“Ouch,” the same male voice said.
Glancing up, she saw an expensive light brown coat now covered in black coffee. Her eyes travelled farther up and collided with a pair of deep sea green eyes. She imagined they’d usually be smiley; at that moment, they swam with irritation.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry,” she babbled, reaching for some serviettes to try and clean the coat.
“It’s okay. No harm. No foul. Just watch where you’re going next time.”
She wasn’t certain if he was angry or simply taking the mickey out of her.
“Yeah well, I have a lot going on in my life,” she mumbled and grabbed her bag, embarrassed to see most of the people in the café were still watching them. “Sorry again.”
Maya scurried away, tears blinding her eyes.
Maya
After her humiliation with green eyes in the café, she headed for the shops to gather up all the goodies for Christmas that she could carry. If she was going to be miserable over the festive period, she may as well do it with her favourite foodstuffs.
Once her food mission was complete, she strolled down the main road. She came to a halt outside a local travel agent’s shop. There were various offers, but one that caught her eye for some weird reason. It read, “Due to late cancellation, there are now two seats available on this fantastic festive trip.”
Reading the details underneath the main ad, she saw it was a hotel in Eastbourne, departing on 23rd December, back 2nd January. There was a reduction of two hundred pounds. Coach trips weren’t usually her thing, but it was a steal.
“What the hell. Better to be with a coach load of people than on my own.”
She strode through the door with purpose.
Chapter 2
Carter
Carter was fed up with his married friends trying to farm him off to single women. He was sick and tired of the endless rounds of blind dates with women who didn’t do anything for him. It was one thing to meet a woman organically. That way, he’d choose to be with her because there was a connection. Dating the other way was mostly awkward and unfulfilling, having nothing in common with them apart from being alone.
He didn’t want to spend the festive season with anyone this year. He’d lied to his family. The guilt weighed a little heavy on his shoulders, but he was fed up of witnessing the sympathy in their eyes. They thought he was going on holiday for the festive season. He just had to hope that no one saw him. The previous relationship he’d had with Leanne turned out to be an unmitigated disaster. She’d left him for a man five years his junior. Still, no use dwelling on the past. It was done now.
The scent of coffee on his coat still lingered after the brunette with amber-coloured eyes had knocked it all over him. He’d been certain she was angry initially, but as she’d turned to leave, he was positive there were tears in her eyes. Now, why was that? He shook his head. Why should he know or care?
After ordering another coffee and drinking it in peace, he left the shop. Carter had just put one foot on the zebra crossing when he heard the loud screech of tyres. He jumped backwards in shock, landing on his backside. When he got up, he saw a car half over the crossing. He was filled with astonishment when his eyes locked onto the driver. Familiar amber eyes stared back in horrified surprise.
“Jesus, not again,” he muttered.
Sitting behind the wheel of the car was the woman who’d spilt coffee all over him a short while before. Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. Jesus, his day was turning out to be a barrel of laughs. Carter sauntered to the driver’s side and indicated for her to wind the window down. He leaned in.
“Are you seriously trying to kill me? Has someone put out a hit on me?” He didn’t know whether he was tormenting her, or just plain irritated.
“Like I said, I have a lot on my mind. I’m sorry. Again.” She turned away to face the front.
He huffed out a breath. “Yeah, well, maybe you should leave the car at home next time, in case you kill someone.”
Her eyes narrowed and her breathing elevated. She turned her face back to him. “Tell you what, next time I see you crossing the road, I won’t stop and just mow you down. How’s that sound?” She rolled up her window and drove off at speed.
“Christ, woman. Take a chill pill.” He shook his head.
When he crossed to the other side, he took a quick glance in the travel agent’s window. Perhaps it would be a good idea to see if he really could get a last-minute getaway. Someplace warm would be perfect. It was so close to Christmas Day, but there might be something available at a reduced price. At least it would get him away before anyone spotted him.
After about an hour of discussing various options with one of the travel agents, Carter came away with his travel documents in hand. He looked at the itinerary and shook his head. This was either going to be the trip from hell, or a good surprise. Either way, it was a last resort and fairly cheap. And who knew, maybe he’d meet the woman of his dreams. Or, more likely, a lot of mature ladies old enough to be his great grandmother.
Maya
When she got back home, she slammed the door behind her and threw her car keys and bag down hard on the hall table. Twice. Twice she’d had a run in with some guy. How she hadn’t hit him on the crossing, she had no idea. She needed to get her head back in the game before she wound up killing someone for real. His words were heavy with sarcasm, which hadn’t helped her sour mood. Her reaction to him was totally out of order, and she knew it. Usually, she was good-natured. Stu had destroyed that, for the moment, at least.
There was a missed call from her mum on WhatsApp. After grabbing herself a cuppa, she sat down and placed a call back to her.
“Hey, Mum. What’s up?”
“I was just checking to see how you are, Maya.”
“I’m okay. I’ve managed to book a trip away over Christmas and New Year.”
“Do you think that’s wise?”
Uh-oh. She had her concerned head on now. Maya pressed the handset against her forehead, closing her eyes to gather her thoughts.
“Mum, I’m thirty-two years old. I’m sure I know what I need to do.”
A sigh greeted her down the line. “I know. I just worry. Take no notice of me. So, where are you going?”
“Um, a coach trip to Eastbourne.”
The line went silent, and then a chuckle greeted her ears.
“What’s so funny?”
“At least I won’t have to worry about you being safe, especially from men.”
Maya rolled her eyes. She wasn’t in the mood for jokes.
“I’m so pleased you find my situation amusing. For your information, it was all I could find. I was lucky to get this at a knockdown price because of a last-minute cancellation. It’s not my fault my boyfriend decided to sleep with another woman just before we were due to go away,” she finished with more vehemence than she intended.
“Oh, love. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
She sighed. “I know you didn’t. I’m sorry too. Only, things are a little raw. As you say, I’m sure I’ll be safe from unwanted male attention… apart from old guys in their eighties. I’m sure I can outrun them and their walkers.”