‘Because Karel is happy to let me play. And there are a thousand options. There’s no pressure because he likes to flit about from idea to idea.’ Leo’s mouth turned down. ‘There’s always the possibility of something better.’
‘Jakub has been quite strict. There is no deviation from the process, which was frustrating at first but has been good discipline. He has steered my direction but listened to my ideas.’ Anna didn’t want to rub it in but she was very happy with what was in the tank and she was looking forward to trying it in the next week or so.
‘But how can you have a name, if you don’t know the taste of the beer?’ she suddenly asked.
Leo wrinkled his nose at her. ‘Who says the name has to reflect the taste? It’s about marketing. A good name and branding sells. You’ve got the perfect one.’
‘I have?’
‘Yes.Láska. Love, in Czech. Your surname.’
‘I don’t think so.’ She laughed. ‘Not all of us have egos as big as yours.’
Leo clutched his heart. ‘You wound me.’
‘And now,’ said Michaela rising to her feet, ‘We’ll take you to dinner at one of our favourite restaurants, to say thank you for all the help.’
‘Surely we should be paying for dinner to say thank you for the accommodation,’ protested Anna as Michaela walked on a few paces ahead of them.
‘Next time,’ insisted Jan.
‘If you’re sure,’ said Anna.
‘Anna, be honest,’ teased Leo. ‘Wild woman-eating lions aren’t going to stop you coming back. You’re desperate to help Jan build that kitchen.’
‘Does it show that much?’ she asked with a laugh.
‘Yes. I had no idea you were so into this DIY stuff. You never used to be.’
‘I learned a lot in the last few years. People change.’
‘They do,’ said Leo, his eyes meeting hers with a steady look.
Anna experienced a tiny frisson of unease. ‘I don’t think you’ve changed a bit.’ Even as the words left her mouth, she knew they were untrue. Leo was even more lovable than he had been before but she couldn’t tell him that. Especially not when he clearly didn’t feel the same way anymore.
‘And that’s where you’re wrong. You’ve got no idea.’ She was shocked by the stricken look on his face and the bite of bitterness in his voice. ‘I’ve definitely changed, although some might say not for the better.’ He turned away from her and strode off to catch up with Michaela.
* * *
When they sat down at the restaurant, Leo kept quiet for the first few minutes, studying his menu, even though it was in Czech and only a few words were recognisable. He needed a moment to swallow his irritation.
‘Does anyone want an appetiser?’ asked Jan.
Leo shook his head. His appetite had seeped away.
Yes, he had changed and no, it wasn’t for the better. And he didn’t like himself for it. Once he’d been a one-man woman. Since their divorce, he’d jumped from bed to bed, determined not to get involved with anyone. In his defence, he’d always made his intent clear. No false promises. No commitment. No long-term plans.
He wasn’t the man he used to be or the man he was brought up to be. He knew his mother worried about him.
And the irony was that that Anna, with her latent mistrust, had been the one person who had had the best of him. He’d committed to her. He’d married her … for keeps.
‘I love this place,’ said Michaela, looking around the modern styling of the restaurant, at the contemporary bare bulbs suspended from the ceiling complemented by the greenery that trailed down the white walls. It was simple and sophisticated without being overly fussy.
‘They produce their own wine at the Silova Winery. The wines are excellent. We should have a bottle of Rivaner 2023, it’s a nice dry wine.’
‘Leo?’
He tuned back into the conversation, realising that the three of them were staring at him.
