Page 4 of A Perfect Devon Pub
A football thudded in front of Fiona, startling her and bringing her back to Brambleton Beach. She watched fondly as a boy in faded knee-length swimming trunks traipsed through the sandtowards his toy. The child looked about ten, with gangly limbs and a skinny chest. His mother followed behind in a pink bikini, wincing slightly as the hot sand stung her feet.
Ru bent and picked up the ball, handing it to the boy.
‘What do you say, Mark?’ instructed the mother. She looked from her child to Ru, then did a double take. ‘Oh, my goodness! It’s you, isn’t it? From the Fork & Cork? Wow! Are you on holiday here too?’ She smiled coyly. ‘Wait until I tell my girlfriends. I only live in Shepherd’s Bush.’ She batted her eyes at him. ‘Could I be frightfully rude and ask for your autograph?’
Ru stood, smiling at his admirer, who twirled a lock of hair between her fingers. Involuntarily, Fiona pressed her lips together, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve.Come on, she wanted to say to the woman.We’re on holiday!She hoped he’d refuse.
‘It’s flattering to be asked,’ said Ru, giving a self-deprecating laugh. ‘I’d be happy to, provided you’ve got the pen and paper.’
The woman ran off, her feet sinking into the sand with each step.
Fiona tutted. ‘Did you have to say yes?’
‘It will only take a second, and you heard her, she lives near us in London,’ he said, flashing a smile at the returning fan. ‘She and her friends are our next customers!’
Fiona told herself that Ru was right. It was vital to cultivate support, especially now they were setting up a second restaurant. Excepttheywere not setting up a second restaurant, Ru was. If only she’d passed that wretched exam. She watched Ru sign with a flourish, saying, ‘I hope to see you in my restaurant when we get back to London.’
The word ‘my’ tore into her soul like a jagged shard of glass.
Watching Ru’s latest fan walk away, Fiona spoke wistfully. ‘Yourrestaurant?’
‘Fi, stop this,’ he said. He took her hand in his, stroking itgently. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t think.’ He smiled at her, and it was a playful smile that made her think he was holding onto a delicious secret, as if he had something exciting tucked up his sleeve. Had Ru figured out a way to keep her as his business partner?
He released her hand, gesturing toward the cliffs. ‘Run with me to the end of the beach where we can be more private.’
Keen to get away before anyone else accosted him, she ran, letting the wind ripple through her hair and the salty air fill her lungs. They sprinted along the shoreline, Fiona’s feet skimming across the damp sand. The waves broke beside them, and she let out a childlike whoop as cold water swept over her feet. Beside her, the soft thud of Ru’s footsteps blended with her own, their laughter rising and falling with the roar of incoming waves.
At the far end of the beach, Ru steered her towards the cliffs, where, sheltered from the sun, the sand was empty of tourists. He stopped and removed his sunglasses. His chest was heaving. Exhilarated from the run, Fiona bent over panting. ‘That ... was such ... good fun,’ she said, gulping air into her lungs. She straightened, laughing.Feeling like she was beginning to look at her situation more objectively, she asked something which had been niggling at her since the investor meeting.‘Tell me, how did you convince the investors not to walk? You must have had to do some fast thinking and some hard selling. They agreed to back the new idea without a business plan.’
‘It was never in doubt.’
Now that really was being cocky. ‘It was, I saw that knowing look on the lead investor’s face when I promised I’d work all hours and pass the exam next time ... like he’d heard it all before, people over-promising and under-delivering. I don’t think I could forgive myself if they’d walked.’
‘OK, truth time.’ he said, grinning, ‘I had warned them that I didn’t think you were ready for that exam. I’ve been workingwith them on the new idea for the last month. I knew I had to protect you.’
His confession settled over them like a toxic cloud. She felt the blood drain from her face as the full weight of his betrayal crashed over her. Everything crystallized in that moment – the patronizing looks from the investors, their lack of surprise at her failure, the too-smooth transition to Plan B. It had been a set-up. The man she trusted, who had claimed to support her dreams, had actively worked to undermine her, while smiling to her face. And he claimed his motive was toprotecther? From what? Her fingers went numb while shockand humiliation battled for dominance in her chest. As she was processing her thoughts, Ru dropped onto one knee. Fiona felt her insides quiver. There was a passion shining in those dark eyes. ‘Fi, I love you. Please, say you will marry me.’ In his hands was a tiny blue box. He flipped it open. Nestling on a cream velvet cushion was an art-deco ring. A stunning elongated emerald set in platinum, the sparkling green gem surrounded by tiny glittering diamonds. Thoughts rushed through her mind.Why now?They had never discussed marriage before.Was this really what he wanted? Was it just pity, or another attempt at protection?
Grinning, he rose. He evidently hadn’t detected her doubts. He passed her the small box, and her heart started fluttering. Despite the size, it felt leaden in her hands: this box represented his offer of marriage. How could she marry him after what he’d just admitted to? His proposal was like being offered a sip of La Tâche, the iconic red Burgundy crafted by Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, only to discover it was a humble plonk. He had shown his true colours – he didn’t listen to her dreams; they were drowned out by his own.
She slipped the box into the pocket of her shorts.
He was still grinning at her. ‘Fi, I love you, and I want to look after you for ever. I’ve reserved a slot at Chelsea registry officefor when we get home. And I’ve got a surprise for you.’
She stuttered into laughter. ‘Your proposal is already a surprise.’
‘I’ve booked the honeymoon too! You’re going to love it. We’re off to Melbourne, so you can visit your folks, and I finally get to meet them!’
Her head shot forwards. She never talked about her parents, not even with Ivy. Fiona had only told Ru where they lived and worked to stop his incessant questions. What had given him the crazy idea of visiting them?Didn’t he understand that they didn’t want to see her?This was typical of him – confident he always knew best, secretly drafting a Plan B with the investors, booking the wedding and honeymoon without consulting her, tuning out every mention of her fractured relationship with her parents, assuming a leadership role and expecting her to acquiesce. Why bother consulting her on momentous decisions like business ventures or marriage plans? In a flash, she realized that much as she loved him, she couldn’t marry him. He was so much surer of himself, so much more capable. And he obviously thought he was better than her, saw himself as her protecter, which was not what she wanted from a husband.
She swallowed, hearing the quake in her voice. ‘No. I’m very sorry ... but I can’t marry you, Ru.’
His face seemed frozen. The beautiful jaw she loved to kiss went taut. He took a step aside, slanting his body away from hers and stared at the ground.
‘Why not?’ he said, the words sharp and clipped.
She blinked, shaking her head slowly. If he didn’t realize what he’d done wrong, how could she find the words to explain? She loved him and didn’t want to lose him, but she couldn’t ignore what he’d done.
‘Tell me,’ he insisted, his voice rising as though the sheer force of his personality could break her silence. Ru turned to faceher fully, his glare cutting into her. His jaw worked furiously, the muscles straining in disbelief. His brows drew together in a confused expression and his hands trembled as though barely able to contain the storm of emotions bubbling inside.
