‘No problem at all. I really enjoyed it. What’s next? Step, I mean.’
‘Staff,’ Livvy said decisively. ‘I really need to get some staff in. Otherwise, I’ll run myself ragged if I get busy.’
‘Whenyou get busy,’ Mark replied, warmly.
‘Thank you for your optimism. Okay then,’ Livvy laughed, ‘when I get busy! Mark?’
‘Yes, Livvy.’
‘Is there any more to that story you told me of the runaway lovers? Do you know anything more about them?’
He shook his head. ‘Sorry no. Why do you want to know?’ He chuckled. ‘Haven’t you enough on your plate?’
‘You’d think, wouldn’t you! It’s nice to have a sense of history of the place. I was thinking of making a feature of the story. People like that when they eat somewhere, or stay.’
‘You’re going to do rooms?’
‘Eventually. But that’s long into the future. I still have a gutted bar and restaurant to conquer.’
‘You’ll get there. Darrell’s team are an anomaly in the tradie world. Efficient, turn up when they say they will and do the job.’
‘I know. I can’t believe my luck in finding them.’
‘Darrell’s a nephew of Pete’s, I think.’
Livvy smiled. ‘That makes sense. No wonder he recommended them.’
‘It’s how things work round here.’
‘For which I’m very grateful. I might tap Pete for info about the runaways then. He seems to know everything there is to know.’
‘Someone at the museum might be able to help too. Pete’s tales tend to get more far-fetched the more cider he drinks.’
‘I’ll maybe give Jason a ring. He said he might have someone in mind for chef, so I need to speak to him anyway.’
Mark slowed to turn into the pub car park. ‘About Jason,’ he said stiffly.
‘What?’ Livvy looked at him. The bantering, reassuring, slightly flirty tone had disappeared.
‘He’s okay, from what I know. But he’s a ruthless businessman.’ He parked the car but left the engine running. ‘Just be careful.’
‘Consider me warned.’ Livvy wanted to ask how she should be careful and indeed why but could see Darrell peering into the skip. Some wag had tied a large bunch of mistletoe and tinsel to it. Darrell tweaked it, grinned and headed her way. ‘Thanks again for today, Mark.’
‘My pleasure. Make sure you let me know the reopening date and I’ll be there.’
‘Will do.’ She got out of the car and watched as it growled in a low gear up the hill out of town. His warning about Jason had left her unsettled but she couldn’t deny how nice a man Mark was. Turning to greet Darrell and his inevitable barrage of questions, she smiled to herself. She wasn’t about to complicate her life further by getting involved with tricky Jason or the eminently nice Mark. Getting romantic with the punters always led to a whole heap of trouble.
‘New skip’s here,’ Darrell said. ‘But we’ll need another. It’s already half full. And I needs you to make a decision on lights for the restaurant. Make it quick and we can order them snappy like and get ’em in. Oh, and put the kettle on, love. I’m gasping.’
All thoughts of romantic runaway lovers, the enigmatic Jason, and Mark with his concerned hazel eyes and floppy dark red hair fled. Falling back to earth with a bump, she followed Darrell’s burly overalled figure into the pub.
CHAPTER 8
Limoncello – a classic Italian liqueur, sharp bitter top notes based on a sweet syrup
The interviews were not going well. So far Livvy had seen three young lads, none of whom could string a sentence together or add up; and Brittany, who was slightly more promising. Livvy recognised the brittle posh girl façade; she’d been to school with the type. Rich parents, no attention. In fact, Brittany could have been her ten years ago. Having failed her cabin crew training, Brittany moaned her mother had threatened to throw her out unless she got some kind of job. The only problem she was desperate to go travelling as soon as she had funds so Livvy wasn’t sure how long she’d be around.
She’d have to ditch the impractical fake nails, Livvy thought, but, from a poor choice, she seemed the best on offer. Livvy had told her she’d think about it and, once Brittany had gone, had looked gloomily through the other applicants. No one suitablefor cellarman or chef. The phone rang, startling her. It was Jason. Bearing in mind what Mark had said about him, even so, when she’d replaced the receiver, her spirits were in a much better state. He had the number of a chef she could use. He came highly recommended and was available straight away. It seemed too good to be true, but she was desperate.
