by Maggie Fox
“Please?” he prompted. “I’m sure you don’t feel like cooking tonight, not after a day like this.”
“Won’t Becca be annoyed? I’ve stolen you away for the day as it is. She was probably hoping for some family time this evening.”
“It’ll be fine. Believe me. Becca loves to meet people. And she was asking about you earlier when we came into the café and I explained what was going on with you being staff-less for the day.”
“She was?”
Faith rearranged the cushions behind her. Despite the fact her feet were throbbing, her back was aching and she was exhausted, the day had been surprisingly good. Working with Zane had been fun. They’d slipped so well into running the café together. Now, here they were, sitting very close together on the sofa and it just felt… right. It felt very right. They made a great team.
“She was,” Zane replied, checking his watch. He got to his feet and looked at her questioningly. “Time is getting on and I need to go and get showered and changed for this dinner. I’ll pick you up in an hour.”
“But the table must be booked for two, I can’t just turn up,” she said, making one last, admittedly rather feeble, attempt at getting out of the meal; one last opportunity for him to change his mind and withdraw the offer.
“Not a problem. I’ll ring them and change the booking. They’ll be fine. See you at seven.”
A bath would have been heavenly, and her sore toes would have given anything for a peppermint foot soak. But there wasn’t time. Instead she showered, washed and styled her hair, took far too long deciding what to wear, and was applying a slick of berry-pink lipstick when Zane knocked at the door to her flat.
“Wow! You look stunning,” he smiled, standing in the doorway, clearly taking in her burgundy knee-length dress and black high heels.
“Thanks,” she replied, twirling a little on the spot so her dress swirled around her, delighted with his comments. “Do you want to come in for a minute or should we get going?”
“Best get going. I rang Becca earlier to let her know you were joining us and she said she’d meet us in the bar, but I’m under strict instructions not to be late. She doesn’t want to be sitting in the bar on her own for ages.”
“Perfectly understandable,” Faith said, closing and locking the door behind her. “Let’s make a move then.”
Faith noticed that although he was wearing a smart black suit and pale blue shirt, the top two buttons of the shirt were open and there was no tie.
“Er, Zane, I think you need to wear a tie to get into the dining room at the Royal,” she ventured as she followed him down the steps to his car. “They’ve got a pretty strict dress code.”
He grinned as he pulled one from his jacket pocket. “I hate ties. I’ll put it on just before we go in!”
It had been almost two years since Faith had been inside the restaurant at the Royal. It had obviously undergone a major refurbishment since then. Five-star luxury it most certainly was, from the ironed white tablecloths to the sparkling glasses and perfectly-polished cutlery. She knew staying here must cost a fortune, and as Zane had said he’d booked his sister in at the hotel she presumed he was probably paying for the room as well.
“Hi, you must be Faith! Lovely to meet you.”
Becca stepped forward to envelop Faith in an enthusiastic hug.
“You too. I hope you don’t mind me coming along tonight.”
Becca waved a hand in dismissal. “Don’t be daft. Any friend of my brother’s is a friend of mine. Plus, I owe you big time. I got to spend the day driving round in his fancy 4x4 and visiting all the cute craft shops and art galleries within a twenty-mile radius – without having to keep checking on how bored he was looking, traipsing round all the local retail emporiums after me!”
“Too right,” agreed Zane. “Now, what would you both like to drink?”
“Red wine would be nice please,” Faith answered.
“Another gin and tonic and a pint of whatever the best local beer is please,” grinned Becca.
Zane raised an eyebrow quizzically. “Taken to drinking pints now? The kids aren’t that bad they’re driving you to drink are they?”
“They’re not far off it sometimes,” Becca said, rolling her eyes dramatically. “No, the beer isn’t for me. I just had a phone call from dear hubby. He’s managed to persuade his sister and her family to take the terrible twosome for the night, so he’s joining me here at the hotel for a blissfully toddler-free night. Ooh, I can’t wait.”
“Too much information, thanks very much,” muttered Zane. “I’ll get the drinks.”
“So, it really is lovely to meet you, Faith. Being allowed to meet one of Zane’s girlfriends is a rare treat for me. I may have only been in Carleton for less than twenty-four hours, but I’ve still heard lots about you!”
“You have?” Faith said, with a mixture of embarrassment and delight.
So Zane had been talking about her, had he? And in a good way too, by the sound of it. Had he actually said she was his girlfriend, she wondered, or had Becca just assumed she was?
“Drinks!” Zane said, arranging the various glasses on the table. “I’ve just checked and our table for four will be ready in about ten minutes.”
“Hello, gorgeous!”
“Darling!” Becca stood up to be swept off her feet and twirled round by a man Faith guessed was her husband. Either that or Becca was far too friendly with strange men. “Glad you arranged all this. I am so looking forward to tonight!”
“Me too!” the man said, clapping Zane on the back and smiling at Faith. “Hi, you must be Faith. Becca told me all about you when we spoke earlier on the phone. I’m James. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Faith smiled back. Zane’s sister and her husband seemed like a very lively couple. This evening was promising to be lots of fun.
“I’m just off the Ladies, won’t be long,” Becca said, slipping out of her husband’s arms.
“Thanks so much for booking Bex in here,” James said to Zane as soon as his wife was out of earshot. “I went to reception when I arrived and they said the room was paid for. I can’t let you fork out for this place. Let me pay you back.”
Zane shook his hand and raised both hands in a gesture of refusal. “No. Definitely not. Consider it my treat.”
“No, I…”
“James. Forget it. It’s all sorted. Just enjoy the weekend, OK?”
“Will do,” James said, grinning at Faith. “You’ve got yourself a good one here if you don’t mind me saying so.”
“Oh, we’re not…” Faith met Zane’s eyes across the table and slowly, almost imperceptibly, he shook his head at her.
“Not what?” James asked.
“Not been together long,” Zane said, smiling at Faith.
OK. If he wanted to pretend they were an item, she didn’t have any objections to that.
Two hours later they were all back in the bar, having enjoyed the most exquisite meal Faith had ever eaten. The evening had been wonderful. Conversation had flowed easily and, despite both proclaiming they were delirious at the prospect of escaping from their two children for the night, Becca and James had talked about them all evening.
Maisie was four, had recently started pre-school, and was incredibly bright. This was great in one way, but it also meant she constantly asked “Why?” all the time, about anything and everything, and this was driving Becca crazy. Tom had just turned two, and the traditional terrible twos behaviour had apparently kicked in big time. James had said the kids were asking when they’d next get to see their Uncle Zane, and Zane had promised he’d make some time to visit soon.
“Well, much as I have truly enjoyed every second of this evening, I’m ready for bed,” Becca declared, after downing the last of her coffee.
“Me too.” James got to his feet and knocked back his own coffee. Judging by his expression, it was still a bit too hot.
“Thanks again for tonight,” Becca said, kissing Zane on the cheek. �
��We really appreciate it.”
“You have no idea how much,” added James.
Zane shook his head.
“I think I do. Now will you two get out of here?”
“You’ll see,” James laughed, slipping his arm around his wife. “When you’re old and married with kids and all the romance has gone…”
“Hey!” Becca said, poking James in the ribs.
“OK, I’ll rephrase that. When the opportunities for romance are few and far between.”
“Just go!” Zane laughed.
“I’m telling you; make the most of it while you can!” James added, nudging Faith on the arm.
“Go!” Zane repeated, pushing James away from their table.
As the two of them disappeared in the direction of the stairs, Zane turned to Faith and smiled awkwardly. “I’m sorry about those two. Bit embarrassing.”
“Don’t be,” Faith replied, reaching for an after-dinner mint. “They’re lovely.”
“I suppose so, in their own way. Thanks for agreeing to come along tonight. Otherwise I’d have been stuck here with those two feeling like a right gooseberry.” Meeting her eyes, he added, “Sorry, that didn’t quite come out right. I mean, obviously I’m really pleased you’re here anyway, regardless of how those two behaved.”
“It’s OK. I know what you meant.”
“Another drink?”
“No thanks. It is quite late. I suppose I should be getting back.”
Zane got to his feet. “OK. I’ll get your coat.”
“Want to come in for a nightcap?” Faith asked, and then wished she hadn’t. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to invite him in to her flat. The problem was they’d both had plenty to drink already – though she’d noticed that after one glass of wine with dinner Zane had swapped to soft drinks as he was driving. She’d been pleased to see that. It showed he was grown up and responsible.
Aaron wouldn’t have done that, she thought. He’d have drunk what he wanted, and then either thought himself invincible when it came to drinking and driving, or would have made some comment about booking them both a hotel room for the night.
“OK, thanks,” Zane said, turning the keys in the ignition and opening the car door.
Inside her flat Faith took off her coat and hung it up. “Drink?”
“Thanks. A coffee would be nice,” Zane said, following her into the kitchen.
As she busied herself getting mugs and filling the kettle Zane leaned against the kitchen worktop opposite her. He’d removed his tie and jacket as soon as they’d left the Royal. Now he was wearing just the blue shirt – top two buttons undone again – with the smart fitted black trousers which managed to make his legs look even longer. There was a hint of stubble about his cheeks, and she guessed he hadn’t had time to shave properly between finishing helping her at the café and calling back to collect her to head off to the restaurant. If she was honest with herself, she found the mix of his smart clothes, his tousled dark hair and his stubble-strewn cheeks more than just a little appealing.
Faith’s phone beeped the arrival of a text message.
“Sophie telling me she’s fine to come back to work tomorrow,” she said as she read it. Then she switched her phone off.
“You won’t be needing my services again tomorrow then?”
“No. But thanks again for all your help today.”
“It was my pleasure.”
Faith moved to sit down and gestured for him to join her. He settled himself on the opposite end of the sofa rather than right next to her.
“So what will you be doing tomorrow?” Catching a glimpse of the clock on the wall Faith corrected herself, “I mean later today.”
“Weather forecast is good, so I might do a spot of climbing after I’ve sorted a couple of things at the Centre.” He shifted in his seat. “Do you have a day off in the week in lieu of working the weekends?”
“It varies but I might be able to sort something out. Why do you ask?”
“I was remembering how you said you like to get out walking. Do you fancy planning a decent walk somewhere and then a spot of something to eat? If the weather’s fine I could probably rustle up a bit of a picnic, or we could go to a country pub if not – whatever you’d prefer.”
“I’d love to. And the picnic or the pub is fine by me. I’ll look forward to it. Would Wednesday be any good? I think I can get someone to help Sophie out on that day with the café.”
He leaned forward, his hands cupping his coffee mug. “Wednesday it is. You’ll know the routes around these hills better than me. I haven’t had time to get my bearings properly yet. Why don’t you choose a walk route for us?”
“The trek up to the castle and then across to the top of Fell Tor is a favourite route of mine.”
“Great. We’ll do that then.”
Half an hour later the coffee had been drunk, they’d chatted easily about anything and everything, and Zane got to his feet. “I’d better be getting home.”
Faith joined him at the door. He’d made no assumptions about what her inviting him in might mean. She was glad of that. She didn’t think he was the leap-on-you-on-the-settee-and-expect-to-stay-over type; that was an instant turn-off. She was delighted to find that she’d been right.
“Until Wednesday,” Zane said, lightly kissing her on the lips.
“Until Wednesday.” Faith smiled up at him.
She leaned against the door after she’d closed it behind him and sighed. What a day this had turned out to be. When she’d discovered on Saturday morning she was going to have to run the café on her own she’d been dreading the whole day. But Zane had dropped everything to help her out, and then invited her for a meal at one of the poshest restaurants in the area. Now, in the early hours of the morning, he’d kissed her – a kiss that had far more effect on her than he could have known – and asked her out on a proper date.
A walking-in-the-hills type of date. Just the kind she liked.
Maybe it was time she admitted she still had a soft spot for outdoorsy guys. Always had, ever since Aaron. No matter how much she told herself otherwise.
Chapter Five
Zane yawned and opened the curtains. Wednesday morning and the sun was out. Perfect. Over the last few days he’d had to work like mad to free up some time today for his date with Faith. But it had been worth it. He was looking forward to it.
When he’d turned up at the Coffee Pot the other day to find Faith snowed under with customers, he’d known straight away that he’d have to stay and help her. There was no way he could have just left her. When he’d explained to Becca what was happening, she’d not only been delighted at the chance to go off and do some serious shopping all on her own, but also equally delighted that he was sort-of-dating someone.
Well, Becca had kind of assumed the sort-of-dating bit, but he hadn’t corrected her. He wanted to date Faith anyway. He wanted to get to know her better. It was just a matter of timing. Becca knew that what had happened had hit him pretty hard, and having overcome her own demons she was keen for Zane to do the same. He was glad he’d taken the step and invited Faith along for the dinner at the Royal, though he’d made Becca promise not to mention anything about the past in front of her.
Afterwards Faith had invited him in for a nightcap and he’d happily accepted. They’d chatted, and drunk yet more coffee. He hadn’t really wanted any, but it gave him an excuse to stick around and enjoy her company for a bit longer.
As she’d got to her feet to refill their mugs, she’d casually brushed a hand against his knee as she’d moved to walk past him. He’d turned in his seat on the sofa, watching as she’d made her way to the kitchen, and as she’d filled their mugs and fetched milk from the fridge he’d had a full-length view of her. He’d let his eyes travel from her high heels and slim ankles, up her long shapely legs, and across the fabric of the burgundy dress that did a perfect job of showing off her figure in a less-is-more kind of way. Her hair was pinned up in an elegant style. It was the firs
t time he’d seen it like that. Usually it was tied back in a no-nonsense ponytail which swung around her shoulders.
He recalled how she’d placed the mugs of coffee on the table and sat back next to him.
“You’re looking thoughtful.”
“Sorry.”
“No need to apologise. Everything OK?”
He’d nodded. “Just thinking.”
Everything was better than OK. Which was why she’d caught him looking thoughtful.
It would be so easy to let things develop with Faith. Another date, then another. He liked her. A lot. But this wasn’t supposed to happen. He’d invested everything he had in Carrdale. He had business loans which made him wake in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. He had to give Carrdale everything and make the place a success. He wouldn’t have time for a relationship, for getting involved.
But he liked her.
“Thinking about what?” she’d prompted, looking at him, a flicker of amusement in her eyes. “Or shouldn’t I ask?”
She knew.
She knew exactly what he’s been thinking about. He could see it in those blue eyes.
He knew he had no time to get involved. He didn’t actually want to get involved. After what had happened in the last few years he shouldn’t even have any inclination to get involved.
But he liked her.
He’d met her gaze and realised she was still looking at him questioningly.
“I was thinking about doing this.”
He’d leaned forward to kiss her.
Along with his various lists of jobs to sort for Carrdale, Zane could have made another list. A list full of reasons not to get involved with Faith.
When they were younger, Becca had been a huge fan of Friends, and he could remember her complaining about an episode where Ross made a pros-and-cons list about whether or not he should date Rachel. Becca had said that lists like that were very insulting. But Zane knew there was little point in making a list like that for Faith. He could think of plenty of reasons to put on the Don’t-Get-Involved list – and none of them would have anything at all to do with Faith. They would all be about his own – what did they call it nowadays? – emotional baggage.