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“What is going on with you today?” Gloria demanded to know after the lunch rush had passed the next day. “You’ve been off with the fairies all day.”
“No I haven’t,” Sarah protested.
“Yes, you have. You messed up three of the sandwich orders at lunch time and gave Mary a normal bread roll instead of a gluten free one. I don’t know what’s going on but you are definitely off your game today.”
Sarah smiled remembering the rather less than PG rated kiss Jamie had given her that morning when he had walked her out to her car. “I’m fine. There’s nothing going on.”
“Bull doo-doo you are. Boss of this place or not, I’m not letting you anywhere near Bessie for the rest of the day. I don’t trust you not to burn yourself.”
“Yes ma’am.” Sarah grinned as she mock saluted Gloria.
“See, this is what I mean. You never take that kind of rubbish from me and today you are. Fairies have come and possessed your body, I swear it.”
Sarah just laughed and moved across to serve a customer.
As she was restocking the coffee station half an hour later Sarah heard a loud whoop come from the front door.
“About bloody time!” Becca exclaimed as she ran over to Sarah. Grabbing her in a bear hug Becca rocked her side to side. “I am so happy for you two,” she declared. Gloria looked over at the pair with open curiosity.
“What are you going on about?” Sarah laughed at her friend as she extricated herself from the embrace.
“You and Jamie. It’s about time you two officially got it together. I saw you leave his place this morning and you two were looking mighty cosy.” Becca beamed at Sarah.
Sarah wriggled her toes in glee. The sweet words Jamie had murmured to her as she’d woken up were meant for her ears only and had spoken of just how much he’d enjoyed waking up with her in his arms. Jamie had made her feel beautiful, even though she knew her hair had been sticking out at odd angles and she had bags under her eyes. And while she had been in the shower he had made her a cup of tea just the way she liked it without her needing to tell him how she preferred her favourite brew.
When she finally left his home that morning she’d been wearing his sweatshirt that she’d threatened to take home with her the night before. Jamie had insisted that she keep it at her house. “That way I get to know there’s still a good reason for me to go to your place. If nothing else I can always claim I need to get my sweatshirt back.” He had grinned and lowered his mouth over hers before kissing her soundly.
Yes, Sarah was a very happy woman this morning indeed.
“I knew it!” Gloria yelled with delight, overhearing the conversation and rushing over to join Becca and Sarah. “I knew something was going on!”
“I’m going to want all the details. No. Wait. It’s Jamie. I’m not going to want any of those kinds of details.” Becca screwed up her nose at the thought of finding out about the night that Sarah and Jamie had spent together.
“Well I do,” Gloria objected. “Single mother here. I’ve gotta live my dull as dishwater non-dating life through you happy couple type people.”
“How did you even find out?” Sarah asked laughing at the pair.
“I’m working with old man Western at the moment.” Becca was referring to her job as home help for the elderly. “He lives a couple of houses down the road from Jamie’s. I saw the two of you when I was on my way to work early this morning.”
“How is Mr Western? Someone told me last week he was in hospital in Penwick. But today I got told he probably wasn’t going to be in his own place much longer and would need to go into a nursing home. I didn’t think he was that old.” Sarah asked.
Dawning had definitely proven to be gossip central for locals to catch up with one another. Sarah didn’t mind. It meant that she was able to keep her finger on the pulse of Mount Kiernon as well as feeling included in the township.
Becca shook her head. “Pfft. That old coot is fine. He was only in hospital for a bad break to his leg, there’s no way he’s going into an old folk’s home. He only needs me cos he can’t get around at the moment. Treats me like his personal slave and moans like a bear. The only way he’ll leave that house of his is when he pops his clogs.”
“How long do you think you’ll be working with him?” Picking up the excess supplies for the coffee station Sarah turned and walked behind the counter, Becca and Gloria trailing behind her. Becca and Gloria faced Sarah with their backs to the dining area of the café as Sarah kept an eagle eye on the door should any customers come in needing to be served.
“Wait a minute!” Gloria complained. “She’s trying to change the conversation. Get back to the bit about Jamie!”
Becca looked at Sarah open mouthed. “You cow! You were too!”
“It was worth a try,” Sarah shrugged as she put the box of supplies back in its allocated spot on the shelf.
“Well, come on then,” Gloria urged. “How long have you two been together then?”
“A few weeks,” Sarah admitted.
“So much for the ‘friends for life’ rubbish that you went on about that time.”
“We are,” Sarah insisted. “He’s still my best friend.”
Gloria snorted. “Yeah, right. Like that could actually happen. Men and women can’t just be friends.”
“Of course they can,” Becca disagreed. “I get it. Cam’s my best friend. He just also happens to come with some rather nice benefits as well, if you know what I mean.”
Gloria fanned herself. “I so need me a friend like that.”
Sarah threw her head back and laughed. It felt so good to be with a group of girlfriends laughing and talking about men.
“So give us all the goss, then. How is he in bed?”
“Gloria! That’s none of your business!” Sarah was astounded at her employee’s forwardness at times.
“Oh my God, do NOT tell me anything about that. That’s something I never want to know about Jamie,” Becca agreed.
Sarah looked over the counter and past Gloria’s shoulder and gave a small smile. Jamie had entered Dawning and was standing the other side of the counter behind Gloria, a single finger to his lips indicating that she shouldn’t let on that he was there.
“Fine. But you two are no fun,” Gloria complained. “So the basics then. Where has he taken you? Anywhere nice?”
“We’ve just been hanging out at his place or mine mostly. We went to the drive in one night. I might ask him to take me to Penwick this weekend, there’s a film showing that I wouldn’t mind seeing.” Behind Gloria’s shoulder Jamie nodded, agreeing to take her without question.
“Make sure he buys you the jumbo popcorn, and pays for the tickets. Those things can get expensive,” Becca pointed out. Jamie’s eyebrows raised at her comment.
“And don’t get the large drink,” Gloria counselled her. “You don’t want to have to run out halfway through the movie to go pee.”
“I have been to the movies before, you know,” Sarah said wryly.
Gloria waved her hand at her Sarah ignoring her comment. “So how many times have the two of you done it?”
“Geez, Gloria, talk about a one track mind. Last night was the first time we spent the night together,” Sarah answered honestly.
“Oh, that’s so nice,” Becca cooed. “The first night is always so special.”
“It was,” Sarah smiled. “Very special.” Jamie flashed her a smile and nodded, his eyes twinkling in agreement.
“Oh please tell me he’s a decent size. Nothing worse than a first night with a guy and finding out he’s lacking. At least that’s from what I remember. God it’s been too long since I had sex. So was he a decent size or not?” Jamie’s face was a picture as he looked at Gloria in disbelief at her overshare and blunt question.
“Do not answer that,” Becca groaned. “That would seriously end up in the too much information category.”
“Believe me, I have no intention of answering it,” Sarah assured Becca, shooting Gloria a dirty look.
“Fine,” Gloria complained. “At least tell us if he’s a good kisser.”
“Amazing. Really amazing,” Sarah confessed flushing slightly at the memory of Jamie’s touch and kisses on her skin the night before.
“Look at you, going all coy. He must be good. Good for you, girl. There’s nothing worse than a guy kissing you and trying to choke you with his tongue or drown you with his spit.”
“Yeah. I really hate it when that happens. All that spit, it’s awful,” Jamie said from behind them.
Gloria yelped and spun around, horrified to see him standing behind her. “Great big piles of doggy doo-doo! How long have you been there?” she stammered, turning a shade of puce. Sarah doubled over, howling with laughter. Turning back to her boss she glared at her. “You knew?” she was incredulous. “He was behind me and you knew?”
Becca who had been just as surprised at the entrance of Jamie looked at Sarah and couldn’t help herself, joining in the laughter. Leaving the girls she walked up to Jamie and gave him a quick hug. “Oh my God, talk about classic.”
“I can’t believe you women really talk like that. I thought that was just some bullshit rumour,” Jamie quipped.
“Nope. All true,” Becca confirmed smiling up at him.
“You talk to other women about Cam like that?” he looked at her incredulously.
“I could tell you stories about the two of them that would make your toes curl,” Sarah replied blithely to the look of horror Jamie had etched on his face. Jamie looked at Becca who shrugged and nodded, confirming what Sarah had said.
“Shite,” he whistled through his teeth. Straightening his shoulders he turned to Sarah. “So I guess if they know about us it won’t be long until everyone does?”
“Nope. Looks like we’ve been officially found out,” she agreed.
“In that case...” he held out his hand to her, encouraging her to move from behind the counter to in front of it where he stood. Silently she walked around to him, wondering what he was up to. He lifted his hands and gently held her face before slowly lowering his lips to hers and kissing her softly.
“Ohhh, so sweet,” Gloria breathed.
“See you tonight?” Jamie whispered softly to Sarah, kissing the end of her nose.
“Mm-hmm,” she murmured happily. “Want to come over to mine after work?”
“Love to.” Kissing Sarah once more he offered a brief smile to Gloria and Becca before walking out the café.
“Oh, girl, you have got it bad,” Gloria commented looking at Sarah who was still staring at the door and the retreating form of Jamie’s back.
“I think I just might,” Sarah agreed.
“Well, no matter how bad you’ve got it, he’s got it worse,” Becca noted.
Gloria lifted her eyebrows and looked at Becca in question.
“How do you figure that?” she challenged.
“Think about it. He came in here, kissed her and left. He didn’t even buy a coffee or anything. That man has got it bad.” Becca smirked in satisfaction at her observation.
“Hot dang, you’re right,” Gloria agreed.
Listening to the two women chat Sarah wrapped her arms around herself tightly and sighed happily. A successful café, great female friends and a wonderful man who had entered her life.
What more could a woman ask for?