Page 47 of Eden's Comfort Kitchen
Livia looked unconvinced but nodded. ‘I’ll see what I can do. But you’re going to have to be quick because he’s at the bar checking out the whiskies. That’ll keep him busy for all of thirty seconds.’
‘Don’t worry, I can do it in ten. Just go and serve him…please!’
Livia went out, and Eden could hear her make quite a fuss of Cam. Clearly she was doing her best to keep him distracted to allow Eden’s getaway.
But as she emerged from the cupboard, she glanced up to see him looking her way. There was instant recognition – she could see it in his reaction, the way he paused, a faint look of confusion on his face, but he didn’t say anything. She wondered if he’d recognised her on the beach and dismissed it, as she’d done with him. She supposed, as she hadn’t told anyone at the company where she was intending to go when she’d left London, he might have been confused to find her here and perhaps doubted the accuracy of his recognition. She’d done exactly the same, after all. Context – or lack of it – was a weird thing that couldplay tricks on someone. That was fine by her – he could be as confused as he liked; she wasn’t about to put him straight.
In the kitchen, she made a pretence of needing to check something on a food order, hoping to mess around long enough for Cam to leave the bar area and sit down. But even as she did, it soon became depressingly obvious that her spontaneous escape had been silly and pointless. What if he decided to enjoy his drink at the bar? She’d have to go back out there sooner or later. And who was to say he’d only have one drink and then leave? Even if he went to sit down, he might well come to the bar for another round, and Eden might have to serve him.
As she turned to go back in, Livia met her at the kitchen doors.
‘You’ve been rumbled,’ she said. ‘Sorry, I did my best, but he asked your name, and then he said he knows you. I mean, I had to tell him…I didn’t know what else to do because he seemed as if he knew anyway.’
‘As soon as I got in here, I knew you were right about me doing a runner. I couldn’t have hidden in here all night, could I? It’s all right. I suppose I ought to go and say something to him.’
‘Like what?’
Eden shrugged. ‘Bog off back to London?’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t want to get into any kind of proper conversation with him because I just don’t like him. He’s all smiles and charm, but he’s not a very nice guy underneath it.’
‘Hmm…well he just bought us both a drink. In fact, he gave me forty quid. A bit flash, I’ll admit, but I’m not going to complain. I put your half behind the bar for when you’re ready.’
‘He can have it back – I don’t want his drink or his money.’
Livia raised her eyebrows. ‘Wow…you really don’t like him, do you? What’s he done to you?’
‘Nothing. It’s what I know he’s capable of that bothers me.’
‘I think you should probably just accept the drink and try to be nice to him. He’s a customer, after all. Or if you don’t want the drink, put it in the kitty for the next community dinner or something.’
Eden nodded. ‘I’ll do that. Twenty quid will buy a lot of pasta from the wholesalers.’
They both spun round before Livia could reply to see Ralph staring at them from the kitchen doorway.
‘What’s going on here? Mother’s meeting? Has the bar gone self-service?’
‘Sorry, Ralph,’ Livia said, hurrying past him. ‘I’m on it.’
‘Sorry…’ Eden made to follow. ‘It was my fault – I messed up an order and Livia was helping me to put it right.’
‘I don’t see why it takes two of you, but OK. Please don’t leave the bar unattended like that again.’
As she walked across to the bar, Eden could see Cam leaning against it with his whisky, talking carelessly to Livia. He turned and grinned at her approach.
‘This is a turn-up for the books. Of all the places I might have expected to run into you. What are you doing here? And you work here? The fast-paced world of property development not exciting enough for you?’
‘Something like that,’ Eden replied stiffly. ‘I’m spending the summer here. This is a temporary job to give me something to do.’
He nodded slowly as he sipped his drink. ‘I can’t say it makes much sense to me, but whatever floats your boat.’
‘So…’ she continued, trying to keep her tone neutral, ‘you’re here on holiday?’
He shook his head. ‘No. Business.’
‘Oh?’ Eden’s heart sank. She had the most awful feeling she already knew what the business was. She had to ask, but she wondered if she really wanted to hear the answer. ‘So you’re after acquiring somewhere local? In the bay? Because I’m not sure I know of anywhere…’
‘Some small parcel of land. I think there’s a scout hut or something on it now. I’ve been looking around here for a while, and it seems like the best bet.’
‘This is a very quiet resort – wouldn’t you be better off in one of the bigger holiday towns?’
