Chapter 29
Marc, who may have been concerned that Lauren was about to follow Cathy out of the door, met her halfway across the bar. The pub was filling up, but she still saw him rising from his seat as she left hers, almost spilling his pint on the table he shared with his family and friends.
‘Er, you’re not leaving, are you? I owe you a drink.’ His right hand was rubbing the back of his neck, and the words rushed out of him. ‘I didn’t want to miss you.’
God, he’s just as nervous as I am! The thought put Lauren a little more at ease. She smiled up at him.
‘Well, I was just going to ask if you wanted one,’ Lauren began, but at that moment, the music started again and her response was drowned out by Bella and Jason’s very hearty rendition of ‘Fairytale of New York’.
‘Sorry?’ Marc leaned closer to her, and she caught the scent of a fresh-smelling shampoo. ‘What can I get you?’
The music was loud enough that Lauren moved forward and spoke directly into his ear. Conversation was going to be tricky, at this rate. ‘Another pint of cider would be great. Thanks.’
‘I’ll bring them over to your table if you like.’ His gorgeous eyes met hers. ‘It’s a bit cosy on Noah’s side of the room!’
Lauren nodded and headed back to her table before another customer could snag it. A warm glow of pleasure coursed through her at the prospect of a proper chat with Marc, away from café customers and other interruptions.
She watched Marc head over to the bar. Being tall and good-looking had its advantages, Lauren thought, as Jen spotted Marc straight away, and in a couple of minutes he was back, carrying two pints.
‘Here you go.’ Marc pulled out the empty chair and managed to slot his long, jeans-clad legs under the small table, bumping Lauren’s knees as he did so.
‘Sorry,’ he murmured.
‘So,’ Lauren began, ‘you managed to get away.’
Marc grinned. ‘Yes, a lightning-fast escape! The boys are so excited about tomorrow, they were driving me potty! Thea Saint, she’s mates with Noah and Bella, offered her daughter, Cora’s services as a babysitter for a couple of hours, and I was so frazzled I took her up on it.
Noah’s Bella’s biggest groupie, as you can imagine – so I said I’d pop in for a drink or two.
’ He paused, suddenly looking self-conscious.
‘I was hoping I’d be able to hang out with you for a while, since you have an empty spot, but we can always join them, if you like. ’
Lauren saw Noah, deep in conversation with Nick and Thea, in between gazing admiringly at Bella. She reached out a tentative hand and brushed her fingertips across the top of Marc’s, which was resting next to his pint. ‘I’m happy here, if you are.’
Marc’s fingers flinched underneath hers before he turned his hand upwards and gently squeezed hers.
‘I’m extremely happy,’ he replied softly.
He looked deeply into her eyes, and then, as if he was worried things were getting too intense, he smiled.
‘Tell me about the café. How did you come to own it?’
Lauren gave him a brief history, and filled him in on some of the customers.
‘A lot of locals come in, and a fair few tourists in the summer. Sam Parker, the novelist, tends to sit in the café a lot to people-watch – just like me. I often wonder who will end up in his next book, and whether I’ll know them! ’
‘Perhaps you’ll get a cameo, too.’ Marc’s brown eyes were alight with gentle humour.
‘Oh, I’m far too boring for that!’
Marc was still looking intently at her, and Lauren’s pulse blipped a little.
‘I don’t think you’re boring.’ Their gaze locked, and Lauren licked her lips nervously.
She’d only admitted to herself, in the privacy of her own thoughts, that she found Marc attractive, and now, he was putting out a signal she couldn’t ignore.
‘Sorry.’ Marc broke the moment first. ‘That was a bit corny, wasn’t it?’ He gave a short laugh. ‘I’m out of practice at chatting someone up!’
‘Is that what you’re doing?’ Lauren teased, trying to hide her own racing emotions. ‘It’s kind of difficult to tell!’
Marc shook his head. ‘I’m worse than I thought!’ His gorgeous brown eyes crinkled at the corners in amusement. ‘But then, it has been a while since I’ve had to…’
Lauren’s hand, still touching Marc’s, gave Marc’s a squeeze. ‘I get it. But you’re doing great, I promise.’
Marc looked down at their hands, and Lauren watched him swallowing hard. ‘Thanks.’ When he looked back up at her, his eyes were shining. ‘This feels simultaneously lovely and strange. Is it just me?’
‘No. I promise you, it’s both.’ She smiled at him again.
‘I know it’s not the same, but it’s been a while for me, too.
In fact, more than a while, if I’m honest. I don’t tend to get close to people, even if I, er, even if I find them attractive.
I suppose, with it being just Mum and me for so many years, I’ve got used to things as they are.
And I’m not really very good at reading people.
I find it difficult to know whether they’re being sincere or not, and I tend to take things quite literally.
’ She paused, knowing she was blushing again.
‘I don’t know why I’m telling you this, really.
Now, I suppose, you’ll want to run a mile. ’
Marc was about to respond, when the moment was interrupted by Noah on his way to the bar.
‘Hey, Lauren. I wondered where my brother had got to.’ He grinned down at them both.
Lauren felt the loss as Marc quickly slid his hand out from under hers and took a sip of his pint. ‘Yeah, I wanted to make sure I bought Lauren that drink I owe her for the cake.’
‘Well, take your time.’ Noah’s eyes gleamed mischievously.
‘Thea’s going strong on the classroom anecdotes from the nativity play, and Annabelle’s cross-questioning her about the Reception class teacher.
I’m drowning them both out by focusing on Bella’s musical genius and trying not to notice Jason still making eyes at her every time they duet. ’
‘She’s such a great singer,’ Lauren said, anxious for Noah not to continue down the route of teasing his brother. ‘It’s so lovely that she still sings in the local pub.’
‘She’s very fond of Paddy and Jen,’ Noah replied. Lauren saw his gaze flickering from herself to Marc again. ‘I’ll, er, see you later?’
Marc nodded. ‘See you in a bit.’
A quizzical expression crossed Noah’s features before he gave a final smile and headed to the bar. Marc’s eyes followed his brother but then snapped straight back to Lauren.
‘Sorry about that.’ He laughed, and it sounded nervous again. ‘Noah’s got rather… involved in my life since I moved back here. He likes to keep an eye on me.’
‘I get that,’ Lauren said softly. ‘You and the boys have been through a lot.’
‘True, but I don’t want to talk about that. At least not tonight.’ He shook his head. ‘Tonight, I just want to be Marc, with no baggage, sitting in front of Lauren, who I really like, having a pint and a laugh for an hour or so. Does that sound okay?’
Lauren jumped as Marc’s hand found hers on the table again. ‘That sounds more than okay,’ she said softly. This was one social signal she had no trouble interpreting.