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Zennor put her wine glass down immediately. ‘No problem, Dawn!’

Matt wasn’t sure if she wanted to get away from him. He smiled. ‘Happy to help. What’s the prize?’

‘Well, we’re very excited about that. Trev has very kindly offered a two-night stay in the hotel with dinner, breakfast and a luxury spa treatment. Isn’t that generous of him?’

Zennor exhaled. ‘Wow.’

This time, Matt had no idea if her enthusiasm was feigned or not. ‘It is,’ Matt said, his jaw aching with fake jollity. ‘I presume that rules us out of entering, then?’

Dawn looked flustered. ‘Oh – erm – it probably does as you’re selling tickets. I am sorry.’

With a grin, Matt patted her arm. ‘Don’t be. I’m delighted to be able to help the club.’

‘You’ve done so much already,’ Dawn said. ‘I’m relieved that someone else is stepping in to do their bit.’

By that, Dawn presumably meant Trev.

With his smile pinned in place, Matt toured the tables, charming people to buy tickets and bigging up the prize. In return, he nodded and made polite noises while hearing how amazing the evening had been and how Trev had transformed the hotel.

Matt didn’t point out that the place had been done up before Trev had taken over. He was determined not to be churlish or let his real feelings show even if his jaw ached from smiling and his bonhomie was flagging. He wished he didn’t automatically curl his lip whenever he caught sight of Trev and no one was looking.

Sometimes he wished he just wasn’t … who he was. He wished he was a generous, kind, forgiving man. Most of all, he wished he didn’t know the things he knew about Trev. He vowed not to tell Zennor or else he might risk making her despise him all over again.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Zennor found Trev ahead of her at the counter of the deli café a few days later.

‘Great minds think alike,’ he said. ‘Again.’

‘I love this café. I was getting my usual caffeine hit to fuel me for the morning.’

As he pushed a lock of dark hair off his forehead with a smile, she was reminded that he was still a striking man and that it was no wonder she’d been swept off her feet in those heady early days. She wasn’t the only person looking at him with admiring eyes either; several women of all ages were peering at him over their cappuccinos and lattes.

‘Me too,’ he said, hesitating for a moment before asking, a little tentatively, ‘Why don’t we get a table instead of rushing back to the office? I’d love to hear what you thought about the music night. You can call it a working meeting, if that makes you feel less guilty about taking a break from work?’

‘I …’ Zennor paused and then smiled. ‘Yes, why not?’ She could see no harm in a quick break and had also spent many hours mulling over the music night, although not so much about the music. The last time Matt and Trev had interacted had been at the wedding when he had virtually thrown Matt out of the St Piran’s. She supposed it was progress that they’d both attended a social occasion and behaved like civilised human beings.

They took their coffees to a table in the corner.

‘It was a big success for the club. I think it raised over five grand,’ Trev said, emptying a sachet of sugar into his americano.

‘Dawn was literally dancing for joy,’ Zennor said, recalling the president’s delight.

‘I’m very happy for her and the club,’ Trev said, stirring his coffee. ‘But did you enjoy it?’

On a personal level, it had gone better than she dared hope, although she’d held her breath when Trev had asked Matt if he minded the evening being used as a fundraiser for the club. She’d racked her brain afterwards to work out if Trev was being provocative or polite, but it was impossible to tell.

‘Of course I did,’ she said, covering her musings with a smile. ‘Who wouldn’t? Great music, a wonderful venue … it was a big success.’

Her comment was met with a look of delight in Trev’s eyes. Was he really so keen to have her approval? Zennor wasn’t sure whether to be touched or wary that her opinion still mattered so much to him.

‘Thanks for your suggestions about the artistes,’ he said. ‘The whole event could have fallen flat on its face if they’d been rubbish.’

‘I’d never have recommended anyone I wasn’t fully confident of,’ she said.

‘I know. You’ve made a big success of that business. I’m so happy to see it – and if it doesn’t sound patronising, I’m proud of you.’

Briefly, he covered her hand in his. Zennor was so surprised, she didn’t withdraw hers. After a second, he took his hand away and took a gulp of his coffee as if he was embarrassed at touching her. It wasn’t like him to be unsure.