by Maggie Fox
“He seems lovely. We haven’t talked much though. He only came down for the Carrdale launch and now he’s heading home.”
“Did you say he was heading back to Scotland?”
“Yes, that’s where he lives.”
Sophie looked as though she was assembling all the facts in her head, making sense of it all. “And who’s this Helene?”
“His dad’s new partner. His parents divorced a few years back.”
“What happened?” Sophie asked, looking interested.
“I don’t know,” Faith replied. “Zane never talks about it.”
Chapter Thirteen
“What are you wearing for the festival dance tonight?” Sophie asked as she deftly iced some cupcakes for the café. “I’m assuming you are going along?”
Faith nodded and took a plate of cheesecake out to the café counter.
“Going with Zane?” Sophie asked, picking up the conversation as soon as Faith appeared back in the kitchen. “How are things with you two?”
“They’re good.” Faith sighed. “I hope everything goes off OK for him and Matt and the Carrdale Centre with this outdoor activity festival. He said yesterday went brilliantly. They had a great crowd for the various talks and for the adventure films last night in the marquee. Loads of people have asked about Carrdale and taken leaflets. They’ve had plenty of bookings as well.”
“I know,” Sophie said. “The guys are shattered. Dave could do nothing but head home and fall asleep once he’d finished working at the festival last night. Zane must have been the same.”
“Yeah, he was dead on his feet,” Faith replied as she sliced up another cheesecake. “He said he went straight back to his place and fell asleep once he’d secured everything at the Centre yesterday. Organising an event like this at such short notice so it all tied in with the hill race tomorrow has been crazy. But somehow they’ve managed to pull it off.”
“Sounds as though it’s been worth it though. And I’m really looking forward to the dance tonight – if only to spend some time with Dave!”
Faith was quite looking forward to the dance herself, though she wasn’t sure if she’d get to spend much time with Zane. As the co-host he’d no doubt have to do lots of socialising, smiling and hand-shaking. Faith had helped out wherever she could, but, after discussing things with Zane and Matt at the early stages of organising the festival, they’d decided the huge amount of catering required for the three days of the event was beyond what Faith and the café could conjure up. So she’d recommended some caterers in a nearby town. She knew from personal experience that they were excellent, and they had been given the job.
As she couldn’t get to the events at the festival much herself, Faith had taken a box of flyers promoting the Centre and made sure they were displayed in the café as well as in as many local shops and businesses as she could manage. She wanted the Centre to do well – and not just because it was a key part of the Carleton economy. Nor was it because the Centre was being run by two men with whom she had, at different times, been closely involved. She wanted it to succeed for its own sake.
Faith’s phone rang and she spotted Zane’s name on the display. “Morning, Zane how are things going?”
“Brilliantly. We’re going to be run off our feet today again. I just wanted to check what we were doing tonight about the dance. I’ll make time to dash home and get changed and then call round and pick you up, shall I? It’ll be a bit early though, I’m afraid. I need to get back up here to sort out the band setting up.”
“Can’t Matt do that?”
At the beat of silence her comment received, she cursed herself for mentioning Matt.
“He’s tied up with sorting the caterers. It’s just crazy here. We’ve got all the guys from the Centre helping out, but there’s still loads to do.”
“I know. Sophie has been bending my ear this morning complaining about how tired Dave is. She’s not impressed!”
Zane laughed. “He’s young, he’ll get over it. So, will six be too early to collect you?”
“Six! Zane, I don’t shut the café until half past five today. Even if I leave Sophie to cash up and clear up, there’s still no way I can be ready by six. Look, why don’t you go home, get changed and come round here for something quick to eat?”
“OK, the food sounds good. But what about you getting up here to the dance?”
“I’m sure I can get a lift when Dave picks Sophie up later on. That makes more sense.”
“It doesn’t seem right. I should collect you, we’re going together. I’ll see if I can get away for half an hour and—”
“Zane, it’s fine,” she insisted. “You need to stay at the festival. I’m a big girl now. I’m perfectly capable of getting to the dance on my own.”
He sighed. “OK, you win. I’ll see you for some food just after the café closes.”
Back in her flat, Faith was tipping some of the café’s left-over leek and potato soup into a saucepan when Zane knocked at the door. She glanced at the clock. He was earlier than she’d expected.
“Sorry,” he said, kissing her lightly on the lips. “I think the boiler is playing up or something at my place because there’s no hot water at the cottage. I’ve checked all the usual things, the pilot light, the settings and all that stuff, but it isn’t working. I’ll have to phone Emily and let her know she needs to get it looked at. I’d have made myself go for the cold shower option, but as I was calling round here anyway I wondered if I could use your shower?”
“Of course, help yourself. Good day at the festival?”
“Fantastic. Had some more firm bookings for the Centre, and loads of people have taken flyers and leaflets. We had another wedding enquiry as well. He’s a big rock-climber and apparently the bride is a keen caver, and they loved the idea of having the ceremony at Carrdale. I’ve given them a business card and taken their details. I said we weren’t licensed for weddings yet but we were going to look into getting it sorted and I’d be in touch with them. Who would have thought an outdoor activity centre would be the place people want to get married in? That definitely wasn’t in the original business plan!”
“I suppose not,” Faith said. “Now go and have your shower and I’ll make a start on the food. Soup OK?”
Zane slipped his arms around her waist and kissed her again. A long slow kiss which promised more. “I really appreciate this, Faith.”
“So you should,” she said, batting him playfully. “Now, go and shower, or you’ll be running late!”
Two minutes later, as Faith was slicing bread to make toast to accompany the soup, Zane appeared back in the lounge. Half undressed. His jeans were still in place, but his shirt and socks had been abandoned – presumably somewhere in her bathroom.
Faith felt her mouth go dry. She could really do without him walking around her flat like that.
“Everything OK? Don’t tell me you’ve broken my hot water system as well now?” She forced herself to make light of it.
“No, thankfully. There’s only one bath-towel in there. Is it OK to use that one?”
“Sorry, I’ll get you a fresh towel. They’re in the bedroom cupboard.”
He followed her into the bedroom and Faith felt a flicker of excitement again. She turned to him, towel in hand. He stepped towards her and took the towel, putting it back on the shelf before pulling her close. “I’ve really missed you these past few days. I want you to know I’m not avoiding you or anything. I just have to give everything to making a success of this festival and promoting the Centre this week. I’m sorry if I’ve neglected you.”
“I understand. Don’t be daft. You haven’t neglected me. I know the demands of running a business, remember?”
He was so close… She could kiss bare skin, or run her fingers down his chest.
“Come here,” he said, backing towards the bed, holding her hand. Sitting on the edge of the bed he pulled her down onto his knee.
The kiss was light and gentle but it still had a s
trange effect on Faith. She felt disorientated, as though she could float away on a little bubble of happiness.
“Don’t start something you haven’t got time to finish,” she chastised him, fighting to keep her hands under control.
Zane sighed and nodded. “Fair enough. Reluctantly then, I’ll go and get a shower. Maybe we can catch up later and carry on where we left off?”
She got off his lap and offered a hand to pull him to his feet. “Maybe we can. Right now I’ll go and sort you some food.”
Faith stirred the soup in the saucepan and pushed the button down on the toaster. She’d promised Zane some food before he went back to the festival and hopefully he’d just about have time to gulp down the bits she’d prepared before he dashed off.
Looking up she saw him walking towards her, dressed in the same black suit he’d worn on the evening they’d had dinner with his sister and her husband up at the Royal.
He looked so handsome that she ached for him. Was he deliberately keeping their relationship on a lighter footing, or was it her imagination? Was he simply too busy to be in a relationship, and did he think that this way he was being fairer on her? If that was what he believed, then he was mistaken.
Or maybe he was scared of something? Perhaps the man who thought nothing of scaling walls of ice on a thin rope was scared of her, and scared of making a commitment? Was that it?
Faith took his plate and empty bowl and forced her face into a smile. “Time is getting on. You’d better make a move.”
He kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks again. You will promise to save me a dance later won’t you?”
“Of course.”
It was still a bit early for her to start getting ready yet. Dave was picking Sophie up at seven and then they were calling round to collect Faith. Sophie had excitedly informed her Dave had been allowed the night off so he could go home and get changed, collect her and Faith and then they would actually get to spend some quality time together at the dance, rather than him having to work.
Faith had smiled, pleased for her. Clearly Zane didn’t drive his staff quite as hard as he drove himself.
She wandered into the bathroom to tidy up, but stopped in her tracks at the sight of the place. It was spotless. Towels neatly folded on the towel-rail. The mirror cleaned of steam. Not only was Zane Ferguson far too tempting for words, he was also amazingly tidy. Surely he was too good to be true?
Chapter Fourteen
Faith had known they’d sold a lot of tickets for the dance, but she hadn’t quite expected this amount of people to be packed into the marquee. By the time she’d arrived with Sophie and Dave, the party was in full swing. She couldn’t see Zane yet and she’d decided she wouldn’t go and find him – no matter how much she wanted to. He was going to be busy tonight, but later, she hoped, they’d get that dance he’d mentioned.
She’d bought a new dress for tonight, wanting to impress him. Midnight blue in colour, it fitted closely around her body down to below her hips where it then loosened into floaty folds around her legs.
Lost in watching the crowds of people trying to dance in the limited amount of space available, Faith gasped as she felt arms slide around her waist from behind, lips kissing her neck. Zane. He’d sought her out in the jam-packed marquee anyway.
“Hi, gorgeous.”
At the sound of the voice, she froze and pulled away. “Matt! What are you doing?”
“I’m just saying. You look gorgeous. Sorry, was it too much kissing you like that?”
“Yes, it’s too much and you know it,” she gasped.
He shrugged. “Sometimes I forget we’re not together anymore.”
She was about to reply that Matt should try harder to remember that fact when she spotted Zane. He was on their side of the dance floor, only about ten feet away. Arms folded across his chest. From the expression on his face she knew he’d seen the two of them. He’d seen Matt kissing her neck. Anger and hurt were obvious in his eyes. And there was something else, something she couldn’t quite place, in the look he was giving them both.
In that second she knew why Zane was holding back from taking their relationship from dating to something more serious. It was because of her past relationship with Matt.
Did he think there was still something between the two of them? After he’d witnessed this little scene, she supposed she couldn’t blame him if he did. Zane gave her a look of pure disgust and walked away, pushing his way through the crowd.
Faith made to follow him, but Matt grabbed her hand, pulling her back.
“Leave him.”
She looked at Matt questioningly. “What?”
“Trust me. It’s best to stay out of his way when he’s angry about something.”
“Did you know he was standing there when you kissed me?” She had to ask the question. Was Matt deliberately provoking Zane? If so, why?
Matt shrugged.
“You did know he was there,” she snapped. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
She shook her head, feeling her hands itching to slap him. “What do you think you’re playing at? Zane’s your friend, you’re in business together. You’re risking everything by playing a very dangerous game here, Matt.”
“You know me, ever the risk-taker.” He beamed his trademark sexy smile at her. “I miss you, Faith. We were good together. Maybe there’s a chance we could try again? I know I made a hash of things before, but we were both young and I was an idiot. It would be different this time though. I promise you. I’m all grown up now. How many times can I say I’m sorry for what I did?”
Faith shook her head, stepping away from him. “You don’t need to say you’re sorry because it doesn’t matter anymore. That’s all in the past. Forgotten.”
He brightened and reached for her hands. “So we can try again?”
“NO!!!” Faith cried out in frustration.
“So you haven’t forgiven me then?”
Faith reached up, placing her palms on either side of Matt’s face and forcing him to look her in the eye. “Listen to me. Listen properly. Yes, I have forgiven you. But no, I’m not interested in us in that way anymore. I just want to be friends. I’m with Zane. You, Zane and I all have to work together. This is a small community. I don’t want any awkwardness between us.”
“So you’re not interested in me?”
“As hard as it may be for your ego to understand, no, I’m not.” Despite her annoyance she found herself laughing. “Anyway, you could have your pick of any woman. And you know it. I’ve seen the way you flirt with everyone, you can’t help yourself. You don’t want me, Matt. It’s just the challenge you’re interested in.”
“You’re wrong.” He shook his head. “I still have feelings for you.”
“No you don’t.”
“When I see you and Zane together it drives me crazy. Yeah I admit he’s a genuinely good guy and all that, and at the risk of sounding all girlie I love him like a brother, but what really annoys me is that he’s got you.”
Faith held her hands up to silence him. “Stop it, Matt. It’s just the drink talking. And bruised male pride.”
“I swear I haven’t touched a drop of alcohol today. This whole festival, including this dance, is about all about promoting Carrdale. I may have my faults but I take my work seriously, and Zane and I have put everything we’ve got into this Centre. We’re both pretty determined characters and we will make a success of it.”
“I’m glad you’re both on the same side when it comes to the Centre, and I believe you when you say you’re committed to your work. But surely you can see that behaving the way you just did could ruin your and Zane’s chances with the Centre. If you cause trouble, you’re not going to be able to work together. Just back off, Matt. Back off and leave Zane and me alone.”
“We love the idea of getting married outdoors, don’t we?” the woman gushed at her fiancé as Faith took a business card from her bag and pressed it into the woman’s hands. What was it with couples wantin
g to get married at Carrdale? It was bad enough that she was surrounded by lovey-dovey couples smooching on the dance floor, but when she’d tried to escape from them and had been standing chatting at the bar with Dave and Sophie, this other couple had overheard that they were involved with the Centre and had started talking about their hopes to get married at Carrdale.
Was this the same couple Zane had been talking about earlier, she wondered, or another one? She gave them the business card and beat a hasty retreat. She’d slipped a handful of the cards into her bag at the last minute when she’d left the flat. Right now she might be annoyed with Zane for storming off like that, but she still wanted to help him make a success of the Centre.
She hadn’t spoken to Zane all evening. He’d kept himself busy chatting to people, sorting drinks for them and networking. Clearly he was avoiding her. She’d prepared herself for the time she would see him on the dance floor with another woman, but thankfully that moment never came. She felt pretty sure he would have had offers to dance, but if he had then he’d obviously declined them.
As a slow Norah Jones track filled the air, Faith spotted him standing near the entrance to the marquee. He was staring outside, his hands in his pockets. He was alone for the first time. Now was her opportunity. OK, she had to do this. Go over there and explain what he’d seen between her and Matt. She had to make it clear that she wasn’t interested in Matt.
“I’ve saved you that dance you asked for.” Faith slipped her arm into his and looked up at him questioningly.
Without saying a word he pulled his hand from his pocket and grabbed her own, but he didn’t lead her to the dance floor as she’d hoped. Instead, he led her outside into the dark night. A thin crescent moon was playing dodge with the clouds and she spotted a sprinkling of stars over the mountains. Where was he taking her? She couldn’t dance outside on the grass, she thought, as she stumbled along. Not in these heels.
At the back of the main marquee she spotted the smaller one they’d been using for some of the other talks and shows taking place during the festival weekend. Pushing the tent flap out of the way he led her inside.