A Special Kind of Woman Read Free Page B

and Josh.’
    ‘Chicken and chips?’
    They both looked up, slightly startled, to see the waiter hovering over them with two plates.
    ‘Um—yes, thank you,’ Cait said, moving her cup out of the way and letting his revelation sink in. The waiter left them, and without thinking she reached out her hand and covered his. ‘Owen—thanks for telling me about it.’
    His grin was crooked and a little off-key. ‘That’s OK. I don’t usually talk about it. I’m sorry to unravel on you like that. I shouldn’t have brought it up.’
    ‘Yes, you should. She was a part of your life for years. You can’t just not talk about her as if she didn’t exist.’
    He met her steady gaze, gratitude at her understanding showing in his amber eyes, and then he smiled a little sadly. ‘Thank you for that. You’re right, but most people don’t see it that way. It makes them uncomfortable.’
    ‘That’s silly.’
    ‘Maybe. Eat your chicken and chips.’
    She looked at his plate, heaped with what looked for all the world like a truly wicked Sunday breakfast, and had a sudden urge to dunk her chip in his egg yolk.
    ‘Go on, then, if you must.’
    ‘What?’ She looked up, startled, to find him laughing softly at her.
    ‘Dunk your chips in my egg.’
    The smile wouldn’t be held in. ‘That’s so rude of me. How did you know?’
    ‘Something to do with the longing look you gave it?’
    Oh, lord. She’d better not direct any longing looks at him , then. He was altogether too good at picking them up!
    She reached over, the chip in her fingers, and pierced the golden yolk. ‘Oh, yum,’ she mumbled round the mouthful, and he laughed again.
    ‘One more, and that’s your lot,’ he said firmly, and she indulged herself one last time before turning her attention to the fragrant, steaming plateful of chicken in front of her.
    Within a few minutes she’d demolished it, and sat back with a huge sigh of contentment. ‘Oh, wow,’ she said with a grin. ‘Excellent.’
    He speared the last mushroom and chewed it thoughtfully, then smiled back. ‘How about a pud?’
    ‘That’s too wicked!’ She laughed. ‘Anyway, I’ll burst.’
    ‘How horribly messy. We’d better avoid that at all costs. Another coffee?’
    She shook her head, reality coming back to her. She had work to do before she opened the shop in themorning, and it was already after seven. Besides, the cat would be hungry and would take the hump and go off in a sulk if she didn’t get back soon.
    ‘I ought to go,’ she told him, and he nodded.
    ‘OK.’ He looked up and caught the waiter’s eye, and a bill appeared a moment later.
    ‘Could you please split it?’ she asked him, but Owen shook his head.
    ‘No. Leave it. Here.’ He counted out a pile of notes, told the man to keep the change and ushered her out.
    ‘You shouldn’t have done that,’ she protested, but he just smiled.
    ‘Yes, I should. I talked you into it—and, anyway, it was a pleasure having your company.’ He walked her to her car, and as she reached it he looked down into her eyes and searched them in silence for a moment.
    ‘Thank you for rescuing me from the doldrums,’ she said, a touch breathlessly, and he smiled, just a slight shift of his lips in the harsh glare of the outside lights. His eyes were in shadow, but they seemed to burn with an inner fire that she didn’t dare interpret.
    ‘My pleasure,’ he murmured, and before she could move or speak or even blink, he bent his head and brushed her lips with his. ‘Goodnight, Cait. Take care.’
    He slipped a card into her hand. ‘Here. This is my number. Ring me if you need anything.’
    Then he was gone, his long legs striding round his car. He slid behind the wheel and waited for her to get into her car, then once she was settled and pulled forward a fraction, he raised a hand in farewell and followed her out of the car park.
    His lights trailed her all the way home, then as she pulled up they flashed a couple of times and he