“And did she happen to tell you that she was discussing my sex life when he walked in?”
“She might have mentioned it, although the way she told it the subject under discussion was the lack of a sex life.”
She gave him a stern look. “I hope you told her that my love life is my business.”
“This is a small village and you’ve lived here your whole life. You should know by now that your love life is everyone’s business.”
“But not yours. You’re not like that.” She felt the need to remind him. “You are a hands-off parent who always encourages me to make my own decisions in life. You don’t believe in interfering.”
He wiped the table. “You’re my daughter. According to Marie, it’s my job to interfere and I’m falling down on it. So here I am, stirring the pot a little. You’ve avoided romance since Martin. I know you were hurt, but you can’t let that stop you trying again.”
“Really? This from you who never married after Mum died?”
His hand stilled for a moment and then he carried on wiping. “That’s different. And anyway, I’ve had relationships.”
“But nothing serious, and—” She paused. “Wait—Marie? You’ve been talking to Marie?”
Marie owned the ice cream shop on the quay.
“And if I have?”
“Were you buying ice cream at the time?” She planted her hands on her hips and gave him a severe look. “The doctor told you to lower your saturated fat intake.”
“Are you nagging me? I thought you were supposed to be a hands-off daughter who always encourages me to make my own decisions in life?”
She kissed him on the cheek. “It seems our relationship has taken a new turn. Which one did you have? Don’t tell me it was vanilla and honeycomb.”
“It was vanilla and honeycomb.”
She drooled. “How can she own an ice cream shop and stay slim? If that place was mine, I’d eat all the goods before breakfast and be so full of ice cream I’d be attacked by seagulls the moment I stepped out of the shop. Are you and Marie close now? Is there romance in the air as well as chocolate sprinkles?”
He sent her a look and she shrugged.
“What? If you’re going to meddle with my love life, I can meddle with yours.”
“I’m happy as I am, thank you. I’m too tied up with my parental responsibilities to have time to date.”
“Yes?” She grinned. “Is that daughter of yours causing trouble?”
“She’s a handful.”
“I can’t believe everyone is talking about my sex life. I should move to London.” She said it casually. “At least there I’d be anonymous.”
“You’d hate London.”
Her heart thudded. This would be the perfect time to tell him she’d applied for a job. “Maybe I wouldn’t. And for the record the only thing that interests me about Luca is his crème brûlée.”
“His crème brûlée?”
“Absolutely. And possibly his sticky duck recipe.”
“I’m not interfering. I want to see you happy, that’s all.”
“I’m happy! See this smile?” She produced one. “Have you ever seen anything bigger?”
“No. Nor anything faker.”
She switched off the smile. “I’m happy. Tired, that’s all. But that’s going to change now they’re sending help. It will be great, won’t it? Absolutely great. Lucky me.”
