Chapter 10
Thea polished off her sandwich and then wondered what else she could do for the remaining break time she had.
As a teacher, she was so used to working through her lunchtime that she felt somewhat at a loss.
Tomorrow, she’d bring in a book to pass the time.
Just as she was putting her lunchbox back into her bag, she saw Nick sidling into the back office.
‘Everything OK?’ she asked. ‘Do you need me to come back out the front?’
Nick shook his head. ‘It’s all right, I can cover the till until you’ve had a proper break.
’ Nick was leaning up against the doorframe and seemed in no hurry to get back to the shop.
She was intrigued by the connection she’d observed between Nick and Tally when the glamorous TV producer had arrived, and thought about asking Nick what the story was there.
While she’d been living away from Lower Brambleton, she’d lost track of many aspects of her friends’ lives, Nick included.
‘Tally seems nice,’ she said, when Nick showed no sign of pushing back off to the shop. ‘Did you two, er, get on well the last time she came down?’
Nick nodded. ‘Yeah. She’s great. She really knows her stuff, and made this place look amazing last time.’
Thea smiled. ‘I know. I saw the programme. The shop looked fantastic. And you did really well, too.’
‘Thanks.’ Nick smiled at her. ‘I get the feeling she wants me to get more involved this time, what with Dad being laid up, but I’m not sure how I feel about that.’
‘Involved?’ She wondered who was looking after the shop while Nick was back here chatting to her. ‘In what way?’
‘I’m not quite sure yet.’ He straightened up and Thea noticed that he kept glancing back towards the shop counter, just checking to see if anyone had come in.
‘Perhaps I should get back out there?’ Thea suggested.
She moved towards the door, but as she did, Nick moved towards her, and for a moment they were in each other’s space.
Thea noticed, with a jolt, the aroma of a spicy-scented cologne emanating from Nick, a scent she hadn’t smelt before, and wondered, with a little stab of envy, whether he’d splashed on something new because Tally had arrived today.
Tally was certainly a good-looking woman; maybe Nick fancied his chances with her while she was down here on the shoot?
‘If you’re ready,’ Nick replied. He smiled down at her and she felt her mouth going a little dry. What was going on? She’d known Nick for years; why, after being around him for a couple of days, was she suddenly physically reacting differently to him?
‘I think so.’ She laughed a little nervously. ‘I’ve got through the morning… how hard can it be with a camera crew watching my every move?’
Thea’s heart sped up as Nick put a warm hand on her forearm.
‘I promised I’d keep them away from you if you didn’t want to be on camera, and I will.
I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable, Thea.
’ His blue eyes were sincere, and Thea found herself holding his gaze for a few pulses longer as she saw his pupils widen.
She was counting her own breaths as they both stood there, something warm and unspoken hanging in the air between them.
‘Nicky? Are you back there? Can we sit down and have a natter about the shooting order, if you’ve got a sec?’
Tally’s voice was more effective at shattering the moment than a sledgehammer against concrete. Nick hastily removed his hand from Thea’s arm and, with an apologetic smile, turned in the direction of the voice. ‘Yup, no problem, Tally. Just checking on a couple of things. Be there in a minute.’
‘You’d better get out there before she tracks you down!’ Thea gave a slightly nervous laugh. ‘I’ll get back on the counter so you can have a proper chat.’
‘Thanks.’ Nick smiled again, before his face became more serious. ‘I meant it. I’ll keep the cameras away. You just focus on being brilliant behind the shop counter, like you have been all morning, and leave the rest to me.’
Something about the protective tone in Nick’s voice and the way he had taken charge of the disruption of the film shoot, made Thea feel suddenly less nervous. She liked seeing him like this: decisive, in control and, dare she admit it to herself, sexy?