by Maggie Fox
“Did you come back on purpose last night?” Zane asked, hating himself for doing so, as he eyed Matt over the box of breakfast cereal on the dining table.
Matt shook his head and shrugged. “No way. I met a girl at one of the meetings I had the other day and invited her out. I thought things might develop more than they did. That’s all.”
“Right.” Zane crunched his cereal and wondered if he was going crazy. Was he being totally paranoid when it came to Matt and Faith? “Who was she?”
“Nobody you know. Sorry if I cramped your style.” Matt looked up from reading the back of the cereal box. “What if I had stayed out last night? Would she have stayed over? Then again, seeing how the two of you were on the sofa when I got in, maybe I didn’t cramp your style eh? Perhaps I was a little too late for that?”
Zane got to his feet, his appetite gone. He dumped the rest of the cereal from his bowl in the bin. “Matt, you’re a good friend, an excellent business partner and things have been rough for you lately. I appreciate that. And on all other matters, I’m happy to discuss whatever you want. But when it comes to me and Faith—”
Matt held his hand up. “I know. I know. Mind my own business right?”
“Got it in one,” Zane nodded. “Now, we don’t, for once, have any meetings until this afternoon. The sun is shining, everything is just about ready now for the pre-launch open day with the locals, and I think we both deserve a bit of a treat this morning. Purely on the basis of testing the equipment, do you fancy a morning’s climbing?”
Matt leapt to his feet and put his bowl and spoon unwashed on the draining board. “There’s been far too much meetings and paperwork of late and nowhere near enough action.”
Two hours later, harnessed up and almost at the top of a strenuous climb, Zane felt the tension drain from his body. The weather was perfect – no wind, the sun shining down on another bright and warm day. Amazing views all round him. He’d missed this. Out here he felt alive. Out here he trusted Matt; they were both confident and experienced climbers.
When it came to Faith, though, it was a different story. He couldn’t shake off the feeling that Matt was out to cause trouble.
Chapter Ten
“Hi, guys!”
Faith glanced up from sorting the coffee machine to see Zane approaching the counter along with a guy with shoulder-length blond hair. There was a tousled surf-bum look about him.
Sophie was at the counter before Faith, turning on her best flirtatious smile.
“What can I get you?” she asked. “The usual is it, Zane? I’ve got a blueberry muffin put aside with your name on it. And what about your friend?”
“This is Dave. He’s our first recruit up at Carrdale. He’s a qualified water-sports instructor.” Turning to the lad at his side Zane added, “Dave, meet Sophie. And the owner of this café, my girlfriend Faith.”
Sophie leaned on the counter. “Good to meet you, Dave. You can’t be from around these parts. I would have remembered if I’d bumped into you before.”
Faith met Zane’s amused expression at Sophie’s flirting. She rolled her eyes.
“No. I’m from Cornwall. Surfing’s my thing, but I met Matt, Zane’s business partner, when I was snowboarding in Austria last winter. We got chatting, and when he found out I teach water-sports Matt said he might have a job for me. Sure enough, he got in touch when he knew everything was full steam ahead with Carrdale.”
“Well, I’d be happy to show you around the area anytime. Let me give you my number. Have you got your mobile with you?”
Dave dutifully handed over his phone. He was clearly a little dumbstruck by Sophie.
“There,” Sophie grinned moments later. “Ring me soon OK?”
Dave nodded.
“Now, what can I get you?” Sophie asked Dave.
Zane picked up the take-out coffee Faith had put in front of him.
“What, besides a date, you mean?” he said to Sophie.
“Ha! Ha!” she chuckled. “Very funny. Not. Dave? What would you like to drink? Want something to eat?”
“Coke, please, if you’ve got it. And a chocolate muffin.”
“Coming right up. So, what water-sports do you teach?”
Dave hopped on to a stool beside Zane. “Kayaking, white-water rafting, tubing, canyoning.”
“Wow!” Sophie said as she put his order on the counter. “I’ve always fancied canyoning.”
“Since when?” Faith mouthed to Zane and he laughed. Turning to Sophie she said, “You do know what canyoning involves? It’s throwing yourself down raging rivers and getting bumped and battered on rocks in ravines and the like.”
“Yes, of course, I know,” Sophie replied indignantly.
“And you seriously want to try this?”
“You have all the safety gear on,” chipped in Dave. “A helmet, proper protective suit, old trainers. It’s amazing fun.”
“It sounds it,” blustered Sophie, though Faith saw a flicker of doubt in her eyes now.
“Right, we need to make tracks. Thanks for the drinks and muffins.”
Zane got to his feet, paid Faith for the food and then kissed her. “I’ll see you later, about eight OK?”
“Great. See you later.”
“Call me!” Sophie shouted after Dave, as he held the door open for a couple entering the café whilst balancing his drink and muffin in the other hand. He nodded an acknowledgement.
“Do they only employ yummy guys up at Carrdale? Is it in the contract or something?” Sophie asked as soon as Zane and Dave were out of earshot.
“What are you on about?” Faith asked.
“Well, Zane turns up first and he’s gorgeous,” Sophie said as she wiped the counter down. “Then your ex turns up and it turns out he’s mega-yummy. Now they employ Dave and he’s just delish! The women of Carleton have never had it so good since Carrdale got new owners.” She looked thoughtful then added, “But then again, they’re all spoken for, already aren’t they? So maybe the other women around here haven’t got it to so good.”
“Spoken for?”
“Yeah. You and Zane are most definitely an item. He comes in here kissing you often enough for everyone to get the message you’re no longer single. And they’re not just peck-on–the-cheek kisses either are they? They’re full-on snogs. He clearly wants to claim his territory. At first I thought it was just Matt he was warning off in a roundabout kind of way. You know, get the local gossips talking about you two kissing in the café, make it clear you’re off limits to Matt. But I’ve seen him giving male customers warning hands-off looks as well, when they’ve been in here chatting to you before now.”
“Don’t be daft! Zane’s not like that.”
Sophie cocked an eyebrow enquiringly. “You’re sure? You know I think Zane is lovely, he’s a real sweetheart, but you’ve got to admit he’s very keen for every guy who comes near you to know you’re with him. I just get the impression he’s the jealous type. Maybe even a little possessive. Anyway, back to what I was saying before. From what I hear, Emily has her claws into Matt. And I’ve decided Dave is going to be mine, so all the single females in town will just have to hope Carrdale is planning to employ some other good-lookers if they want to be in with a chance!”
“You and Dave? You work fast. Anyway, I don’t think it’s a deliberate employment policy at Carrdale. They don’t put on the adverts for outdoor sports instructors that they have to be sexy and hunky!”
Sophie tutted. “People don’t say hunky anymore, Faith. Get with the times!”
Chapter Eleven
Faith paused for breath, leaning forward, and hands on her hips. Her training for the hill race had got a lot tougher since she’d agreed to unofficially appoint Zane as her personal trainer. It made sense for them to go running together; she was, after all, trying to get her fitness up to a level where she actually stood a chance of completing the race, and Zane was in training for the charity challenge he was doing with Matt a few weeks later.
; She had soon realised, though, that Zane’s idea of getting fit was very different from her own. His work meant he needed to be physically fit anyway, but before they’d started training together she hadn’t twigged just how athletic Zane actually was.
As her breathing steadied Faith stood up and wiped the perspiration from her forehead. Zane leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Annoyingly he wasn’t even remotely breathless.
She playfully pushed him away. “I’m all hot, sweaty and out of breath, thanks to you!”
Zane laughed and raised an eyebrow suggestively. “Got to admit, the first time I get to see you hot, sweaty and out of breath I didn’t think it would involve hill-race training!”
“Oh yes, and what did you imagine it would involve eh?” Faith asked, hands on hips, feigning indignation.
“Nothing! Nothing at all.” Zane backed off, still laughing. “I’m going to shut up now. You ready to do some more yet?”
“You should be one of those guys who run military fitness classes and gets everyone doing hundreds of press-ups!”
He tilted his head questioningly. “Why?”
“Because you’re Mr Super-Fit and you’re such a slave driver!”
“You did appoint me your personal trainer to help with the hill race,” Zane said, looking innocent. “I’m just doing my job.”
“If I appointed you, that means I should be the boss right, not you. And I say we’ve done enough for today, let’s go home.”
Zane shook his head. “Nope. As personal trainer I’m in charge. And I say we need to do another fifteen minutes, then cool down, do some stretches, then we can go home.”
Faith stepped forward and slid her arms around his waist, reaching up to kiss him. “Where on earth do you get all your stamina from? Are you so energetic and enthusiastic about everything you do?”
“Flirting with your trainer will get you nowhere, Miss Sutton.”
Zane started running again, calling back to her, “Fifteen more minutes, come on.”
Faith sighed. “Oh well, it was worth a try I guess.”
As she drew level with Zane he looked across at her and added, “For the record: enthusiastic, always; energetic, depends on the circumstances. In some things I reckon less is more. You know, slow and gentle beats fast and frantic, don’t you?”
“Do you flirt with all your clients, Mr Personal Trainer?”
“Nope, only the pretty ones. Race you to that gate!” He set off at a sprint.
“Zane! That’s not fair! You’ve got a head start!”
Chapter Twelve
Faith shielded her eyes in the sunlight, watching Zane as he abseiled down the cliff face.
It was the day of the pre-launch for the Centre, when all the locals were invited to explore Carrdale and try out some activities for free. Zane had just led an introductory climbing lesson. It had been the first time she’d seen him climbing, and she’d expected to spend the whole time with all her fingers crossed, holding her breath until he was safely back on the ground. Instead she’s been surprised by her reaction. He looked strong and confident, moving nimbly across the wall of rock as he expertly found gaps and crevices for his hands and feet. His students responded well to his easy-going, friendly and encouraging attitude.
“This is amazing,” grinned Sophie, appearing at her side. “I’ve just been down to have a go at the white-water tubing with Dave. It was totally awesome! I spotted a few of the women eyeing him up, and I know I shouldn’t and he’s working and all that, but I couldn’t resist giving him a big smacker of a kiss before I came back up here. Just to make it clear to them that he’s not available.”
“You two are quite the item these days aren’t you?”
“We are.” Sophie nodded. “Right, I’m off to get a drink. Can I fetch you anything?”
“No thanks.” Faith shook her head, moving her eyes back to watch Zane. “That was pretty impressive,” she said moments later, as Zane appeared at her side, removing his helmet. “But now I know I shouldn’t watch you climb.”
“It’s perfectly safe, honestly. I know what I’m doing. I always do all the checks and I’ve got all the proper equipment. You don’t need to worry.”
“It’s not so much that.”
“What then?” Zane frowned.
“Nothing.”
“Come on, tell me.”
“Honestly. It’s nothing. Forget it.” By now Faith was feeling embarrassed and wishing she hadn’t said anything.
“Nope.” He shook his head. “Come on, spill. I want to know why you don’t like to see me climb. I don’t want you to worry about me all the time, Faith. It’s safe, I promise you.”
Faith looked away. “I didn’t say I didn’t like seeing you climb. Just that I thought it best if I didn’t.”
“Because? Come on. You know I won’t let it go. I can be stubborn when I want to be. You may as well tell me now and save me pestering you about it.”
Faith held her hands up in a gesture of surrender. “OK. OK. Seeing you climb has a strange effect on me. That’s why.”
“I thought you said you weren’t worried,” he said, looking confused.
“I’m not. It isn’t that kind of effect.”
Zane turned to her, a grin quirking the corner of his mouth as he twigged what she meant.
“I think it’s sexy, OK? I think seeing you up there on the cliff face, so confident, strong and capable.” She lowered her voice. “It’s really sexy.”
He took her hand and led her behind a nearby tree. “Sexy eh? So watching me climb turns you on?”
She nodded.
“If it has that effect on you then I disagree. I think you should always watch me climb!”
Faith playfully swiped at him. “Don’t take the mickey out of me.”
Zane put a finger under her chin, tilting her face up so she was looking at him. “Believe me, I’m not taking the mickey. I’m quite chuffed it has that effect on you. And I have to warn you: I intend to milk that effect to the full.”
“Come on, man. I know it’s been a while since you had a girlfriend, but can you stop messing about long enough to lead this group tour of the Centre?”
Faith and Zane turned to see Matt standing a few feet away glaring at them both.
“Duty calls,” Zane said to Faith. “Want to join the grand tour?”
“And over there is where we’ve set up an assault course for families,” Zane finished as the group arrived back at the entrance to Carrdale Activity Centre.
As people wandered off to explore or try their chosen activities, Faith smiled at Zane.
“I must say I’m extremely impressed. The Centre used to be pretty popular before, but I don’t think it was being run to its full potential. You and Matt have added all the new stuff, the white-water tubing, night treks, orienteering and the trail for families. Now it’s all amazing.”
“We need to appeal to as wide a market as possible. Hence the bits for the families and for the corporate team-building events, as well as the stuff for the serious adrenaline junkies.”
“And so many people have turned out today. Having a special pre-launch day for the locals to try some activities for free was a great idea.”
“So,” Zane smiled. “What activities can we interest you in trying today?”
“Oh I’m just here to lend a hand with the refreshments and show my support,” Faith laughed. “I’m not really up for hurling myself down a river in a lorry tyre!”
“Zane!”
They both turned at the sound.
“How’s it all going, son? I’m ready whenever you are. Just tell me where you want me and what to do.”
Zane nodded to his dad. He was pleased he’d managed to get some time off work to come down and help out for the launch event. He knew Carrdale was as much his dad’s dream as his own, and had really wanted him to see the Centre and be involved with the launch. The only downside to having his dad visiting was his concern that he might let something slip to Faith. It was un
likely, but there was always the chance. When Becca had been to Carleton for the weekend it had been easy for Zane to ask her to keep quiet. But with his dad, things were trickier.
“Everything’s on schedule. If you could get down to the assault course and help us out there that would be great.”
“Sure I can.” The man smiled at Faith and then looked expectantly at Zane.
“Faith,” Zane began, feeling awkward. “This is my dad. He’s come down from Scotland for the open day. I think I said before, he’s a climber too. Dad, this is Faith, she owns and runs the Coffee Pot in Carleton. They have the best cakes you’ve ever tasted.”
Zane watched as his dad shook Faith’s hand.
“Great to meet you, Faith.”
“You too, Mr Ferguson,” Faith replied, looking surprised.
Zane was nervous about Faith meeting his dad. He’d arrived in Carleton last night with Helene and they were staying in a B&B a few miles out of town. He’d briefly gone to meet them for a drink, and Helene had hugged and kissed Zane, saying how proud they both were of him and how excited they were that he was now the joint owner of Carrdale. His dad had hugged him too, and asked, in a quiet voice (presumably so Helene wouldn’t hear), if he had invited his mum to the launch. Zane had said no, and left it at that.
“Please,” his dad said to Faith, “less of the Mr Ferguson. It’s Tony.”
Zane checked his watch. “Look, sorry, Faith, but I’m going to have to go. I’m due to lead a lesson on the climbing wall in five minutes. Dad, are you OK to find your way to the assault course?”
“Of course.” He turned back to Faith. “It’s really good to meet you.”
“You too,” Faith replied.
Zane waited until his dad was out of sight. “Sorry, I should have said about my dad arriving in town last night ready for the launch.”
“He seems nice.”
Zane nodded. “Right, well, I need to get to the climbing wall pronto.”
“Go, go, go, then!” Faith said, trying to shoo him away as he leaned in to kiss her.
“Catch you later!”
He sprinted off.