Page 21 of The Perfect Blend
"It's nothing to worry about, sorry about the interruption," he said.
"No problem," I lowered my voice even softer. "Are you sure you're okay, Zach?"
"Please. Don't worry about it." His tone was uncompromising and his body language closed off.
"Okay then," I said, deciding to drop it even though curiosity still burned inside me. "Well, I'd best be going then, thanks for the great food and company, as well as lending your superb event planning skills."
His frosty exterior, similar to the man I first met on that eventful dog walk, melted somewhat.
"Thankyou, Robin. I've had a lovely evening."
He walked me and Beanie to our car and opened the door for me. It was a small gesture, and it shouldn't have meant anything. But there was a moment, as he stood in front of me with just the car door between us, that my heart felt like it was on a tightrope. The air between us was electric, and I swayed slightly, leaning forward towards Zach ever so slightly, waiting. But then Beanie barked from the boot and the moment passed. We said goodnight, and I got in my car and drove home, telling Beanie how next time she should keep her muzzle shut and not ruin a perfectly good moment of romantic tension.
Chapter Nine
“You didn’t kiss him?!” shrieked Zoe. “Are you nuts?!”
“Shhhhhhh,” I said, flapping my hands at her and glancing round the pub to see who had overheard.
Me and Zoe were in the village's last remaining pub, The Old Oak. While once there had been three, in recent years only one survived and the village was devoted to keeping it open. The regulars had known us since we were kids, and to say these old whitewashed walls had ears would be an understatement. The place was gossip central. It had the traditional warm country pub feel that made it feel like an extension of everyone’s living room, and it was the beating heart of the village.
At our little table, tucked in a corner away from the bar, we were about as private as you could get in here, but still, you never knew. Across the small room, Sheila Jones winked at me from where she sat nursing her sherry with another old lady. I nearly groaned out loud. Instead, I smiled and nodded at her before I turned back to Zoe with a face like thunder. I knew just how sweet little old ladies could be in this village, deeply invested in gossip and they loved to interfere.
"Now see what you've done!" I hissed quietly. "Sheila overheard you. Now she'll tell her drinking buddies, and her church ladies, and her WI friends and before you know it the next time I'm on a walk someone will be asking me when the wedding date is."
Zoe did not take my fury seriously and instead giggled into her gin and tonic.
"It's not funny!" I insisted.
"It kind of is," she said. "Come on, it's harmless, and it’s alsopotentiallypayback for that time you told half of maths class that I fancied David Fox."
"That was literally over a decade ago." I groaned and resisted rolling my eyes.
"And that was a greater infraction of the best friend code, so I'd say all things considered we’re about even.”
I couldn’t resist any longer and rolled my eyes as she continued to needle me, "Besides, this is fun and harmless. It's exciting! I've never seen you this smitten so quickly before."
"Me neither," I admitted, taking a sip of my drink, a pint of bitter. "I'm kind of worried."
"You're always worried, hun," she said, catching my eyes. "What's on your mind this time?"
"It all seems so deep, so fast."
"You did all that without kissing first? Robin you dark horse," Zoe gasped in mock scandal.
"Ha, I wish. No, seriously. I've known this guy a little over a week, two if you include our first meeting,” I said, tapping my fingers against my beer. “Already I want to jump his bones and feel the butterflies. It's a little alarming. Plus, we are working together, everyone knows it’s never a good idea to get involved with people you work with, it’s just bad business. What if it all went wrong? I'm really excited about this new project - it’s a big door opening opportunity for me, I don't want to risk that!"
"There's no right way to fancy someone, Robin,” said Zoe, giving me a look that let me know she was once again dispensing wisdom and that I should listen up. “Just because it took you longer to fall before, doesn't mean there is anything wrong with feelings developing quickly this time around. And he’s not your boss, he’s a guy you’re collaborating with. I know it adds another level to the relationship, but you are careful Robin, just make sure you don’t let your business sense be affected because you like him, and I don’t see the problem. Nothing in life is without risk, you just need to decide if it’s worth it." I nodded as I took in her point.
"Besides," she continued, "technicallyspeaking you've known him for years."
"That's true but also just not relevant," I said. "People change a lot from when they were kids. Just because I liked him when I was younger doesn't mean I should drop my guard and throw myself at him now."
Zoe sighed and rolled her eyes. "Robin, you're mutually attracted to each other, don't be dramatic. You're notthrowing yourself at him."
"I actually literally did though, when I tripped into him on that walk," I reminded her, and we laughed at the thought.
"Well, aside from all that, let's recap what we know," said Zoe. She really was the best, she had walked me calmly and methodically through many a crisis in the past and never let me down in the best friend department. Despite basically having just announced my crush on Zach Spencer to all the village via the nosey neighbour express line manned by Sheila Jones.
