‘They seem very well and, if I say it myself, they’re being very well looked after. I genuinely know all their names now, and I’m pretty sure they recognise me.’
‘Wow, listen to you. I really wouldn’t have had you down as an alpaca whisperer.’
‘Me either. Island living’s bringing out hidden talents in me. I’m becoming very good at bartering with eggs as well. I got a great steak yesterday from Lonnie Duggan in return for half a dozen.’
‘Impressive.’
‘I know. So what hidden talents have you found in yourself since you moved to London?’
‘That’s a good question. I’m becoming expert at not catching anyone’s eye on the Tube, head down, no smiling. And pushing really hard so that I get the last space in the carriage.’
‘Excellent. Important skills.’ James was smiling, even though there was no point because she couldn’t see him. Was this some kind of age-related issue, now he’d hit thirty-five, a lack of control over his facial muscles?
‘Exactly.’
‘Cool. Well, I should probably leap straight into what I have to ask you. I have a business proposition for you.’
‘Oh-kay. Interesting.’
‘I’ve been exploring the island, obviously, and, equally obviously, I love it, because who wouldn’t? It’s stunning.’ Always flatter people. Even hardened businessmen often fell for a bit of hyperbole. ‘And I discovered your plot of land and beach, round the headland, which gave me a business idea.’
‘Right.’ Her voice was flat. Hopefully she’d sound more interested when she’d heard more.
He’d planned his pitch in detail, including planning permission research and points that would appeal to the woman he thought she was, like how building a tourist business on the plot would benefit the local community economically and enable urban dwellers to experience the enriching joys of rural living.
She listened to the whole thing in complete silence and then continued with the silence, so he ended up suggesting that if she didn’t want to sell they could go into partnership, just for something to say. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d displayed such poor negotiating skills.
When he’d lapsed into silence himself, she finally spoke. ‘How did you find out that I own the land?’
‘When I saw what a good opportunity this was, I did a little digging.’ Yeah, okay, as he said it, he realised that if the tables had been turned he wouldn’t have appreciated Cassie hunting him down. She’d clearly wanted to keep her ownership under wraps, for whatever reason. She clearly liked to keep a lot of things private, like her pen name.
‘Right. Well, no, sorry, I have no intention of selling, or going into business with anyone. I bought that land with the intention of leaving it wild, for environmental reasons, and also slightly for selfish personal reasons, because I love the quiet there. And people travelling halfway across the world for eco holidays annoys me alotas a concept. I mean, they wouldn’t be rowing or swimming themselves there, would they?’
‘True, but if people are going to fly to their holiday destination no matter what, it might as well be green when they get there. Still makes for a lower carbon footprint overall. Like it would be better for the environment if none of us bought new stuff, ever, but since we’re going to, let’s at least make what stuff we do buy environmentally friendly.’
‘Yup, okay, so maybe I was being a little judgy there, but still no. I don’t want a hotel at the end of my back garden and I do want my land to be a wildlife sanctuary, without even a very small number of guests. Sorry.’
‘Hey, no worries. Just a thought.’ He could carry on working on her over the next few weeks and months. He’d definitely made a dent in her argument about what was best for the environment.
‘James. Can I ask you a question?
‘Yep, sure.’
‘Have you been calling me…justbecause you wanted to develop my land?’ Bugger.
‘No, not at all.’
‘Oh myGod. You totally have.’
‘Really, no.’ Was lying a good idea at this point? No-one wanted to go into business with a liar. ‘I mean, maybe a little.’
‘What? That’s so cynical.’ Okay, he should have gone with the lying.
‘Okay, yes, a little cynical to start off with, but I’ve really enjoyed our conversations. And I do think my suggestion would benefit a lot of people.’
‘Hmm.’
‘Sorry?’ A lot of women couldn’t resist when he saidSorrylike that. Whether or not he meant it.
