“How do I know? You’ll have to check the credit card bill.” He winked at me. “Although not too thoroughly, I did enjoy the ale last time we were there.”

I laughed and turned to the basket that held the bread. “I’ve only got two bits of bread here, is that okay?”

“More than, dear,” Mrs. Carmichael replied. “Hopefully we’ll get power back soon.”

“I do hope so.” I offered them the basket and they each took a piece, then bade me goodbye.

Where was the bread?

I glanced around for someone, thankful for a break in my line. There was no luck for me, though, as everyone around me was busy. Crap. Not even Ronnie was nearby, and that left me hovering awkwardly until someone caught my eye.

Miles.

Miles was the one who caught my eye.

From across the room, like some kind of cheesy flipping romance movie.

What was he doing here, and why was he looking at me?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

I swallowed as he approached me. “What are you doing here?”

He shifted uncomfortably. “I have no power, so my cottage is a bloody ice block, and I left my key for my grandpa’s place in the greenhouse.”

“Right.” I glanced around. “Well, I can offer you tomato soup, but I have no bread. I ran out, and I can’t find anyone to get me more.”

“I just spoke to Elaine on the door.”

“I’m surprised you got away.”

His eyes actually twinkled with laughter, although his lips didn’t move.

Tough crowd.

“I explained the situation to her. She said if I help out here, she’ll make sure someone gives me some soup. I haven’t eaten since this morning.”

Looking away from him, I sighed dramatically. “Why don’t you hunt down a baguette or two, cut and butter it, and I’ll see if I can find you a bowl of soup?”

“One of these?” He pulled a baguette from the basket behind me. “Got a bread knife?”

I paused. “I didn’t know those were real.”

“Why would a church have fake baguettes next to the pulpit?”

“I don’t know. To appease the French?”

“I don’t think the French pray to the baguette Gods.” Miles looked at the baguette then at me. “Do you have a bread knife?”

“Oh, yeah, I keep them in my back pocket. No woman can be without one.”

Actually, life would be more bearable if one could keep bread, butter, and a knife on one’s person.

“You are on fire today,” he muttered. “Where can I find one?”

“The kitchen is through there,” a familiar voice said. “That door there that’s slightly open. Go through there, take the next one on your left, and you’ll find the kitchen.”

I turned and looked at my deadly enemy.

All right, so deadly enemy was somewhat of an exaggeration, but I couldn’t be entirely sure that Heidi Williams had not tried to kill me when we were fifteen.

That was a long story, and as far as she was concerned, she really hadn’t meant to drive that quad bike into me, and it’d only broken my leg, so it was fine.