‘I couldn’t possibly.’ Gage didn’t have a clue how much the first edition was worth, but, from Melissa and Nathan’s comments in the pub, he guessed it was extremely valuable.
‘Of course you can.’ She bristled. ‘I recognise a fellow booklover when I see one and I’m sure you will take great care of it.’ The spark returned to her piercing gaze. ‘You wouldn’t fold pages to mark your place, read it in the bath or bend the spine back to set it down.’
‘I wouldn’t dream of it.’ He risked a smile, something that felt increasingly familiar these days. ‘Hanging, drawing and quartering is too good for book desecrators.’
They were laughing when Ophelia returned and he received a sharp look that was eerily similar to her sister’s. Gage hoped she didn’t think he’d been sharing what they’d spoken of earlier. He held up the book and gently explained what had amused them so heartily.
‘My sister values her books above everything.’ The tartness was unmistakable and Evelyn’s previously warm expression tightened. Ophelia held a silver tray out to him. ‘Sherry?’
‘I hardly think he can manage to take a glass until he sits down, do you?’
‘Silly me. Thoughtless as ever.’
Gage suppressed a sigh. This would be a long evening.
Chapter Ten
‘I come bearing fresh scones.’ Tamara pushed the shop door open and breezed in, swinging a white paper bag in her hand. ‘They’re my latest experiment for Christmas. Spiced cranberry walnut with a drizzle of cranberry icing.’
‘Oh, God. Not more food.’ Gage groaned. ‘I don’t mean to be unappreciative, but I’m still recovering from tackling the full roast beef dinner Evelyn plied me with last night. She piled my plate so high it would’ve fed a crew of navvies. After that came a gigantic bowl of apple crumble swimming in custard. I’m afraid Evelyn saw feeding me as part of my recovery process and as you know she takes things very seriously.’
‘I want to hear every detail. You can at least drink a cup of tea, right?’
‘Always.’
She breezed off to the kitchen and soon returned with two mugs. ‘Sit down and spill the beans.’
He took the drink from her and perched on a stool.
‘Was I right about Ophelia being stuck up and full of herself? I suppose they were polite around you? I don’t expect you found out why she came back to Penworthal when it’s obvious she and Evelyn don’t have much time for each other?’
An odd expression crossed Gage’s face.
‘You’re not going to tell me, are you?’
The tips of his ears turned pink, but he didn’t blink. ‘Let’s leave it that I had a great meal and came away with a du Maurier first edition to read.’
‘Wow! You are honoured. You’ve definitely won Evelyn over.’ She angled a sly smile. ‘Ophelia, too? Was she less acerbic with you?’
‘We talked.’ Gage cleared his throat. ‘You might want to give her a second chance is all I’m saying.’
‘Okay.’ Tamara dragged out the word. She pulled a scone out of the bag and nibbled one end. ‘A little less spice next time and the walnuts need to be chopped finer.’
‘Have you always loved baking?’
‘Absolutely.’ Despite being mildly annoyed that he was determined to keep his counsel about Evelyn and Ophelia, she couldn’t resist telling him about her passion. She started with her first inedible attempts, all the way through to creating her own recipes, and the dreams she had about making a living from them. She felt herself flush. Not prettily, because she wasn’t made that way unfortunately, but the hot, mottled red sort of blush that took ages to fade away.
‘Don’t be embarrassed.’ Gage placed his hand over hers. The sleeve of his jumper rode up a few inches to expose a dusting of fine dark hairs. It reminded her of yesterday morning and his broad, muscular chest, memories of which had kept her awake long into the night. Their eyes met and held. His sapphire-blue eyes bored into Tamara as he bent his head towards her. Within kissing distance. At the last second, he closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths. ‘Tell me if I’m out of line.’ The timbre of his voice deepened and turned husky.
‘You’re not.’ Every negative thing she’d once believed about this man turned to dust.
Gage’s hand lifted to her face and a throaty moan slipped out of her as his stroking fingers set her skin on fire. ‘I thought I was more patient.’
‘Are you going to kiss me anytime soon?’ The breath left her body when his mouth pressed against hers, hot and needy.
The tip of Gage’s tongue thrust its way in and she was on fire, imagining what it would be like when they made love. When. Not if.
A shrill wolf-whistle, loud claps and ragged cheers made them spring apart, and Tamara jerked her head around to seea small gaggle of people gawping at them, a grinning Melissa at the forefront. Why hadn’t it occurred to either of them that they were in full view of the shop window? The sight of them in a clinch was a notch up from Penworthal’s normal Friday morning entertainment of watching the bin men come around. Vernon Bull ambled over from the shop as well now, obviously afraid of missing out. When she’d reassured Becky that her connection to Gage would soon be old news, Tamara hadn’t expected to be the one replacing it on the top-gossip spot.
