‘I’d like to come in a little earlier for the first few days, if you don’t mind, so that I can get familiar with the appliances. Cookers all tend to have their own cooking times, nothing like their settings.’
Pippa laughed. ‘It took me three days to realise that.’ She stood up, and Declan followed suit. ‘See you in the morning.’
Her smile was as wide as her face as she spun around. She headed for the bar, excited to inform Oliver, but slowed when she remembered Ava was still in the same seat, just feet away from him.
Oliver looked from Pippa to Declan as he walked behind her to exit the pub, before returning his gaze back to Pippa while trying to keep his cool. ‘New boyfriend?’
Pippa’s eyebrows rose as she shook her head. ‘No. Declan will be our new part-time chef.’ She was amazed to see his shoulders lower as he relaxed on hearing her answer.
The feminine American drawl joining in with their personal conversation made Pippa’s teeth clench. To her annoyance, Ava had been ear-wigging. ‘Good job he’s not your man. He was probably cringing with embarrassment when those snow-white cheeks come towards him in this crowded bar.’
Pippa looked past Oliver to the mirrors behind the tiered bottles of alcohol and gasped when she saw her reflection. She looked like a ghost. Her face was almost completely covered in flour. She forced out a smile and pointed to herself. ‘What this? This was part of a test I set for the new prospective chef, and he passed with flying colours.’
‘Oh, what test was that?’ asked Oliver.
Pippa’s mind scrambled, trying to think of an answer. She could see Ava twisting in her seat, equally curious. She glanced at Ava, drawing attention to her unwanted involvement in the conversation. ‘I’ll tell you later. I need to get back to the kitchen to help Aunt Morgan.’ She turned on her heels and sped towards the kitchen door humiliated. The only useful thing the flour had done all night was to cover her burning red cheeks as she escaped her embarrassing episode.
Back in the kitchen Pippa let out a long sigh. Morgan looked back over her shoulder at her from the pile of pans she was washing up. ‘How did it go?’
‘Declan is perfect. I offered him the job, and he’s starting tomorrow.’
Morgan’s face split into a smile, which faltered. ‘Then why the huge sigh?’
‘You could have warned me, aunt. I looked a right fool in front of the physically perfect American woman sitting at the end of the bar when she pointed out I looked like an extra fromthe Michael Jackson Thriller video.’
‘She said that?’ Her aunt’s voice hitched in disbelief.
Pippa shook her head. ‘Not those exact words, but I was mortified all the same.’
Her aunt sighed. ‘Ididtry to warn you, but you didn’t hear me. You ran out of here like a bull at a gate.’ Morgan placed the last pan on the drainer and picked up a towel to wipe her hands as she turned fully to face Pippa. ‘Is she still here? The American?’
‘Go have a look. With that tan and glowing smile, she stands out like a sore thumb against the pasty locals in here.’
Morgan chuckled. ‘Now-now, sarcasm is very unbecoming and doesn’t suit your caring nature. Anyway, since when have you ever bothered with what people think of you?’
Pippa forced a smile. ‘I don’t.’ She shook her head, as if trying to shed the skin of the woman she was a moment ago. ‘She just makes me feel...inferior,’
‘You are both very beautiful women, but your beauty is natural and classical. You are an English rose and you are in full bloom right now. You are stunning my dear. I don’t think you realise how many admiring glances you get.’
‘Really?’
‘Really. Especially from a certain bearded bar tender.’ Pippa’s mouth dropped open. ‘Talking of Oliver, when we close tonight, should we tell him about the estate agent’s visit tomorrow?’
Pippa quickly recovered from her aunt’s astonishing statement. She didn’t want to let on how much it had affected her. ‘Let’s wait until we hear what the valuation is first. I wanted to go over what we are doing in the dog competition tonight because the event is in two days and I’ll be pre-occupied showing Declan what’s what tomorrow.’
‘Okay, Kiddo. Right, that’s the washing up done. If you don’t mind, I’m going to turn in for the night. I’m exhausted.’
Pippa walked over to her aunt and wrapped her arms around her, squeezing her in a loving hug. ‘Thanks aunt. At least it will be a little easier in the next few months here with Declan on board now.’
‘You are a treasure, Pippa. If I’d have been blessed with a daughter, I would have wanted her to be just like you.’
Pippa welled up. Life had been cruel to her aunt. First, the love of her life was taken from her in a tragic accident after just a couple of years of marriage, then according to the doctor, shock had made her body succumb to ailments they couldn’t diagnose until a decade later. She’d been a fighter though, not letting the days when her health was at its worst stop her from working at the pub with Pippa’s parents. Secretly, she was Pippa’s hero.
Staying in the kitchen and giving it a deep clean ready for Declan’s start the next day, Pippa didn’t even know the customers had left and Oliver was about to lock up until he poked his head around the door.
‘You’ll wear yourself out.’ Pippa jumped with a start. He grinned. ‘Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. You do realise you are the last man standing—or should I say woman? I’m about to close up for the night.’
Pippa’s face blanched. She’d been so engrossed in getting the kitchen perfect, she hadn’t even realised it was silent in the pub. ‘Has everyone left?’
