Page 35 of Yule Party on Sunflower Street

‘It is but she’s strong. What work brings you to Nine Elms today?’ she asked.

‘I’m inspecting a commercial unit for a client considering taking a lease. It was booked for next week, but I called the agent and brought it forward.’

‘So you could come with me today?’

He smiled. ‘Yeah…’

‘You didn’t have to do that, Seth.’

He turned to her and flashed her a grin. ‘I wanted to.’

Something in his eyes made her stomach somersault and she shifted, the warmth from the seat suddenly making her feel too hot. Seth had changed his calendar around so he could come with her today. She was grateful and flattered. He must either be the world’s nicest man or, perhaps he liked her and that was why he’d offered to help her. The latter thought made her heart skip a beat and she had to fight the urge to place her hand over his just to physically connect with him.

The thought of touching him reminded her of the impromptu hug she’d given him in the shop and how good it had felt to be so close to him. How good he had smelt when she’d been so close and how she’d wanted to tuck her face against his neck and breathe him in.

These feelings were at once pleasant and confusing and she wished she knew why they were happening now. It had been a long time since she’d been close to a man and a long time since she’d kissed a man with anything like passion. But Seth… She had thought about kissing him and holding him and what it would be like if he brushed her hair back from her face and gazed into her eyes.

‘Nearly there,’ Seth said, jolting her out of her musings.

She reached for the bottle of water she’d brought and took a sip, trying to focus on the road so that her thoughts of kissing Seth would fade away. She was worried that somehow, he’d see her thoughts written all over her face when he stopped the car, and she couldn’t bear that. He viewed her as his tenant and nothing more, she told herself. Whatever fanciful ideas she had about him were simply that and so she needed to put all romantic notions from her head and focus on the reason she’d come here today.

When he finally parked the van and cut the engine, he unclipped his seatbelt then turned to Tara.

‘What are your plans after Christmas?’ he asked.

‘I… uhm… I don’t really know. I’m enjoying myself and have been so focused on the shop and making it a success that I haven’t thought that far ahead. I mean… I do know that I would like to make a more permanent version of the shop. I just need to work out how to do that.’

Seth’s brow furrowed slightly as he stared out of the window.

‘What are your plans?’ she asked.

‘Refurbish then find a long-term tenant.’

His eyes scanned her face, and she searched them for an answer to a question she couldn’t form. Because right now, nothing was set in stone. Nothing was certain. Nothing was in front of her in this moment but this beautiful man and her sense that there was something between them that neither of them understood. Or maybe they were both too afraid to acknowledge it.

‘Thank you, Seth.’

‘What for?’ he said.

‘For coming with me today. I really appreciate it.’

‘It’s no problem at all,’ he said. ‘After all, you did promise me lunch, didn’t you?’

Tara laughed. ‘I did.’

They got out of the van and agreed to meet in a few hours, then Tara walked in one direction and Seth went in the other.

A cold wind blew across the car park, but inside, Tara felt warm, wrapped in the glow that came from spending time with Seth. There was something special about him and even if nothing happened between them, she was grateful to know that she was capable of feeling this way.

17

SETH

‘That’s great, Seth, thanks.’ The foreman, Gerry, walked to the door with Seth.

‘No problem at all. I was glad you could fit me in today, in all honesty. I was coming to the area anyway and it made sense to do it while I’m here.’

‘You got another meeting then?’ Gerry asked.