Falling for you

it on the telly, what I always say is take your time and get somewhere safely, better than goin’ too fast and not getting there at all .. . What’re you doin’ buying dog food then?’

Beadily she eyed Kate’s basket, as if suspicious that the cans of Pedigree Chum might be lunch. ‘You

‘aven’t got a dog.’

‘Just ring them up on the till and stop yabbering, you nosy cow.’

Kate smiled blandly and wondered how Theresa would react if she’d actually said the words aloud instead of just thinking them.

‘We’re looking after one for a friend. And I’ll have a sheet of that wrapping paper. The dark blue one.’

‘Blue? Not your dad’s birthday, is it? Although if it is, we’ve got some nice boxed hankies, or maybe he’d prefer—’

‘It’s not his birthday,’ interrupted Kate.

‘Thought it wasn’t.’ Theresa looked relieved to have been proved right. ‘He’s January, isn’t he?

Your poor mum and dad, must’ve been a terrible shock for them, seein’ you with your face like that and

—’

‘How much do I owe you?’ said Kate.

‘In and out of Theresa’s in under twenty minutes.’ Jake shook his head in admiration. ‘Better contact the Guinness Book of Records.’

‘ What an old witch. She was bursting to know who the wrapping paper was for.’ Kate felt her mood lighten, like the sun coming out. The last time she’d properly known Jake, he’d been Maddy Harvey’s irritating little brother, a skinny ten-year-old covered in grazes, with a much prized dried worm collection. Now, all grown up, he was ... well, all grown up. For some local girl there was no denying he’d be quite a catch.

‘Are you looking at my chest?’ said Jake.

‘No!’

‘Oh. Just wondered. Actually, you could give me a hand with the wrapping if you like.’

Kate followed him into the cool gloom of the workshop. Bemused, she said, ‘A gun?’

‘ Don’t sound so shocked, it’s not a real one.’ Spreading out the sheet of cobalt blue paper on the workbench, Jake picked up the imitation pistol. ‘Fires potato pellets. Here, you make a start with the Sellotape.’

‘I thought it was a birthday party for a girl.’

‘It is, but Sophie chose this. She’s already got one, so now she and Charlotte can have shootouts. Or murder other girls’ Barbies. Sophie thinks dolls are feeble,’ said Jake. ‘She wants to be a police officer when she grows up. Last week I caught her and Tiff aiming a hairdryer at passing motorists. When I asked what she was doing she said, 'Being a speed-trap.'‘

Together they managed to wrap up the potato gun, although the end result was secure rather than stylish.

‘I’d better get back,’ said Kate.

‘Before they send out the search parties.’ Jake picked up the unused rectangle of paper. ‘Do you think I should wrap up a potato too?’

He was teasing her. Realising she had to say something, Kate began awkwardly, ‘Look, thanks for ... you know, talking to me. Being ... um, normal.’

‘That’s OK.’ Jake clearly found this amusing. ‘I am actually quite a normal person. Plus, I always do as I’m told.’

‘Told?’

‘By Marcella, anyway. Life wouldn’t be worth living otherwise.’

Suspicion crawled over Kate’s skin like ants. ‘You mean ... ?’

Smiling, Jake said, ‘She told me to be nice to you.’

‘When?’ She could barely get the word out.

‘Two minutes before you got here, I imagine.’ He patted the phone lying on the bench. ‘Hey, it’s OK.’

‘It’s not OK. It’s humiliating. I don’t need to be patronised—’

‘Don’t get your knickers in a twist.’ Jake’s green eyes were by this time bright with laughter. ‘I was going to be nice to you anyway.’

But then he would say that, wouldn’t he? For just a few brief minutes, Kate realised, her mood had magically lifted and she’d almost forgotten about her scarred face.

Now everything was spoiled.

Nuala Stratton, having slipped away from her barmaiding duties for five minutes, was observing the exchange between Jake and Kate with a mixture of intrigue and indignation. From her bedroom window above the pub she had a clear view into his workshop. She knew, of course, that Jake was an habitual charmer who flirted effortlessly and always made you feel extra-special, even when all he was doing was ordering a pint of Guinness and a packet of crisps, but why on earth was he doing it now with Kate Taylor-Trent?

Maddy would go mental when she found out.

Sucking in her stomach – something she found herself doing almost instinctively whenever she looked at Jake – Nuala watched him saunter over to the bulldog, unhook its lead from the fencepost and cajole the overweight animal to its feet. Then he said something else to Kate, handed the dog over to her and gave her