Read Online This London Love by Clare Lydon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Clare Lydon
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advantage.”
Meg quickly put down her order book and water, then removed the rose from her mouth, wiping across her mouth to check she had no greenery protruding. Her cheeks reddened as she looked back up to Kate, who was still smiling.
“Extra rose — from one of the wedding orders this morning,” Meg explained. “I short-changed them, but don’t go telling anyone.”
“Florist Ruins Wedding Day, Bride In Tears’…” Kate said, writing the headline with her hand in the air in front of her. “I can just see the scandal now.”
“You’d be surprised.” Meg’s heartbeat was slowing down. She might get over the embarrassment soon.
“Anyway, I know I’m early,” Kate began, looking at her watch. “And clearly I caught you on the hop. But I just came in to see what coffee you wanted — I’ll go and grab some from the Pret over the road.” Kate let her eyes roam up and down Meg’s body once, twice, before they settled on her face. “I’d say you’re a latte kind of girl. Or perhaps a flat white. Am I close?”
Meg scratched her ear and tilted her head to one side. “Latte? Way too milky. I’m a black coffee. Straight up, no messing.”
“I’ll remember that.” Kate didn’t miss a beat. “Black coffee. Back in a minute.” She strode out of the shop.
Meg covered her mouth with her hand. Sweet baby Jesus. But somehow she didn’t think even he could help her out of this one. Okay, so Meg had thought Kate was easy on the eye the first time she’d seen her. But this morning? She seemed to have ratcheted up her charm offensive. Television teeth, just-so hair, stylist wardrobe and an assured air.
And her butt as she’d walked out of the shop…
Meg exhaled. Okay, this was her libido talking. She’d had no action in over 18 months. Nada . She’d pulled herself out of the game, shut off that part of her life because she didn’t need the hassle.
Unless that hassle came wrapped in the guise of someone like Kate, apparently. Her body was not one to lie and her body was telling her, ‘I want this woman!’ Her body might be disappointed.
Meg put all other thoughts out of her mind and got out the funeral brochures. If that didn’t douse her libido, nothing would. She set two chairs around the end of the counter and concentrated on being composed. She could do that, no problem.
A few minutes later, Kate swept back into the shop with coffees and two popcorn bars. She set the drinks on the table and handed a bar to Meg, who was smiling inanely and trying to keep her emotions under control. An image of pushing Kate onto the long counter-top and kissing her slow and hard flashed into Meg’s mind and her cheeks coloured even more. And she hadn’t actually thought that was physically possible.
“Have a seat,” Meg said, indicating the chair next to her. “Now, option two, wasn’t it?” Meg switched on her professional mode as she sat too, turning to Kate, who had icy cool, clear blue eyes. Did Meg’s heart just skip a beat? Good grief, her thoughts were beginning to sound like cheesy pop songs. Meg quickly stared back down into the brochures and hoped Kate would have looked away by the time she flicked her head back up.
She had.
“Yeah — option two.” Kate took a sip of her coffee.
“So a coffin spray…”
“Is it just me or is that weird?”
“Weird?”
Kate nodded. “Sounds like you’re going to graffiti the coffin.”
“I suppose it does.” Meg grinned. “We can do that if you like?”
“Don’t think my Uncle Mike was into modern art much.” Kate smiled. “Is it bad to be laughing about this?”
Meg shook her head. “Not really — death’s a part of life, and life is better with humour in it.”
“Very true.”
“So the usual flowers we go for are lilies and roses, with some chrysanthemums and berries for an autumnal feel. Mainly creams and whites, and perhaps some pale green — does that sound okay?”
Kate nodded. “Sounds perfect. And then my mum
Meg quickly put down her order book and water, then removed the rose from her mouth, wiping across her mouth to check she had no greenery protruding. Her cheeks reddened as she looked back up to Kate, who was still smiling.
“Extra rose — from one of the wedding orders this morning,” Meg explained. “I short-changed them, but don’t go telling anyone.”
“Florist Ruins Wedding Day, Bride In Tears’…” Kate said, writing the headline with her hand in the air in front of her. “I can just see the scandal now.”
“You’d be surprised.” Meg’s heartbeat was slowing down. She might get over the embarrassment soon.
“Anyway, I know I’m early,” Kate began, looking at her watch. “And clearly I caught you on the hop. But I just came in to see what coffee you wanted — I’ll go and grab some from the Pret over the road.” Kate let her eyes roam up and down Meg’s body once, twice, before they settled on her face. “I’d say you’re a latte kind of girl. Or perhaps a flat white. Am I close?”
Meg scratched her ear and tilted her head to one side. “Latte? Way too milky. I’m a black coffee. Straight up, no messing.”
“I’ll remember that.” Kate didn’t miss a beat. “Black coffee. Back in a minute.” She strode out of the shop.
Meg covered her mouth with her hand. Sweet baby Jesus. But somehow she didn’t think even he could help her out of this one. Okay, so Meg had thought Kate was easy on the eye the first time she’d seen her. But this morning? She seemed to have ratcheted up her charm offensive. Television teeth, just-so hair, stylist wardrobe and an assured air.
And her butt as she’d walked out of the shop…
Meg exhaled. Okay, this was her libido talking. She’d had no action in over 18 months. Nada . She’d pulled herself out of the game, shut off that part of her life because she didn’t need the hassle.
Unless that hassle came wrapped in the guise of someone like Kate, apparently. Her body was not one to lie and her body was telling her, ‘I want this woman!’ Her body might be disappointed.
Meg put all other thoughts out of her mind and got out the funeral brochures. If that didn’t douse her libido, nothing would. She set two chairs around the end of the counter and concentrated on being composed. She could do that, no problem.
A few minutes later, Kate swept back into the shop with coffees and two popcorn bars. She set the drinks on the table and handed a bar to Meg, who was smiling inanely and trying to keep her emotions under control. An image of pushing Kate onto the long counter-top and kissing her slow and hard flashed into Meg’s mind and her cheeks coloured even more. And she hadn’t actually thought that was physically possible.
“Have a seat,” Meg said, indicating the chair next to her. “Now, option two, wasn’t it?” Meg switched on her professional mode as she sat too, turning to Kate, who had icy cool, clear blue eyes. Did Meg’s heart just skip a beat? Good grief, her thoughts were beginning to sound like cheesy pop songs. Meg quickly stared back down into the brochures and hoped Kate would have looked away by the time she flicked her head back up.
She had.
“Yeah — option two.” Kate took a sip of her coffee.
“So a coffin spray…”
“Is it just me or is that weird?”
“Weird?”
Kate nodded. “Sounds like you’re going to graffiti the coffin.”
“I suppose it does.” Meg grinned. “We can do that if you like?”
“Don’t think my Uncle Mike was into modern art much.” Kate smiled. “Is it bad to be laughing about this?”
Meg shook her head. “Not really — death’s a part of life, and life is better with humour in it.”
“Very true.”
“So the usual flowers we go for are lilies and roses, with some chrysanthemums and berries for an autumnal feel. Mainly creams and whites, and perhaps some pale green — does that sound okay?”
Kate nodded. “Sounds perfect. And then my mum
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