Page 63 of Eden's Comfort Kitchen
‘I really don’t mind. I’m not tired at all?—’
‘Wouldn’t hear of it, my love. Come on – drink up and think no more about it.’
Eden smiled up at him. She felt certain he needed an extra pair of hands but realised no argument would persuade him to let her help out. In which case, there was no point in worrying about it. Cam lifted his glass in a toast to her. He was smiling, and it seemed so genuine, so full of admiration and affection, that for a moment she almost believed it.
‘Cheers!’ he said.
‘Here’s to being halfway through the bet,’ she said, reminding herself that this was still part of the game and she couldn’t fall into the trap of thinking otherwise.
‘Halfway through the bet,’ he agreed. ‘It’s far more fun than I ever imagined it would be.’
How many gins was that she’d got through? More than she’d kept track of, and she hadn’t paid for a single one. She couldn’t be sure of who’d kept topping her up at this point but had a feeling it was Cam. If this was all part of his strategy, then the joke was on him. He could spend his entire yearly bonus on gin for her, get her drunk enough to need a stomach pump, but he’d never get her to give up the scout hut. So let him embark on his own charm offensive, and then he could watch as she took it and turned it back on him. It was already working because he was laughing and joking and enjoying himself like he was one of them. A few more evenings like this and there was no way he could turn against these people by selling them down the river.
Cam spun round from a joke he’d just shared with Ralph and leaned in close. Eden could feel his breath on her cheek, a sudden thrill running through her. She tried to banish the kick of excitement, but she couldn’t. She reminded herself, once again, that this was a game they were both playing, a game she had to win. How could she win if all she wanted to do was surrender to the enemy?
‘What?’ she asked stubbornly.
‘Ever had a Ramos Gin Fizz?’
‘I don’t think so. What’s in it?’
‘Gin.’
‘Yes, I got that much. What else?’
‘Some other stuff. Want one?’
Eden shook her head. ‘Ralph doesn’t do fancy drinks like that. Not much call for it here, so I don’t suppose he’d know how to make it to your exacting standards.’
‘Who said anything about Ralph making it?’ He grinned, leaping away from her. He went to the bar and rapped on the wood. ‘Landlord! Might I be indulged for one moment behind your bar?’
Ralph came shuffling over with a frown. ‘Eh?’
‘I want to make a Ramos Gin Fizz for Eden. Unless you know?—’
Ralph sniffed and gave a vague shrug. ‘Put the money in the till and you can make whatever you like.’
‘Thank you!’ With a grin back at Eden, he waited for a second while Ralph opened up and then slipped round to the other side of the bar. He began to scoot back and forth, collecting up bottles and laying them out. ‘The secret’s in the mixing,’ he said as he went along.
Eden got up to take a closer look. ‘This should be good. I suppose you’re some kind of whizz. Went on one of those naff cocktail-making experience days for your birthday, did you?’
‘No,’ he replied carelessly. ‘I worked in a bar in the West End.’
‘You worked in a bar?’
‘Isn’t that what I said?’
‘It’s just…when did you work in a bar?’
‘In my early twenties. I learned to make everything. We had wall-to-wall celebrities and millionaires in there – we hadto learn to make everything. I don’t think there’s a drink in existence I didn’t get asked to make at some point.’
Eden watched him get to work and tried not to look impressed, though she was finding it difficult. Try as she might to deny it, there was something sexy about him behind there with shirtsleeves rolled back and his hair dishevelled in the most delicious way. She was certain he was as drunk as her, but it didn’t seem to be hampering his efforts. In fact, he made it look all too easy, and that was even sexier.
After a minute or so, he slid a glass across to her. ‘Try it. Then tell me it isn’t the most delicious thing you’ve ever tasted.’
Eden grinned as she took a sip. It was pretty good. In fact, it was spectacular. She tossed her hair back and grimaced. ‘It’s all right if you like that sort of thing.’
‘I’ll have it back then.’ He began to reach for it, but she moved it from his grasp.
