Oliver didn’t need to be told again. He grabbed his coat and stormed out.
‘Are you OK?’ Max said.
Alex nodded. ‘Thank you. I’m sorry I lost you a customer.’
‘I wouldn’t want to serve him anyway, what a vile man. Stay there, I’ve already arranged a lift home.’
‘Oh I’m fine, I can walk.’
Max shook his head. ‘No, just in case he’s still out there. Would you like something to eat while you wait? On the house.’
‘Oh no, I’m fine. I can get something to eat at home.’
‘How about Maria’s famous mince pie and ice cream?’
‘Oh yes please.’ Her stomach rumbled appreciatively.
Max nodded and returned a few moments later with a bowl with a delicious-looking mince pie and a dollop of brandy ice cream on the top. Maria’s mince pies were widely recognised as the best in Lovegrove Bay. Alex had no idea what she did to them, but she knew Maria made them from scratch and there were quite a lot of apples and cranberries used as well as the normal sultanas, oranges and brandy or rum. The pastry was the perfect texture that had that snap that shortcrust pastry had, but also melted in the mouth.
She took one heavenly bite and then Max called over. ‘Your ride is here.’
She sighed, wondering if she could take this bowl of wonder to go, although the ice cream probably wouldn’t travel well in a takeaway box. She turned round to see which taxi driver had been lumbered with driving her two minutes up the hill when she saw Quinn walking towards her.
‘Hey,’ Quinn said, as he arrived at her table.
‘Did Max call you?’
‘Yes, of course.’
She scowled at Max and he shrugged before returning to the kitchen.
‘I’m sorry your date wasn’t successful,’ Quinn said, sitting down.
‘It was the worst possible first date, in the history of first dates ever,’ she grumbled. ‘He basically came here to tell me I was entitled for asking him not to eat shellfish and then got really angry about it.’
‘He sounds like a complete dick. Why would you eat something if you know it’s going to make someone violently ill? I made the decision long ago that I was never going to eat shellfish ever again because I never want you to get sick from simply being around me. And you know what, I’ve survived that harrowing ordeal.’
She smiled. ‘Why is it so hard to find someone as lovely as you?’
She took another bite of the mince pie and then held out a loaded spoon for Quinn. He leaned forward and took the bite.
‘Mmm, that’s really good.’ He licked his lips and sat back. ‘You could just date me. At least then you’ll know what you’re getting and there’s no risk of Zara getting shipped off to boarding school or any shellfish-related incidents.’
‘You’re very sweet, but you’re only offering that because I was with Liam and you feel obligated to look after me.’
He frowned as if he wanted to say more. She watched him as she finished off her pie. What would it be like to date him? He’d be sweet, attentive, generous, loyal, just as he was now. He’d probably be amazing in bed, he looked the sort of man who knew exactly what to do to make a woman happy in that department. But he didn’t love her. He just wanted to take care of her and, as much as dating him would tick so many of her boxes, not least all those fantasies she had about him over the years, she needed love more than anything.
‘I don’t think I’m cut out for this dating malarkey anyway. I’m searching for the holy grail and if Dave and Oliver are the standards of men out there, I’ll never find it.’
Quinn frowned. ‘I don’t think the holy grail is a man who doesn’t yell at you because you have an allergy, that’s just basic respect. You need to aim higher than that.’
‘I think I’m aiming too high, that’s the problem.’ The holy grail was him, Alex knew that, but he was never going to be hers.
She wondered whether to tell Quinn that she’d seen his mum here with a man. However, as Violet had made such an effort not to be seen, she probably didn’t want Quinn to know either.
She dropped her spoon in the empty bowl. ‘Come on, let’s go home.’
Quinn stood and placed a ten-pound note on the table.
