“I’m an optimist.”
“I know. It’s your second biggest flaw.” He brushed her cheek with his fingers. “Okay. I’ll be approachable, whatever that means. I’ll smile when I deliver the apple. I’ll make sure it isn’t poisoned. And in return you’re going to be a bit wary for once in your life. Until you get to know her better.”
“You see? You do care about me.”
“Not really. I just don’t want to have to witness your heart-break when it all goes wrong. It was bad enough after—” He stopped and she shrugged.
“After Martin. I know. It was a hideous time and you were brilliant. It was lucky for me you happened to be home at the time. But I can’t go into every relationship assuming someone is going to stab me in the back. It’s just not me. And why would I be wary? She’s here to help, after all.”
He watched her for a moment. “Right. It’s just that she doesn’t seem—”
“Doesn’t seem what? Frazzled, like me? She’s groomed and poised but I’m sure that after an hour working at the hotel she’ll look as stressed out as the rest of us. Now go.” She gave him a little push. “You have tourists waiting to coo over your quaint little inn, with its handsome landlord. Talking of which, I hear Linda Porter made a pass at you when she was drunk the other night.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“I always protect my sources. But basically from everyone in the village. Saskia happened to be leaving the gallery at the precise moment you kissed Linda in the doorway.”
“She kissedmein the doorway. Saskia needs to get her facts straight.”
“She didn’t hang around to see what happened next.”
“What happened next was that I carefully unravelled myself and told her that I’m not in the market for a relationship.”
“That part didn’t make it into the gossip machine.” She gave his arm an affectionate squeeze. “You’re due a little fun, my friend.”
He rolled his eyes. “Talking of which, how is it going with your hot chef?”
“How is what going?”
“Your romance.”
“There is no romance. Who told you there was a romance?”
“Probably the same people that told you about Linda,” he said. “But from what I hear, it sounds like a perfect match.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because he will cook for you, and you love good food.” She sighed. “He’s cute, that’s true, but most of all he’s brilliant at what he does and the restaurant is fully booked. As an experiment we’re doing two sittings from next week. It’s the only bit of work that is going well.”
“Right. So your interest in him is purely professional. You’re not interested in him bringing you breakfast in bed.”
She grinned at him. “He does have lovely dark eyes and an appealing smile. But like you, I’m too busy for a relationship. But hopefully Abby is going to help with that.”
His smile vanished. “I hope so. Keep me updated on that.”
He was suspicious of Abby, and she had no idea why.
What exactly did he think was going to happen? That Abby was going to steal the toilet rolls?
It was true that Abby had told her little about herself, but that didn’t mean she was hiding anything.
Evie was looking forward to getting to know her. And looking forward to proving Tristan wrong.
7
Abby
Abby stared out of the window, watching as Evie headed back up the street towards her cottage. It took her a while because she stopped to greet at least five people on the way, her smile visible even from Abby’s lofty position.
