35
Over the next few days, they continued filming the Christmas preparations as the snow melted away. Nora still opposed half of Henrik’s ideas in front of the cameras, but the atmosphere between them was different—more highly charged, but also more relaxed and teasing. Henrik told her off from time to time, and Nora came back with a spiky comment or two. Then they would meet up in the changing room and make out in secret.
Orders had come pouring in over the past week, and he could see how happy Nora was. Apart from Gunnebo’s standing order, there were other companies who wanted her help. She had started to sell her crispbread, and a number of grocery stores in the town had bought several boxes, so she and Renée had their hands full baking tray after tray. She hardly had time to see Henrik, nor had they had a chance to discuss what would happen when filming was over. The big gingerbread house finale was fast approaching, and Henrik was falling more and more deeply in love.
One evening he managed to take her out for dinner, and of course they ended up in his hotel room. She also came to his hotel on the penultimate day of filming, but it was too late to eat in the restaurant, so they opted for room service instead. She showed up at almost midnight, exhausted after preparing all the orders for the next day. They were due to film the gingerbread house competition in the square in the morning. Despite her frenetic schedule, he managed to get her to relax, and she slept soundly all night.
They had breakfast in his room, sitting by the window with its sea view. At first there was only darkness, but the sun slowly rose, lighting up the horizon. They were in their underwear, and Henrik realized he would happily sit here with her like this for the rest of his life, eating scrambled eggs with freshly baked bread and drinking strong black coffee. He inhaled sharply. Was that really how he felt? He sipped his coffee and gazed at her in the golden glow of the dawn. Yes ... it felt so ... right.
“I’ve been thinking about the press launch next week,” he said. “Maybe we could have dinner that night? The whole team usually goes out to eat together afterward, so we’ll have to go with them, but then I wondered if you’d like to stay in Stockholm for a couple of days?”
Her posture changed almost imperceptibly; it was as if she disappeared into her own thoughts for a moment before she looked at him. “That would be difficult—I have the patisserie to run. I can’t just take off.”
“Okay.”
He leaned forward and took her hand. He couldn’t help himself, he had to say it. “I’d love to have breakfast with you like this every morning.”
She looked shaken. Something changed unmistakably in that moment, and she gave a stiff little smile. He wished he hadn’t spoken, but he meant what he’d said. She was special, and he wanted to go on seeing her. Maybe she’d reacted this way because she didn’t know where they stood?
“Nora ... I’m serious. I want to have breakfast with you every day. And not just in some hotel room.”
She laughed—but it was a brittle, nervous laugh. “How’s that supposed to work? I live in V?stervik and you live in Stockholm.”
“Maybe we could change that?”
Another fleeting smile. “By the way, do you think Elnaz has met someone down here?”
He frowned. “I don’t want to talk about Elnaz, I want to talk about us.”
“Us?” She sounded shocked.
“Yes. I know it’s early days, but I want to go on seeing you.”
“You’re right, it’s way too early to decide on something like that,” she said coldly, taking a gulp of her coffee.
Henrik nodded briefly. He had no intention of pushing her, but her reaction wasn’t what he’d expected. Maybe he’d been too direct? The relaxed, easy mood between them was gone.
“I’d better go home,” she said. “I need to change my clothes before we start filming.”
Henrik nodded again. Nora finished her coffee, then went over to the bed and got dressed. She suddenly seemed in a hurry to leave. His thoughts were whirling as he stood up. What had he done? Why had she reacted this way?
He followed her to the door. Surely he could say goodbye properly without her thinking he was proposing? She turned back and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
“See you in the square,” he said.
“Absolutely.” She was already hurrying down the corridor.