Page 27 of The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday
‘I know that I like it. I’m not an expert, though.’
‘I’d like your opinion, if that’s OK?’
She nodded, noting that there was something new in Ben’s expression, a lightness she hadn’t seen before. It was almost as if he was giddy – as giddy as a serious, stoic, six-foot-something builder with wide shoulders and furrowed brows could be.
‘Hit me,’ she said. ‘What do you want my opinion on?’
‘The cook-off on Friday,’ he said. ‘Obviously, you have to make the best dish to win, and I wondered what you thought would impress the judges more: a rack of beef ribs with my own-recipe hot sauce and barbecued potato rösti,or I’ve got these, uh … they’re like a barbecued chicken saltimbocca, chicken breasts wrapped in streaky bacon and seasoned with a herb and Prosecco rub – it sounds strange, I know, but it’s delicious – with chips and a mustard mayonnaise.’ He moved his hands while he spoke. The deadpan exterior she’d come to expect was nowhere to be found, and she laughed.
He frowned. ‘You think they both sound terrible?’
Thea shook her head quickly, biting her lip at the way his eyes widened with hurt. She had found what made Ben tick: something he was really passionate about. She remembered the way he’d choreographed his way around her kitchen, making her one of the best breakfasts she’d ever eaten.
‘They sound incredible, seriously. Can’t you make both?’
His shoulders dropped, relief lightening his expression. ‘We have to choose one meal.’
‘And you really want to win?’
He shrugged, but it wasn’t quite as relaxed as she thought he was aiming for. ‘I’m a guy entering a barbecue competition: it’s a cliché in so many ways, but of course I want to win.’
Thea leaned against her door, making a show of considering. ‘I love the idea of the chicken wrapped in bacon,’ she said eventually, ‘and I’m intrigued by the Prosecco and herb thing, but if you’ve got your own hot sauce, and you’re really proud of it, then I think go with that and the beef. Also, potato rösti on the barbecue sounds so good.’
‘You really think so?’
‘Oh yeah,’ Thea said, nodding. ‘My mouth is watering at the thought.’
‘Great! Good.’ His smile was wide and bright, and Thea wondered where she’d put her sunglasses, because that, along with the glare of the whitewashed houses, might permanently damage her eyesight. ‘I think you’re right.’
‘Whatever you do, Ben, you’re sure to do it well. I’ve had your breakfast, remember?’
‘Yeah.’ He ran a hand over the back of his neck. ‘Anyway, I don’t want to hold you up, so …’ He pointed at Oystercatcher Cottage.
‘I’m looking forward to seeing you win,’ Thea called to his retreating back.
He laughed. ‘We’ll see,’ he said over his shoulder.
Thea didn’t want to wish away any part of her holiday, but already she couldn’t wait for Friday afternoon.
It was after five when there was a knock on the door and Thea opened it to find Mel standing there.
‘Hello,’ she said, brightly. ‘I come bearing news, though it isn’t really relevant to you.’
‘Come in.’ Thea stepped back to admit her.
‘I’ve ordered a new bed slat,’ Mel said without preamble. ‘I’m so sorry you had to deal with that. It’s not going to be here for another few weeks, though, so as long as the job Ben did is going to last, then you won’t need to worry.’
Thea noticed the way Mel’s features tightened when she mentioned Ben, and felt a stab of protectiveness towards him.
‘He’s done a brilliant job,’ she said. ‘And he came to help me immediately.’ She didn’t add that he’d cooked her breakfast or taken her sightseeing, because neither of those things were relevant to the plan that had formed in her brain in the last few seconds. ‘He’s doing up his whole house by himself.’
‘I’m aware,’ Mel said wryly.
‘And he’s clearly good at it,’ Thea went on, perching on the arm of the sofa.
Mel nodded and smiled. ‘I am grateful to him. It would have taken me longer to arrange for someone to come and fix the bed. A few hours, at least.’
‘Ben could help you out,’ Thea said, keeping her voice light. ‘I mean, he could be a contact for you. I don’t know how many other holiday places you have, but—’
