Love In Store Books 1-3: Collection of three sweet and clean Christian romances with a London setting: The Wedding List, Believe in Me, & A Model Bride
Page 46
The staff laughed. She didn’t need to mention it was Mrs Pettett who terrified everyone.
They knew.
Tiffany’s twin sister Zoe was there too, sitting back a little out of the group like he was, but taking notes, not photographs. She planned to write up the project as part of her academic work, and had interviewed everyone involved, from the store owner to Darren, who’d spent most of the time looking at his boots.
Just like him and Brodie, the sisters couldn’t be more different.
Tiff’s hair curled on her shoulders, Zoe’s was pulled back. Tiff’s eyes danced with enthusiasm, Zoe’s stayed serious and intense behind her heavy dark framed glasses. Zoe was taller and bigger built that tiny Tiffany. Without saying a word, Zoe’s no-nonsense air gave the sense that she saw her sister as a lightweight, and doubted the scheme would work.
No wonder Tiffany felt she needed to try so hard to prove herself.
Her sunny enthusiasm brightened up the dull basement room. He had to admit, her twin left him cold in comparison. Tiff had a gift for staying positive that charmed people. Her sweet appealing smile in the last few photos he’d taken would win anyone over.
Good thing, as next on their list was an appointment at the Mayor of London’s office, asking for additional funding for the shelter. Though he suspected that might be easier than dealing with the stubborn store department heads.
The passion she'd shown for her project astonished him. He'd been so wrong about her. On first meeting, he’d assumed she was a naïve do-gooder, with nothing but fluffy intentions that would evaporate at the first challenge.
Turned out, she was so much more.
If their time in Edinburgh hadn’t changed his mind, this assignment to tail her and document the project certainly had. Tiffany seemed to be growing up in front of his camera lens.
The scheme was starting small, with just a few participants, but already he’d watched her fill in thirty page government forms, sweet-talk the fire-breathing dragon of a store owner, charm the store staff, and stretch her marketing training to the limits. She’d even got him volunteering extra time, above and beyond the paid work as fill-in store photographer Cara offered him.
His intention to spend as little time as possible with her after they came back from Edinburgh had evaporated. He couldn’t refuse to work with her on the project.
It wasn’t just that he needed the money he’d be paid for the routine store photography. He needed to do something more worthwhile with his time than train at the gym and stew about whether he’d pass his next fitness medical. The Army had moved it forward, giving him less time to prepare for it.
Her scheme made the perfect distraction from thinking about what he’d do if he failed.
And he didn’t want to avoid Tiffany any more, either.
That would be impossible, even if he tried. They both spent so much time at the shelter and the store. Between working with her on the project, and the one-to-one computer and internet classes he’d started offering at the shelter, they saw each other most days.
She attracted him, more than any other lass he’d known. He admired her determination and grit, at such odds to her fragile beauty and charm.
Yet it changed nothing. They both had their own goals, their own plans. They both knew, their time in London had an expiry date. Neither of them were looking to fall in love.
Instead, he planned to focus on his work. Today taking publicity shots of the scheme participants’ first day in the store. He’d tuned out what they talked about, watching instead for the moments that caught the essence of the individuals and the scheme as a whole.
But that meant a lot of time spent watching Tiffany. Watching the emotions that crossed her mobile little face as she spoke, and as she listened intently to what others had to say. She seemed to have the knack of making people feel she’d really heard them.
His gift, if he had one, was in seeing people. He planned to give each of them a portfolio of portraits from the first few week’s photos, to show them their strengths. Not just the shelter residents, the staff mentors too. Everyone deserved some added encouragement.
The meeting wrapped up. Tiffany had arranged a few hours orientation this afternoon, before they worked a longer day tomorrow. Mac lifted a hand to wish them all luck as the shelter residents left with their staff mentors.
Darren, wearing brown overalls, followed the Warehouse supervisor, with a glance back at Josie. She walked with Anita, the Kitchenware department head. Cara and her staff member Jaz shepherded Geeta, a pretty but quiet thirty-something woman. Made homeless when her marriage collapsed, she understood English but wasn’t confident to speak it.
Zoe stayed a minute longer, walking to stand next to her sister. “Not bad, little sis. You’re doing a good job.” She touched Tiffany’s arm. “But you know research shows these schemes have success rates of less than a quarter, on average?”
Mac’s hackles raised on Tiffany’s behalf. Zoe’s tone didn’t sound dismissive, as much as a kindly meant warning not to be too sad when things inevitably failed. He opened his mouth, ready to defend her.
But Tiffany could take care of herself. She lifted her chin and straightened, flattening her hands on the table. “I’ll need to make sure this isn’t an average scheme then, won’t I. And if we help even one person turn their life around, it’s worth it.”
Zoe’s raised eyebrow suggested she doubted Tiffany would even manage that. “Of course. I hope you do. I just don’t want you getting upset if it doesn’t work out. I’ll see you later at the apartment. I have a meeting with my academic supervisor.” She breezed out the door.
He shook his head and turned to Tiffany.
She slumped into a chair, head sunk into her hands, and loosed a long sigh.
“You okay?” Seeing her lose her optimism bothered Mac more than he wanted to let on. It bothered him that he probably wouldn’t be around to see how the scheme worked out. He wanted to be there with her, to comfort her for the failures, and celebrate her successes.
She lifted her head and smiled. “Just praying. You know how much I want this to work out, for their sakes. Their confidence is so fragile. Zoe means well.”
Mac nodded, though he wasn’t sure he agreed. For all she was achieving more than he’d thought possible, Tiffany’s confidence seemed fragile, too. Her sister did nothing to help.
“It’s a blessing that Jaz speaks the same language as Geeta, but I still worry about her. It must be so hard, her marriage ending and her family refusing to help.” She spoke quietly, as much to herself as to him.
At least they wouldn’t be overheard. The cafeteria was almost empty.
“And though Josie is grateful to have this chance, she really wants to be working as a cook. If she can get her catering certificate and some experience, she might get the bakery job she wants.” She looked around.
He followed the direction of her gaze. The middle-aged woman who’d slopped watery tea in front of them was behind her counter, her back to them, at the far end of the room.
“They obviously need some help down here, but Mavis wouldn’t have her.” Her lips twisted. “Probably because things would have to change. But Anita is a sweetheart, so hopefully that will work out.”
Her smile as she lifted her face, made him suddenly aware of his heart banging in his chest. He pulled in a deep breath.
“So you tell me how you think Darren will find working here?” she asked. “I know you guys have been working together.”
Mac nodded slowly.
He seemed to have become an unofficial mentor for the young squaddie. Their shared experience with the Army and the fact they were both dealing with the after-effects of trauma meant the lad trusted him. He’d been spending extra time with Darren, knowing he might be leaving soon.
“I think he’ll do okay. He’s already been to an appointment with the addiction counsellor to start dealing with that problem. He’s never had much to do with computers, but he’s a fast learner.” He grinned. “An
d of course, he’s motivated.”
“Hmmm.” Tiffany wrinkled her nose, pursed her lips, and waggled her hands in front of her uncertainly. “It might be a motivation for him, but I’m glad they’re taking things slowly. It isn’t wise for two people in their situations to rush into anything, no matter how strongly they’re attracted, is it?”
They were both well aware of the tentatively blossoming relationship between Darren and Josie. But as her hands clasped tightly together on the chipped Formica table top, and she met his glance with a sweet warm question he couldn’t quite read in her eyes, he couldn’t help wondering if she was also talking about their own undeniable attraction.
He stared down at his hands for a moment, then stood, crossing his arms across his chest.
“I don’t think we ought to discuss that.”
Even as the harsh toned words came out of his mouth, he knew he was talking about them, not Darren and Josie. Much as he want to, surely allowing anything to happen between them would be a recipe for heartbreak?
He shrugged and forced a laugh. “Even when a lad and lassie have feelings for each other, it can sometimes be better not to act on it.” He looked at his watch. “We have that meeting at County Hall. We need to get moving.”
Her raised eyebrow and slight shake of the head suggested she knew he’d deliberately changed the subject but wasn’t about to push the issue. Instead, she stood too. “I looked up how to get there. Do we have time to go by Underground then walk along the South Bank?” She smiled. “I haven’t seen much of that part of London.”
“If we hurry.” He glanced down at her feet. They might be adorable, but her red and navy polka-dotted high heels weren’t the most practical shoes for a half mile winter walk.
Giggling, she picked up her huge tote bag. “I’m a little more practical now than I was when I first came here.” She pulled out a pair of flat boots and sat again to put them on. “But what about your leg? Are you okay to walk?”
Her air of sweet and genuine concern had him unsure whether to hug her or growl at her. He compromised with an abrupt, “I’m fine. The physio says that pulled muscle is healing.”
The truth was, he wasn’t fine. His leg had ached for the last hour. But two more painkillers before they left would fix that.
By the time they stepped out of the Underground station at London Bridge, the drugs had kicked in. He was confident no one seeing him walk would guess at the network of scars and once shattered bone hidden by his trousers.
He led Tiffany down to the riverside walk. On the south side of the river, the footpath was already in shadow, the winter sun shining patchily between the buildings. A cool breeze rippled the surface of the river. Tiffany would be glad of her sensible boots and warm down coat.
Her disappointed pout as she looked at the plain concrete span of London Bridge made him smile.
“That’s it? I thought London Bridge was the fancy one. That’s what I wanted to see.”
He nodded his head east. “Keep walking. Once we get around the bend in the river, you’ll see the one you want.”
Her exclamation of delight when she saw the ornate Victorian grandeur of Tower Bridge made him glad he’d agreed to come this way.
As they walked along the flagstone path, the grey river on their left, leafless trees, and empty sidewalk cafes on their right, Tiffany tucked a hand over his arm.
Walking arm in arm, they’d look like a couple. She seemed to want that.
They felt like a couple too. Somehow, that brightened the bleak grey day. It felt good and wholesome and warm. Like bread fresh from the oven.
He knew he should untuck that hand and step away, but he didn’t. If Tiffany wanted them to act like a couple, why not? He was getting tired of resisting. Maybe he should give in to the inevitable, just for this last two weeks.
Instead of stepping away from her, he suggested that after the meeting, they could go back to the store by river boat, all the way down to Westminster, so she could see Big Ben from the water.
“Neither of us know how much longer we’ll have in London. I’ll be going back to the Middle East, you’ll be going back to L.A. Why not make the most of the little time we have?”
Tiff gazed up at him, a question in her eyes, then her hand tightened on his arm and she nodded.
Both of them knew he wasn’t just talking about sightseeing.
But if they both knew the rules, neither of them could get hurt, right?
Chapter 19
As they left the Mayor’s office after the meeting, Tiff wanted to run and jump and shout her thanks to God.
Instead, in the sedate surroundings of County Hall, all she could do to express her joy was to grin up at Mac. Warmth swelled in her chest as their fists met in a victory bump. The smile that crinkled his eyes showed he felt the same elation.
The moment they were out the door, she turned and threw her arms around him, then pushed herself back to see his face. Excited words bubbled out of her.
“We did it! Can you believe, we met the Mayor of London himself? Simon will go nuts when he hears we got a pledge that they’ll match the shelter’s fundraising for the new education room. You can set up those new computers you wanted, and buy some cameras for the photography classes and…”
Her words trailed off as she gazed into his eyes and watched the amusement lighting them fade, become something more intense and serious. The pulse pounding in her ears reminded her that her hands still gripped his strong arms. But she didn’t look away and she didn’t let go.
Her respect for Mac had grown since they’d worked together with the shelter folk, but what she felt was far more than just respect.
“You know I’m going back to my real job as soon as they’ll let me. It might be Nick who’ll need to set that up, when he comes back from L.A.” His steady gaze seemed to hold regret, as he stepped back a little.
Just far enough that she had to let go of his arms. Her hands fell to her sides, leaving her feeling cold and joyless. She nodded, but said nothing.
“I heard today, they’ve moved the date for my next fitness test forward. It’s in two weeks. If I pass, they’ll let me leave on the next flight out.”
The thought of him going so soon weighted her feet to the pavement. She dipped her head forward, letting her hair veil her face.
When she’d tucked her hand into his elbow as they walked along the riverside to the appointment, she’d done it impulsively, without thinking. It just felt right.
Then he’d suggested they do some sightseeing together, his reminder they'd soon both be going their separate ways making it clear this wasn't anything serious or long term. She was okay with that. Everything except for God’s love came with an end date attached.
She just hadn’t expected that the end date would be quite so soon for her and Mac.
But she’d deal with that when it happened. She'd fallen in and out of love with no hard feelings before, and been teased unmercifully by her family for it. No reason this should be any different.
Even though the way she felt for him seemed different from how she’d felt for any of the other guys she’d imagined she was in love with, she’d get over it once he left.
For now, just like the Edinburgh trip, the next two weeks felt like a gift from God, to be accepted joyfully. And if they had to work together anyway, it made it far easier if they got on well. They'd both make sure things didn't go too far.
Her head lifted and she made sure she smiled as convincingly as she could. “Good news. I know how much you want to get back there. So, have we got time for the river taxi trip you mentioned? I’ll need to get back to the store in time to see how the guys and their mentors managed this afternoon.”
His nod and the slight softening of the tension emanating from him gave her the sense of passing some sort of test. A man like Mac wouldn’t lead a girl on, or promise more than he was able to offer. He’d wanted to make sure she understood that whatever happened between them wasn’t going to last.
Standing at the rail of the water taxi as they cruised along the Thames in the sunset glow, watching the lights coming on along the river bank, with Mac beside her, the extra time the journey took felt worth it. They stood close, not quite touching, but his presence warmed her. As London slipped by them, and the boat travelled under all the famous bridges she'd read about, all she could feel was joy.
Her heart swelled as she looked up at him, thanking God for the blessing of this moment. Here, now, with Mac.
Forget fashion. Being a designer was a childish dream, and it was time to set aside childish things. She was helping people with her scheme, no matter what Zoe warned, and she was helping Mac too. She felt it, she knew it.
His doubt and cynicism were softening. And some of his toughness and determination seemed to have rubbed off on her. Even six weeks ago, she wouldn’t have been brave enough to tackle a big meeting like today’s.
Maybe God had brought them together for just that reason. So they could both help each other, then move on with their lives. She had to trust, He had a purpose and a plan.
Big Ben chimed the hour as they got off the boat at Westminster Pier, in the early dusk. They needed to get on that Underground. She didn't have to say anything to Mac. He nodded, took her arm, and led her to the station.
Thankfully, it seemed things had mostly gone well at the store.
Geeta looked more animated than Tiff had seen her, chatting happily with Jaz. Darren wasn't exactly bursting with delight at the idea of four hours shifting boxes tomorrow, but was excited with his mentor’s promise that if he proved himself, he’d be able to train for his fork-lift licence.
Josie was the only small problem. Anita nodded to where she held up a cake baking tray for a customer. “She’s great with customers, and she knows kitchenware, but she doesn’t want to do any of the cooking demonstrations I want to arrange. She wouldn’t say why. I hope you can talk her into changing her mind.”