Chapter Four
The sun was coming out. A sunny Saturday was usually cause for celebration in its own right, as well as being great for business too. But today Faith could have done with it tipping down with rain, to keep the tourists away.
It wasn’t even eleven in the morning, and she was rushed off her feet and already exhausted. The queue in the Coffee Pot stretched to the door and she was struggling to cope. If she’d had her usual team of staff with her then things would have been fine; they’d have smiled and chatted to the customers while putting together orders as fast as humanly possible. But she hadn’t got her team. She was alone and she could tell that people were getting fed up with waiting for their morning coffee and cakes.
“Is everything OK?”
Faith looked up expecting to see an irritated customer asking the question. But instead it was Zane. She smiled and held a hand up to him.
“One second and I’ll be with you.”
She turned back to the couple standing at the counter. “That will be twelve pounds then please. I’m so sorry for the wait.”
The couple took their change and Faith turned to the next people in the queue.
“Welcome to the Coffee Pot, sorry for the wait, what can I get you?”
“I don’t know,” the woman replied. “These cakes all look amazing. I can’t decide.”
“Take your time,” Faith smiled, glad of the break. She ushered Zane into the kitchen.
“No, everything isn’t OK,” she sighed as she closed the door behind her. “Sophie’s phoned in sick. My weekender Debs has gone back to uni early, and my usual help Sue is three months pregnant and throwing up every ten minutes. So there’s not much point in asking her to come in!”
Zane frowned. “Right, give me a second, then I’ll give you a hand.”
“You?” Faith asked, as she gathered together some more cakes ready to fill up the cabinet in the coffee shop counter.
“Yeah, me.” He nodded. “I worked my way through uni waiting at tables, and when I was travelling I bartended in pubs at night and dished out coffees in the day. I even have a proper food hygiene certificate. Just give me a minute and I’ll be right with you.”
As Faith returned to serving refreshments, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that Zane was talking to a young woman. He looked as though he was apologising to her, gesturing towards the counter and Faith as he spoke. Faith had time to note how pretty the girl was before Zane reached into the back pocket of his jeans and handed her his car keys. The young woman said something which Faith couldn’t hear. Then she took the keys and left, heading for Zane’s 4x4 which was parked across the road.
One word came to Faith’s mind as she made a cheese and tomato sandwich for a customer. Girlfriend. Had to be. She’d been expected some gorgeous woman to appear and claim Zane ever since she’d met him. OK, they’d been out together a few times, but not on anything you could officially call a date. This woman was obviously the reason why.
Zane squeezed past her heading for the kitchen, slipped a pink and green floral apron over his jeans and T-shirt, smiled at Faith and stepped up to the counter.
“Next please!”
****
Seven hours later Faith turned the “Open” sign on the door of the café to “Closed.” She was totally exhausted. Zane was in the café’s kitchen, sorting out the dishwasher. The day had been crazy, and she definitely wouldn’t have managed it without his help. It was good of him to don the apron and serve the customers with her – especially as he’d had to ditch his girlfriend to do so. How could she thank him? Offering him money seemed wrong, and offering to cook him a meal back in her flat was now out of the question thanks to the appearance of his significant other.
“Fancy a cuppa?” Zane asked, popping his head round the kitchen door.
“Love one but I’ll get it,” Faith replied. “Want something to eat? Cheesecake? Gateau? A scone?”
“Anything would be great,” he answered, joining her in the coffee shop again. “Do we dare risk sitting out front to eat? I have visions of some weary walkers heading home off the hills, seeing us, and banging on the door wanting to be fed!”
“You could well be right,” Faith laughed. “It wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened.”
Deciding to risk it anyway, they both flopped down on the sofa near the fireplace, resting their feet on the newspapers on the coffee table.
“I don’t know how to thank you for today,” Faith said as she bit into the slice of carrot cake she’d got for herself. As it had been the last slice under its plastic protective cake dome, it made total sense to finish it up so that the cake stand could be washed. After serving cake all day she didn’t really fancy eating it now, but as they’d both worked through lunch she was starving. So cake it would have to be.
“No thanks necessary.”
“Yes they are. I’d have really been in a mess if you hadn’t offered to help.”
She paused. Should she say it? Yes, why not. It was better to know one way or the other.
“And you had to abandon your girlfriend for the day to do it as well. I can’t imagine she was best pleased.”
Zane finished his scone and set the plate on the table. Reaching for his coffee he turned to Faith, a smile on his lips. “Girlfriend?”
“Yes, the woman you came in with earlier. How long have you been together?”
Flopping back against the cushions he said, “All our lives.”
Fantastic. So they were childhood sweethearts were they? She must have been travelling with him when he was in Austria. No doubt they had a rock-solid relationship, with plans for an engagement just around the corner. Probably once the Centre was all set up and sorted, and they could put down some proper roots together.
“I see,” Faith replied quietly.
“No, I don’t think you do,” he said, nudging her playfully. “The woman is my sister. In town for the weekend on an escape visit.”
Faith brightened considerably.
Not girlfriend. Sister.
“Escaping from what?”
“Her family. She’s married with two kids, and one of them has just hit the terrible twos. She felt in need of a bit of time away, just to catch up on some sleep, have some conversations with adults other than James her husband. So she could feel human again.”
“Sorry, you probably had a whole day out planned, did you? She must have been disappointed.”
“Nah, she was fine. Probably worked out for the best in a way. She took herself off for some serious retail therapy and was hoping to book in at the spa this afternoon for a facial, she said. She’s probably had a much better day without me in tow. And I get to avoid being dragged around the shops carrying all her bags!”
“Is she staying at the cottage with you for the weekend?”
“She should have been. That was the original idea, but things are a bit tight in that place even for just one. Anyway, I thought Becca deserved a bit of a treat and the luxury of a hotel room, so I booked her in at the Royal. She loves it. Being waited on hand and foot.”
“Bliss. I’m sure she does love it. The Royal is gorgeous. Though she probably could have relaxed and been waited on by you if she’d stayed at the cottage, couldn’t she?” Faith teased.
“Not quite!” Zane laughed. “It’s great to see her and catch up with family news, and I’m happy to dish out the tea and toast at breakfast, but I’m under no illusions about my culinary abilities. They definitely don’t compare to those of the chefs up at the Royal!”
Faith sighed and leaned back against the cushions. “Their food is pretty special. I’ve only eaten there once but it was wonderful.”
Zane turned to her. “I’m meeting her at the hotel restaurant for a meal tonight. Why don’t you join us?”
“Oh no, I couldn’t.” Faith shook her head. “It’s a family thing.”
“Hardly. It’s only me and Becca. Come along, she’d love to meet you.”
Faith hesitated. Dinner at the Royal was a real treat and a lovely invitation in itself. But dinner with Zane as well – even if his sister would be there too, so it wouldn’t be a date or anything – was a very tempting proposition indeed.
“Please?” he prompted. “I’m sure you don’t feel like cooking tonight, not after a day like this.”
“Won’t Becca be annoyed? I’ve stolen you away for the day as it is. She was probably hoping for some family time this evening.”
“It’ll be fine. Believe me. Becca loves to meet people. And she was asking about you earlier when we came into the café and I explained what was going on with you being staff-less for the day.”
“She was?”
Faith rearranged the cushions behind her. Despite the fact her feet were throbbing, her back was aching and she was exhausted, the day had been surprisingly good. Working with Zane had been fun. They’d slipped so well into running the café together. Now, here they were, sitting very close together on the sofa and it just felt… right. It felt very right. They made a great team.
“She was,” Zane replied, checking his watch. He got to his feet and looked at her questioningly. “Time is getting on and I need to go and get showered and changed for this dinner. I’ll pick you up in an hour.”
“But the table must be booked for two, I can’t just turn up,” she said, making one last, admittedly rather feeble, attempt at getting out of the meal; one last opportunity for him to change his mind and withdraw the offer.
“Not a problem. I’ll ring them and change the booking. They’ll be fine. See you at seven.”
A bath would have been heavenly, and her sore toes would have given anything for a peppermint foot soak. But there wasn’t time. Instead she showered, washed and styled her hair, took far too long deciding what to wear, and was applying a slick of berry-pink lipstick when Zane knocked at the door to her flat.
“Wow! You look stunning,” he smiled, standing in the doorway, clearly taking in her burgundy knee-length dress and black high heels.
“Thanks,” she replied, twirling a little on the spot so her dress swirled around her, delighted with his comments. “Do you want to come in for a minute or should we get going?”
“Best get going. I rang Becca earlier to let her know you were joining us and she said she’d meet us in the bar, but I’m under strict instructions not to be late. She doesn’t want to be sitting in the bar on her own for ages.”
“Perfectly understandable,” Faith said, closing and locking the door behind her. “Let’s make a move then.”
Faith noticed that although he was wearing a smart black suit and pale blue shirt, the top two buttons of the shirt were open and there was no tie.
“Er, Zane, I think you need to wear a tie to get into the dining room at the Royal,” she ventured as she followed him down the steps to his car. “They’ve got a pretty strict dress code.”
He grinned as he pulled one from his jacket pocket. “I hate ties. I’ll put it on just before we go in!”
It had been almost two years since Faith had been inside the restaurant at the Royal. It had obviously undergone a major refurbishment since then. Five-star luxury it most certainly was, from the ironed white tablecloths to the sparkling glasses and perfectly-polished cutlery. She knew staying here must cost a fortune, and as Zane had said he’d booked his sister in at the hotel she presumed he was probably paying for the room as well.
“Hi, you must be Faith! Lovely to meet you.”
Becca stepped forward to envelop Faith in an enthusiastic hug.
“You too. I hope you don’t mind me coming along tonight.”
Becca waved a hand in dismissal. “Don’t be daft. Any friend of my brother’s is a friend of mine. Plus, I owe you big time. I got to spend the day driving round in his fancy 4x4 and visiting all the cute craft shops and art galleries within a twenty-mile radius – without having to keep checking on how bored he was looking, traipsing round all the local retail emporiums after me!”
“Too right,” agreed Zane. “Now, what would you both like to drink?”
“Red wine would be nice please,” Faith answered.
“Another gin and tonic and a pint of whatever the best local beer is please,” grinned Becca.
Zane raised an eyebrow quizzically. “Taken to drinking pints now? The kids aren’t that bad they’re driving you to drink are they?”
“They’re not far off it sometimes,” Becca said, rolling her eyes dramatically. “No, the beer isn’t for me. I just had a phone call from dear hubby. He’s managed to persuade his sister and her family to take the terrible twosome for the night, so he’s joining me here at the hotel for a blissfully toddler-free night. Ooh, I can’t wait.”
“Too much information, thanks very much,” muttered Zane. “I’ll get the drinks.”
“So, it really is lovely to meet you, Faith. Being allowed to meet one of Zane’s girlfriends is a rare treat for me. I may have only been in Carleton for less than twenty-four hours, but I’ve still heard lots about you!”
“You have?” Faith said, with a mixture of embarrassment and delight.
So Zane had been talking about her, had he? And in a good way too, by the sound of it. Had he actually said she was his girlfriend, she wondered, or had Becca just assumed she was?
“Drinks!” Zane said, arranging the various glasses on the table. “I’ve just checked and our table for four will be ready in about ten minutes.”
“Hello, gorgeous!”
“Darling!” Becca stood up to be swept off her feet and twirled round by a man Faith guessed was her husband. Either that or Becca was far too friendly with strange men. “Glad you arranged all this. I am so looking forward to tonight!”
“Me too!” the man said, clapping Zane on the back and smiling at Faith. “Hi, you must be Faith. Becca told me all about you when we spoke earlier on the phone. I’m James. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Faith smiled back. Zane’s sister and her husband seemed like a very lively couple. This evening was promising to be lots of fun.
“I’m just off the Ladies, won’t be long,” Becca said, slipping out of her husband’s arms.
“Thanks so much for booking Bex in here,” James said to Zane as soon as his wife was out of earshot. “I went to reception when I arrived and they said the room was paid for. I can’t let you fork out for this place. Let me pay you back.”
Zane shook his hand and raised both hands in a gesture of refusal. “No. Definitely not. Consider it my treat.”
“No, I…”
“James. Forget it. It’s all sorted. Just enjoy the weekend, OK?”
“Will do,” James said, grinning at Faith. “You’ve got yourself a good one here if you don’t mind me saying so.”
“Oh, we’re not…” Faith met Zane’s eyes across the table and slowly, almost imperceptibly, he shook his head at her.
“Not what?” James asked.
“Not been together long,” Zane said, smiling at Faith.
OK. If he wanted to pretend they were an item, she didn’t have any objections to that.
Two hours later they were all back in the bar, having enjoyed the most exquisite meal Faith had ever eaten. The evening had been wonderful. Conversation had flowed easily and, despite both proclaiming they were delirious at the prospect of escaping from their two children for the night, Becca and James had talked about them all evening.
Maisie was four, had recently started pre-school, and was incredibly bright. This was great in one way, but it also meant she constantly asked “Why?” all the time, about anything and everything, and this was driving Becca crazy. Tom had just turned two, and the traditional terrible twos behaviour had apparently kicked in big time. James had said the kids were asking when they’d next get to see their Uncle Zane, and Zane had promised he’d make some time to visit soon.
“Well, much as I have truly enjoyed every second of this evening, I’m ready for bed,” Becca declared, after downing the last of her coffee.
“Me too.” James got to his feet and knocked back his own coffee. Judging by his expression, it was still a bit too hot.
“Thanks again for tonight,” Becca said, kissing Zane on the cheek. “We really appreciate it.”
“You have no idea how much,” added James.
Zane shook his head.
“I think I do. Now will you two get out of here?”
“You’ll see,” James laughed, slipping his arm around his wife. “When you’re old and married with kids and all the romance has gone…”
“Hey!” Becca said, poking James in the ribs.
“OK, I’ll rephrase that. When the opportunities for romance are few and far between.”
“Just go!” Zane laughed.
“I’m telling you; make the most of it while you can!” James added, nudging Faith on the arm.
“Go!” Zane repeated, pushing James away from their table.
As the two of them disappeared in the direction of the stairs, Zane turned to Faith and smiled awkwardly. “I’m sorry about those two. Bit embarrassing.”
“Don’t be,” Faith replied, reaching for an after-dinner mint. “They’re lovely.”
“I suppose so, in their own way. Thanks for agreeing to come along tonight. Otherwise I’d have been stuck here with those two feeling like a right gooseberry.” Meeting her eyes, he added, “Sorry, that didn’t quite come out right. I mean, obviously I’m really pleased you’re here anyway, regardless of how those two behaved.”
“It’s OK. I know what you meant.”
“Another drink?”
“No thanks. It is quite late. I suppose I should be getting back.”
Zane got to his feet. “OK. I’ll get your coat.”
“Want to come in for a nightcap?” Faith asked, and then wished she hadn’t. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to invite him in to her flat. The problem was they’d both had plenty to drink already – though she’d noticed that after one glass of wine with dinner Zane had swapped to soft drinks as he was driving. She’d been pleased to see that. It showed he was grown up and responsible.
Aaron wouldn’t have done that, she thought. He’d have drunk what he wanted, and then either thought himself invincible when it came to drinking and driving, or would have made some comment about booking them both a hotel room for the night.
“OK, thanks,” Zane said, turning the keys in the ignition and opening the car door.
Inside her flat Faith took off her coat and hung it up. “Drink?”
“Thanks. A coffee would be nice,” Zane said, following her into the kitchen.
As she busied herself getting mugs and filling the kettle Zane leaned against the kitchen worktop opposite her. He’d removed his tie and jacket as soon as they’d left the Royal. Now he was wearing just the blue shirt – top two buttons undone again – with the smart fitted black trousers which managed to make his legs look even longer. There was a hint of stubble about his cheeks, and she guessed he hadn’t had time to shave properly between finishing helping her at the café and calling back to collect her to head off to the restaurant. If she was honest with herself, she found the mix of his smart clothes, his tousled dark hair and his stubble-strewn cheeks more than just a little appealing.
Faith’s phone beeped the arrival of a text message.
“Sophie telling me she’s fine to come back to work tomorrow,” she said as she read it. Then she switched her phone off.
“You won’t be needing my services again tomorrow then?”
“No. But thanks again for all your help today.”
“It was my pleasure.”
Faith moved to sit down and gestured for him to join her. He settled himself on the opposite end of the sofa rather than right next to her.
“So what will you be doing tomorrow?” Catching a glimpse of the clock on the wall Faith corrected herself, “I mean later today.”
“Weather forecast is good, so I might do a spot of climbing after I’ve sorted a couple of things at the Centre.” He shifted in his seat. “Do you have a day off in the week in lieu of working the weekends?”
“It varies but I might be able to sort something out. Why do you ask?”
“I was remembering how you said you like to get out walking. Do you fancy planning a decent walk somewhere and then a spot of something to eat? If the weather’s fine I could probably rustle up a bit of a picnic, or we could go to a country pub if not – whatever you’d prefer.”
“I’d love to. And the picnic or the pub is fine by me. I’ll look forward to it. Would Wednesday be any good? I think I can get someone to help Sophie out on that day with the café.”
He leaned forward, his hands cupping his coffee mug. “Wednesday it is. You’ll know the routes around these hills better than me. I haven’t had time to get my bearings properly yet. Why don’t you choose a walk route for us?”
“The trek up to the castle and then across to the top of Fell Tor is a favourite route of mine.”
“Great. We’ll do that then.”
Half an hour later the coffee had been drunk, they’d chatted easily about anything and everything, and Zane got to his feet. “I’d better be getting home.”
Faith joined him at the door. He’d made no assumptions about what her inviting him in might mean. She was glad of that. She didn’t think he was the leap-on-you-on-the-settee-and-expect-to-stay-over type; that was an instant turn-off. She was delighted to find that she’d been right.
“Until Wednesday,” Zane said, lightly kissing her on the lips.
“Until Wednesday.” Faith smiled up at him.
She leaned against the door after she’d closed it behind him and sighed. What a day this had turned out to be. When she’d discovered on Saturday morning she was going to have to run the café on her own she’d been dreading the whole day. But Zane had dropped everything to help her out, and then invited her for a meal at one of the poshest restaurants in the area. Now, in the early hours of the morning, he’d kissed her – a kiss that had far more effect on her than he could have known – and asked her out on a proper date.
A walking-in-the-hills type of date. Just the kind she liked.
Maybe it was time she admitted she still had a soft spot for outdoorsy guys. Always had, ever since Aaron. No matter how much she told herself otherwise.