Her mouth tightened. ‘Old wiring. Old parts.’
Not quite an answer, but he didn’t push. Something in her eyes told himnot today.
He rocked slightly on his heels. ‘I just … needed to tell someone. It felt daft keeping it in.’
Her gaze lifted to his. ‘You can always tell me.’
He felt that land somewhere deep. He moved a fraction closer. ‘I don’t feel daft when I talk to you.’
Beth brushed his cheek with her hand. ‘I’ll take that as a massive compliment, but I need to crack on now. There’s a table of ten arriving in half an hour.’
Kieran took her hand and kissed it lightly. ‘Go forth and feed the masses,’ he said. ‘If you’re free later, do you fancy coming to my place?’
Beth bit her lip. Kieran’s heart sank.Too much, too soon.
‘Actually,’ she said, ‘it’s looking quieter this evening. Let me have a word with Rose and see if she’ll hold the fort.’
A minute later, Beth returned. ‘All good. What time, and should I bring leftovers?’
Kieran grinned. ‘Believe it or not, I can cook. Is seven OK?’
Beth nodded.
And Kieran practically skipped home, all thoughts of crazy dreams banished for now.
Chapter Forty-Nine
‘Beth’s got a date! Beth’s got a date!’ Gigi chanted like a naughty schoolboy, twirling a moustache he’d never sported before.
‘Oh, shut up,’ she retorted. ‘It’s just dinner at his cottage. No big deal.’
Gigi pursed his lips. ‘Hmm. Dinner with a man at his place. Isn’t that the definition of a date? And weren’tyousupposed to askhimout?’
‘I never said that! Wait— Diana told me to ask Kieran out, which means…’ Beth scowled at Gigi, who adopted a butter-wouldn’t-melt expression.
‘Sorry, not sorry.’ He giggled. ‘It’s just too much fun tuning into your life, even the boring bits. And there are lots of those.’
Beth huffed out an exasperated breath. ‘Well, I don’t think it’sboringthat Kieran had a dream where the Cranley genie posse spoke to him. What do you make of that, oh wise one?’
Gigi frowned, giving his moustache another twirl. ‘This ridiculous thing’ – he whipped out the WIFI gizmo – ‘has been flashing like an overexcited traffic light for days. I think it’s picking up some kind of signal within the village. Or it needs new batteries.’
Beth doubted a genie’s wish-giving wand required AAs but hadn’t the energy to discuss it.‘Right, I’m off,’ she said. ‘Please behave yourself. Poor Jimmy nearly had a heart attack when he played you the other day.’
‘Pah, not my fault. It was only a teeny tiny electric shock. Serves him right for spilling whisky on me.’
As Beth headed to Kieran’s cottage, she remembered how Gigi had granted her the wish of courage. Without needing to play pinball, but he made the rules. ‘It’s likeThe Wizard of Oz,’ she mused. ‘The Cowardly Lion got courage, the Tin Man a heart, and the Scarecrow a brain.’
Except they already possessed those things. They just didn’t know it.
‘Hi, and welcome to my humble abode.’ Kieran beamed, taking Beth’s jacket and pecking her on the cheek.
Courage.
Beth manoeuvred until their lips met and they kissed properly.
‘Wow.’ Kieran stepped back, his smile even wider than before. ‘I may need a cold shower now.’
‘Not until you feed me,’ said Beth, sniffing the air. ‘Something smells good.’ She bent down to stroke Prom, who’d sauntered into the hallway.
