Chapter Ten
“Hi, guys!”
Faith glanced up from sorting the coffee machine to see Zane approaching the counter along with a guy with shoulder-length blond hair. There was a tousled surf-bum look about him.
Sophie was at the counter before Faith, turning on her best flirtatious smile.
“What can I get you?” she asked. “The usual is it, Zane? I’ve got a blueberry muffin put aside with your name on it. And what about your friend?”
“This is Dave. He’s our first recruit up at Carrdale. He’s a qualified water-sports instructor.” Turning to the lad at his side Zane added, “Dave, meet Sophie. And the owner of this café, my girlfriend Faith.”
Sophie leaned on the counter. “Good to meet you, Dave. You can’t be from around these parts. I would have remembered if I’d bumped into you before.”
Faith met Zane’s amused expression at Sophie’s flirting. She rolled her eyes.
“No. I’m from Cornwall. Surfing’s my thing, but I met Matt, Zane’s business partner, when I was snowboarding in Austria last winter. We got chatting, and when he found out I teach water-sports Matt said he might have a job for me. Sure enough, he got in touch when he knew everything was full steam ahead with Carrdale.”
“Well, I’d be happy to show you around the area anytime. Let me give you my number. Have you got your mobile with you?”
Dave dutifully handed over his phone. He was clearly a little dumbstruck by Sophie.
“There,” Sophie grinned moments later. “Ring me soon OK?”
Dave nodded.
“Now, what can I get you?” Sophie asked Dave.
Zane picked up the take-out coffee Faith had put in front of him.
“What, besides a date, you mean?” he said to Sophie.
“Ha! Ha!” she chuckled. “Very funny. Not. Dave? What would you like to drink? Want something to eat?”
“Coke, please, if you’ve got it. And a chocolate muffin.”
“Coming right up. So, what water-sports do you teach?”
Dave hopped on to a stool beside Zane. “Kayaking, white-water rafting, tubing, canyoning.”
“Wow!” Sophie said as she put his order on the counter. “I’ve always fancied canyoning.”
“Since when?” Faith mouthed to Zane and he laughed. Turning to Sophie she said, “You do know what canyoning involves? It’s throwing yourself down raging rivers and getting bumped and battered on rocks in ravines and the like.”
“Yes, of course, I know,” Sophie replied indignantly.
“And you seriously want to try this?”
“You have all the safety gear on,” chipped in Dave. “A helmet, proper protective suit, old trainers. It’s amazing fun.”
“It sounds it,” blustered Sophie, though Faith saw a flicker of doubt in her eyes now.
“Right, we need to make tracks. Thanks for the drinks and muffins.”
Zane got to his feet, paid Faith for the food and then kissed her. “I’ll see you later, about eight OK?”
“Great. See you later.”
“Call me!” Sophie shouted after Dave, as he held the door open for a couple entering the café whilst balancing his drink and muffin in the other hand. He nodded an acknowledgement.
“Do they only employ yummy guys up at Carrdale? Is it in the contract or something?” Sophie asked as soon as Zane and Dave were out of earshot.
“What are you on about?” Faith asked.
“Well, Zane turns up first and he’s gorgeous,” Sophie said as she wiped the counter down. “Then your ex turns up and it turns out he’s mega-yummy. Now they employ Dave and he’s just delish! The women of Carleton have never had it so good since Carrdale got new owners.” She looked thoughtful then added, “But then again, they’re all spoken for, already aren’t they? So maybe the other women around here haven’t got it to so good.”
“Spoken for?”
“Yeah. You and Zane are most definitely an item. He comes in here kissing you often enough for everyone to get the message you’re no longer single. And they’re not just peck-on–the-cheek kisses either are they? They’re full-on snogs. He clearly wants to claim his territory. At first I thought it was just Matt he was warning off in a roundabout kind of way. You know, get the local gossips talking about you two kissing in the café, make it clear you’re off limits to Matt. But I’ve seen him giving male customers warning hands-off looks as well, when they’ve been in here chatting to you before now.”
“Don’t be daft! Zane’s not like that.”
Sophie cocked an eyebrow enquiringly. “You’re sure? You know I think Zane is lovely, he’s a real sweetheart, but you’ve got to admit he’s very keen for every guy who comes near you to know you’re with him. I just get the impression he’s the jealous type. Maybe even a little possessive. Anyway, back to what I was saying before. From what I hear, Emily has her claws into Matt. And I’ve decided Dave is going to be mine, so all the single females in town will just have to hope Carrdale is planning to employ some other good-lookers if they want to be in with a chance!”
“You and Dave? You work fast. Anyway, I don’t think it’s a deliberate employment policy at Carrdale. They don’t put on the adverts for outdoor sports instructors that they have to be sexy and hunky!”
Sophie tutted. “People don’t say hunky anymore, Faith. Get with the times!”