Page 17 of Take Two

Callie stared at her drink, a grin forming. ‘If you say so.’

Callie glanced over at where the waitress was assembling their drinks. She assessed, finding new details. She had a nice bottom. A really good handful. Boys didn’t really have handfuls like that. It was, generally speaking, a much flatter situation back there.

‘I’ve never thought about girls,’ Callie murmured, almost to herself.

Mae snorted. ‘You’re the straightest person I’ve ever met.’

‘Apparently not,’ Callie said, delight spreading across her face. ‘Look at me. I’m like,blushingand shit.’

Mae rolled her eyes.

The waitress brought over their drinks, brushing Callie’s hand when she set them down. Callie’s breath caught.

‘I included a biscuit,’ the waitress said softly before walking away.

Callie swivelled back to Mae with bright, incredulous eyes. ‘She likes me.’

Mae didn’t meet her gaze. ‘Yes.’

‘And she’s hot.’

‘I understand the situation,’ Mae said, sucking on her straw.

Callie leaned over the table, stage-whispering with a grin so wide it hurt. ‘Mae, I’m shook. Am I into her?’

Mae’s flat demeanour seemed to slip. ‘I don’t know. Are you?’ she asked almost nervously.

Callie sat back, sipping her iced coffee, still glowing with the novelty of it, the surprise, the possibility.

Girls. Wow. OK then.

Eleven

Now

Mae stayed out of sight for the rest of it. She could hear them gathering equipment and yacking. But she never heard Callie’s voice. She’d either left or was talking very quietly.

Mae’s heart hadn’t slowed. But it wasn’t the fire that kept it thudding, nor the potential damage in the front. It was bloody Callie. The dark eyes, the smile, the way she said just that one word. ‘Funny.’ The way it took Mae right back.

When the chatter finally faded from the front, Mae straightened and came out. It looked almost normal again. The ghost of a scorch mark on the tiles was the only way to know what had occurred. They’d cleaned every last drop of extinguishing spray from the surfaces.

Neil was waiting near the door, tapping furiously with both thumbs on a very big phone screen. He looked up at her entrance.

‘Mae,’ he said, offering a strained smile. ‘Christ, I’m so sorry about all that. Clumsy bloody crew. The insurance will cover any damage, of course.’

‘It looks fine,’ Mae said shortly. ‘Though all the food out here is a write-off. Covered in… whatever’s in a fire extinguisher. Which I doubt is food safe.’

Neil exhaled, relieved. ‘I can cover that out of expenses if you give me the bill.’

‘I’ll tot it up and email you.’

‘Cool. Anyway,’ he continued, rubbing his hands together, ‘I’ve got an offer for you. Once Sam arrives—the star of the show, I’m sure you know—would it be possible for us to use the bakery again? Just a few hours’ shoot, nothing invasive.’

Mae could feel her shoulders tightening. ‘For what?’

‘A date? It’d be great to do something where he and Callie bake together. You could maybe give them a lesson…’

Mae was already laughing. ‘If that sentence ends with me on camera, that’s a flat no.’