Читать книгу Summer at the Cornish Cafe: The perfect summer romance for 2018 - Phillipa Ashley, Phillipa Ashley - Страница 14

When Cal said there was work to do here, he wasn’t joking. Over the past few weeks, he’s been to Truro and St Trenyan, meeting with his old contacts to try to raise extra investment in the new resort. Polly has been moaning even more than usual about the ‘bloody strangers’ poking around in the derelict farm buildings and cottages and tramping in and out of the farmhouse in muddy boots.

I think it’s exciting, and at least Cal seems wrapped up in the business, rather than getting slowly pissed in his study all evening. I was researching more competitor parks, but Polly asked me to take the empty beer and whisky bottles to the recycling bins in the morning. I don’t want to judge people but I don’t think the booze helps his mood much.

Talking of which, I finally found out why he acted like the world has ended when he received The Letter. Polly told me that it was an invitation to his ex’s engagement party. Turns out this Isla and Cal were crazy about each other but when he came back to Cornwall, he found out she’d got engaged to his mate. Polly says Isla thought Cal wasn’t interested any more because he’d stopped all contact with her. Polly thinks Isla should have waited until Cal came home and I agree with her on this one, not that it matters to me. There’s no way I am going to rely on some bloke for my future, however much I owe him and however hot he is.

‘Demi?’

Cal meets me by the waste bins. There are dark circles under his eyes, and I think he was working on a business plan until the small hours.

‘I need to go to Truro to see the architect and try to shave some costs from the plans. Can you spare the time to visit the builders’ merchant and get some costs and ideas for the bathrooms and kitchens in the cottages? We need to make a start.’

This sounds like an interesting job so I jump at the chance. ‘Yes, if you want me to.’

‘Good. Be ready in ten minutes.’

Cal dropped me off at the builders’ merchants and I checked out the bathrooms and kitchens, and arranged for the designers to come and see the old cottages. He didn’t ask me to do that so I hope it’s OK. The staff told me it can take weeks to get the fixtures and fittings and we need to compare the estimates. My visit took over an hour so I walked over to Lemon Quay to meet him, wondering if I had time to grab a takeout coffee while I was there.

The city is busier than last time I was here because there’s a food fair taking place, with stalls and vans selling everything from local chocolates and sea salt to fresh fish and even Cornish tea. The rich scents and spicy aromas compete for my attention as I browse the stores, trying to resist buying things that aren’t strictly necessary. Sheila tried to use local suppliers but I had no idea you could get all of this stuff right on the doorstep.