‘I’m surprised you can feel it with all that frostbite.’
Now he did laugh, but only for a moment. He stopped, shook his head and dragged a hand through his hair. Then he bent down to pick up the tins.
Kate bent down to help.
‘This is your fault,’ he said, but the look in his eyes when they met hers showed that he was teasing.
‘I’m not carrying the can for this,’ she said, grinning.
‘You’re a comedian,’ he replied.
‘Yep. I’m available week nights and weekends for this week only. But you have to book in advance. I’m in great demand.’
‘I don’t doubt it. Are you free tomorrow?’
‘Tomorrow?’ That took her completely by surprise. Was he still joking with her?
‘Or tonight? But as it’s Valentine’s Day, I expect you’ve…’ his voice trailed off and their eyes met again.
‘Are you asking me…?’ She couldn’t say the words.
‘I don’t know.’ His brows creased together. ‘I hadn’t meant to. But it seems…’
They stared at one another once more, still both crouched down and each of them holding a couple of tins of dog food in their arms.
‘Well, this is awkward,’ Kate said.
‘It is. We could pretend it didn’t happen,’ Raff suggested.
‘Pretend what didn’t happen? I’m not sure what has.’
‘Me neither. Erm.’ He coughed and licked his lips. ‘I think we’ll need a box.’
‘A box? For what, exactly? Oh! You mean for the dog food.’ Kate jumped to her feet and piled her tins on top of the tins in his arms. ‘Stay there. I’ll nip inside and get one.’
He opened his mouth to speak but clearly thought better of it as she stepped over the other tins on the pavement and pulled the door open.
‘Do you have a spare box, please, Trish?’
‘Hello, Kate,’ said Trish. ‘What’s going on out there?’
‘No idea. But a box would help.’
Trish nodded towards a pile of empty boxes to the left of the counter. ‘Help yourself. Are you here for the week? I heard Beth’s in Meribel with that gorgeous fiancé of hers. And isn’t your mum on a Caribbean cruise with hers?’
‘Yep. I’m the lucky one who gets to spend the week in Bluewater Bay.’ Kate found what looked like a suitably sized, and seemingly strong box amongst the pile. ‘Thanks for this, Trish. See you soon.’
Kate hurried out of the shop, almost sending Raff flying when she pushed the door open. He’d stood up and was peering in through the window right beside it.
‘Thought I’d done a runner?’ Kate asked.
‘It did cross my mind.’
She smiled and put the box on the pavement. ‘Aren’t you glad it’s not raining?’
‘Immensely.’
They worked together and had soon retrieved all the tins.
