‘I’m sure something will turn up. Look at me – it could be the best thing that’s ever happened to you.’
‘I love your optimism, but I’m not so sure,’ said Penny, with a deep sigh.
‘Bloody hell,’ said Charlie as he opened the front door that evening. ‘Are you making chemical weapons?’
‘Yes, it’s a big order for the Ministry of Defence and it doubles as beetroot and orange chutney,’ said Regan, opening the kitchen door. She scanned Charlie up anddown. The sight of him in his uniform was always a thrill and something she would never tire of.
‘Thank goodness it’s not dinner.’ He screwed up his nose and she threw a tea towel at him. Elvis expertly intercepted the throw and grabbed it. ‘Hey,’ said Charlie, and Elvis growled playfully in response. Elvis and Charlie had a tug of war until Charlie conceded and Elvis trotted off happily with his prize.
‘Good day?’ asked Regan, with only a short glance at Charlie because she was concentrating on decanting the last of the chutney into jars.
‘Meh,’ he said. She could tell even from a brief look that he’d had a bad shift. Sometimes he opened up and sometimes he didn’t. It seemed to depend on what he’d had to face.
‘You want to talk about it?’ She put the large pan down.
‘Maybe after I’ve had a shower. How was your day?’
‘Pretty productive. I’ve made so much unicorn jam, I’m out of glitter. Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask you why you had edible glitter in your cupboard.’
Charlie grinned. ‘It was for Beanstalk’s birthday.’
‘Aww, did you make him a cake?’
‘No.’ Charlie looked almost offended. ‘I put it in his beer. You know, so it was birthday beer.’
‘Obviously,’ Regan quipped, trying hard not to roll her eyes. ‘Here, try this?’ She scooped the remains of the chutney out of the bottom of the pan with a teaspoon and fed it to him. She could tell from his expression he was sceptical, but he dutifully tasted it anyway. It was when his lips slowly closed around the end of the spoon that she realised what an intimate gesture it was to feed someone.
‘Wow. That’s tasty.’
‘See? It’s like I almost know what I’m doing.’ She was in a steady routine with her jam and chutney making and now had a tried-and-tested list of flavours, which she was still adding to.
‘You’re awesome,’ said Charlie, holding her gaze for a heartbeat too long. They both looked away.
‘I had good news today,’ said Regan, clapping her hands together for emphasis – and also to detract from the sexual tension fizzing between them.
‘Go on,’ said Charlie, taking the spoon from her and dragging it around the pan to find a bit more leftover chutney.
‘Sticky Situations had its first online orders!’
‘You star. That’s brilliant news. Orders? Plural?’
‘Yes. Two customers and a total of three jars. I’ll not need a juggernaut for deliveries, but it’s a start.’
Charlie picked her up and twirled her around – she thought she’d pop with excitement like a shaken champagne bottle. When he put her down, he didn’t let go. They couldn’t pull their eyes away. Was this it? The moment they gave in to the attraction that was consuming them both? Charlie’s lips tweaked at the edges.
Elvis started barking and running up and down the hallway, followed moments later by a knock at the door. Charlie squeezed his eyes shut and let her go. ‘I’d better get that.’ They both knew they had come close to breaking their agreement.
Charlie opened the door to an apprehensive-looking Penny.
‘Hi, Charlie. Is Regan in?’ asked Penny, peering past him.
‘Sure. Come in.’
‘Blimey, that burns your eyeballs,’ said Penny, doing elaborate blinks.
‘Chutney. It tastes much better than it smells,’ said Charlie. He was loyal to a fault.
Regan was standing in the kitchen doorway drying her hands. ‘Everything all right?’ Penny had never paid her a house call before.
