‘Hey, babe,’ Marieke called from the lounge. ‘How was your shift?’
‘Fine, but I got the rough end of some bloke’s tongue at the end of the night.’
Marieke raised a suggestive eyebrow. ‘In a good way?’
Laughing, despite herself, Bella shook her head. ‘I wish. No, unfortunately he was the sexy but grumpy type. Fuck knows what upset him, but he harrumphed out of the place once he paid his bill with a right look on his face. I reckon he was only a tourist though, so I’m not too bothered. They’re so up themselves, these people who come into the village and expect it to all be hearts, flowers and chocolate boxes.’
‘Well, I wouldn’t think any more of it.’ Marieke gestured to the bottle of Jack Daniel’s that was sitting on the coffee table in front of her. ‘Nightcap?’
‘You shouldn’t drink alone. It’s not good for you.’
Marieke gave a grin. ‘What makes you think I was alone?’
Bella wrinkled her nose. ‘Don’t tell me. I’m your post-shag conversation? At least tell me he’s not still upstairs.’
‘Nope,’ Marieke said, ‘you know the cat fur you bring home makes him sneeze! And he’s got an early start tomorrow.’
Bella giggled. ‘There are such things as antihistamines, you know.’
‘Oh, you know Gerard – until we can make it official, he’s going to keep on going home.’
Bella felt a sense of disquiet, although Marieke hadn’t intended that, she was sure. Her housemate-cum-landlady had been making more noises about Gerard becoming a permanent fixture, and Bella knew that meant she would probably need to find somewhere else to live. Although Marieke hadn’t said as much, the cat hair allergy was a definite issue. Bella had the sense that change might be afoot.
However, she told herself firmly as Marieke passed her a cut-crystal tumbler of Jack Daniel’s, her friend wouldn’t throw her out on her ear. She was a wonderful companion and that wasn’t her style. They’d met in Holland three years ago, when Bella had been temping in the office of the law firm where Marieke had been working. A swift promotion to their UK office in the West Country had followed for the Dutch national, and when Bella had found herself in Somerset after coming back to the UK twelve months ago, Marieke had offered her a temporary place to stay. The arrangement had been so pleasant that Bella had quickly become Marieke’s official lodger, and things had been calm and settled ever since. Even with the possibility of change, Bella was sure she’d have plenty of time to find somewhere new.
‘So, back to this good-looking, grumpy guy of yours?’ Marieke was looking expectantly at her now both glasses had been filled.
‘He’s not mine!’ Bella had had what could charitably be calleda dry spell. Since she’d come back to the UK, there hadn’t been anyone serious, and she missed having someone in her life. Living in such a small village meant that there wasn’t much of an opportunity to meet new people, either.
Her thoughts couldn’t help drifting back to those strange, slightly stilted interactions with the mysterious guy in the pub tonight. She’d watched him out of the corner of her eye while he was eating dinner. As an attentive member of the pub staff, it was only reasonable to keep an eye on a customer and make sure that they were happy. But she’d be lying if she didn’t admit to herself that her gaze was attracted over to his small table in the corner of the bar more than once just because she’d been intrigued by him.
Most people who came into the pub were all too happy to talk about why they were in Lower Brambleton. True, a lot of them were holiday makers and were keen to share their enthusiasm and their thoughts about this most beautiful corner of Somerset, and a lot of them were friendly people looking for a bit of a human connection; chasing that rural idyll of a country pub where everybody knew everybody else and exchanged pleasantries and, as kitsch as the Star and Telescope was with its dark blue-painted ceiling, with the major constellations picked out in yellow, and the brass astronomical instruments adorning every nook, cranny and windowsill, it did have a certain peculiar, eccentric charm that various landlords over the years had tapped into to maximise profits and create a welcoming atmosphere.
So, she’d kept an eye on the mysterious customer, noting that he didn’t take any calls and he didn’t look at his phone all the time he was eating dinner. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was that intrigued her about him. He was certainly attractive; the longish dark hair that was almost too long to be fashionable these days and those melting chocolate-brown eyes that had regarded her so seriously when they’d had that first conversation at the bar had made her pulse beat faster. She shook her head ruefully; she’d admitted to herself that she was feeling the drought. It was no wonder that she was rather susceptible to the attractive looks of a handsome stranger.
Of course, that had changed when he’d come over after his meal and been so abrupt with her. She couldn’t help going back over that conversation in her head and wondering why his manner had changed so suddenly. Even if he hadn’t been the type to share information about himself with a bartender, the sudden change of tone had felt uncalled for under the circumstances.Put it out of your mind, she told herself firmly as she took a sip of the rather generous measure of Jack Daniel’s that Marieke had poured for her. She wasn’t usually one for a nightcap after a shift at the pub but tonight it felt welcome, and it took the edge off her racing thoughts and her aching feet.
‘Euro for your thoughts?’ Marieke teased as Bella sank down on the sofa next to her.
‘Not worth that much!’ Bella replied. ‘But it has been a long night.’ She grinned suddenly at her friend. ‘Although as Gerard has already paid you a visit tonight, at least I won’t be kept awake with your headboard banging against the wall!’
Marieke threw her an appraising look. ‘Feeling frustrated, darling?’
Bella didn’t dignify that with a response, merely taking another sip of her bourbon.
‘Thanks for the nightcap, lovely,’ she said, putting the glass down on the coffee table again. ‘It was just what I needed.’
‘I don’t think so.’ Marieke raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow in her direction. ‘I think you need something with a male name, but not a bottle of whisky. How about we head into town at the weekend? I could dance and drink, and I think you could do with…’ She trailed off and gave her suggestive laugh. ‘Well, you know…’
Bella grinned at her friend. ‘I’m pulling a double shift on Saturday at the pub. Got to pay the rent somehow!’
‘Darling, you know you can always owe me the rent.’
‘I know, and I love you for it, but you have to let me stand on my own two feet.’
‘It’s your feet I’m worried about! It can’t do you any good standing behind that bar all night.’
‘I’ll live.’ Bella leaned forward and kissed Marieke on the cheek. ‘Don’t stay up too late. It’s not good for you either.’
