Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
They ate in relative silence, and Lila tried not to think about her kissing his cheek or his remark afterwards, but it was hard.
Maybe he was just being flirty. Guys were like that.
Or could there be something more? Who was she kidding?
Guys weren’t attracted to her. She rarely dated and never got asked out for coffee or anything like that.
Okay, so she worked long hours at the hotel restaurant, but still. As hard as her mother tried to matchmake for her… oh, good grief… she needed to stop thinking about this.
“Is something wrong?” TJ hedged. “You suddenly look a little out of sorts.”
Her head snapped up. “No, nothing. I’m good.”
“Really?” He leaned on their makeshift counter and drummed his fingers against the wood. “You’ve got this funny, far-away look, and I swear your lips are moving, like you’re talking to yourself.”
“So what if I am?” She shot back.
He held up both hands. “Nothing, nothing! You’re fine. Go ahead, talk to yourself. Quietly or whatever.” He took a step back, shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
Lila sighed. “You’re making fun of me.”
“No, I’m not,” he said, closing the distance again. “I just want to help if something’s bothering you. Is there?”
She looked at him, saw the sincerity in his eyes, and her heart melted. “No, not really, but thanks for offering.”
“Sure. Any time.”
A customer approached, sparing her from further embarrassment.
Lila watched as TJ greeted the woman with effortless charm and wished she could be that at ease.
At the hotel, when things got busy, she rushed and barked orders.
No wonder she’d been short with the octogenarian crew at Pleasant Beans those first few days.
Maybe she should take a page from TJ’s book, slow down, breathe, and enjoy the moment.
He talked to everyone like they were old friends, his light British accent melting half the crowd. Lila focused on helping customers, and before long she forgot about the kiss and the comment.
Paddy and Mary soon wandered over. “It’s our turn to come check out the festival,” Paddy said. “How are things going? Oh, and since I’m here, could I get a coffee?”
Lila laughed. “You didn’t think to pour yourself one before you walked over?”
“No, it’s more fun to give ye the business,” he laughed. “I’ll even pay.”
She fixed his cup, black as always, and handed it over. He paid while TJ chatted with another couple. Paddy winked. “Isn’t it grand, just the two of ye working in this booth? Having a good time, lass?”
Lila hedged. “Well, I guess.”
Mary giggled. “You must be enjoying your time alone with a handsome man serving coffee.”
Several nearby customers turned their way and smiled. Great. Now everyone would think they were an item.
“Well, have yerself a good time, lass,” Paddy said. He raised his cup in a toast then took a sip “Ah, just right.” He winked again. “I’m taking Mary to buy her something shiny.”
TJ smiled. “There’s a jewelry booth down the way. I bought Lila a necklace there.”
Paddy and Mary exchanged identical looks of delight. “Isn’t that nice,” Paddy winked once more.
Several customers’ gazes shifted to Lila’s throat. One lady came right up and studied the necklace. “Oh, it’s so cute!” She turned to TJ. “You bought it for her?”
Lila could only blush as the woman winked and strolled off toward the jewelry booth.
As the day wore on and twilight deepened, the festival crowd thinned. Strings of lights swayed overhead in the gentle breeze, and the smell of roasting nuts drifted past. Lila wiped the counter in slow circles, pretending to focus while every nerve in her body tracked TJ’s nearness.
He hummed along to the band’s soft tune, then caught her eye with a grin. “I love this sort of music, don’t you?”
She smiled. “Yes, it’s nice.”
He turned a full circle, surprising her, and closed the distance between them. “Come on, you’ve been working all day!” He took her by the hand. “We should dance!”
“What?” she squeaked. “Here?” Her laugh came out breathless as she pulled her hand from his.
He shrugged. “Why not? Everyone’s packing up. No one’s watching.”
“That’s what you think,” she shot back.
He stepped closer, his gaze warm. “Then let them.”
Her jaw dropped. “You’re serious?”
“Of course I am.”
“So, is this what you do in Cornwall?”
He nodded. “Yeah, pretty much. Sometimes with the neighbor, the one who takes care of my fish.”
Lila laughed, and against all common sense, let him take her hand again. His palm was warm and steady, and when he drew her near, the world seemed to hush. The laughter, the music, even the rustle of leaves blowing past the booth.
They swayed in a slow rhythm. She tried not to laugh; this was ridiculous… but her heart tripped anyway. Maybe living in Europe had changed him. This couldn’t be happening. Not to her, not with him. Besides, he was leaving.
He pulled back and looked at her like there was nowhere else he’d rather be. Lila’s breath caught as TJ leaned in, and for one dizzying moment she thought he might actually…
“Hey there, you two! Making coffee or memories?” Titus Cooke’s voice boomed from his golf cart as it rattled past.
They jumped apart. TJ bit back a laugh while Lila covered her face. “I am never forgiving him for that.” Then again, it was a blessing in disguise. She didn’t dare let TJ kiss her.
He chuckled softly. “I thought it was a good memory in the making.”
Her pulse refused to settle. “We need to finish cleaning up.”
He smiled, eyes dancing. “Very well, Miss Comfort.”
After another minute, the music stopped.
Lila stacked empty cups while TJ packed away the syrup bottles.
They moved easily together now, and wordless, thank heaven.
Yet beneath the silence, the rhythm built over hours of teamwork, and that almost-moment still hummed between them. It left her both satisfied and nervous.
“Hey, we didn’t do too bad for two amateurs,” TJ said, brushing coffee grinds from his sleeve.
Lila smiled. “Yes, but we still have to get through tomorrow, remember?” She brushed at her jeans just to keep her hands busy. Every time she faced him, she thought about their almost-kiss. Or was it all in her head? Probably the latter.
His eyes met hers, and he smiled. “I had fun, lots of it. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable earlier.
I guess I get carried away. In the little village where I live, everybody knows everybody else, and we’re all too comfortable with…
I don’t know… just having fun. You’d be surprised how fun the British can be. ”
Lila had to smile, then looked away, busying herself with the cashbox. “One day I’ll visit there.”
“Yeah, that would be nice,” he said softly. “I have to say, though, I’m glad I came home.”
The quiet that followed wasn’t awkward, it was companionable.
Somewhere nearby, Grandma laughed, followed by Titus Cooke’s booming voice.
Lila had no idea what they were talking about until Irene barked something back at him, sharp enough to make TJ grin.
They’d brought more pies, having talked the others into covering the last few hours of their shift.
They’d been hanging around the festival ever since.
He closed a box and added it to the stack at the back of the booth. “You ready to leave?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Want to take some of this back to the shop? Just the syrups, someone might steal them.” He offered a crooked grin, and something in her chest fluttered.
“All right. Let’s each grab a box and take them to the car.”
They carried their supplies, steps slow, shoulders almost brushing. Lila told herself it was exhaustion making her heart race and her body lean toward his, but she knew better. Lila only hoped she could handle it. She still had to get through tomorrow.
“We’ve got two more boxes,” TJ said, breaking into her thoughts. “We’d better go get them.”
Back at the booth, they had just picked up the last two boxes when a mechanical whine caught their attention. “What on earth is that?” Lila turned toward the sound.
A golf cart came barreling out of the parking lot and down the path between booths, weaving like a drunken bumblebee. Grandma was at the wheel, Irene beside her, hanging on for dear life. Titus Cooke and several other men chased them on foot.
“Stop that golf cart!” Titus hollered. “You’ll kill somebody!” He ran past, followed by several other men Lila didn’t recognize.
“Oh hush, Titus!” Grandma yelled back as the cart slowed. “We’re fine!”
“Where’s the brake on this thing?” Irene shouted.
Grandma must have stomped on the accelerator. The cart lurched forward, knocking over a stack of hay bales before Grandma turned the wheel and got them straightened out.
Lila gasped. “Oh, goodness gracious, they’re going to crash the way they’re driving that thing!”
TJ stepped in front of her as if to shield her from two old ladies in a runaway cart. “Hit the brake!” he yelled.
The vehicle veered to the right and slowed, thankfully.
Grandma swung it around in a wide circle at the far end of the aisle where there were no more booths.
Then, to Lila’s horror, she started heading back toward them, faster this time.
Titus and the other men scattered like chickens to get out of the way.
TJ waved both arms. “Hit the brake, Grandma!”
Grandma smiled with glee as the cart slowed. “See? Everything’s fine!”
Titus and the others took off after her again. By some miracle, Grandma and Irene managed to bring the cart to a stop in front of TJ and Lila’s booth.
“That was fun,” Grandma said. “Let’s do it again!”
Irene glared at her. “Let’s not.”
Lila fixed Grandma with a stern look. “I take it you’ve never driven a golf cart before?”
“It didn’t sound that hard when Titus explained it to me,” Grandma said.
Titus put a hand on her shoulder and helped her out of the cart. Another man did the same for Irene. “Let’s keep you away from golf carts for now, Mrs. Waller. You too, Mrs. Dunnigan.”
Irene just shrugged and turned to TJ. “I can bake a few more pies tonight if you think you’ll need them for tomorrow.”
“Sure, Irene.” TJ grinned, brushing his shoulder against Lila’s.
She smiled at the contact then turned to Grandma and Irene. “Are you two all right?”
“I’m wore out,” Irene said. “Come on, Grandma, let’s head back to the inn and get some sleep.”
Titus said goodbye to the other men and thanked them for their help. He then crossed his arms and blocked Grandma and Irene’s path. “You two are coming with me. I’ll drive you home.”
Grandma beamed. “That’s nice of you, Titus.”
Lila watched the three head for the parking lot and laughed as Grandma’s voice carried back through the night. “Irene, next time you drive, and I’ll steer!”
Her heart raced, but at least this time it was worry over Grandma and Irene’s antics. She’d rather have that than think about a kiss from TJ Jones that was never going to happen. Besides, it could only lead to heartbreak, and she wanted to stay as far away as possible from that business.