Page 50 of Eden's Comfort Kitchen
‘What about the scout hut then? Could you see a way to?—’
‘If you’re about to ask if we can leave it there, then you’re more deluded than I thought. You know that’s not going to happen. The land will be cleared, and something far more profitable will be built there. Sorry, Eden. You’ve lost this one already. If I were you, I’d accept defeat with some grace and find somewhere else to do your suppers.’
‘You realise I’ll fight you. And you know I can be a pain in the arse, so I hope you’re ready to spend a lot of time and money trying to get that land. And if that’s the case, maybe you go andtell your partners that it won’t be worth it. After all, it’s a tiny plot in a small, insignificant seaside town – how much money can you make out of it?’
‘If it’s so insignificant, then why are you so bothered about it? And don’t give me that – you know as well as I do the land in places like this is gold dust. Up and coming, as yet unspoiled, beautiful location – if you like that sort of thing, of course. We can make a lot of money from it. You’re going to have to do a lot better than that to put me off. Frankly, I’m insulted that you don’t consider me a more worthy adversary.’
Eden was riled. It was true she’d never spoken to Cam in this way before, despite the fact he’d always made her a bit nervous when she’d worked for him and they’d never had what anyone would call a friendship. But she didn’t work for him any longer, and now he was here threatening everything that was giving her life meaning. She couldn’t help but speak to him this way. ‘You think you’re a worthy adversary?’
‘I know I am. I’ll win; I always do.’
‘That’s because you play with rules fixed in your favour.’ Eden regarded him for a moment, processing what she knew of him, her thoughts a melee that she was working hard to form into some kind of useful strategy. ‘I wonder how good you’d be if someone else set the rules. I think you’d be in for a shock.’
‘Yeah? You keep dreaming. I can win by any rules.’
‘Care to put that to the test?’
He finished his drink. ‘I think it’s time I left.’
He turned to the doorway, but Eden wasn’t done.
‘Scared, are we?’
‘What?’ He spun back to face her. ‘Scared of what? You and your old folks’ army?’
Eden folded her arms and fixed him with a challenging stare. ‘Yeah, I think you are. You might not want to admit it, but we both know local opposition can be a pain in the arse. And takeit from me, I can rally some serious local opposition. We might not win, but it would make your life very difficult for the next few months. Then again, we might win. Sometimes – not often – but sometimes local opposition does win. Is it worth the risk? Wouldn’t it be easier to move on and try for a plot that doesn’t matter quite so much to the people who use it?’
‘I don’t think so. I’ll look forward to coming down here and laughing at your home-made, misspelled placards.’
‘There’d be more than that.’
‘Oh, like chaining yourself to trees? Please, you and I both know I’ve seen it all before, and it’s never made a bit of difference to the outcome. So you all go ahead and stage your little sit-ins and enjoy them, because you won’t be able to sit there for long.’
‘Hmmm. So you think you can win by any rules?’
‘I’m a born winner. I can win no matter what.’
‘Then come and volunteer for me.’
The words were out before Eden had even thought about them. They’d come from nowhere, and instantly she regretted it. But that regret turned into intrigue as she noticed the shock on his face. She’d achieved that much at least – something she’d never have expected to see on Cam Faulkner. How far could she push this? Was she on to something?
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ he said.
‘What’s ridiculous about it? Come and volunteer for me. Two weeks in my kitchen. If your conscience is still clear about what you’re doing after two weeks there, then I’ll hold up my hands in surrender.’
‘I’m not volunteering in your ridiculous kitchen.’
‘Scared it might get to you?’
‘Of course not. It’s insane, that’s all.’
‘You’re scared. You don’t want to do it because you know it will make you feel guilty.’
‘It won’t make me feel anything. It would be a complete waste of time.’
‘Well, if you think you’re so immune to persuasion, then surely two weeks of chopping the odd vegetable is a far easier battle than months of local action to stop you demolishing the scout hut? Two weeks and it would be over, and you’d have your land.’
His frown turned into a mocking smile. ‘You really think you can win by making me spend two weeks in your stupid kitchen?’
