“That is weird and a little spooky, frankly. Not sure I want to think about it. Maybe a ghost put it there or something.”
Audrey knelt down and finished emptying the box open on the floor.
The doorbell clanged, making them both jump out of their skin.
“That darn bell is a health and safety risk.” Audrey levered herself to her feet. “It’s going to give someone a heart attack. Or maybe you’re carrying hot tea and you scald yourself and all your skin peels off. Or maybe you jump and bang your head on a beam. There are any number of ways to die in this store, and none of them are glamorous. You stay here. I’ll go and do the whole customer service thing and if I need you, I’ll call.”
She walked into the shop.
The man standing in front of the desk was a stranger.
The touches of gray at his temples suggested he was nudging fifty, but that didn’t stop him being handsome. He had intense blue eyes and a few lines that suggested he smiled a lot.
She delivered her warmest French greeting. “Bonjour. Je peux vous aidez, monsieur?”
“I’m looking for Grace.”
David.
Shit. What was she supposed to do? Should she pretend Grace was out? Would Grace want to see him? Why hadn’t they planned for this scenario?
“Er—”
“Do you speak English?”
Audrey tried to look vacant and French and in the meantime David gave her a warm friendly smile. His smile was so compelling and attractive, Audrey almost smiled back and then she remembered he’d been a total shit to Grace and that she absolutely wasn’t on his side.
She gave him a cool look, modeling it on the look Elodie had given her when she’d fired her. To tell the truth, she was a little shaken.
David was nothing like Audrey had imagined him.
She’d imagined some desperate, aging middle-aged guy and David probably was middle-aged, but he didn’t look like some cheating, no-good rat bastard. He looked solid and dependable, a bit like Meena’s dad. The sort of person who could easily shoulder any number of people’s problems at once without struggling under the weight.
“David.” Grace appeared from behind her. “What are you doing here?”
He thrust his hands into his pockets, looking self-conscious. “Can I buy you a coffee?”
“I’m working.”
“Just half an hour, that’s all.” He turned to Audrey. “Would you be able to cover?”
“No, she wouldn’t.” Grace straightened her shoulders. “We work here together. That’s the deal.”
Audrey felt like a sandwich being toasted between two hot plates.
She opened her mouth, but then David took a step toward Grace.
“Please. Just half an hour.” His voice was soft and he looked at Grace as if she was the only woman on the planet.
Audrey swallowed, and reminded herself that he hadn’t treated her like the only woman on the planet.
Grace glanced toward her, and Audrey gave a helpless shrug.
She was still in that toaster with her edges burning.
“Fifteen minutes,” Grace said. “And we’ll go to the coffee shop down the street. Audrey, if you need me, then call.”
“Sure.” Did that mean Grace wanted her to call anyway and rescue her? Or was she only supposed to call in a crisis?