‘Nothing to do with wasps. She’s matchmaking,’ Glenda said calmly, fishing in the bag and removing the candle. ‘Oh, look—it’s one of those special ones set in driftwood. It’s so pretty. It’ll look lovely on that table on your deck. How romantic.’
She put it carefully back in the bag and Anna felt her colour rise. ‘Romantic? Matchmaking?’
Glenda smiled and stowed the bag carefully behind Reception. ‘Of course. The whole village is hoping that the two of you will fall in love and set up shop together. It would be a fairy-tale ending.’
There was a pulsing silence.
For a moment Anna stood still, totally speechless. Then her temper exploded. ‘Since when did fairy tales come with loud arguments and the threat of physical injury?’ She whirled round and glared at Sam. ‘Don’t just stand there laughing! Say something!’
Sam ran a hand over his face but his blue eyes gleamed with humour. ‘Looks like I don’t have to cook dinner tonight.’
Anna all but stamped her foot. ‘How can you be so calm? They think you’re going to stay, McKenna. Step into your father’s place.’ She bit her lip. ‘They’re trying to… They want us to…’ She couldn’t even bring herself to voice the idea, it was so ridiculous.
‘Get together,’ Sam finished for her helpfully, his gaze disconcertingly direct. ‘They just want a doctor they know. You can’t blame them for that. And matchmaking goes on all the time in villages.’
‘Between people who like each other, McKenna,’ Anna reminded him tartly. ‘We don’t like each other.’
He looked at her thoughtfully. ‘No, that’s right. We don’t, do we?’
Something in his tone made her remember the kiss and she blushed. ‘Well, finally we agree on something. I haven’t got time to stand around here all day, talking about village gossip. I’ve got work to do.’
‘Me, too.’
Glenda glanced between them and sighed. ‘Well, if the two of you are arguing too much to eat Hilda’s food, give me a call and I’ll come and eat it.’
* * *
‘You’re seriously going to sit down and eat dinner with the whole harbour watching?’
His eyes flickered along the bay. ‘You’re paranoid. I don’t see anyone showing any interest in us.’
She grunted and swept her hair back from her face. ‘That’s because you’re used to living in London and you automatically assume that no one is interested in you. Here, everyone is interested in you. You should remember that. Somewhere out there someone probably has a telescope fixed on this deck and they’re watching our every move. Light that candle and we may as well book the church.’
‘Your wrong, actually. In my job it’s like being in a goldfish bowl. But, frankly, I don’t care who’s watching. There’s no way I’m wasting this food.’ Sam put a loaded plate in the middle of the table. ‘You can go and eat baked beans in your bedroom if you prefer. I won’t tell anyone.’
Anna stared at the aubergine salad and felt her mouth water. ‘You’ll never eat all that by yourself.’
‘Never underestimate my appetites,’ he drawled, a wicked glint in his eyes as he surveyed her. ‘And I should probably point out that if you carry on being this jumpy around me, the village is going to be gossiping even more than it is at the moment.’
‘I’m not jumpy.’
One dark eyebrow lifted. ‘Riggs, you’re like a kangaroo. The moment I enter a room, you bounce out of it. This is as good a time as any to ask you why.’
She glared at him. ‘Don’t flatter yourself it has anything to do with you. I’m a busy woman. Lots to do.’
‘If you say so.’ With smooth, measured movements he finished laying the table. ‘I’m just warning you how it might look from the outside. And don’t be embarrassed. I’m avoiding you, too.’
‘You are?’
‘That’s right. It’s the only way I can concentrate and get any work done. Now, are you eating or not? The seafood pie is heating in the oven so we need to get started.’
Anna stared at him.
He was having trouble concentrating?
He was thinking about her? Suddenly she felt unsettled and she wasn’t used to feeling unsettled. She was used to knowing where her life was going. To being in control. Around Sam McKenna, she didn’t feel in control at all.
Her brain told her to leave but her taste buds had other ideas. ‘All