Felicity tilted her head and smiled wickedly. “Ah, yes, why indeed?”
Carmen sat back. Ash had sketched her? The thought made her glow. Then she sobered. Don’t get carried away. She probably sketches everyone she meets. The idea that Ash had drawn her for any other reason was preposterous, no matter what Felicity seemed to be inferring. Wasn’t it?
Ash wasn’t good with early mornings. Getting into town for nine on a Friday where she had back-to-back appointments from noon until late in the evening wasn’t her favourite way to start the day. But she had no one else to blame but herself—she’d realised the night before that her last tetanus vaccination had been years ago. After finding out her GP was fully booked for the next two weeks, she’d instead made her way to a travel clinic near Marylebone High Street and waited in line for a booster jab.
As she left the clinic, the morning sun hit her fully in the face, and she couldn’t help smiling. Yes, the early start had been a pain, but now she was ready for her big trip.
Okay, that’s all great, but now I need coffee .
Across the street from where she stood was a genuine Italian espresso bar, and she eagerly trotted over the road towards it. Inside, the smell of roasted coffee beans hit her nose, and her tired nerves stood to attention.
“What can I get you?” the woman behind the counter asked.
“Double espresso, please.” Why not? She’d need all the help she could get for the rest of the day.
“Good choice,” a soft voice said behind her.
Ash whipped round to find Carmen behind her, a half smile on her face. It was such a shock to see her there, out of context, as it were. And especially after Tuesday evening had ended so strangely. Ash had pondered calling Carmen a couple of times since then, but something had held her back.
“Carmen! Hey. What a nice surprise.” She willed herself not to gawk; Carmen looked amazing today in a silky, pale green dress that just about reached her knees. She always looks like a million bucks.
“My office is just around the corner.” Carmen thumbed behind her. “What brings you to this part of town?”
“My own stupidity.” Ash laughed at Carmen’s bemused expression. “Realised I needed a tetanus booster.”
“Ah, for the big trip. The travel clinic over the road?”
“Exactly. Didn’t take too long.” Ash turned to the barista to pay for her coffee, then swung back to Carmen as a thought hit her. “Can I get you a coffee?” Friends do that, right? I’m not overstepping by offering .
Carmen’s face lit up, and her smile this time was breathtaking. “I would love a coffee, thank you.”
Ash added a second double espresso to her order. She tried hard not to read too much into the fact that she already knew what Carmen’s preferred coffee choice was. Not daring to meet Carmen’s eye, she instead handed over a ten-pound note to the barista. “Bad day already?” she said to Carmen over her shoulder.
“Oh, no, not really. Just a long week.”
“And we did stay out late on a school night on Tuesday, didn’t we?” Okay, stop that. That was your flirting voice. What were you saying to Damian only two bloody nights ago? Just friends. Just friends.
One corner of Carmen’s mouth quirked up. “Indeed. Are you in a rush to get to the studio? I have a little while until my next meeting. Want to sit and drink our coffees here?” There was a slight tremor in her voice.
Ash could swear Carmen was nervous. But why would that be? “Sure.” The word was out before she could stop it, but friends did coffee all the time so where was the harm?
“Great. I’ll grab us that table by the window.”
“Perfect.” Yep, totally. Nice little romantic corner just made for two. What am I doing?
By the time she’d waited for the coffees to be made, she’d managed to calm her breathing a little. She carried the small cups over and put them carefully down on the table. She pulled out the chair opposite Carmen and squeezed into the small space between it and the table.
“It’s rather cosy back here, isn’t it?” Carmen frowned. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine. So, how’s life in the talent world?”
Carmen waved a hand. “The same. How about the tattoo world?”
Ash grinned. “Also the same. Have you had any time off this week, other than Tuesday evening?”
A delicate blush stole across Carmen’s cheeks, and her gaze darted away. “I saw Felicity last night. We went shopping.”
Why was she blushing? What exactly had they gone shopping for? Ash nearly choked on the images her mind conjured. “Nice.” She managed to keep her tone even, thankfully.
Carmen’s sudden laugh startled Ash. “You sound as excited as if I’d said I’d been to the dentist.”
Ash held open her arms. “Yeah, well, shopping is not my favourite sport.”
“I would never have guessed.” Carmen’s mouth twitched. “But wait a minute, you love shopping for your colourful shirts.”
“That’s different. That’s always on holiday. Everyone knows holiday shopping isn’t the same.”
When Carmen laughed like that, with her entire face lit up and her head thrown back, Ash’s brain and libido short-circuited. God, she’s beautiful .
“I suppose that’s true, yes.” Carmen sipped her coffee. “So, um, any plans for the weekend? Other than working, obviously.”
“I’m out to dinner tomorrow night after work. A late supper over in Shoreditch. Then Sunday will be my lazy day—reading, lounging around, eating pizza.”
“Oh, that sounds blissful. One day I might have one of those again.” Carmen gave a lopsided grin. “Maybe when I retire.”
Ash tapped her chin. “Maybe you should aim for one a little earlier than that.”
Carmen shrugged, then finished her coffee. Her phone, which was on the table next to her cup, buzzed. She glanced down at it and audibly sighed. “And that’s my cue to leave. It’s always me who ends our dates, isn’t it?” She blanched and closed her eyes. “Sorry, wrong choice of word.
