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‘Oh? You didn’t say that at your office.’ He didn’t dare ask if he’d had anything to do with her avoiding the club.

‘You didn’t say how involved you are in all this …’ She waved her hand at the scaffolding at the rear of the club, her gaze returning to his.

‘How do you know I am?’ he said, trying to sound mysterious and cool though he was as nervous as a teen inside.

‘Someone let slip.’

He bit back a curse. ‘I’m only project managing,’ he said, fudging the truth.

‘Even so, you’re giving your time for free.’ Her tone might be neutral but did she realise her nostrils flared when she was speaking to him? The hand not holding a glass was clenched at her side and betrayed her real feelings: tension in his presence and, perhaps, a determination to show he made her feel – nothing.

‘And someone is putting up the money. Rumours are flying about who it is.’

‘Are they?’ He laughed. ‘I got in contact while I was thinking of moving back. It felt like the right time and the place needs urgent renovation or it might have to close. I talked to Dawn and she said they’d like to rename the new function space after Grandad Harry.’

‘They do?’ Her eyebrows lifted and then she said, ‘I didn’t know that. That’s a nice gesture.’

‘No one knows,’ Matt said. ‘Apart from me, Mum and Dad and Dawn. And the chair and committee.’

‘It’s a wonder it isn’t all over Cornwall then,’ Zennor said with the wry half-smile that always reinforced the fact that she was far too cool and sassy for a tongue-tied surfer boy. Her lips parted as if she were thinking and she gave him a hard stare. ‘Are you paying for all of this?’

Matt sighed. ‘Has Dawn told you that too?’

‘No. You just did.’

Confronted with a direct question, Matt could no longer lie, especially not to Zennor. ‘Not the whole lot,’ he said, feeling awkward. ‘The club’s done a great job of fundraising already. They needed a bit of help to get it over the line and I know Grandad would have wanted it to be the best it could. The kids deserve it. And I’d appreciate it if you don’t pass my financial involvement on to anyone.’

‘I wouldn’t,’ Zennor said firmly. Matt believed her. She might still loathe him, but he knew he could trust her with a secret. ‘Harry would be very pleased. And you’re right. The kids do deserve it.’

‘Thanks. I wanted to use some of his legacy to help,’ he said, sensing she was itching to leave. ‘Thanks for the email by the way,’ he said, referring to Roo’s message accepting the new tenancy agreement. ‘Before you go, I’d like to arrange a time to talk to you and Roo about a schedule of works for the office. I want to try to minimise any disruption.’

‘Disruption?’ Her face fell.

‘Well, hopefully not too much. You won’t have to move out or anything.’

‘We can’t move out. This is our busiest time of the year when most of the events are happening. We can’t have any disruption. I – we – have only agreed to the work because we can’t find new premises at the height of the season. The location suits us and we don’t want to have to move.’

‘It is a great location and, of course, I want to minimise any trouble to you. That’s why I want to liaise with you both to find out the best way of getting these repairs done. These essential repairs,’ he added, trying to be as reassuring as he could. ‘I’d wait until a quieter time but I’m concerned that if we leave the place as it is, your insurance won’t cover you if something were to happen in the office. But this isn’t the place to discuss business, so if I could call round soon as? Monday morning first thing OK?’

‘Monday? That is soon. I’ll have to ask Roo and see if we can fit you in. I – um – can I message you?’

‘Yes, please,’ he said neutrally. ‘Shall we exchange numbers now? I’ve got a new mobile.’

‘I suppose we’d better. I deleted your old one years ago.’

Matt hadn’t deleted Zennor’s, but he assumed she’d changed it from when he’d last been in contact before she was married.

They exchanged numbers and Matt added Zennor’s.

Her phone pinged. ‘It’s here,’ she said, opening the WhatsApp. ‘Oh, it says Veryan Developments.’

‘Yes, that’s the company name.’ He held up his screen. ‘You’re Kernow Entz.’

She frowned but then nodded with pursed lips. ‘Great. Good. So, I’ll be in touch as soon as possible.’

‘I’d appreciate it.’

‘See you – when I see you.’