When Nell returned to The Melting Pot, Bea was huddled over the computer in the corner of the office, shuffling various bits of paper and staring at the screen.
‘Just checking the emails before we open up, and shifting through this post.’
‘Anything interesting?’
‘No, just the usual new suppliers offering deals of various produce, but I’d rather stick with the devils we know.’
‘Absolutely, Mark from The Waterfront said not to worry about the milk, no doubt one day you will return the favour.’
‘That’s lovely of him and, yes, of course I will.’
Nell shivered, ‘At least it’s warmer in here than out there today. She shrugged off her coat and hung it over the chair. ‘I’ve got a feeling we may be a little busy today. There won’t be many boats moving in that icy water.’
‘I think you may be right,’ Bea answered, flicking the cursor up and down the screen.
‘Erm, is that a bacon bap you’re secretly scoffing in the corner? What happened to let’s eat sensibly after Christmas?’ Nell mused, putting the milk in the fridge.
Bea grinned before taking another generous mouthful, the brown sauce oozing all over her plate.
‘Busted! But, my God, I needed that! I feel hungry all the time. I’m blaming the weather. How can anyone think about eating lettuce leaves and dieting at this time of year? I need comfort food, good old stodge.’
‘Summer bodies are made in winter you know,’ Nell laughed, ‘And where’s mine?’
‘Bottom oven and there’s a mug of tea for you over there.’
‘Superstar,’ Nell plonked herself in the chair opposite Bea and glanced up at the clock, ‘Another fifteen minutes until we open.’
‘Listen out for the oven timer, there’s sausage rolls in the bottom oven and scones in the top.’
Nell nodded and began to devour her sandwich. ‘You didn’t fill me in on yesterday, what happened to the dog?’ Bea said looking up from the computer and meeting Nell’s gaze.
‘Somehow, Sam managed to get himself all the way over to the boat moored right at the back of the marina.’
‘I noticed that boat the other day. It’s not a regular, is it? What’s its name?’
‘If I remember rightly, ‘Much Ado About Nothing,’ I’ve not seen it before and, come to think of it, haven’t seen any movement on it either. I’d say it’s been here a few days max.’
‘And it won’t be going anywhere soon in this weather. Did you manage to coax Sam back on to the rowing boat okay?’
‘After a little persuasion. It didn’t help with Guy, who happens to be scared stiff of water, being rooted to the spot.’
‘What’s the story there, then?’
‘A near-death experience with water when he was a kid. God knows how’s he’s going to manage the boatyard!’ Nell chuckled.
Hearing the tinkle of the bell above the shop door they both quickly glanced at the clock.
‘It’s not time yet, we’ve another five minutes.’ Nell said, taking another swift bite of her sandwich before standing up.
‘Shop.’ They heard a voice shout. ‘Anyone there?’
‘I recognise that voice,’ Nell whispered, ‘It’s Guy.’
‘Gorgeous Guy?’ Bea said, while Nell rolled her eyes at her.
‘I don’t mind dragging my weary body off the chair to serve him,’ Bea grinned, scraping her seat back.
‘You stay there, I’ll go!’
‘Not a chance!’
Bea noticed Nell taking a tentative look in the mirror before smoothing down her hair and following her on to the shop floor.
‘Good morning,’ Bea sang with Nell looking over her shoulder.
Guy’s face beamed back at them both. There was no denying he was looking very handsome standing on the other side of the counter with his tousled hair, slight stubble and dressed in a pair of olive-green overalls.
‘Tom Cruise eat your heart out – all that’s missing is the shades,’ Bea muttered under her breath.
‘Good morning to the pair of you.’
Guy’s eyes twinkled towards Nell. He gestured to his mouth then raised an eyebrow at her.
Nell smiled, ‘What?’ she asked, amused.
‘You’ve got brown …’ he pointed towards her mouth.
Nell couldn’t help but feel a teeny bit embarrassed as she quickly wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
‘Brown sauce,’ she rolled her eyes, ‘As you can see the diet didn’t start today!’
‘Wrong time of year for that dieting malarkey. I need something warm and stodgy before I take on the mammoth task of stripping out the inside of a boat.’
‘Bacon, sausage and egg barm?’ Nell suggested.
‘Sounds perfect and a coffee to take out.’
‘Give me two minutes,’ she said, disappearing into the kitchen, leaving Bea chatting to Guy.
‘How’s Ed?’ Bea asked, pressing the button on the coffee machine, which immediately began to whirl, quickly followed by a blast of steam, then complete silence. Bea looked at it, mystified, before wiping her flushed cheeks on her pinny.
‘I think it’s being a little temperamental this morning.’
‘Best have a cup of tea, I think,’ he grinned, leaning on the counter and staring at the array of cakes. ‘The operation went well and he’s recovering nicely.’
Nell could hear their conversation while she bustled about in the kitchen preparing his sandwich.
‘That’s good to hear. Are you staying with him up at Little End Cottage?’
‘Sort of, I’m in the annexe attached to the cottage, which gives me and Sam our own space, but I can keep a close eye on Ed too when he arrives back from hospital. The nurse said he shouldn’t be in too much pain, but it’s the usual no stretching and lots of rest and I’m not sure Ed is one for sitting still. I’ll be on hand to make his meals and generally be at his beck and call.’
‘He’ll love being waited on hand and foot,’ Bea said, ‘Pass on our best wishes and I’ll take him up his favourite steak and ale pie when he’s home.’
Guy smiled, ‘I hope there’ll be enough for two!’
‘Of course.’
Nell walked back into the shop and placed the sandwich down on the counter. ‘How’s Sam today?’
‘He slept like a baby last night after his little adventure but so did I after that bottle of wine.’
Nell could feel Bea’s stare burning into the side of her face.
‘Wine?’
‘Yes, you know the drink that comes in a bottle, usually with a cork.’ Nell replied with a sarcastic grin.
‘Mmm,’ Bea eyed Nell doubtfully as she turned back towards Guy, ‘I’m glad you both slept well. Here, have the sandwich on the house. I’m sure Bea won’t mind.’
‘Not at all,’ Bea answered with a look that said to Nell that this conversation was far from over.
Guy’s face lit up, ‘Thank you, that’s very generous of you both. I’ll see you every morning with this kind of service. Nell, you are the best and now I know why Ed raves about this place so much.’
Bea coughed and folded her arms.
‘And you too, dear Bea, you both are simply the best.’ Guy grinned cheekily before disappearing through the deli door.
As soon as the door was shut, Nell turned to Bea, ‘I can’t believe you let me come out here with brown sauce dripping from the corner of my mouth!’
Bea leaned in closer towards Nell, ‘Hmm, and I can’t believe you missed out the part about drinking wine with a handsome stranger,’ she teased.
‘Don’t be daft, I rescued his dog and he was very grateful,’ she answered, chewing her lip while watching Guy stroll towards the boat yard with Sam trotting at his side. He looked back over his shoulder and snagged Nell’s eye.
‘He likes you, mark my words.’ Bea pulled her I-know-best look while Nell kept her poker face.
‘You heard it here first, Nell Andrews, you just remember that.’
Nell flapped her hand at Bea, ‘Get back to work, Bea, you are driving me insane!’
As soon as Bea’s back was turned, Nell felt the corners of her mouth lift and her face blush. There was something about that Irish charmer that made her stomach instantly flutter.