Elijah gave a playful shrug. ‘Unless I’ve read this completely incorrectly, there’s a connection between us, but you’re doing everything in your power to thwart it.’
Flick diverted her attention to her shoes. ‘It’s complicated.’
‘Are you married?’ he asked.
‘No.’
‘Are you single?’
‘Yes.’
‘Are you attracted to me?’
Despite herself, this was one lie Flick couldn’t bring herself to tell. She tried hard not to imagine how his lips felt. ‘You’re very direct, aren’t you?’ she replied.
‘I’ll take that deflection to mean yes. But someone hurt you quite badly so now you struggle to trust anyone.’
Flick didn’t need to reply. The look she gave him admitted as much.
‘That’s fine, I’m a patient man, I can wait.’
‘We should go back inside.’
‘Must we?’
‘Yes.’
‘Okay, but I will persuade you to sit for me one day.’
‘Would you rather paint me or take me out for dinner?’
‘We can combine the two. I’ll paint you while you eat.’
‘It’s a no thanks to that too.’
‘You’re a tough cookie.’
Elijah placed his hand in the small of her back as he escorted her back to the gallery and the two went their separate ways. Grace slipped her arm around Flick’s andpulled her into a quieter section, grabbing another glass of champagne from a waiter’s tray as she moved. ‘Tell me everything,’ she began.
‘There’s nothing to tell.’
‘You disappear outside with Elijah Beckworth for twenty minutes and return as if nothing has happened but with a smile the size of the Cheddar Gorge across your face.’
‘We just talked. You know I’m not looking for a relationship.’
‘And that’s precisely when you’re most likely to find it. Do you want to see him again?’
Flick couldn’t deny that she wanted to get to know him. She told herself that it was because Karczewski had encouraged them to blend into their new surroundings which included becoming involved in relationships. But only if they were confident no emotion was involved and they could leave without notice if ordered to. She tried to kid herself there was no more to it than that.
A hangover from the past made Flick question whether she trusted Elijah. She understood the irony in expecting honesty from someone else when she was unable to offer it herself.
‘Perhaps this is why you’re in Aldeburgh,’ Grace continued. ‘Despite all that’s happened to you before you arrived, this is the person you’re meant to be now. And Elijah is the person you’re meant to be with.’
Chapter 34
CHARLIE, MANCHESTER
‘Andrew!’ snapped Vicky. ‘Enough! You’ll have to excuse my fiancée, Charlie, he might be a great life-coach, but he could benefit from paying someone to guide him in appropriate dining conversation.’
