Chapter 12 #3
Then Theo cleared his throat. ‘You know what you were saying about me arranging this for you?’ He kept his eyes on the water and the patterns it made as the boat slid through the current.
‘I’m … I’m grateful you think we should enter the cooking festival.
Thank you for having faith in my abilities. I – I like your positive attitude.’
Well if that wasn’t one of the sweetest things a man had ever said to her. She began to melt all over again and considered shouting, ‘Then why won’t you kiss me?’ but kept her thoughts in her head.
‘It’s not about faith, Theo. I’ve tasted your cooking; I’ve tasted other people’s cooking too and what you do is different. Unique. I wouldn’t have suggested you enter the cooking festival if I didn’t think your food was worth it and that people would be impressed.’
‘Well … I just want you to know that I appreciate it – I appreciate … you.’
Her throat closed over and her chest tightened.
‘Are you sure we can’t enter?’ she asked again, knowing she was walking on dangerous ground. ‘I know I don’t know anything about the Copenhagen culinary scene, but I still think we should.’
While she knew he was likely to grow defensive, especially as he already seemed to regret their nearly kiss given he wouldn’t properly look at her, she had to try. The cooking festival could do so much for the café, and if there was any way to convince him, she had to try.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, still without looking at her. ‘Do you really think it’ll be worth it?’
Hope rose so sharply she almost gasped. ‘Yes, I do.’ She injected her voice with as much assurance and certainty as she could.
‘I really do. It’ll get people knowing who you are and what you do.
They’ll know where Lykke is and what they can expect when they get there.
I’m certain we’d see an uptake in business. ’
She stood and went to him, but after one quick glance he kept his eyes ahead, even though there was nothing in their path. Tentatively, she reached out and touched his arm again, letting her hand stay there.
‘I really think this could help you and you’re just as good as anyone else who’s entering.’
‘It’s a prestigious festival,’ he replied, finally turning to her. ‘To be taken seriously in the Copenhagen cooking scene is a real honour.’
Was that it? Was that what was holding him back?
Did he not realise how talented he was? How wonderful his food was?
Was it simply a case of imposter syndrome?
Something she’d felt herself when she was starting her account.
She could have screamed at him for being so silly but then her heart pulsed at how cute it was.
Tom never showed any vulnerability and imposter syndrome hadn’t been something he’d suffered with at all.
She loved a man who could be emotionally honest with her.
‘I think you and your food are good enough to enter.’ She spoke stronger this time. ‘And if you agree, I can get lots of content for socials to really grow your followers and make Lykke something special: a must-see in Copenhagen.’
Milly knew she was promising a lot and nerves fluttered in her stomach that she was overpromising and would end up underdelivering, breaking a cardinal rule of business, but she’d do everything she could to make it work. Everything.
Theo met her gaze, his eyes bright as they checked her face to ensure she was telling the truth. After a hideously long moment, he sighed. ‘Fine. We can enter.’
Milly’s hand dropped from his arm, but only to cover her mouth as she screamed in happiness and surprise. ‘Really? You mean it? You really, really mean it?’
‘I do.’ He grinned at her, a full smile that finally lit his eyes.
‘Yay!’ Without thinking, she threw her arms around him. In response, Theo’s arm went around her waist, but she’d knocked him off balance and the two of them fell to the side, almost toppling out of the boat.
Theo chuckled, his hand still around her waist as they righted themselves.
Once more the air crackled. Everything else fell silent as though they’d been enclosed in a bubble.
She waited, hoping again for him to tilt his head, to think about kissing her.
She didn’t care if it was a bad idea or not.
She wanted him to do it, to breathe life back into her heart.
But his grip loosened and she stepped back, away from him, adjusting her clothes.
‘I’m glad you’re excited,’ he said. ‘But you’re going to have to learn a few baking tricks if we’re going to do this. I can’t make everything all by myself.’
‘I’m up for that,’ she replied, determined not to let disappointment show that for the second time he hadn’t kissed her when he could’ve.
She’d got want she wanted after all, and it was something she hadn’t been expecting.
They were going to enter the cooking festival and, now, Lykke would become as successful as it deserved to be.
As long as she could deliver her end of the bargain.
She took a deep breath and sent up a silent prayer that she wouldn’t let him down.