Christmas at the Little Waffle Shack - Helen J. Rolfe Page 0,44

known anyone to look this good in dungarees and a coat three sizes too big with a grease stain on its sleeve and a torn collar. ‘Lucy, I was wondering –’ But her gaze was dragged away at that second and she didn’t look too pleased with what it found. ‘Lucy?’

Lucy still didn’t look impressed. And there was a guy walking towards them. It was only as he got closer that Daniel recognised him as the man in the photograph on the holiday card, the man in the fake snow globe with her. His blond hair was the same, cut uniformly, and he was wearing one of those long coats businessmen favoured. This wasn’t a man who ever got his hands dirty, he was someone whose entire wardrobe likely featured items with dry-clean-only labels. And next to Daniel, in jeans, sweater and a puffy jacket, the two men were a total contrast. But Daniel knew clothing choices didn’t mean a thing. His dad had insisted on wearing pristine suits to work, he’d pretended to be a charming businessman with the reputation for getting things done, when in truth he’d been a bully whose family feared him.

The man extended a hand Daniel’s way. ‘Julian,’ he said, seemingly less than happy to find another guy with Lucy.

Daniel had no choice but to introduce himself and return the gesture. But it was already blatantly obvious that the pretence Julian had Lucy going along with wasn’t only for his gran’s benefit. He wanted Lucy back, it was evident from the way he looked at her, and that was why he was here now. Daniel took an instant disliking to the man who reminded him of his old boss when he’d done a factory fit-out. He’d had the same air of one-upmanship about him that instantly made you wary.

‘Julian, what are you doing here?’ Lucy said when the tension between the two men took the place of any conversation. ‘And how did you know where to find me?’ She wasn’t backward in coming forward and it was definitely one of the things Daniel admired about her. But it didn’t mean he wanted to be caught up in whatever this was.

‘I’m sorry,’ said Julian, disregarding Lucy completely and honing in on Daniel, ‘and you are?’

‘Daniel,’ he repeated. He wanted to add ‘I already told you that’ but didn’t for Lucy’s sake.

‘I mean what are you to Lucy?’

‘If you must know, he’s my boyfriend,’ Lucy said, taking them both by surprise.

Daniel wished he could take out his phone and get a snapshot of the guy’s reaction, because he wasn’t happy. Daniel didn’t mind one bit, especially when Lucy stepped closer and took his hand.

‘Can I speak to you, please, Lucy?’ Julian, jaw tense above the upturned collar and what looked like an expensive scarf warming his neck, cocked his head towards the village Christmas tree, expecting her to follow.

Daniel felt Lucy’s grip tighten. ‘You can say whatever you need to in front of Daniel.’ She put her hands on Daniel’s upper arm and leaned into him, the scent from her hair enveloping him the closer she got. ‘And, again, how did you know where to find me?’

‘It’s hardly the city of London, it’s a small village. And you weren’t at home, I asked someone on The Street and they said they’d seen you coming up this way.’

‘Right,’ she bristled. ‘And why are you even here in the Cove?’

‘I was passing through on my way home from seeing Gran so I thought I’d pop in and invite you to a family gathering she’s requested. Maud would love us both to be there. It’ll be her Christmas meal, given she won’t be at the family lunch on the day.’

Lucy appeared to soften. Daniel had to hand it to the guy, Maud was obviously Lucy’s Achilles heel and he knew it. ‘Let me know the details and I’m sure I’ll be there.’ Lucy’s grip on Daniel didn’t lessen in the slightest.

To wind Julian up Daniel almost suggested he go along too, just for a laugh. Or he could give Lucy a kiss – what he’d give to do that – but perhaps not. Lucy clearly wasn’t amused by this whole situation. Daniel wondered whether her determination to put an end to the pretence of still being married to this idiot had even registered with this bloke, given the way he’d shown up rather than sending a simple text message or using the phone, and it was clear he assumed she’d