‘Yeah, tell me about it,’ said Karel, his eyes narrowing. ‘My father had lots of innovative ideas. It’s taken me ten years to get Crystal up and running, and now we’ve got distribution through the Czech Republic and I’ve recently done deals with Germany, Poland and Lithuania. One day I’ll reclaim my heritage, and then we’ll see who makes the best beer.’
From the vehemence in his voice, Leo had no doubt he would.
They parted at the tram stop as Karel was catching the metro home.
When Leo walked into the flat he was greeted by the sound of music coming from upstairs and the smell of something delicious. His stomach growled. Lunch had been a disaster. Whatever he’d picked had not been what he thought it was and tasted predominantly of pickled cabbage, which he hated. He had yet to find the local supermarket and had been existing on very nice bread from the bakery and a hunk of cheese he’d bought in the convenience store on the way home.
He walked into the kitchen to find Anna dancing to Dua Lipa’sDance the Night. Grinning to himself he leaned against the door frame and watched for a moment as she shimmied while stirring something in the pan on the stove.
‘Leo!’ She jumped when she turned. ‘When did you get back?’
‘Long enough to see you strutting your stuff. Nice moves, by the way.’
It took a second for her to turn starchy and shoot him a disapproving look.
‘I wasn’t expecting you.’
‘I live here.’
‘How could I forget? But you haven’t been around until later most evenings. I’ll be out of your way in fifteen minutes.’
He frowned. ‘You don’t have to get out of my way.’
She shrugged and busied herself filling the kettle.
‘Something smells good.’ He sniffed and walked over to poke the wooden spoon she was using into a saucepan of what looked and smelled like bolognese sauce.
She ignored him as she got out a large saucepan and reached for a packet of dried spaghetti from the cupboard.
‘You always did make the best spag bol,’ he said, dipping the spoon in and holding up a dollop to his mouth and blowing on it before taking a mouthful. ‘Mmm, that’s good.’
‘Leo!’ She dropped the spaghetti and scowled at him, her eyes squinty and cross.
He winked at her, laughing at her outrage. She wasn’t really cross, just surprised. He’d always liked keeping her on her toes. She was far too serious most of the time. ‘You still got it.’
She folded her arms. ‘Help yourself, why don’t you?’ Her sarcasm bounced off him as he smiled at her.
‘I already did. But I’ll try it again, to double-check.’ He dipped the spoon back into the sauce knowing it would irritate the hell out of her.
‘Leo! That’s … that’s disgusting! I can’t believe you put that spoon back in.’
‘It’s no worse than kissing,’ he said with a dismissive lift of his shoulders. He saw her swallow and some small, petty part of him was pleased to see that it had provoked a reaction. ‘I haven’t got any communicable diseases. Not that I know of.’
Anna’s mouth pursed mutinously and then a devilish light glimmered in her eyes. ‘Yeah, but what about mine?’
He laughed and pointed the spoon at her. ‘Nice one, Anna. Very cute.’
She sighed and rolled her eyes at him. ‘Seriously.’ The kettle reached boiling point and clicked off beside her and she picked it up and poured it into the pan.
‘Looks like there’s plenty there,’ he said, looking at her, wide-eyed and hopeful.
She ignored him and salted the water, turning her back on him. ‘I’m immune to the puppy-dog eyes, Leo.’ Her dry voice made him smirk.
He glanced at her back, stiff and straight, a little sad that she seemed to have lost her sense of fun.
‘Food tastes better when it’s shared,’ he volunteered.
Still she didn’t turn but he noticed that when she picked up the pasta packet she shook out an additional portion. A sly smile touched his lips.
