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The ticket machine that Kent had implemented as part of his new ordering system beeped. There were still plenty of customers who didn't like that way of ordering, but occasionally there was someone who chose that method.

“You need to get to that and to whoever this person is that wants to see you. We’ll speak later, whatever it is, we’ll chat about it later,” she said.

A moment later, she was walking out of the kitchen, to find Sophie staring straight at her, although, unlike her immediate fears, she wasn’t looking angry the way Gemma had feared.

“I bloody knew it,” she said.

CHAPTER 71

“Can I get a latte to go?” The customer blocked Gemma’s route as he demanded his order. “I don’t have very much time.”

“Oh, yes, of course,” Gemma said, her eyes shifting away from his to look at Sophie, yet all she could see was her back as she worked at the coffee machine. With her legs unusually wobbly, she approached her friend.

“Sophie, I just—” Sophie turned around.

A flood of relief rushed through Gemma as she saw the wide grin on her face.

“I’ve just got three hot chocolates, two cappuccinos, and a mocha for that table. Give me two minutes, and then I want to know everything. I can’t believe I didn’t realise. How long has it been going on?”

“Well, I guess?—”

“Sorry, do you have any idea how long a takeaway latte takes to make? I’m really short on time.”

“I will make it for you as soon as the machine is free sir,” Gemma said with her best managerial voice. “However, there are other customers who had orders in first.”

The man groaned, and Gemma was about to say that he was perfectly welcome to go elsewhere if he thought they would be quicker when she spotted Kent out of the kitchen. With all the panic over Sophie catching her, she’d completely forgotten what he’d said about someone visiting to measure things up, and yet they’d clearly arrived. The man was dressed in a thin grey suit, with thinning hair and a flashy watch, and was nodding at Kent intently as they spoke. Something about Kent’s expression made her think he was on edge. He was smiling politely enough, but his hands were plunged deep into his pockets, and he was repeatedly shifting his feet as if nervous.

“The machine is free,” the customer said, bringing Gemma back into the moment.

He was right. While she’d been watching Kent, Sophie had finished her order and was taking the drinks to the table.

Filling a milk jug, Gemma moved into Sophie’s spot and began to make the latte.

“That will be three pounds,” she said as she handed the customer his latte. He tapped his card against the card machine, muttering something about service going downhill, but Gemma was barely listening. She was finding it impossible to draw her attention from Kent and the man who had now taken out a measuring tape. She had never seen him show nervousness before, and it was endearing.

“I need to get back to the kitchen,” he said as he came back to the counter at the same time Sophie returned from taking her order.

“Yes,” Sophie replied curtly. “I think you do.”

The moment he was gone, she turned back to Gemma, grinning. “Tell me everything, now.”

It felt weird talking to Sophie about her relationship with Kent, while Kent was only a few feet away in the kitchen, butGemma knew well enough that Sophie wouldn’t stop pestering until she had some answers.

“I guess we just got to know each other a bit better,” Gemma said, wishing that would be enough to satiate Sophie’s need for gossip but knowing it wouldn’t be.

“And I assume this is when you went for dinner together? So, what happened? More than once? I saw you kissing. Have you been to his house? Has he been to your house? Are you actually a thing? Oh my God, we can double date! Graham and I with you and Kent. Triple date with Fleur. Oh my God, we could go on mass book club multi-dates with all the couples.”

“I’m not sure how Nina and Marie would feel about that,” Gemma said, reminding Sophie that they weren’t the only ones—there were still members of the Lonely Hearts Club who still hadn’t found anybody.

“And it’s still very new,” she said, “very, very new.”

“But he’s crazy about you, anybody can see that,” Sophie replied. “I mean, he must be, to think about doing something with a person who works for him. The same with you. Wow, this is amazing. I can’t wait to tell Graham. Oh my God, I can’t wait until the other book club girls hear. They’re going to be so excited.”

Gemma felt an awkward silence fill the air, and she knew she had to be honest.

“Yes, about that... I may have held an emergency book club meeting.”

Sophie tilted her head a little.