grinned at her, unabashed, but then, when was he ever abashed – or whatever the opposite was?
As she turned to look away, he said, ‘Do you know what …?’ She frowned.
‘Changing tyres is thirsty work. I’ll have a pint.’ Typical, now he was being contrary.
With a wink at Siena, he added. ‘Married in May will do nicely.’
Siena smiled, leaning back in her chair with one of her cool, unperturbed Gallic shrugs. ‘Tease all you want, it’s Jason’s best-selling beer.’ Her look said it all. She was very proud of her boyfriend, Jason, who’d set up a successful micro-brewery in the barn complex at the back of the pub.
‘I can’t believe he went and named it that. It was meant to be a joke.’ Will nudged Siena. ‘That’s what falling in love does for you. Rots your brain cells. Head over heels! More like arse about tit.’
Siena sipped her gin. ‘Mock all you like. We’re very happy and you … I think, are just jealous.’
‘Jealous. Yeah, right.’ Will sneered, although when he did it to Siena, he did it with a smile. ‘You keep believing that, sweet cheeks.’
‘I will,’ quipped Siena, with her usual insouciance.
Lisa caught Marcus’s eye with a nod and ordered Will’s drink.
‘There you go.’
‘Thank you. And make sure you do get a spare sorted.’
‘Anyone would think you cared,’ said Lisa, raising a deliberately cheeky smile. It wouldn’t do to let Will know how much he needled her.
‘No, I don’t want some poor other sod to spend half an hour getting a wheel off, only to find there’s no spare.’
He always had an answer.
Luckily, he took a few sips of his pint and retreated to prop up the bar and chat to Marcus, far enough away that Lisa could talk to Siena without Will butting in, as he was prone to doing.
‘You’ve got that grumpy “I-hate-Will” face on again,’ said Siena, with her uncanny white-witch sense.
‘No I haven’t. See.’ Lisa plastered a happy smile on her face. She lifted her drink and took a sip. ‘I’m getting a taste for this gin malarkey.’
Siena ignored her attempt to change the subject. ‘Yes, you have. Honestly you two, you’re like a brother and sister, with all the bickering. You shouldn’t let him get to you.’ She gave Lisa a stern look. ‘He’s doing it on purpose, just because he gets a response. Ignore him. He’s like one of those silly schoolboys in the playground.’
Lisa massaged the tight muscle in her right shoulder. ‘I know. He’s an idiot.’
But ignoring him was easier said than done. He did everything he could to wind her up. Regret pinched at her. Once they’d had a bantering, fun friendship, where they’d take the piss out of each other constantly, but after one hideously misjudged night, they’d gone from nought to snide in twenty-four hours. If only it were possible to turn the clock back, she never would have kissed him.
‘Lisa, Lisa, Lisa.’ Giovanni’s sing-song Italian accent rang out across the pub as he loped across the room, a broad smile filling his too-handsome-for-his-own-good face. ‘Bellissima. You look bellissima.’
An exaggeration, Lord love him, as she’d come straight from work. Knackered from a day on her feet dealing with a bunch of energy-sapping demons otherwise known as ‘early-years children’, everything drooped and her get up and go had got up and gone, but Giovanni’s blatant, eager charm did good things to her ego, especially with Will in sight.
‘Hey, Giovanni, how you doing?’ She greeted him with a grin.
He gave her an exuberant hug and kisses on each cheek.
‘Glad when your British summer arrives. I have a small little problem with all this rain.’
He lifted his feet to show sodden trouser hems, which had clearly had a bit of a dunking. ‘Piddles everywhere.’
‘Puddles,’ corrected Lisa, stifling a laugh at the disgruntled expression in his dark-brown eyes. ‘Hopefully, the summer will arrive soon. You have to remember all this rain is what makes this country a green and pleasant land.’ She nodded her head towards the view through the French doors. The hillside rose, coated in a blanket of brilliant green, the trees rounded and full like plump broccoli.
‘Hmm,’ said Giovanni, not looking the least bit convinced, but then he flashed his model-boy smile at her. ‘Can I buy you a drink? Are you staying?’ The hopeful look made her pause.
‘Sorry, not tonight.’
When his face fell, she added quickly, ‘I popped in to pick Siena up. Jason’s away. As soon as we finish these, we’re heading back to hers.’ Lisa winked. ‘She’s making me dinner.’
‘Ah,’ Giovanni gave her a mournful puppy-dog look. ‘I miss my mother’s cooking. Home cooking. And female company.’
Lisa laughed and punched him on the arm. ‘Sorry mate, girls’ night. And don’t give me that. You eat here all the time. Don’t let Al hear you say that. He’ll try out one of his concoctions on you.’ Giovanni lived in the flat above the pub and ate with the rest of the staff, including resident-chef Al, who had moments of gastronomic brilliance interspersed with extraordinary creative flashes of culinary lunacy.
Giovanni shuddered. ‘I’m still getting over the beetroot-jelly-and-horseradish-with-beef combination.’ He shot a quick look towards the kitchen before leaning down and whispering with a teasing laugh, ‘Thank goodness Will is opening a proper restaurant with real food.’
‘Yes, he’s got great plans,’ said Siena, arriving back from the ladies, pushing him out of the way and plonking herself down at the table. ‘Although Al is sulking that he doesn’t get to play too.’
Giovanni beamed at her, although Siena had that effect on most men. ‘And I am very thankful for that. He was suggesting pizza kedgeree.’
‘Please don’t tell me …’ Giovanni nodded gleefully. ‘Smoked mackerel and boiled egg.’
‘Yuk,’ chorused both Siena and Lisa.
‘Ah, ladies, I must go.’ Giovanni grinned as Will yelled. ‘Get your arse over here and stop flirting with the help.’
‘The boss is calling.’ With that he shot away, waving his hands in a placating manner that simply made Will scowl even more.
‘My feet are killing me. You might have to carry me out to the car, Lisa.’
‘No chance,’ she responded. ‘I’ve been with the tiddlers in reception class today. Have you seen the size of the chairs in there? My thighs are knackered, crouching down all day. Roll on the school hols.’
‘Yes, you lucky thing. Six whole weeks off.’
Lisa winced. ‘You’re kidding. I was hoping Will might give me a few shifts.’ With a pained sigh, she glanced
