by Maggie Fox
Zane put a hand on her knee and looked at her. “I am being honest. And, I guess, a bit modest too. OK, women did make it clear they were interested. But I wasn’t.”
“Why not?”
“Just wasn’t. Not my scene.”
Faith looked at him, her eyes wide with surprise. “What? Women aren’t your scene? But the other day, on the fell walk when you kissed me—”
“No, I didn’t mean like that. I mean…” He looked away, feeling awkward. But they’d come this far; he may as well tell her some of the truth, if not the reasons behind it. “Look I don’t want this to sound like a line, or like I’m whiter than white, but I don’t do the whole casual thing where relationships are concerned.”
“Oh, I see.”
Zane moved his hand to trace the inside of her wrist. “Now you’re wondering why, aren’t you?”
“A little,” she nodded.
“I’ve seen too many people get badly hurt that way. I’d rather not go into specifics though, if that’s OK?”
“Of course. Thanks for being honest with me.”
Matt shoved a ready-in-five-minutes chilli in the microwave and slammed the door shut.
“I’m still hungry even though I pigged loads of the sandwiches, sausage rolls and some of those mini-muffin things at the meeting. What was in them? They were delish.”
Zane leaned against the kitchen worktop and eyed Matt. It was ten at night and Matt was making himself chilli? It had been a good while since they’d shared a house or flat, and he’d forgotten about Matt’s strange eating patterns. He’d got back from Faith’s ten minutes ago. Now it was time to get Matt’s version of events.
“So come on then. Out with it.”
“With what, mate?” Matt asked, randomly opening cupboards and drawers. Having found a plate in one of the cupboards he now appeared to be on the hunt for a spoon.
“Bottom drawer,” Zane said helpfully, even though he didn’t feel particularly helpful at that moment.
“Cheers. This might be one of the smallest kitchens I’ve ever been in, but there’s way too much stuff crammed into these cupboards and drawers!”
“Right.” Zane shifted from one foot to the other. He wasn’t going to be dissuaded from pursuing this topic of conversation that easily. “So, out with it. What’s the story with you and Faith?”
Matt checked the microwave. “There isn’t a story. We knew each other years ago.”
“So why were things so awkward when I introduced you?”
Matt shrugged. “Look, it’s old news. We used to go out. That’s all. Forget it.” He checked the timer on the microwave again, then turned and looked at Zane. “Why all the questions anyway? Are you dating her?”
“We’ve been out a couple of times,” Zane replied, not sure how close to his chest he should play his cards.
“Oh.”
From the look on Matt’s face, Zane had the feeling there was trouble heading his way. And soon. “Is that a problem?” he asked.
“You mean am I bothered if you date her?”
Zane shook his head. “I wasn’t asking for your permission, Matt. I just need to know if there’s likely to be anything still simmering between you two. We do all have to work together.”
“Yeah, of course we do. I’m glad it’s Faith who will be providing the refreshments for the Centre. Looks as though she’s done well for herself with the business and everything.”
“She has. And I want her to carry on working with the Centre. But you haven’t answered my question. I don’t want something that happened between you two years ago to affect future working relationships or jeopardise what happens with the Centre.”
“It won’t affect the Centre. That’s not all you’re bothered about though, is it? You mean will what went on with Faith and me in the past affect what’s going on with Faith and you now, don’t you?”
Zane said nothing. He’d trusted Matt with his life on many an occasion when they’d been off doing some extreme sport, and vice versa. He had absolute faith in Matt’s knowledge and expertise when it came to climbing, kayaking and the like. They were good friends. They worked well together. But he’d always had a bit of problem when it came to Matt’s attitude to women.
Up until now it had never mattered that much, and so long as whatever business they’d been working for or running wasn’t affected by Matt and his shenanigans, then Zane had just kept his mouth shut and not asked any questions. But this time it was different. They each had very different tastes in women, and they’d never clashed before. They’d certainly never tried to date the same woman.
“Why didn’t you tell me the Centre we were buying happened to be right on the doorstep of your childhood sweetheart?”
“I didn’t know, did I?” Matt said, flicking the release catch on the door of the microwave. “We lost touch after university, and I had no idea where she was living nowadays.”
“But you knew this was her home village, so you must have had an idea she’d be here.”
“This is all just a coincidence, Zane. Honestly. Though, I remember now, she did always have plans to set up in business back home.”
“And? Were you part of those plans by any chance?” Zane found himself asking.
Great. He was like a dog with a bone. Just wouldn’t let it go. That determination had got him to where he was today. It had been the thing that drove him on in his work life, but when it came to personal matters like this, it was the thing that could bring him nothing but trouble.
Matt emptied the chilli on to a plate and picked up a spoon. “Yeah. OK. We had plans together. We were just kids though. Everyone goes off to uni with their girlfriend and you have these naïve plans and grand ideas.” He tapped Zane on the shoulder with his spoon as he walked past, en route to the dining table with his food. “Then you grow up and everything changes.”
“What happened?” Zane sighed.
“Life happened. We grew apart.”
Yeah right, Zane thought. That’s not how Faith tells it.
Zane knew all about life getting in the way of your plans. He’d been focussed on getting his qualifications and the necessary experience to build his career when he’d been working in Austria and had met Matt. While Matt had taken full advantage of the fact that women seemed to find the extreme sport instructors irresistible – much the same as the ski instructors – Zane had been more interested in the work opportunities available, rather than the women making themselves available to him.
Once, when they both had a few days off work in Austria, he and Matt had headed off to do some wild camping in the mountains. As they’d shared a beer around the campfire Matt had asked Zane why he didn’t take the women up on their offers.
“You do realise how most of the women we come across in our job fancy the pants off you, don’t you? They can’t resist the tall, dark and handsome instructor, the fearless, all-action guy.”
“I’m not fearless,” Zane had mumbled, staring into the campfire.
“I know. But they think you are. Why don’t you take advantage of that sometimes? Relax a little. I just want you to chill, have some fun, and be happy.”
Zane had shaken his head and laughed. “And you think messing around will make me happy?”
“Works for me. Come on, Zane. You never know, you might enjoy it. Help you get rid of whatever chip you’re carrying around on your shoulder. Why not eh?”
“I have my reasons.”
Zane wasn’t an idiot. He’d soon cottoned on to the fact that being an outdoor adventure sports instructor made him a target for the women. Well, certain kinds of women, anyway. The ones who wanted a holiday romance. It was almost as though they’d paid for their activity lessons and expected that fee to include his services in more ways than just teaching them how to climb or abseil or snowboard. He’d also learnt pretty quickly that he had to tread carefully when politely rejecting their advances. It didn’t do to upset the customers. He thought he’d solved the problem when he’d invented
a girlfriend and told the women, Thanks but no thanks; I’m in a steady relationship. Then he’d discovered that some of the more persistent women didn’t care about whether he was involved or not, they still invited him to their hotel room. He’d found it all a bit depressing.
But Matt had loved it. He’d lapped up all the attention, making the most of any invitations he got. Zane just minded his own business and hoped Matt didn’t end up in trouble with their boss. Quite often when they turned up for work and were prepping the equipment and carrying out safety checks, Matt would start filling Zane in – in great detail – on his previous night’s exploits.
“Why don’t you ever say yes?” Matt had asked him.
“How do you know I don’t?” Zane had retorted. “Perhaps I’m just discreet about it.”
He’d noticed Matt waver for a moment or two, obviously weighing up whether there might be any truth in what he’d said.
“Nah. You’re not that good an actor. Come on, why?”
“I’m just not interested OK?”
Matt had laughed. “You’re not interested in very attractive women finding you irresistible and inviting you to their room?”
Zane had closed the equipment cupboard. “No.”
“I don’t understand, mate. You’re not gay are you?”
“No,” Zane had repeated, opening up another cupboard in the stock room and pulling out some of the equipment they would need for the day.
“Then what? I thought you were like me. A thrill-seeker. Always in search of the next adrenaline high.”
“I get my thrills from extreme sports. That’s enough for me, thanks.”
“Zane, you’re young. Allow yourself to live a little. It’s only a bit of fun!”
“Matt, just leave it OK?” Zane had said. He’d had enough of the conversation. He didn’t want to, he couldn’t, tell Matt the truth.
But Matt had eventually coaxed the truth out of Zane about his relationship issues, and had tried to encourage him to date.
And then he’d met Holly.
He’d known he shouldn’t have got involved, he wasn’t ready, but he’d risked it. It had been a huge mistake. Even before he’d told her the truth…
Now, here he was, taking a risk on a relationship again – and he’d just found out Faith was the old girlfriend of his best friend and business partner. Wonderful. Good going, Zane. It looked as though life was about to mess things up all over again.
“Some of the new equipment is being delivered at the Centre tomorrow morning at nine,” Zane said as he made coffee for himself in the tiny kitchen. “You said you’d meet the delivery guy up there, didn’t you?”
“I did, and I will.” Matt shoved another spoonful of chilli into his mouth.
Zane looked over Matt’s shoulder and noticed he was reading the latest edition of Activate.
“Anything interesting in that?” he asked, stirring the coffee and throwing the spoon into the sink.
“Yeah, there’s an article about a new activity centre that has just opened up in Scotland. They’ve got some great ideas on activities we could adapt to Carrdale. Some good stuff with plenty of commercial potential I reckon.”
“I’ll take a look later.” Zane dumped the untouched coffee on the worktop. “I think I might head out for a while.”
Matt didn’t even look up from the magazine.
“See you later then.”
Closing the cottage door behind him, Zane noticed someone had parked so close to his car that you could barely squeeze a book between the two vehicles. He supposed he could just about manage to manoeuvre the 4x4 out if he could be bothered, but instead he opted to pull on his coat and walk down to the centre of the village.
The evening was clear, stars filled the sky, and there was a hint of autumn chill even though it was still only late August. Not sure where he was heading for he set off down the hill, trying to keep his mind on the pre-launch activity day they were holding at the Centre in a few days’ time. He was pretty sure most things that needed to be done for the day had now been sorted.
OK, he challenged himself, now find something else to think about that doesn’t involve Faith and Matt.
Reaching the bottom of the hill he noticed the pub was still open.
“Whisky, please,” he nodded to the barmaid. Thanking her and taking the drink he made for a table in the corner of the bar, picking up a newspaper from the rack on the way. He’d try to enjoy his drink and read the paper. That would distract him from thoughts of Faith and Matt, and just how involved they’d been as childhood sweethearts and during their years at university.
He knew it shouldn’t matter. Everyone had a past, old relationships, and complications. He certainly did.
But it did matter. Especially to him.
Chapter Eight
At the sound of the bell above the door of the café Faith looked up from sealing cakes into Tupperware containers to see Matt smiling at her. He was a little shorter than Zane but had the same solid build. These days his blond hair was so closely cropped it was only just short of being shaved, and combined with the light stubble on his cheeks it gave him a dangerous-to-know air. Unfortunately when she’d known him before it had taken her far too long to realise how he used his lilac-blue eyes under pale lashes and his lazy smile to try to win women over.
“Hi, Faith. Busy day?” he asked as he sat on one of the tall stools in front of the counter.
“Very. Look, I’m sorry but I’m just about to close for the day.” Faith looked at the coffee pot on the machine. “I can do you a quick black coffee if you want a drink. There’s some cake left as well if—”
“Thanks, but I didn’t come in for refreshments. Though that carrot cake does look good.” He leaned across the counter. “Faith, I just wanted to talk to you. It was a bit of a shock the other day for both of us. Are you OK with me being back in town? I know we didn’t part on the best of terms, but now it looks as though we’ll be working together in a roundabout way. I just thought we should talk things through.”
Faith busied herself with tidying up. Sophie had left for the day so she was alone with Matt. She was getting used to thinking of him as Matt now, rather than Aaron. The change of name had helped her to separate the man standing before her from the man she’d once loved.
“I want to apologise,” he continued. “I know I behaved like a pig back then. In my defence I was just a kid wanting to experience life, but that still doesn’t excuse what I did.”
Faith stared at the floor. This conversation, Matt being here again after all this time, was dragging up the past – and that was the last thing she wanted to do. Especially now, when she thought she might have found, at last, a man who could make her feel the way she’d used to feel with Matt. The spark. The chemistry. No, that was unfair on Zane. With Zane she felt far better than when she’d been with Matt, because Zane was fun and adventurous but not out of control like Matt had been. Like Matt probably still was.
“Despite what you might think about me, about us, I loved you, Faith. I was an idiot and I’m sorry.”
Matt reached for her hands but Faith pulled them away. Years ago she would have given anything to hear Matt say these words. But now it was too late.
A couple of people were reading the menu in the window of the café and Faith hoped they wouldn’t come inside. She hadn’t had chance to put up the Closed sign and lock the door before Matt had arrived, and she didn’t want to be delayed in getting home today. She was going to Zane’s for dinner tonight and wanted to have a chance to put her feet up for at least five minutes before she had a shower and got ready to go out.
“Let me,” Matt said, noticing her furtive glances toward the door and getting to his feet.
Faith watched as Matt locked the café door and turned the sign to Closed. The couple outside looked momentarily disappointed and he mouthed his apologies to them, backed up with that disarming smile of his. The couple nodded and walked away.
“Thanks.”
&nb
sp; “No problem. I’m guessing you want to be out of here pretty quickly tonight anyway. Zane’s cooking you dinner isn’t he?”
Faith tensed. Matt staying at Zane’s added a further layer of complication to things for her. She wasn’t sure she liked the fact, but it was something she would have to get used to if she thought she had a chance of developing a proper relationship with Zane. Anyway, even when Matt found his own place and moved out, he and Zane would still be working together at the Centre. She’d still have to see him.
Matt perched back on the stool and winked at Faith. “I hope you had a decent lunch and aren’t starving. You do know he can’t cook, don’t you?”
Faith avoided looking at him and started cashing up. That wink. That smile. She chastised her body for still responding to them a little, even after all this time.
Matt was trouble. She knew that. When they’d been involved she’d been young and foolish, and the idea of a man who sought adventure and had a slightly dangerous edge to him had been exciting. She’d learnt the hard way that such a mix was a recipe for disaster.
“Faith, is it serious between you and Zane?”
Closing the cash register Faith turned to Matt. She couldn’t concentrate on sorting the takings for the day with him sitting in her café asking questions. Especially questions about her and Zane.
“Matt, I understand why you dropped by. Let me reassure you I’m totally fine with everything, with you working at the Centre for Zane. It’s not a problem, you being around again, honestly.”
Matt held a hand up to stop her talking. “I’m not working at the Centre for him. We’re business partners, Faith. We’re equals. I work with him, not for him.”
“Whatever.” Faith shook her head feeling flustered. “I’m OK with it. So, can I ask you to leave now? I really need to get things sorted here and then go and get ready…”
Matt looked her up and down in a way which left no doubt he liked what he saw. “It won’t take you long to get ready for tonight. You already look gorgeous. You always do.”