The Chocolate Lovers’ Wedding by Carole Matthews Read Free Book Online Page B

you.’
Gah.
‘What’s with the sunglasses?’
I whip them off.
‘And the wig?’
I whip that off too. Quite relieved really, as the itching was becoming unbearable.
‘Take off your coat,’ he suggests. ‘If you’re staying. You look all pink in the face.’
I hesitate. Why should I do what Marcus tells me?
‘You have got something on underneath?’ His eyes twinkle mischievously.
I whip off my coat. Get an eyeful of my woolly jumper, Marcus Canning!
‘Don’t scowl at me, Lucy,’ he says. ‘Chill out. Eat your brownie. More coffee?’
‘No thanks.’ I wouldn’t like to interrupt Ms France’s relaxation.
He drops into the seat opposite me. ‘So? What are you doing here? Couldn’t stay away?’
‘I just came to see what’s going on and why you’re so keen to get me back.’
‘Look at the place,’ he leans forward and whispers. ‘It is a shadow of the former Chocolate Heaven. I know that. You know that.’
I don’t disagree with him.
‘Question is . . . ’ Marcus settles back again and crosses his arms. ‘What are we going to do about it?’
‘ We are going to do nothing,’ I point out. ‘This is all down to you and the lady you have in charge.’
‘Ah,’ he says. ‘So you’ve met Marie-France?’
‘Of course I have. She served me. In a manner of speaking.’
Marcus could be a customer and yet she hasn’t reappeared. Her boss is here and she hasn’t even acknowledged that, let alone offered to get him a drink. I know I’m hardly the world’s best employee, but even I have my standards.
‘She’s a great girl,’ he says with a wistful glance towards the counter where she should be but isn’t.
‘Great in what sense of the word?’ I ask and I sound bitter even to my own ears. ‘She might look as if she should be on the catwalk, but she’s ruining your business.’
‘I know.’ Now it’s Marcus’s turn to sigh.
‘Then do something about it.’
‘I’m trying to,’ he points out. ‘I’m attempting, rather unsuccessfully, to lure you back.’
I don’t like to point out that, as we both can see, my efforts to stay away have been futile. Biting into my brownie, I find it wanting. First thing I’d do is get Alexandra on the phone.
‘Come back, Lucy. Please. This place is in your DNA. I know you’re miserable not working here. And you’ve lost your job.’
‘Yes. Thanks to you.’
‘I’m doing you a favour. Trust me.’
‘Oh, Marcus. Time has taught me that I can’t trust you as far as I can throw you.’
‘I offered this to you on a plate. It could have been yours. It still can be.’ He makes his baby-blue eyes go all wide and innocent. ‘I’ll do anything – anything – to have you back.’
‘We’re just talking about work.’
‘Of course.’ Marcus looks wounded. ‘I know that I’ve lost you, Lucy.’ He fixes me with a loving gaze. ‘You’re still planning to get married to whatshisname?’
‘Aiden. Yes. Soon. We’ve booked a venue.’
‘Then you’ll need the money.’
One nail hit on the head.
‘I can help,’ Marcus rushes on. ‘Name your price. What will it cost me to get you to come back and work for me? This place is haemorrhaging money and it was a great business when I bought it. I need you.’
‘I don’t know, Marcus.’ I’m wavering. It would be so good to be back behind the counter in my rightful place, get Alexandra to bake the cakes again, stock up with fabulous chocolatey goodies in time for Easter.
‘I’ll pay you whatever it takes.’
I pluck a ridiculous sum from my head and blurt it out of my mouth.
Marcus doesn’t even flinch. ‘Done.’
The speed of his acceptance takes even me by surprise.
‘When can you start? Now?’
‘I’m not sure about it, Marcus.’
‘You’d be mad to turn me down.’
‘Or maybe I’d be mad to agree to come and work for you.’ Would I be foolish to trust him yet again?
‘We’d make a great team,’ he assures me. ‘We did once. We could do it again.’
‘We were a great team in the