Page 51 of Eden's Comfort Kitchen
‘With people you’ll grow to love, yes.’
‘I highly doubt that.’
‘We’ll see.’
‘I’m not doing it.’
‘Aren’t you?’ Eden raised her eyebrows.
‘Absolutely not.’
‘Surely it’s a no-brainer. Two weeks. If you’re not convinced, you’ll get no opposition and you’ve won. It’s that simple.’
‘I’d have your word on that? This isn’t some stalling tactic that you’ll stretch out when I tell you it hasn’t convinced me at all?’
‘You have my word. If you’re not convinced, then we’ll leave quietly.’
He was thoughtful for a moment. Eden could see she’d hit a nerve, but would he take the bait? She knew he was smarter than that, but she also knew his competitive nature would make it hard for him to resist a challenge, especially one he’d think he could so easily win.
Eden had other ideas, of course. She knew how easy those people in her kitchen were to love, even for someone with a heart of stone like Cam Faulkner. She might not have bet her entire life savings on it, but she’d certainly put a considerable sum out there. After all, they’d won her over, and hadn’t she once been as hard and cynical as Cam? True, she’d had reasons for wantingto change, and so perhaps she’d been a bit more open to it, but who was to say similar things weren’t going on in Cam’s life right now? For all she knew, he could be harbouring a secret longing to change, just as she’d been. At the end of the day, she was increasingly convinced this was the only way to win this battle, and she had to give it a try. All that other stuff she’d talked of – it rarely worked, even if it postponed things. This might not work, but she had more control over it than anything else, and she had faith in her new friends.
‘Come on,’ she pressed. ‘Why the hesitation? Is it because you think I might win the bet?’
‘A bet? Is that what this is?’
‘Of course it is. I’m betting the future of the community café. You’re betting the deal. And the odds are massively in your favour – at least, you think they are. Surely it’s a dead cert as far as you’re concerned? And if it is, what’s the problem with saying yes?’
‘All right,’ he said slowly, mockingly, supremely confident that this would be a walk in the park. That’s what he thought, Eden could tell, but she was going to prove him wrong, and then she’d enjoy seeing that smile wiped off his smug face. ‘Two weeks. But I come in, I stir your soup or whatever other shit you have lined up for me, and I don’t do anything else. No talking to me, no trying to win me round, no socialising of any sort.’
‘You’re going to have to talk to someone at some point, if only to communicate tasks.’
‘Then the minimum – that’s all. Don’t think you can try to be my friend. Don’t tell anyone else to try to be my friend?—’
‘As if anyone would want to. We’re not desperate, you know.’
‘Good. So long as we’re clear. I’m not going to fall for your emotional blackmail, if that’s what you think. I’m only doing this because I have to admit you’re right about one thing – it’s a speedy and easy solution, and why wouldn’t I take it?’
‘Good, well that’s one thing we can agree on then. It’s a speedy and easy solution.’
He let out a laugh that was unexpectedly genuine. ‘I can’t fault your tenacity, though. Let’s also agree that we both think we’re going to win and that the other one is sadly misguided.’
‘True enough. So when can you start?’
‘You’re really not going to let go of this, are you?’
‘No. When can you start? What are you doing this Wednesday?’
‘Um…’ He got out his phone and opened the diary app. ‘What time?’
‘About three.’
He looked up at her. ‘Three in the afternoon? What time do you eat? I thought it was dinner.’
‘It is, but there’s a lot to do.’
‘I can’t make three. Some of us still have a proper job, you know.’
‘When can you make?’ Eden asked, ignoring the jibe.
