Page 54 of Love Letters on Hazel Lane

‘Don’t talk to me about Scrabble,’ Em said. ‘I’ve lost all my best customers on Friday evenings since Ras started that club of his. Florence and Mr B used to meet to play here. Are they still arguing over every word?’

Jo nodded.

‘Well, I don’t miss that,’ Em said. ‘Now what can I get you?’

When they’d placed their orders – latte and a muffin for Jo, green tea for Kate – and Em had disappeared off into the kitchen, Kate and Jo turned their attention to the festival.

‘If you give me all the details,’ said Kate, ‘date, time, venue, bullet points detailing the main attractions, I can write a press release for the local newspaper and the local radio station. Might be able to get an interview slot too.’

‘That’d be good,’ said Jo, wondering who would be brave enough to go live on air. They could cross that bridge when they came to it.

‘And I’ll do some social media stuff too. Have you put posters up everywhere?’

‘Not yet, but we’re planning to.’ Jo reached into her bag and pulled out a rolled-up printout of the poster she and Ras had designed.

‘Looks good,’ said Kate.

‘Ras and I did it.’

‘Been seeing much of him?’

‘Yeah, well, you know. With all the planning.’

Kate raised her eyebrows. ‘Come up and see my plans for a Scrabble festival,’ she said in an exaggerated, seductive tone.

‘It’s not like that,’ said Jo. ‘We’re friends. I’ve given up dating.’

‘Since when?’

‘Since I realised that Tarquin was just trying to get me into bed. Since Ras didn’t ask for a second date even though our first one was lovely. Since every man I date turns out to be a bad choice. Perhaps I’m not ready, Kate. Not after the disaster that was my first marriage. Perhaps I’ll never be ready.’

*

Jo walked along the canal back to Hebbleswick and up the hill to her little house. Although she’d resolved to give up dating, told Kate she wasn’t ready, she went straight upstairs to the bathroom and checked out her appearance. Ras would be here soon and there was no harm in looking her best.

That hug on Thursday evening – that had felt special. It had awakened something in her: a longing to be held. It had somehow made her feel both calm and excited, if that was possible. She couldn’t quite explain it, not even to herself. Excited by his physical presence. Those strong arms around her, the sense that he would protect her, should he need to. The scent of him; that messy hair mightn’t look great, but it smelled wonderful, citrussy fresh. If she had turned her head a little, she could have kissed him. It would have been so easy to slip her fingers under his T-shirt and touch his bare skin.

She’d felt aroused, yet at the same time, safe and comforted.

Hormones, Jo decided. Both the calmness and the sexual excitement had simply been hormones. Oxytocin (20 points) and… well, something else. Ras would know. Not that she intended to ask him.

*

Jo tugged the door open to find Ras standing outside wearing…

What was he wearing?

Overalls. Scruffy, paint-spattered, blue overalls.

The colour did nothing for him.

Well, this was disappointing. Okay, so this wasn’t a date – just another festival planning meeting – but she had spent the best part of an hour trying to curl her hair, before deciding it looked better straight, and applying make-up before deciding she’d put on a bit too much and scrubbing it off,before opting for a more natural look. Whereas he had clearly made no effort whatsoever.

He was never a smart dresser. She knew that. And that was fine.

But overalls?

Although he was carrying a plastic bag. Had he bought her a gift?