Page 60 of Eden's Comfort Kitchen
‘Then laugh with me. I’m teasing, but only a little. I can’t help it when you’re taking everything so seriously. I’m trying to get to know you here.’
‘Why?’
‘Why wouldn’t I? We worked together and I don’t know a single thing about you. So then I find myself here and you’re here – seems like a weird coincidence we’ve been pulled together like this, don’t you think? So I feel as if there must be a reason – maybe it’s because I’m meant to get to know you better.’
‘It’s a funny way to make friends – trying to destroy my project.’
He was silent for a moment, and his smile faded. ‘I didn’t come here for that – I came here because the land was going up for sale. I certainly didn’t arrive with the intention of destroying anyone’s project. Come on, Eden – you know that. It’s not personal.’
As much as she wanted to refute his point, she couldn’t.
‘It’s just bad luck,’ he continued into the gap her non-reply had left. ‘Is there really no other venue in this whole town you could use?’
‘Maybe, but I don’t see why I should have to. And it wouldn’t be as perfect as this one is.’
‘Are you maybe just being stubborn for the sake of it? Have you looked?’
‘Yes,’ she said, though something in those words rang a little too close for comfort too. She hadn’t made much of an effort to look for alternatives because she’d been so determined she was going to keep hold of the scout hut, whatever it took.
‘And you realise,’ he added, ‘that even if you chase me away, the owners of the land are still looking to sell it. Sooner or later, someone will buy it. You’ll lose, whether it’s to me or someone else.’ He paused again. ‘Let me find somewhere else for you to go. What do you say?’
‘Clearing the way for you to swoop in and get your offer in on this place?’
‘Yes. But you’d be all right. We’d both be all right.’
She shook her head.
There was building exasperation in his reply. ‘Why are you being so awkward? Is it so hard to see sense?’
‘We won’t both be all right. You’ll be significantly better off.’
‘It’s my…’ Cam let out an impatient breath. ‘Forget it. It’s like headbutting a wall over and over, talking to you.’
‘Sorry. I’m not going to change even though I know you’re right. I suppose it must be infuriating.’
‘Weirdly, I wish I could say it is, but I can’t. I sort of respect it. I almost like it. I don’t know what that says about me, or what you might be doing to my brain, but I almost feel as if I’d be disappointed if you did back down because…’
‘What?’
‘I’m going to regret saying this, I just know it. But I think it makes you a bit cool.’
Eden couldn’t hold off the smile that spread across her face, but she didn’t let him see it. ‘I’ll do my best not to disappoint you then.’
‘The game is afoot, eh?’
‘It’s properly on. I’ve only been warming up till now.’
‘I look forward to things getting heavy then.’
Eden’s grin was fixed in place as she went back to her work. A moment later, he started to whistle. She snuck a glance to his workstation to see him peeling the garlic with a smile of his own. Was it her imagination or had the room suddenly got a lot hotter?
When there was a knock at the back door a few minutes later, Eden couldn’t help but be thankful. Her thoughts were taking her to strange places, all of them involving Cam and various steamy scenarios, so the arrival of someone else would at least distract her from them. She went to the door to find Bilbo, Mavis and Liam there.
‘Hello, you lot! You’re a bit early.’
‘Julia said you were on your own…’ Mavis peered round the door and then fixed Eden with a strangely knowing look. ‘But I see you’re not. Hello, Cam,’ she called in.
‘Ah, reinforcements!’ Cam gave her a cheeky wink. ‘Just as well. Eden’s no use at all – I’m practically carrying service today.’
