Chapter 18
Sasha should be focusing on the anniversary party, but her thoughts kept turning to Ben.
The feel of his hand steadying her wrist over the teacups.
The warmth of his fingers. One half of her wished she’d been able to lean into the feeling.
Swim in it like in a lovely heated swimming pool.
Instead, she’d forced herself to tear her hand away as if she’d been burned, even while she sensed his eyes gazing at her like molten amber.
Come on, pull yourself together!
Everything had to be perfect for tonight. It just had to be.
Mollie and Paloma’s anniversary party was the perfect showcase for her matchmaking service. Chloé was going to take photos and videos to post online. The publicity of the party would be a brilliant testimonial, proving her success in helping her clients find their perfect match.
Sasha couldn’t allow any distractions – and definitely not from a certain fantasy reader with cute dimples. She had to stop constantly remembering how, with that simple teacup save, Ben had made her feel secure, taken care of. Smashing her new teacups would have been a minor disaster.
What the hell is going on?
She’d never had unsuitable yearnings for a client before.
She blamed Klara and Nathan’s teasing. On Mother’s Day, she’d put the jolt of energy over the card reader down to an electric shock. But when he’d touched her wrist over the teacups something more had sparked.
It could be an excess of static in her energy field. Or too much caffeine was making her jittery. She’d already had two pots of the latest Pu-erh blend she’d ordered from a new supplier. The caffeine content might be higher than she was used to.
Luckily, as the day progressed, she would be too busy to think about Ben. This unsuitable crush could go nowhere. Por Por’s warning about muddying her psychic senses with a transference of feelings stuck in her mind. Ben was her client, after all. She had to keep reminding herself of that.
Sasha closed the café early so Nathan and the caterers could arrive at 4 p.m. to prepare the canapés and desserts. A mixologist was arriving to shake up matcha-themed cocktails, including the strawberry foam-topped champagne cocktail from the Mother’s Day weekend, and matcha mojitos.
Nathan wolf-whistled at a couple of new arrivals. ‘Ooo – you guys look extra hot in suits!’
Sasha glanced over at the door to see two men, smart in black tie.
She realized it was Casey with his saxophone, blushing at Nathan’s comment.
Sasha remembered Nathan’s penchant for musicians.
He was looking particularly pleased to see Casey.
Following Casey was a guy dragging in a double bass case – he looked familiar too . . . she suddenly recognized him.
‘Leo! Wow, didn’t know you played the double bass!’
‘Yeah,’ he muttered. ‘Casey’s an old mate, we used to be in a jazz band together.’
‘Klara loves jazz,’ she mentioned, smiling.
‘She’s not the only one . . .’ murmured Nathan.
Casey grinned while Leo ignored them. But Sasha noticed his ears turning red.
They helped Sasha move the tables and chairs around, shifted a couple of whisky barrels and bar stools outside, and hung some decorations and balloons that Mollie had brought in earlier.
Sasha ran up to her flat for a quick shower.
She lathered on her favourite lavender shower gel to keep herself calm.
No more worrying about Ben!
She’d bought new clothes for the occasion, knowing Chloé was shooting footage for their socials.
Now she put them on: a red silk peasant blouse, with flared three-quarter-length sleeves, paired with wide, black trousers.
She slicked on a berry-tinted lip gloss and drew on black liquid eyeliner, flicking it up at the ends.
Pinning her hair to one side with a silk hibiscus, she left the rest of it loose for a change.
There hadn’t been time to go to the hairdresser’s lately and it reached halfway down her back.
She was hosting and pouring drinks tonight, rather than serving in the café, so she didn’t have to scrape it back quite so drastically.
She checked her appearance in the mirror. It had been a while since she’d worn such smart clothes or bothered with make-up.
Would Ben like her, all dressed up?
Where did that random thought come from? Why should she care what Ben thought? She had to stop thinking of his warm, strong fingers. His muscular chest and taut abs. Ben was her client. He was off limits.
She rushed back down to the café, where Mollie and Paloma had just arrived.
Sasha was glad she’d dressed up. The couple looked fabulous in coordinating purple and pink.
Mollie wore a 1950s-style dress with wide skirt, tulle underskirt and strapless bodice.
Her hennaed curls were piled on top of her head, adorned with fresh orchids from Blooming Marvellous, the florist three doors down on the high street.
Paloma wore a 1930s floor-length flared jumpsuit and sequinned smoking jacket.
‘You both look incredible!’ Sasha hugged them.
‘Not too matchy-matchy?’ asked Mollie, twirling round to show off the circle skirt.
‘You’re perfect!’
‘Matchy-matchy to the cakey!’ called out Nathan.
‘You like?’ He waved them over to the cake.
It was fabulous. Three tiers of heart-shaped sponge were covered in shining chocolate ganache.
Cascading down one side were pink and purple sugar roses with matcha and white chocolate covered strawberries.
A heart plaque had ‘Mollie Mollie squealed.
‘Our song!’ She twirled Paloma around the floor while everyone clapped and cheered.
Guests began to arrive and soon Matcha Moments was full of happy cries, hugs and kisses. Sasha was busy helping people with their coats. She’d turned the hall of her flat into a cloakroom with a couple of clothes rails.
‘Who is this young Rita Hayworth?’ said Mr Davis, as the door opened and Casey and Leo started on a blues version of ‘Foxy Lady’.
‘Hiya, everyone!’ It was Klara. She’d changed upstairs and was glamorous in a dusky pink, floor-length sequinned gown.
Mr Davis kissed her hand and introduced his granddaughter. ‘Have you met Chloé? My granddaughter is the photographer for the evening.’
‘Where did you get that dress? You look stunning!’ admired Chloé.
The anniversary party was soon in full swing.
They’d thrown the doors open to the street and music and laughter spilled out.
Casey and Leo played a mix of old and new blues and jazz standards.
Sasha noticed that Klara spent much of the evening next to them, creating an impromptu dance floor as she danced with Nathan, Mollie and Paloma.
Leo was definitely rocking the tux, thought Sasha. Anything was better than the unflattering Royal Mail uniform. With any luck, Klara would see how attractive he was. She was certainly enjoying dancing to the duo’s music.
Sasha’s eyes kept darting to the door. She couldn’t stop herself. When will Ben arrive?
‘Where’s Ben?’ asked Klara, speaking what was in Sasha’s mind. ‘I’m sure Mollie said she invited him.’ She raised her eyebrows at Mr Davis, who smiled.
‘Yes, we definitely did.’ Mollie overheard her. ‘And, speak of the devil – here he is – and a very handsome devil too.’
Sasha had her back to the door but she felt Ben’s presence, remembering his warm fingers steadying her wrist. Turning, she saw him as he paused for a moment to take in the crowd of revellers.
Her glance met his and her breath released from her lungs.
She immediately relaxed, as if Por Por had patted her back, as she used to when Sasha was little. Now you can enjoy the evening.
Sasha’s lips curved into a wide smile that Ben immediately answered.
The bustle of the room paused for a few seconds as she drank him in.
His collar turned up against a sudden April shower.
His hair was mussed up and damp as it was the day she’d met him, when she’d been the one to drench him in water, not the rain.
He started cutting through the crowd towards her, just as she moved forward to take his jacket.
‘Ben, darling, you came!’ Mollie engulfed Ben in a swathe of purple silk and he was temporarily hidden from view.
‘Miss, could I possibly have a top-up?’ An elderly aunt of Paloma’s tugged at Sasha’s arm.
‘Of course!’ Despite a stab of disappointment, Sasha smiled and returned to her job of pouring champagne. But the bottle only had a trickle left, and she had to go behind the counter to find another cold one. When she returned, she couldn’t see Ben anywhere.
Someone else would have to help him with his jacket. She was working, after all.