‘Blimey,’ said Joe when she let him go and sat back in her chair. ‘Well, that defused the sexual tension.’
Carmel grinned. ‘There is no sexual tension. I don’t fancy you one bit and you don’t fancy me. But I like you. I think we can be friends, don’t you?’
Tasha hid a smile as Joe, still knocked for six by the kiss, raked his rugby player’s fingers through his tufty reddish-gold hair. ‘We could probably manage that. Uhh . . . those eyelashes of yours. Are they real?’
‘Of course they’re not real, you plank. Even a monkey could tell they were fake.’
‘And are you always this polite?’
‘I like to call it refreshingly frank,’ said Carmel.
‘You’re certainly that.’ Joe raised his glass and clinked it against hers. ‘Cheers, Frank.’
‘Cheers. Will I like your friend Rory, do you think?’
‘I can’t see why you wouldn’t. He’s a good guy.’
‘Ah, but will he break my friend’s heart?’
‘Hello, excuse me?’ Tasha cleared her throat. ‘We are here, you know. Within . . . what’s it called? Oh yes, earshot.’
Joe and Carmel completely ignored her. ‘Honestly?’ said Joe. ‘Well, he’s had his share of girls and played his share of games in the past. But the way he’s been talking about this one . . . she’s definitely in a whole different league. I’ve never seen him like this before.’
‘If he gives her any grief,’ Carmel said pointedly, ‘he’ll have me to answer to.’
His breath warm on her cheek, Rory murmured in Tasha’s ear, ‘I wasn’t planning on giving you any grief.’
‘Just as well.’ Tasha was tingling all over at his proximity. ‘Carmel has a black belt in karate.’
Overhearing this, Joe turned and regarded Carmel with new respect. ‘You do? Wow.’
‘I can be quite annoying,’ said Carmel. ‘It makes sense to be able to defend myself.’
‘Ha.’ He was clearly impressed. ‘I have a feeling you’d win.’
‘Oh yes.’ Carmel crossed her long legs and surveyed him with cool amusement. ‘I always do.’
Was she being deliberately ambiguous? Most probably. Tasha watched as Joe, caught off guard, visibly wondered the same thing. After a second or two, he turned to her and said, ‘How about you then, Bin Girl? Are you a martial artist too?’
‘I’m a make-up artist.’ Tasha added flippantly, ‘If anyone tried to attack me, I’d jab them in the eye with a mascara brush.’
Twenty minutes later, Rory and Joe went over to queue at the bar for more drinks.
The moment they were alone, Tasha said, ‘They’ll be talking about us now.’
‘That’s OK. We’re going to be talking about them too.’
‘And?’ Tasha had been bursting to know. ‘What’s the verdict?’
‘I like him! He’s great.’ Carmel’s eyes were bright. ‘I really like him a lot.’
‘I knew it, I knew it, I’m so glad!’ Phew. Beaming with relief, Tasha said, ‘Thank goodness for that. And how about Joe?’
‘Oh.’ Carmel looked confused. ‘I thought we were talking about Joe.’
‘No, you dingbat! Never mind him – I want to know what you think of Rory!’
Carmel shrugged. ‘Well, I like him too. He’s really nice. Good-looking, fun, I can see why you’re so keen . . .’
‘But,’ Tasha prompted, feeling sick. ‘There’s a but coming. Tell me what it is.’
‘Oh come on, you already know what it is. Don’t look at me like that . . . oh please, not the Bambi eyes. But Joe said it too, didn’t he?’ Carmel lowered her voice. ‘I know you’re crazy about each other and it’s all new and exciting, but the two of you are kind of polar opposites. All those extreme sports he’s addicted to . . . I mean, it’s not as if you’re ever going to do anything like that.’
‘Does it really matter? You said opposites attract.’ The panicky sensation was rising up inside her ribcage now; she had been working so hard to keep it squashed down. ‘People don’t have to be exactly like each other to make a good couple . . . we laugh at married people who wear matching outfits and end up turning into one person . . .’
‘I know, I know, and I do understand how you feel about him. I’m just a bit worried that you two are so completely different . . . Oh God, sorry, just ignore me.’ Carmel flapped her hands by way of apology. ‘He’s great and I do like him. I’m sure you’ll be able to work things out. And I haven’t spotted any annoying habits like stroking his chin in a creepy way or laughing like a camel with hiccups.’