“The kitchen staff deserve the credit for that. All I did was coordinate a solution.”
“You dealt with the clients with confidence and made them feel valued and that counts for a lot.”
“I’m just glad I could help.” She glanced back at the Riverford Hotel before she climbed into the car. “And this is such a beautiful place, Harry. It was a treat to work here.”
“That’s a nice thing to say. My family are really grateful for the help you’ve given us and they wanted to make sure I told you that. And I’m the most grateful of us all. With no slack in the system and everyone completely busy with their own work,it would’ve been me who had to step in to deal with these event management jobs that we couldn’t cover. I would’ve floundered trying to handle most of the problems that came up and which you took in your stride.”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t have floundered. You’re a smart guy and you would’ve worked it out.”
He shook his head as he started the car and drove out of the car park. “No, I’m the numbers guy and the financial whizz. Actually running the show in our restaurants and hotels and pubs is absolutely out of my comfort zone. I would’ve been lost. You saved us and kept our guests happy.”
“I know you stuck around during the shifts I worked in case I needed advice about the ins and outs of your systems. That gave me peace of mind while I got on with it.”
“And yet you didn’t have to ask me a single question. Honestly, I’m so impressed Gaby. I only wish we could keep you and offer you a job with us.”
Gaby laughed. “You don’t need me. Your regular member of staff who runs event management will be back soon, right?”
“Well, we thought so, but now we’re not so sure. Her mother is fully on the road to recovery after her accident and time spent in hospital, and we actually expected her to come back to work this weekend. But she asked for more time off and when my father spoke to her about time-scales, she asked about options for going part time. My father got the impression she’s rethinking her priorities and perhaps doesn’t want the responsibility of the management side of the job after all.”
“It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure.”
“Anyway, we think there’s a good chance we might be looking at a staff vacancy soon, so if you’re interested, we’d snap you up in a heartbeat.”
He glanced away from the road and waggled his eyebrows, making her laugh.
“I’m flattered, Harry. But you know I’ve committed to the next few months working on a cruise ship and I’m pretty excited about it.”
“I understand. But if you get seasick on board and have to bail out and find another job, you know where we are. We’d bring you into our team and make it worth your while, too.”
Gaby laughed. “I appreciate that.”
She did appreciate it and she was flattered. It wasn’t unusual for her to be offered a permanent job when her temporary contracts came to an end. She did excellent work and was always a valuable addition to whatever team she found herself working with, and she’d had several great offers over the years to stay on and become a permanent member of staff.
But she always turned those offers down because she liked to keep moving and there was always an exciting new destination and new job already organised and waiting for her. It was wonderful to be asked to stay, but she rarely gave those offers a second thought, even when she especially loved the city or resort.
The lure of the next adventure always kept her moving on.
So why was it that this casual offer of a job from Harry Goodwin actually had her contemplating the idea of staying here?
She let it sink in for a minute. Was that really what she was doing?
Yes, she was. She was actually imagining what it would be like to stay on here in Hamblehurst.
The realisation left her stunned.
She’d said goodbye to some of the most beautiful places in the world over the years—Rome, Florence, Seville, Barcelona, Sydney—despite being offered great terms to stay. And yet this vague offer of a job that would keep her in this little sleepymarket town in the English South Downs was actually giving her pause for thought.
Clearly the sleepless night she’d spent had scrambled her brain. Why on earth would she want to give up the entire world for this quiet corner of Hampshire?
Because of Peter, that’s why.
She shut down the thought before it could take root. The idea was madness. She just wasn’t thinking straight. The combination of lack of sleep and busy morning spent working had left her addled.
Harry’s phone rang and he jabbed at the dashboard screen to accept it. Gaby was glad of the distraction from her ridiculous thoughts as someone else’s conversation filled the car, making it impossible for her to dwell on her mad notions.
“Hi, Dad,” Harry said.
“Hi, son. Where are you?”
