ He looked up and locked gaze. ‘I hate to see animals mistreated. And I hate to see people unhappy.’ Reaching out a hand, he put it on her arm. ‘I hate to see you unhappy, Tash.’

      ‘What makes you think I’m unhappy?’ It came out as a strangled whisper. His touch was hot on her bare skin. She longed to tell him everything. Ached for the comfort of his strong hold. For the feel of his body on hers. He was very close. She was mesmerised by his mouth and the urgent need to kiss it. The crowds melted away. There was only her and Kit and the hot sun drilling down. The moment crystallised. She reached forward and gave in to impulse. His lips were firm and warm and welcoming and she wanted to drink him in.

      She leaped back, appalled at what she’d allowed herself to do.

      Scrubbing a hand across her mouth, she shook her head in a desperate attempt to clear it. ‘I’ve got nothing to be unhappy about,’ she said through clenched teeth. ‘I’ve got everything I’ve always wanted. A gorgeous house, a good job, a great boyfriend.’

      Kit stared at her intently. ‘Who are you trying to convince, Tash?’ he said. ‘Me or yourself?’ He took his hand away and Tash shivered, despite the hot sun. ‘You put on a front. All brittleness and confidence,’ he went on in a hoarse voice. ‘You keep telling us how great your life is but you’re far too thin and you’ve got shadows under your eyes. You look haunted, Tash. You look like you’re being eaten alive.’ He ignored her gasp of horror. ‘You know, you can always come to me if you need to.’

      ‘How dare you!’ Tash spluttered. ‘What right have you to say that?’ She pulled herself up. ‘You hardly know me.’ She turned to go but Kit put out a hand to stop her.

      ‘You’re right, I hardly know you but I see what I see. You look like you could do with a friend, Natasha Taylor the estate agent. And when you do, I’ll be there.’

      Tash