Blind-Date Baby by Fiona Harper Read Free Book Online Page A

a lifetime.
    Sanfrandani: I see.
    Kangagirl: Oh. Hugs, Englishcrumpet.

    Rob had been her other half. How could anyone else take his place? And she didn’t know if she could settle for less. Even if she was lonely sometimes. Even if, secretly, in a dark place where she didn’t even want to admit it to herself, she was a little bit jealous of the easy companionship Daisy had had with her last serious boyfriend.
    Sanfrandani: How about dating with the idea of finding someone to share your life with? Even if it’s not the meant-to-be-in-the-stars kind of love?

    Grace sat back in the sofa and stared at the screen. Sanfrandani had a point. Just because it wasn’t going to be the same as she’d had with Rob, it didn’t mean she couldn’t find a different kind of happiness with someone else. That was what Noah had been talking about, hadn’t he? Could she see herself making that kind of mature, adult decision about a relationship?
    Englishcrumpet: I don’t know. Maybe.

    The Coffee Bean was virtually empty, as it normally was on a Sunday morning before the shoppers were out in full force. It was Grace’s ritual to treat herself to breakfast down here just one day a week—any more than that and she’d be the size of a house. Around ten-thirty, she crawled down the stairs from her flat, propped herself against the counter and yawned so hard she thought her jaw might dislocate.
    Caz was resplendent this morning in a lurid Paisley kaftan, her silver-blonde hair caught into a loose bun that looked asif it might disintegrate under its own weight at any second. The owner truly was as original as her kooky little café.
    Caz looked her up and down. ‘Either you’ve had a really terrible night or a really good one. Which was it?’
    That was the point. Grace wasn’t quite sure. Whichever it had been, insomnia had come as part of the package.
    ‘A tall skinny latte with two shots, please.’
    Caz winked at her. ‘Say no more. Coming right up.’
    Grace yawned again and looked round the café. It was a charming place, full of interesting knick-knacks. Old enamel jugs sat on random tables, filled with daffodils. Old road signs and mirrors covered the walls. Best of all was the ornate Victorian mahogany counter, still with some of the original etched glass, that filled one side of the café and the black and white tiled floor—a reminder of its former life as a butchers. The Coffee Bean always smelled of something comforting. The locals loved it but, with two new coffee houses on the High Street—both international chains—they were feeling the pinch.
    But the buying public obviously were dull enough to enjoy the same old plastic-wrapped nonsense in whatever town they were in. The same menu of coffees. The Coffee Bean was unique, with an ever-changing menu and warm staff who really loved their jobs. But, unfortunately, that didn’t stop the profit margins falling and the costs going up.
    Caroline handed Grace her coffee and returned to frowning over some printed-off spreadsheets.
    ‘How are this week’s figures?’
    Caz shuffled the papers and tucked them under the till.
    ‘Come on, Caz. I’m family. And I’m supposed to be your assistant manageress. Even if you keep the happy, smiley face for the other staff, put me in the picture.’
    The other woman shook her head. ‘It doesn’t matter what we do. Java Express is running promotion after promotion.’She shrugged. ‘If things don’t pick up, we’ll be out of business in three months.’
    Grace put her coffee down, marched around the counter and flung her arms round Caz, ignoring the overpowering scent of lavender and the flakes of dandruff liberally salting her shoulders. There was no way she was going to let The Coffee Bean close. It was like a member of the Marlowe family.
    She’d first met Rob here, when he’d had a Saturday job with his aunt. A couple of years later, when her dad had consented to let her start dating, it had been the venue for her first