Chapter Two
Faith positioned herself at her favourite table in the window of the Coffee Pot; from here she could see out into the village. Across the road the pale stone cottages seemed to tumble down the hillside towards the stream. After last night’s heavy rain she could hear the roar of water as it pushed its way from the hills down towards the rivers. Depending on the season and the weather, sometimes the stream was a trickle. Sometimes, like now, it was a raging torrent.
Enough of the scenery-watching, she told herself, time to get down to some work. Today was cash-and-carry day. She stared at the order form on the table in front of her. It was the same one they always used; carefully planned, typed up and printed off on her computer. Filling in the form was usually a straightforward process – check the stockroom, see what was needed, transfer her notes onto the form. Easy. Today, though, her brain didn’t seem keen on following through on the usual process. Instead it kept wandering back to last night and the Tourism Association meeting. It hadn’t been an unusual or particularly memorable meeting – other than the arrival of Zane Ferguson.
It was a terrible cliché but she couldn’t stop thinking about him. She’d only just met the guy. It was ridiculous.
Tom, who ran one of the pubs in town, waved at her as he walked past on his way to work. When he’d first arrived in Carleton years ago Sophie had put her matchmaking hat on, getting ideas about him and Faith getting together. Faith hadn’t been keen on the idea of dating anyone at the time; she’d been going through another one of her all-men-are-trouble phases. But it had soon become apparent that Tom was spoken for anyway, much to her relief.
It wasn’t that Faith actively avoided dating and relationships. She’d gone out with men since the whole thing with Aaron. Of course she had; that had all happened years and years ago. There just hadn’t been anyone serious since then. OK, she still had her guard up to some extent, thanks to the way things had ended with him. That, she admitted to herself, didn’t help matters.
Aaron. They’d been childhood sweethearts and had spent ages making great plans for the future.
Then suddenly it was all gone. Just like that.
Right. Back to work. Picking up a pen, determined to focus and get the job done this time, Faith began ticking boxes on the order form. Pausing to sip her coffee, she glanced up – and saw him. Parking his burgundy 4x4 across the road from the café, he jumped out and headed for the Coffee Pot.
Great. Just what she needed to help with the concentration levels.
“Hi, Faith.”
Pushing aside the still uncompleted paperwork, Faith smiled and got to her feet. “Zane, lovely to see you again. What can I get you?”
“Black coffee would be good thanks.”
He followed her to the counter, hopping on to one of the tall stools as she prepared his drink.
“Actually, I wondered if you might be able to help me out with something. You know, provide a bit of local knowledge.”
“If I can,” Faith replied, setting his coffee down in front of him.
“The activity centre has, as you probably know, a bit of a mess-room. A chill-out area where our customers can relax, get a drink and a snack. Looking through the cupboards this morning I see it will need some serious re-stocking before we open the place up again.” He paused, taking a drink of his coffee. “I thought you’d be the best person to ask about where to get all the necessary bits and pieces.”
“There’s not a huge amount of choice with things like that around here,” Faith said, wiping down the counter even though it was spotless anyway. “There’s a cash-and-carry over at Darlstone, about half an hour away. I was just sorting my own order for there, funnily enough.”
“Does that mean you’re going over there soon then?”
“Yes, this afternoon.”
“Any chance I could tag along?” he smiled at her hopefully.
“Sure,” Faith replied. Well, she could hardly refuse, could she? He was new to the area and she was just helping out a fellow businessperson. That was all.
“Great. I need to run some errands first but how about I pick you up at two o’clock, would that be OK? It gives me time to get my stuff sorted. And, I’m guessing, that would be after the main lunchtime rush for you?”
She nodded.
He checked the large metal clock on the wall. “OK. Great, thanks. I’ll get going then. How much do I owe you for the coffee?” he asked, fishing a note and some coins out of the pocket of his jeans.
“On the house,” she replied, refusing the offered money.
“Thank you. Again. Your profits will be down if you keep giving me free food and drinks. I’ll have to do something to repay you. A meal out, perhaps? Well, I’ll see you at two.”
Faith watched as he made his way back over the road. She didn’t like the way he made her feel at all. Correction, in some ways she did like it. That was the problem. She hadn’t felt such a strong and instant connection with someone for a long time.
Not since Aaron.
“Oh yes, very nice work,” laughed Sophie as she poked her head around the door from the kitchen where she was baking scones. “And there was me thinking you’d declared yourself to be a man-free zone.”
“I never said that,” protested Faith, picking up the order form again. “Anyway, he just wants to know where the cash-and-carry is and, as I’m going there anyway, it makes sense to go together.”
“Yeah right.” Sophie wiped her hands on a tea towel. “And that’s the only reason you’re helping him out. Nothing to do with getting to spend the afternoon with him!”
“Forget it,” Faith replied, playfully throwing a tea towel at her friend. “He’s bound to have a girlfriend about to pitch up from somewhere.”
Sophie shook her head. “I wouldn’t be so sure. Personally I’ve a feeling he’s taken quite a shine to you.”
“Just because he asks me where the cash-and-carry is?” Faith laughed. “You’ve got a vivid imagination.”
“No, not just because of that. He could have asked any businessperson in the village about that, yet he singled you out. No, because I saw the way he was watching you at the meeting last night. He seemed quite taken with you.”
Faith sighed. “Don’t you have more cakes to bake? Now, stockroom for me. I need to sort this order before lunchtime.”
At precisely two o clock Zane’s 4x4 pulled up outside.
Faith, just finishing serving a customer, smiled to herself. She liked punctuality. To her it was as important in business as it was in life in general.
Now, she wondered, would he sit in the car, toot the horn and wait for her to go out to him? Or would he come inside and collect her?
Stop it, she told herself firmly. You’re acting as though this is some kind of date. It’s just business. A trip to the cash-and-carry – what could be more un-date-like than that?
Faith thanked the customer, popped the money into the till, closed the drawer and smiled. The bell above the door of the Coffee Pot jangled as Zane stepped inside.
“So, tell me all about yourself,” Zane said as he easily navigated the sharp bends in the road on the way to Darlstone.
“Not much to tell,” she replied.
The scenery around here was so breathtaking that no matter how many times she travelled along this road, it still made her gawp like a tourist. Thinking about it, it was a good job Zane was driving and not her. The softly-rounded, almost friendly-looking hills were a few miles south of Carleton. Around here the hills were more grown-up, almost but not quite mountains. They were angular and rock-strewn, with a slight air of foreboding to them.
“I don’t believe that,” he laughed, hitting a button so the window on his side of the car buzzed down, letting in a light but warm breeze. The weather today was turning out to be one of those rare sparkling Peak District gems.
“You got my potted history at the shop the other day.”
“What about the detailed history then?” he asked.
The road ahead of them narrowed and a large tractor loomed in the opposite direction. Zane pulled over to the side of the road where there was a little lay-by. With one arm leaning on the edge of the open window and the other resting on the gearstick, he waited patiently for the tractor to trundle past them.
Faith couldn’t help thinking how Aaron would have behaved in the same circumstances. Ever the risk-taker, he’d no doubt have put his foot down and scared her half to death, determined to get through the narrow bit of road before the tractor did, seeing it as a personal challenge. Aaron had always been impatient. About everything. When he wanted something he went for it. Where he was concerned, there were no half-measures.
“It’s not much different to the other version. Most of my life revolves around the business.”
“That’s a shame,” Zane replied, lowering his sunglasses to look at her. “Do you have any hobbies?”
“Work,” laughed Faith. “After work there’s not a huge amount of time left for much else. Especially in the main tourist season.”
“You’re not open in the evenings though are you? That must give you some time for a life outside the Coffee Pot.”
Was he trying to find out if she was involved with anyone? Possibly. Or maybe he was simply being friendly. Or just plain nosy.
The tractor continued on its way towards Carleton, along with the small convoy of vehicles stuck behind it. Zane lifted a hand in acknowledgement as the man driving the last car going in the opposite direction waved his thanks that he had let them all through.
OK, Faith thought. Maybe she had jumped to all sorts of conclusions when she’d first met Zane. Just because he was an outdoorsy guy, that didn’t mean he was the same as Aaron in every other way too. Maybe, just maybe, he was a decent guy. There were still a few of them out there. Or so she’d been led to believe. Did she want to risk finding out though? What about yesterday when Sophie had asked Zane jokily if he had any secrets to hide from the local gossips? She’d thought he’d looked a little uneasy. But perhaps it had just been her imagination.
“Once we close up, there’s all the cleaning to do and the preparations for the next day. But I love getting out and doing some decent hill-walking, if I do get the chance for some time off. So what about you? How are you getting on with life in Carleton?”
“Good, thanks. I’ve rented a little cottage out on Hilltop Road. The neighbours have been great, very friendly.”
Hilltop Road. That meant he was renting the small two-bedroomed cottage towards the end of the row. She knew it well. It was owned by Emily Marchant, the daughter of the family who owned the five-star country house hotel a few miles outside Carleton. Emily was very wealthy, very pretty, and very used to getting what she wanted. Faith imagined Emily would be delighted to have Zane as one of her tenants. Emily was no wallflower. She’d be popping in left right and centre, checking if he needed anything, flirting with him like mad.
“That’s one of Emily’s cottages. Have you met her yet?”
“Yep. She’s, er, very friendly,” he said in what sounded like a diplomatic tone. “Where to at the road junction?”
“Left,” Faith replied. “Halfpenny Cottage is really tiny from what I remember of it. Just one good-size bedroom and a small study, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. Suits me just fine for now though. The only problem I have is the low beams in the lounge.” He changed gear in preparation for the junction ahead. “Keep forgetting to duck. I’ve given myself more headaches in the last week than I’ve ever had in my life!”
“Living in a cottage can be quite tricky if you’re tall. I should know!”
He smiled at her.
“I can see that. You must be nearly six foot yourself. You don’t suffer from constant beam-induced headaches as well do you?”
“No, I live in the flat above the café. And thankfully there are no beams in sight.”
“Wise move. I’m thinking the cottage rental thing is only temporary. I’m hoping to be able to start looking for somewhere to buy before too long, if money allows. For now though, the priority is getting the Centre ready for its grand re-opening.”
“Just you living in the cottage then, is it?”
“Just me,” he answered, stopping at some traffic lights. “For now. Where next?”
“Left, and then straight on at the roundabout.”
For now, he’d said. What did that mean? It implied someone else would be living there too at some point, surely? Was that good news or bad? She couldn’t make up her mind. If Zane Ferguson was already involved with someone, then Faith could instantly put a stop to the silly crush she was concerned she was beginning to develop.
“So, is it just you in your flat?” Zane asked. “Or is there a significant other sharing it with you?”
“Just me.”
Was that a tiny hint of a smile she’d just seen play about his lips at this piece of news?
“So there’s nobody sharing your flat. What about sharing your life?”
Faith smiled and ignored his question. “Turn right up ahead, that’s the cash-and-carry car park.”
“I don’t want to stock the rec room with rubbish coffee that everyone ends up pouring down the sink,” Zane said, hefting a box of top-brand coffee beans onto the trolley. “Matt and I have budgeted for a decent coffee machine. I think people expect it nowadays, don’t you?”
Faith nodded. “But are you sure the coffee machine is really for the customers, and not just the staff?”
“OK. It’s for both,” he laughed.
“When is Matt arriving in Carleton?”
“About a week. He’s got some personal business to sort in Austria, plus he’s doing some deals on kit for the Centre as well with some of our contacts.”
Faith knew the layout of Darlstone’s cash-and-carry so well she had her shopping list arranged so the items were in aisle order. Sophie teased her mercilessly about it, but even she admitted it made life a lot easier when you had to grab everything and get back to the café pronto.
“Does he have somewhere to live sorted for when he gets here?” she asked. In her head she was working out what items she needed to get from the next aisle.
Zane shook his head. “Not yet. He’ll end up using the spare room at my place for starters I should think. Like you said, it’s tiny. Not much more than a study really but there’s a sofa-bed.”
“The two of you must get on well. Working together, going into business as partners. Have you shared a house before?”
“Yeah, but this won’t be for long if I have anything to do with it. He’ll need to find his own place pretty soon if I’m going to get to keep my sanity.”
Faith laughed. “That bad eh?”
“Let’s just say Matt likes to entertain female guests a lot. We’ll leave it at that.”
Faith stood on tiptoe to try to reach some boxes of coffee filters. Why did they always use the high shelves in these places? OK, space was at a premium, but if even she (at nearly six feet tall) struggled to reach stuff she needed, then loads of others must find it even more difficult.
“Here, let me.” Zane reached past her. “These ones?” he asked, waving a box questioningly.
“Yep. Thanks.”
Faith was glad she could trust Sophie to be left in charge at the café in her absence. She hadn’t expected to be out for quite so long this afternoon. The shopping might have been easier than usual in manual labour terms (with Zane there to handle large boxes of sugar and the like onto her trolley for her), but it was taking much longer than usual thanks to Zane seeking her advice on everything and anything.
Zane, it seemed, liked to pay attention to the details with everything he did. Faith supposed this was a very useful – and safe – trait to have in his line of business. After all, when people were trusting you to get them safely abseiling down cliffs, you had to be thorough and methodical about all the things required for them to be able to do just that; from ropes and harnesses to assessing conditions and abilities. Briefly she wondered if he was thorough and methodical in everything he did, not just matters of work and business. Best not to think about things like that. She quickly focussed instead on the difference between the two brands of tea he was asking her about.
With their trolleys filled, Zane loaded everything in the back of his 4x4 and they headed back to Carleton.
“Are you in a rush?” he asked a few miles down the road, offering her the open packet of Jelly Beans he’d bought at the cash-and-carry.
“Why? Where are we going now?” she asked, taking the packet. She loved Jelly Beans.
“I spotted a large outdoor clothing and equipment shop on the edge of one of the villages we passed through on the way. I was thinking of stopping and taking a look, see exactly what they stocked equipment-wise, and ask whether I might be able to do a deal with the owners regarding some new bits for the Centre. Would you mind?”
“No, not at all.”
They found a gap in the busy car park and the two of them explored the store. Faith learned loads as Zane pointed out what various bits and pieces were for, and explained, patiently and thoroughly, how they were used. It was as though he genuinely wanted her to understand his work and be involved with the Centre. How very different from Aaron, she found herself thinking. In all the years she’d spent with Aaron, living in the world of outdoors and extreme sports, he’d never once explained anything to her.
The store had a trendy coffee shop upstairs with great views of the surrounding hills. They got a table near the window.
“So, the previous owners of Carrdale are heading for Canada?” Zane said.
Faith sipped her peppermint tea. “Yeah, they’ve got relatives out there who are involved in the same line of work. They’ve wanted to move out there for a while. They loved Carrdale, but wanted to be closer to family so decided to sell up.”
“Just at the right time for Matt and me. We’d just started looking for a Centre to buy. The time was right for us to get out of Austria and come back to the UK.”
“Did you miss the UK when you were out there?”
Zane shrugged. “Sometimes. I missed my family. I loved working in Austria though. I loved the snow, the mountains, and the chance to get outdoors and go climbing whenever I could.”
“Even in the winter?” Faith asked, thinking how easily the conversation was flowing between them. There was definitely something about Zane which made her feel relaxed and at ease. It was as though she’d known him for ever, not just a day or two.
“Even more so in the winter,” he said, his eyes lighting up. “Ice climbing is even better than regular climbing.”
Faith shook her head. “Forgive my ignorance but how do you go ice climbing?”
“It’s the same as normal climbing. You just need the proper gear for the conditions, and a pickaxe so you can use that to get a grip and anchor yourself.”
“It sounds dangerous.” Faith frowned and took another sip of her tea.
“No more than regular climbing, so long as you know what you’re doing.”
“Was it always your dream to run your own place some day?”
He nodded and ran a finger slowly round the top of his coffee mug. “Yes. That’s what all the time in Austria was about; getting the experience, qualifications and knowledge to run my own place. It’s scary stuff though, what with all the legalities, paperwork, health and safety rules and regulations. The pressure of knowing you’ve got all this responsibility for the Centre and repaying the business loans.”
“Tell me about it! At the start with the café I was tempted to get an accountant. It seemed like a minefield knowing what you could and couldn’t do with VAT and tax and all that stuff. I couldn’t afford it though, so I just had to learn and get on with it myself. I had a business adviser; she was great and helped with all the legislation and marketing and business plans. At the end of the day I admit I can be a bit of a control freak and I like things done the right way.”
“The right way being your way of doing things,” Zane said with a smile. “It’s OK, I know what you mean. I can be the same. If you sort it yourself then you know it’s done to your standards, right?”
“Right. I think that’s part of running your own business though. I am a bit better these days. Like, this afternoon, I’ve left Sophie in charge. There was a time when I had to be in the café every second it was open. Not just because I couldn’t afford much help, but also because it was my dream, my business. I couldn’t let go of even one aspect of it to someone else, to trust them. Now I can. Won’t you feel the same about the Centre?”
“Yeah, it’s only natural I suppose. At least there will be two of us with the Centre.”
“Is your business partner the same?” Faith asked, toying with her empty cup. “You’ve been working together for a while in Austria, you must have a similar approach to things?”
“We do. The activity stuff is a cinch, but neither of us are too good when it comes to the paperwork and admin. So, to make sure it all gets done, we have a tried and tested system in place. We have to. Strict rules on completing and filing paperwork at the time it’s generated, not leaving it all to pile up and sort it later when you’ve usually forgotten half the details.”
Faith laughed.
“So you’re a control freak too?”
“I guess so,” Zane nodded. “Anyway, keeping on top of all the boring stuff means things run more efficiently, and when there’s a chance for some time out I can take it. Get out climbing, walking.”
“Are there any activities at the Centre that you don’t like?”
He looked thoughtful for a minute. “I wouldn’t say I dislike them, but there are some I’m not so keen on. Mainly the water stuff – white-water rafting, tubing, kayaking. That’s more Matt’s area; he’s the water guy. My area is more the climbing, the trail-walking stuff and zombie running. Though we both do all the activities, and we’re both qualified to teach them all.”
Faith laughed. “Did you just say zombie running? What on earth is that?”
Zane finished his coffee. “It’s every bit as crazy as it sounds. It’s a run through woodland and there are costumed zombies positioned to jump out on people and chase them. The zombies are trying to steal tags on the belts of the people. You have three tags which are like lifelines – lose all your tags to the zombies and you’re out of the game. It’s a huge craze at the moment.”
“Wow,” said Faith. “That’s a new one on me.”
“If you fancy trying it sometime, let me know. We’ll be running day and night time versions at Carrdale as soon as I’ve got the routes all mapped out.”
“Thanks. But somehow I think I’ll be giving zombie running a miss!”
“So, on an entirely different subject, is there any chance you might fancy introducing me to some of the local pubs?”
“Of course, I’d be happy to,” she surprised herself by replying. What happened to not getting involved with outdoorsy guys who liked to abseil down cliffs for a living?
“Brill. I suppose I’d really be pushing my luck if I asked if you’d fancy joining me for a pub meal tonight, wouldn’t I? Only I’m not the best cook going and I actually quite fancy some proper food tonight.”
As he asked her she noticed he toyed nervously with his coffee mug. Perhaps he wasn’t the super-confident guy she’d originally pegged him as being. So far, all he’d done was seem to be a genuinely nice guy. No sign of a giant ego to contend with. No sign that he was a daredevil who liked to live on the edge. Yet.
Of course, she should know better than to make all kinds of assumptions about him just because of the industry he was involved in. She wouldn’t have been so quick to judge people in this way before that dreadful business with Aaron.
She realised he was still waiting for her answer. She looked up at him and he smiled, raising his eyebrows questioningly.
“OK,” she smiled back at him.
The food in the Green Arms in the village was excellent, but she found herself wanting to take him to a pub further afield, so that rather than share him with the locals, she could have him all to herself.
“The Poachers does the most amazing food. It’s a few miles out of the village.”
Zane got to his feet. “Sounds good. The Poachers it is. What time shall I pick you up?”
“Let me drive this time,” she answered. “Then you can have a drink if you’d like.”
He shrugged. “I’m not fussed about a drink but, OK, if you’d like to drive, that’s fine. Shall I walk down to you? Getting a parking space near my cottage can be nigh on impossible in the evenings. It’s only a ten minute walk.”
She couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed she wouldn’t get the chance to see inside his cottage. You could tell a lot about a person by their furnishings, their belongings. Maybe she’d get to see the cottage another time.
Another time.
She hadn’t gone on their date tonight yet and she was already thinking about another time. Date. Was it actually going to be a date though? Or was it just a friendly drink and meal between two Carleton business-people? Was that how he saw it? Had she got completely the wrong end of the stick? Perhaps he’d just asked her out because he wanted a decent meal and hadn’t fancied sitting in a pub eating alone.
“See you at seven,” he’d said as he’d dropped her back at the café just before closing time. Sophie had grinned at her the whole time they’d been closing up the Coffee Pot together. Teasing her about how she’d been out with Zane for pretty much the whole afternoon. Faith decided not to fuel Sophie’s teasing any further by admitting she was going out for a meal with Zane that evening too.
Now it was fast approaching seven o’clock, and Faith checked her reflection in the mirror. She’d been unsure how to dress for the evening; she’d feel awkward if she made a big effort and he turned up casual. Then again she didn’t want to look as though she’d just finished cleaning the café’s ovens either. In the end she’d showered, washed and styled her hair and opted for a floral chiffon tunic top over a fuchsia pink vest and navy linen trousers. The day was still warm so she’d finished the outfit with sandals.
It had been great to choose sandals with a heel. Being so tall she usually went for flat shoes, because it always felt wrong being taller than a guy she might be going out with. No such worries with Zane. He must easily be a good few inches taller than her.
A sharp knock at the door fetched Faith back to reality. Seven o’clock. He was bang on time. Again. She opened the door, her bag and keys at the ready.
“Hi.”
“Hi. All ready to go?”
She nodded, stepping outside and locking the door behind her. Following him down the steps she couldn’t help noticing he’d made an effort tonight. His hair still looked a little damp at the back, suggesting he was fresh from the shower, and he’d shaved this time too. Part of her thought he looked better when he hadn’t shaved, a little more rugged and dishevelled. A little sexier.
Stop it.
She wasn’t looking for some butch alpha male. But it was nice to see that he’d taken the trouble to smarten up for their evening together. The denim jeans had gone too, she noticed. Smart brown chinos were now teamed with a burgundy cotton shirt.
“I’m really looking forward to this,” he said, clipping his seat belt into its slot in her jeep. “I didn’t get much chance to have lunch, too much running around to do at the moment, loads to get sorted, so I’m starving.”
“Me too,” Faith replied, wondering how he’d managed to spend most of the afternoon with her if he’d got so much work to sort at the Centre. But then, she could talk, couldn’t she, leaving the café for the whole afternoon to partake of their little shopping expedition together?
The Poachers was busy, but Zane spotted an empty table tucked in the corner and they quickly claimed it before starting to read through the menu.
“Starters and mains or mains and desserts?” Zane asked. “Or,” he added, smiling, “All three?”
Faith joined Zane in trying to peer around the various people getting served at the bar in order to read the specials board.
“Maybe starters and mains?”
Taking advantage of a group of people moving away from the bar, Faith read the rest of the menu as quickly as she could. Spotting the dessert details, she added, “Then again, I love pavlova…”
“Decided then,” said Zane. “We’ll go for all three courses. What do you fancy?”
Scanning the menu Faith debated over the choices.
“The soup for starters. I can’t decide between the sea-bass and the vegetarian lasagne. Oh, make it the lasagne.”
“Tell you what,” Zane leaned forward and touched her arm and she felt herself grow warm all over. “I’ll go for the sea-bass, then you can try both if you like.”
Faith nodded. “Excellent idea.”
“OK, I’ll go and order. What do you fancy to drink?” Zane asked, getting to his feet.
“Orange juice please.” Reaching for her purse she added, “You’ll need to pay when you order. We’ll go halves.”
“No, we won’t,” he said, shaking his head and refusing the money she was offering him. “My treat. See it as my way of saying thanks for your help with the whole cash-and-carry business. And for all the free food and drink you keep giving me at your cafe.”
Conveniently the queue at the bar subsided and Zane was back with their drinks in a few minutes. “Food shouldn’t be long, they said.”
“Great.” She took the drink. “So, how are things going with the preparations for the Centre?”
“All on track. Most of the legalities are about sorted now. I wasn’t planning on having to sort all this stuff by myself. But like I mentioned before, Matt’s still in Austria tying up a few loose ends.”
“I know what you mean. It’s tough trying to juggle everything on your own. It was like that when I set up the café.”
“Did you do any kind of business studies before you opened the café?” he asked.
“Yes, I did a degree in it.”
“So at least you had the advantage of knowing what you were doing.”
“Kind of. From textbooks to real life business is still a big leap though. You didn’t go to university then?” she ventured.
“I did, but not to do Business Studies,” he replied, taking a sip of his drink then leaning back in his chair, stretching out long legs in front of him. “Well, not as such. I studied Recreation Management. There was an element of business to the course, but mostly it was more practical than theory based.”
Faith noticed that despite not being the designated driver for the evening, Zane hadn’t opted for an alcoholic drink.
“Have you always wanted to work outdoors?”
“Definitely. I knew office work wasn’t for me. As a kid, every opportunity I got I was off climbing trees and building dens in the woods.”
“You’ve been working overseas for a while? That must have been an adventure.”
“Yeah, I’ve worked abroad for years. I did a four-year sandwich course at university so I could work in the Austrian mountains for a year. I learnt how to lead groups on everything from trekking to ice climbing. It was the most amazing experience. I loved every single minute of it.”
Faith nodded, trying to ignore the warning voice in her head, which was reminding her how similar his story sounded to Aaron’s.
“What happened after university?”
“I went travelling for a bit, then I was offered a job back in Austria with the company I’d been working with when I was at university. I was out there like a shot. Worked with them for almost five years. Then the chance to run a large outdoor activity centre in another ski resort came up, and I moved there.”
He paused as the waiter bought over their starters, thanking him.
“So you’ve hardly been home in the last few years then?”
“Not much, no.”
“Your family must miss you,” she said, tasting her soup. It was delicious. “You said you have family close by didn’t you?”
“Yes, my younger sister Becca and her family live about thirty minutes away. My parents got divorced years ago. I don’t see much of my mum but I stay in touch with my dad by email and phone calls. He lives in Scotland now with his new partner Helene.”
“I bet they’re delighted to have you back in the country again.”
He nodded. “I loved Austria but in some ways it’s good to be home. What about you? You’re local born and bred aren’t you?”
“Yes. Went away to university but came back straight away and started the café. My parents helped me out with the initial set-up costs and the rent, but I’ve since paid them back every penny.”
Faith paused and took a bite of the garlic bread that had come with her soup. Perhaps garlic bread might not be a wise choice in the circumstances, but, then again, she wasn’t entirely sure what the circumstances were. Were they on a date or weren’t they?
“I tried to pay them interest, but they wouldn’t take it!”
“So your family live in the village then?”
She shook her head. “Not now, no. I have an older brother and he lives and works in Manchester. My parents moved to sunny Spain a few years back. They both suffer quite badly with arthritis, so the warmer, drier weather over there suits them better than the damp misty weather over here.”
The soup finished, Faith dabbed at her mouth with her napkin before adding,
“So, what plans have you for promoting the Centre?”
“Loads. That’s something I wanted to have a word with you about. We’re hoping to put on an outdoor adventure festival before the winter sets in. I know it doesn’t give us very long to organise everything, but we wanted to do something this year, even if it’s only a bit of a taster. Then we can run the full festival next year, when we’ve more time to plan it all.”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
“I wanted to see if you might be able to organise an extra meeting of the local tourism group, so Matt and I can present our ideas and see how we can tie things in with the local businesses. Also, do you have any thoughts as to when might be the best time to run the festival? It will only be for a weekend. What do you think?”
Faith felt a wave of disappointment wash over her. Well, that helped to clarify what they were having this evening. It wasn’t a date, it was a business meeting.
“I’ll email everyone and ask if we can sort a meeting within the next week,” she replied, trying to keep the frosty tone from her voice.
How could she have been so stupid? There she was, letting her guard down, enjoying their little trips out, thinking he might actually like her. Right. Men like Zane Ferguson didn’t go for girls like her – steady, responsible, boring women. He probably liked his women the same way he liked his outdoor activities – full-on, adventurous, and exciting.
“Great, thanks, I really appreciate it.” He smiled at her. “What about the date?”
Faith, realising she’d not been paying attention and had instead been busy painting Zane in the same light as Aaron, looked up at him. Date? What date? Had he asked her out whilst she’d been mentally criticizing him?
“Sorry, what date?”
“Any idea as to when might be the best date to try and run the festival?”
Oh, right. That date.
“Well, Carleton has an annual hill race in five weeks’ time. I’ve entered it myself again this year, though I’ll need to try to fit in some serious practice before then. The race always pulls in the crowds. Perhaps that weekend might be a good opportunity?”
The waiter arrived to collect their empty plates and Faith and Zane smiled their thanks.
“Great.” Zane nodded. “I’ll start making some enquiries about bits I’ve got in mind, and see if anyone is free for then. I know it’s short notice, but I’m sure I can arrange something.”
Faith slipped back into tourism group mode – she never could resist a business challenge, even if a tiny part of her might have been tempted by a proper date with Zane.
“The Royal is a big fancy hotel a couple of miles outside Carleton. They have a marquee they hire out. It’s about the end of the wedding season around here, so you might be able to hire the marquee and use it at the Centre. Or maybe even use it in the hotel grounds for some of your festival events. Are you planning action and adventure films and talks, that kind of thing?”
“Yeah, as well as the chance for people to try activities up at the Centre at a reduced rate.” He leaned across the table and placed a hand on her arm. “Thanks, Faith. For all of this and for all the help you’ve given me since I arrived in Carleton. I really do appreciate it.”
Faith nodded and smiled. The touch of his hand had an unsettling effect on her.
“You’re welcome. We always try to help out new people.”
Did she see a flicker of disappointment in his eyes at her words? No. Probably just her imagination.
He pulled his hand away. “I see, so all of this is just part of the usual welcome committee is it?”
“No. I mean, yes,” Faith flustered. Had she offended him now? Had he thought there might be something between them, just as Faith had? Now she was confused again. Was this a date or not?
The waiter arranged the plates with their main courses on the table and said he hoped they would enjoy their meals.
“You were right about the food here. It is great,” Zane said as he tucked into the sea-bass.
“What do you usually do when it comes to food?” Faith asked, as she took a bite of her vegetarian lasagne. “Live on take-aways and microwave meals?”
“Something like that. I’m a passable cook, but I never seem to have enough time to make something properly these days. It’s usually late when I get back from the Centre, and when I get home I just want something quick.”
He raised his glass to hers.
“So thanks for agreeing to come along tonight. It not only meant I got to eat decent food but it also meant I had to finish work at a decent hour too, which is no bad thing once in a while.”
Faith clinked her glass against his. “You’re welcome.”
“Plus, of course,” he added, “I get to enjoy some great company as well. It makes a pleasant change from getting in late and eating fast food whilst trying to sort out legal contracts.”
Was he flirting with her? Maybe just a little. Faith felt her emotions swing back and forth. She liked him. No. She shouldn’t get ideas. That way trouble lay.
“Maybe I could cook you a meal one evening?”
Then again… Faith smiled.
“Nothing fancy, that would be beyond my culinary skills; but I can do a decent Mexican if you like chilli con carne?” He smiled at her encouragingly.
“I love chilli. Sounds good.”
It was only when she heard the hum of a vacuum cleaner that Faith realised it was beyond closing time. Sam, one of the barmaids, was starting to clean and tidy up for the evening. Had they really been chatting for that long?
“I guess we’d better make a move.” Faith stood up and reached for her jacket.
“I didn’t realise the time.” Zane gathered up their glasses and carried them over to the bar.
“Can I drop you at your cottage rather than you having to walk back up the hill from my place?”
He shrugged. “It’s fine. I don’t mind the walk.”
Faith nodded and turned the key in the ignition of her jeep. If she wasn’t dropping him off at his cottage, that meant he would be going back to where they had started the evening. To her café and her flat. Would he be expecting a nightcap? Should she invite him in?
As they dipped down the hill into Carleton, Faith was still undecided as to what she wanted to happen when they arrived back at her apartment.