‘Would you like chocolate or cinnamon sprinkles with that?’ Sophie took a moment to roll her shoulders before picking up one of the shakers. This morning her body felt well-used and weary.
‘I’ll have both, my darling.’ The woman chuckled, a rich, dark, rolling sound that matched her ebony skin and friendly, open smile. She was tall and, as Sophie’s mum would have said, big boned. ‘And don’t you have a fine accent there. Where are you from?’
The woman was so deliciously cheery, that despite being asked that very question at least fifteen times this morning, Sophie cheerfully responded, even though she was starting to flag a bit. Since eight o’clock she’d been in the coffee shop, having helped Bella for an hour before in the kitchen cooking up several batches of cookies and cakes. Sleep was overrated. Who needed it when they had this delicious sense of excitement and happiness to hug to themselves? Still buzzing, she could feel herself blushing at last night’s memories. Sleep had not been high on the agenda.
After dinner Todd had walked her back to the apartment, both having agreed over dinner that as she was working in the bakery in the morning, they would see each other for dinner the following evening. But the minute he kissed her outside her front door, all their good intentions went up in smoke. Soft kisses turned into sizzling in less than sixty seconds. By the time they came up for air they were back in Sophie’s bed.
‘So you’re not Bella, then?’ There was a distinct naughty sparkle in the woman’s eyes, almost as if she could read Sophie’s thoughts. She reeked of someone clearly up to no good.
‘No,’ said Sophie, enchanted by her mischievous air.
‘I’m Dessie.’ She looked back over her shoulder, like an inept spy, checking no one was in earshot. Although the café was busy, now that they’d passed the ten o’clock threshold, the morning rush of commuters had slowed. This was the pre-eleven coffee slot, comprising mainly solitary newspaper readers, laptop users and daydreamers, and the après-gym buddy set. All of them were absorbed in their own worlds.
‘I think you’re safe,’ teased Sophie.
Dessie leaned over the counter. ‘I’m Wes’s mum.’ She gave one of those this-is-between-us nods.
‘Oh, how lovely to meet you. He was in here this morning.’ Sophie paused. Wes came in every morning, without fail. Usually the first customer of the day, waiting patiently outside the door like a faithful hound. Every morning Bella made him wait until she’d switched on every light, put the sugar and vases on each table and the espresso machine was ready to go. It was Bella’s subtle way of punishing him. Poor man. He couldn’t stay away, but he didn’t seem to be able to move forward.
This morning, he’d been grateful when Sophie stopped him to ask if he had any lemon grass, red chillies, Thai basil, fresh ginger or coriander, which she still kept forgetting to call cilantro. He was impressed when she said she wanted to make an authentic Thai Green Curry, confirmed he had all of those things and offered to ring a friend to get hold of some pea aubergines that he could get delivered that afternoon.
‘I’ve come to find out what’s making my boy so miserable,’ Dessie’s ridiculously loud stage whisper echoed around the café and a dozen heads turned. Sophie might have giggled except Bella, who’d been clearing tables, stood right behind the older woman, her face looking decidedly grim. ‘And I know, I know. I’m interfering but something’s not right and that boy is so darned stubborn.’
‘You’re not wrong there,’ snapped Bella, putting her tray down and resting her hands on her hips. ‘I’m Bella.’
Sophie watched as the two of them sized each other up. They were almost polar opposites, Bella with her red-gold hair and pale skin and Dessie with her Amazonian stature and dark skin.
‘Well, aren’t you a dab of a thing.’ Dessie’s broad smile robbed the words of any offence.
‘Yeah,’ Bella said, her mouth turning down with a mournful twist. ‘Which means we look one hell of an odd couple.’
‘Surely he pays no mind to that.’
‘It’s a factor.’
Dessie frowned. ‘I brought my boy up better than that.’
‘Perhaps you should ask him what the problem is, then.’
‘Well, if it were that simple, my darling, I wouldn’t have trailed my tail all the way down here when I’m supposed to be doing a bake-sale for the stray-cat society. Honestly, those cat babies are better fed than half the kids in the neighbourhood, but the darn school keeps picking it as their charity of the year.’
‘You could always buy some. Give me half an hour and I could knock you some up with cats’ ears and whiskers on. I’ve got a couple of dozen cupcakes waiting to be iced.’
Dessie tipped her head on one side. ‘Deal. Why don’t I come chat to you while you’re doing it?’
Bella raised an eyebrow. ‘How many are you going to buy?’
‘I like you, girl. Let’s start with a dozen. Now,’ she tucked her arm cosily into Bella’s, ‘I’m thinking we can get this sorted out in two ticks of a tailor’s dash.’ Over her shoulder Bella raised her eyebrows at Sophie as the older woman marched alongside her to the back of the bakery.
Sophie watched them go. Poor Wes, she wasn’t sure he stood a chance with those two on his case.
Ten minutes later he stood in front of her with a basketful of herbs, looking everywhere but at Sophie.
‘Where is she?’
‘Bella?’ asked Sophie, trying to play innocent. ‘Are they for me?’
‘My mother.’
‘Your mother?’
‘Yes, lady with a bright-red dress and a very a big nose.’
‘Oh, that lady.’ Sophie buried her face in the fragrant herbs. ‘Don’t you love the smell of Thai basil?’
Wes folded his arms but even at over six foot, with shoulders as wide as an ocean liner, he didn’t look the least bit intimidating. Not any more. Sophie couldn’t believe she’d been quite scared of him that first night when he’d loomed out of the dark. How could a man who tended his herbs with so much love and tender care possibly be a threat?
‘Hey Wes, Sophie.’ Her heart sprang into action like a sprightly springbok bouncing around with joy at the sight of Todd.
‘Hi,’ she squeaked, her voice suddenly going haywire.
‘The day was dragging.’ He pushed his hand through his hair, looking evasive. ‘Nice herbs, Wes.’
‘They’re for Sophie, she wants to impress the guy she’s cooking for tonight.’ Wes nudged Todd. ‘She’s pulling out all the stops. Authentic ingredients. And here you go, pea aubergines.’ He winked at Todd. ‘Ultra-special ingredient.’
Sophie wanted to sink through the floor at Wes’s unwitting teasing.
‘Does she, now?’ Todd grinned. ‘Pea aubergines. Are they some kind of aphrodisiac, Sophie? What are you planning?’
‘Thai Green Curry and no, they’re not,’ she said repressively. ‘And if you don’t behave you won’t be getting any.’
Wes’s mouth dropped open as he looked from Todd to Sophie and then back again. ‘Right. I think I’ll be going. Here you go.’ He gave Todd another glance, fighting back a grin. ‘Enjoy the curry. And tell Bella I was here. I’ll deal with her later.’ The latter was said with a touch of an ominous threat.
‘Am I missing something?’ asked Todd.
‘I’ll explain later,’ said Sophie as Wes departed, handing over the basket of herbs.
‘So do you fancy being my plus-one to review this place? Rooftop bar. Swanky hotel. It’s the perfect evening. We can go for one drink, before you drag me back to your place to have your wicked way with me.’
‘Your chances of being fed, aphrodisiacs or anything else, are rapidly declining.’
‘English, you’re not playing hard to get, are you? Do I have to beg?’
She laughed. ‘I need to help Bella close up. And I’ll need a quick shower. I can be ready by five. You can go dump the herbs in my fridge if you want to be useful.’
‘OK. And then I could go warm the shower up for you.’
She felt her cheeks turn bright pink. ‘I think my poor shower could do with a break this evening.’
‘You’re no fun.’ Todd pouted before smiling. ‘Tell you what, I’ll dump this and nip back to my place for some supplies.’
‘What sort of supplies?’
‘More shower gel, you’re running low.’
She threw the cloth at his departing back.
Todd drove to the Westlight, which was a stunning, sophisticated roof-top bar north of Williamsburg. Sophie felt she was starting to get the hang of Brooklyn, which she’d now realised was much bigger than Manhattan.
‘You ain’t seen nothing yet,’ said Todd in response to her observation as they drove back to her apartment. ‘In fact, I know where we can go tomorrow.’
‘Where?’ A little thrill flashed through her that he was already planning tomorrow. After last weekend, when he’d not arranged to meet up until Saturday, she’d sort of assumed that he wanted to keep things very casual.
‘It’s a surprise.’
‘It’s always a surprise with you,’ muttered Sophie.
‘Don’t you like surprises?’ asked Todd.
‘I love them, when they’re instant surprises but not when I’m told there’s going to be a surprise, because then I have to wait and I’m impatient.’
‘OK. Would you like to go out tomorrow?’
‘That would be lovely. Where?’
‘I haven’t decided yet,’ he said, suddenly very prim, straightening up at the wheel and deliberately not looking at her. She burst out laughing.
And laughter seemed to be the theme of the night. He sat at the breakfast bar in the kitchen drinking beer as she cooked the curry, sniffing appreciatively as the subtle fragrances of lemon grass, ginger and Thai basil filled the air. What’s more, he was interested, asking lots of questions like: why was she using shallots instead of onions, why did she bash the lemon grass before she chopped it? And as she answered – explaining that shallots had a more intense flavour than onions, so you used less and therefore made the paste less watery, and bashing lemon grass softened it and helped to release its natural aromatic oils – he listened carefully, his whole attention on her. He definitely knew how to make a girl feel good about herself.
After they’d eaten, he volunteered to wash up and she sat on the stool at the breakfast bar toying with the stem of her wineglass, watching him rolling up his sleeves, trying not to look at his hands and remember their skilful touch the previous night.
‘You’ve used an awful lot of utensils.’ Todd frowned, looking around at the kitchen. Sophie, who prided herself on being a tidy cook, was very slightly put out.
‘You’re not reneging on the internationally recognised convention that the cook skips the washing-up?’
‘No, but I think in the interests of parity and Anglo-American relations, that we should make it more interesting.’ There was something devious about the gleam in his eyes.
‘How do you make washing-up more interesting?’ Sophie leaned against the breakfast bar, one hand cupping her chin as she picked up her wineglass.
‘Well, for example, this rice pan is going to need a bit of work. I’m going to need an incentive.’ She couldn’t miss the hint of challenge in his voice.
‘And the best Thai curry you’ve ever eaten outside South-East Asia wasn’t incentive enough?’
Todd shrugged. ‘I’ve eaten it now.’
She looked pointedly at his empty plate by the sink. ‘You certainly did.’ He’d had three helpings.
‘You have to take an item of clothing off.’
Sophie choked on her wine. ‘I beg your pardon?’
‘You’re so sexy when you go all prim on me, English.’
She stared at him, her lips twitching.
‘It’s a big pan. Needs a lot of scrubbing.’ He cocked his head.
She slipped off one shoe and held it up.
‘That’s one piece of flatware. Come on, this is a heavy-duty pan.’
Sophie took a long slow sip of wine, her mind racing.
‘OK, but you have to keep washing up, until it’s all done.’
‘Naturally.’
Without a second thought she peeled off her dress and tossed it on the breakfast bar, hiding a smug smile when his eyes widened and he gulped. Oh, yes, he definitely gulped.
‘Pan.’ She nodded at the sink.
He dealt with the rice pan without another word and his voice was husky when he put it on the drainer and said, ‘Next.’
She took another sip of wine, her eyes on his, and without flinching pulled down her underwear and laid her lace shorts on the bar next to the dress. He suddenly looked a little strained. Not that he could see her, tucked behind the breakfast bar.
‘Carry on,’ she said, deliberately demure.
‘Right.’ He reached for his beer bottle and took a quick swig, almost choking. ‘Yes. Right.’
‘Something wrong?’ She crossed her legs on the stool, moving very slowly.
‘No.’ His low-pitched denial was a far cry from his usual confident tone as he hesitantly picked up the chopping board.
Without hesitation she slipped one strap down on her bra, pausing to catch his eye, watching him as he watched her. She lowered the second before unhurriedly moving her hands behind her back to undo the strap. ‘Don’t stop on my account,’ she said.
Without breaking his gaze, he dumped the board in the sudsy water. She unclipped her bra and let it fall. He dropped the board with a crash into the water.
‘Gently,’ she reprimanded him. He grabbed a tea-towel and rounded the breakfast bar, sweeping her into a hungry kiss.
The breakfast bar proved a handy support.
She woke the following morning with the sun streaming through the window. For a moment she lay there enjoying the feeling of the weight of Todd’s arm across her hip and the warmth of another body spooned up to her. When his fingers began to stroke her skin she turned over to find him sleep-mussed with a dopey smile on his face.
‘Morning, English.’
‘Morning. What time is it?’ She was too comfortable to reach for her phone.
‘Who cares? We’ve got all day.’
‘We have?’ She hadn’t thought that far ahead.
‘You don’t have any plans, do you?’ Todd’s hopeful face made her heart sing.
‘Nothing particularly interesting.’
‘You do now. Time to get your lazy but rather delectable ass out of bed.’ He slapped her bottom gently. ‘You’re a terrible influence. Dragging me into bed.’
‘Me!’
But Todd was already throwing back the sheets and tugging her hand. ‘Into the shower with you. I have plans … for you.’
‘In the shower?’ She cocked her head, a shiver of anticipation rolling through her.
‘Jeez, woman.’ He pulled her upright up against his naked body. ‘You have a filthy mind. I’m going to be a shadow of my former self if you keep making these insatiable demands on my poor body.’
Sophie rolled her hips. If he was going to suggest she was a wanton harlot, she was more than happy to play along.
‘Hell, woman, you’re killing me. Get into that shower, before I drag you back to bed. We have a day planned.’
‘We do?’
‘Yes.’
From the top of the Wonder Wheel, the crowds below looked like busy ants. Coney Island reminded Sophie of a proper seaside resort with its snack bars, amusement arcades and the packed beach. The wind tossed her hair as the car they were in swung slightly as it rose to the very top of the wheel. Thank goodness she had a good head for heights, unlike her friend poor Kate. She craned her neck, keen to make the most of the view, and took out her phone to take a picture of it. With a quick smile she WhatsApp’d it to Kate, with a quick teasing caption, you’d love it here. It felt good to be normal again and not pretend that she was having a good time. Holding up her phone, she nudged Todd to take a quick selfie.
Since they’d arrived earlier, he had taken her hand as they’d ambled along, taking in the sights and smells. The hot dog seemed to be king here, the smell of fried onions permeated the air as people wandered along clutching napkin-wrapped bundles dripping with the bright-yellow mustard sauce. It made a welcome change to be one of two among the happy crowds of people who were all enjoying their weekend.
After the Wonder Wheel, they went on the dodgems before standing in front of the terrifying Thunderbolt ride.
‘What do you think?’ asked Todd, looking up at the death-defying vertical climb, the loop the loop and the waves of orange steel track.
‘I’m game if you are,’ she replied, remembering the last roller coaster she’d been on in Denmark. ‘I survived The Demon in Tivoli Gardens last year.’ She took another picture for Kate and sent it over.
‘You’re a brave woman, English,’ said Todd, watching the cart inching up the ramp towards the top of the sheer drop.
‘It’s not brave if you’re not scared,’ said Sophie, noting the slight strain in his face. ‘Brave is when you’re scared, and you still do something, when you face your fear. That’s real bravery. My friend Kate went on the Demon last year, even though she’s terrified of heights and had never been on a roller coaster before. And that is not one to lose your ride virginity on, but she didn’t want to spoil things for another member of our party. So she went for it. That’s brave.’
He lifted his chin. ‘I always thought being brave was recognising your limitations. Acknowledging you don’t have to do something to try and prove you’re brave. Saying I’m scared of roller coasters and living by it. Being honest to live by your beliefs and not try.’
‘I hadn’t thought about it like that.’ She tipped her head up, looking back at the height. ‘But sometimes the benefit is worth the risk.’
‘Hmm, I’m not sure. Do you want to go on?’ His deceptively casual tone didn’t fool her.
‘Not particularly, I’d rather have a hot dog.’
Relief loosened his shoulders which had been almost up to his chin. There was a story there. ‘Hot dogs coming right up.’
‘You’ve got mustard,’ he nodded at her chin and then scooped it up with a quick dab of his finger, lifting it to her lips.
He’d insisted, for her ‘food education’, on taking her to Nathan’s for the best dogs on the island and now they were sitting on the sand just off the boardwalk.
‘Mmm, thanks.’
‘My pleasure.’ The warm smile he sent over the huge hot dog he was eating had definite undertones of no good thoughts. ‘You look like you’re really enjoying it.’
‘It’s delicious,’ she said warily, immediately conscious of the incipient double entendres, ‘and at home I’d probably never eat a hot dog.’
‘Ah, that’s because you’ve never had your mouth around … an American dog before.’
‘Don’t start all that malarkey!’ said Sophie, nudging him, immediately blushing as she remembered what they’d been up to in the shower that morning and inadvertently looking at his crotch. It appeared she’d left all her inhibitions at Heathrow when she boarded the plane.
‘Malarkey?’ said Todd, imitating her accent. ‘Is that what it’s called?’
‘Shh,’ said Sophie, blushing some more. The dratted man didn’t miss a trick.
‘Shower malarkey.’ He nodded gravely, his intent gaze suddenly sharpening as she tried to take another bite of her hot dog.
‘Stop it,’ she ducked her head. ‘I’ll never be able to eat this if you don’t stop watching me like that.’
‘Yeah, but you look so cute when you blush.’
‘Behave.’ She gave him a repressive glare and was about to take another bite when he said, in a deliberate husky, suggestive tone, ‘I love your mouth.’
She wriggled in the sand, now starting to feel warm in all the right places. What was it about Todd that he could do this to her at any moment?
That naughty knowing look in his eye suggested he knew exactly what he was doing and then he waggled his eyebrows in a ridiculously over-the-top expression.
With an impish smile his way, she lifted the dog, playing along, blowing on the meat for a second, trying to look seductive and come hither, and then as she opened her mouth, she took a firm, snappy bite.
Todd’s head shot up. ‘Ouch!’
And she burst into giggles.
The silliness continued until she’d finished the hot dog and he scooped up the wrappers and jogged off to the nearest bin. She watched him cross the beach, with a light heart and a big smile on her face.
When they’d finished eating, they sat on the beach, side by side, Todd’s arm slung around her, watching the people around them, enjoying the touch of the brilliant sunshine. Sophie rested her chin on her knees, happy to watch the children on the shoreline dancing in and out of the sea, shrieking as the waves sped up the beach, splashing them with the cold Atlantic waters. She tipped her face up to the sun, glad she’d put sunscreen on.
‘Mind if I have a snooze?’ asked Todd, leaning back. ‘I’m exhausted.’
‘Exhausted?’ asked Sophie.
‘Yeah, you’ve worn me out, English. You’re a demanding woman. I’m not sure I can keep up.’
‘Todd,’ she said.
‘Yeah?’
‘Go to sleep,’ she said over her shoulder.
‘Yes, ma’am.’
He stretched out beside her, one arm tucked around her bottom as if he wanted to anchor himself to her. She checked her mobile phone, enjoying the feeling of having him close, knowing he wanted to keep her close. Kate had texted back.
Blimey, girl. You didn’t say he was that bloody gorgeous. A smile touched Sophie’s mouth and she glanced back at Todd. In six months’ time this would be just a lovely memory.
For the first time in months, Sophie opened up the Facebook app on her phone. She’d not posted anything since she’d left London.
Posting a picture of the Thunderbolt on her page, she wrote: Enjoying life in New York. A day out on Coney Island. Blackpool it isn’t.
Like opening a bottle and letting the genie out, she began scrolling through her Facebook feed. A sudden wave of homesickness rolled over her, taking her breath away as she began thinking about friends and family back home. She’d cut herself off so sharply, she hadn’t thought about what they were all up to. There were lots of messages from people including Angela and Ella in the office. And there, a whole stream from James sent through Messenger.
At the flat. Can’t get in. When will you be home? Jx
Where are you? Jx
Sophie, we need to talk. I love you. It sounds a terrible cliché, but I can explain everything. Jx
Darling, I’m worried about you. Please get in touch. Just let me know you are OK. Jx
Please don’t cut me out of your life. There’s been a terrible mistake. We need to talk. Jx
A slew of other messages in a similar vein followed and then there was a break of a couple of months. And then last week there’d been a new message.
Sophie. I love you. I want you back in my life. I’m an empty shell without you. I’m so lost without you.
With a curl of her lip, she stabbed at the screen, her heart aching at her stupidity. She’d invested so much in him. So much love. So much hope. Her future. Six months ago she’d never have dreamed she’d be here. If you’d asked her then, her hope would have been to be engaged. For James to have finally popped the question. She’d been so convinced that he was about to propose. How had she got it so wrong?
She looked down at Todd, realising that he was watching her through half-closed lids.
‘You OK?’ he asked, lazily tracing circles on her thigh. ‘You look a bit sad.’
‘Fine,’ she said, keeping her voice bright, trying not to let the memories dampen the day.
‘Ready for a cold beer? Or would you like to go on another ride? Would you like to go on the dodgems?’
And there, she realised, was the difference. The magic word ‘you’. He might not take anything too seriously. He might be all about having fun, living for the moment and enjoying everything that life threw at him. But he cared about her. He did things for her. Even last night when he’d seduced her into bed, he constantly checked that she was happy, that she was comfortable.
Even with his harem he was solicitous. Making sure he took them to places they’d like. Looking out for other people. He might not realise it, but he was an absolute gentleman. Thoughtful and considerate. But not a man who was for keeps.
‘Dodgems,’ she said, jumping up. ‘I love the dodgems.’