Chapter 5
Chapter Five
A nna breathed a sigh of relief the moment they left the restaurant. It had actually been much more pleasant than she’d expected, but that was the upside to having a mind that insisted on predicting worst-case scenarios. Most social situations weren’t as bad as she expected them to be.
When the cold air hit her, she automatically tucked her arm into Warren’s, and only felt a burst of self-consciousness at the action once she’d done it.
While she always felt pretty comfortable around him, she didn’t have the tactile relationship that Carla had with him.
But she wasn’t a tactile person in general.
After the evening schmoozing with Warren’s parents, she felt very at ease with him. Also, judging by the look on his face and the way he clamped her arm against his side, he didn’t seem to mind.
“What are you grinning about?” she asked, his smile infectious.
“You!” A loud chuckle erupted from him. “You were brilliant.”
Warmth pooled in her stomach. “I told you parents always like me. ”
“They loved you.”
“I see what you mean about them being a little uptight.”
“A little? ” he said mockingly.
“They’re definitely more formal than my parents.”
“You can say that again. You had them wrapped around your little finger, though. That was quite a performance.”
“I kind of enjoyed myself,” she said, realising it was true. It was oddly satisfying to try to get his parents’ approval. Surprisingly easy too.
“I have to say you lie amazingly well.”
She frowned and slowed her pace to look at him. “I didn’t lie. I may have twisted the truth in places, but there were no actual lies.”
He arched an eyebrow. “You have a degree in business and marketing?”
“Yes.” She loved the surprise on his features.
“Where did you study?”
“Cardiff.”
“I never knew that,” he said, a faraway look in his eyes. “I don’t think I did anyway.”
“I’d already finished university and moved back here when you started working at the restaurant.”
He gave a subtle shrug. “I suppose I didn’t really get to know you until I’d been here for a while.”
“No.”
“So you’re really going to open your own flower shop?”
She smiled. “I said it was an idea, not that it was a plan, so I wasn’t lying. It was a partial truth.”
“You also said you’d been looking for premises.”
“I have been. Doesn’t mean I’m going to do anything about it.”
“Why not?”
“Because the price of property around here is insane.”
“And you don’t think a flower shop is financially viable?”
“I guess it could work, but the initial costs would be daunting.”
“Lewis would give you the money,” he said, as though it was an obvious solution.
“I don’t want to take money from Lewis. He already bought me a flat.”
“Take a loan from him, then. Also, since you own the flat outright, you must be able to save easily…”
“Yes.” She paused, because if she really wanted to open her own shop, she could find a way. “I guess I’m just comfortable with things the way they are.”
Warren scratched at his collarbone as they approached the door to her building. “You’re not a fan of your boss, though, are you?”
“No.” It wasn’t exactly surprising that he knew that tidbit. She often complained about Martin. “Actually, he’s fine. He’s mostly just annoying with my hours.”
“How so?”
She stopped outside her place and slipped her arm out of Warren’s. “I’m forced to take time off whenever his daughter is home from university because she wants to work in the shop. So in December, and most of January, I won’t be working there at all.”
“That seems unfair.”
“Yeah. But it also works out well because I’m free for the Christmas fairs. And I’m doing some wreath-making workshops this year.”
“It’d be cool to have your own shop with space to offer workshops, too.”
Anna narrowed her eyes. He’d landed directly on her favourite business idea. “It would,” she agreed, then pondered whether to say more. “There’s a building that’s just become available next to the chemist. It would be perfect.”
“You’ve looked at it? ”
“No. Just saw the listing online.”
“Are you going to view it?”
She shook her head. “If it were available to lease, I might have done, but it’s for sale.”
“Get Lewis to buy it for you,” Warren said excitedly.
“Just like that,” she said, amused by his enthusiasm.
“Not just like that.” He looked at her seriously. “It’s like you said, you’ve spent years gaining experience in how to run a flower shop. You could do it.”
“I told you I’m comfortable as I am. Setting up a physical shop would be a lot of stress.” That’s the story she told herself, anyway. She was fairly sure that if she examined it too closely, she’d find it was mostly fear holding her back.
Warren took a step back and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Thanks a lot for coming tonight.”
“You’re welcome. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow if you bring your parents to the craft fair.”
“I reckon I’ll have to. I’m sure Mum has her heart set on it.”
Anna glanced over her shoulder. “Do you want to come inside and wait for a taxi in the warmth?”
“No, that’s okay, thanks.” He checked his watch. “I think I’ll wander over to the hotel and see if Lewis is around for a drink.”
“I’d be surprised if he’s still there.”
“I’ll check,” he said, with an odd look on his face.
“Oh!” Anna realised exactly what he was up to. “You just want to check they didn’t burn the kitchen down without you there to keep an eye on things.”
Guilt flashed in his eyes. “I’m reasonably confident there won’t have been any major incidents. I just want to check they cleaned properly, and that things are organised for tomorrow.”
Bunching her shoulders against the cold, Anna shot him an amused look. “Maybe you should have a little more faith in your staff.”
“Maybe if they’ve left the kitchen in an appropriate state, I will.” He scowled jokingly, then leaned to kiss her cheek. “Thanks again for tonight.”
He waited while she opened the front door, and she wished him goodnight before ascending the stairs to her flat, smiling as she went.
Getting out of her comfort zone now and again really wasn’t so terrible.