Page 18 of Sparring Partners
Adrian shrugged but his lips tipped into a smile. “Not a problem. See you. Luca.”
Luca…
And then Adrian was gone, leaving nothing behind but the faint impression of his earthy, woodsy cologne, the scent of the land, and the echo of his deep voice, saying Luca’s name.
CHAPTERNINE
“Thank you all for coming to the coordinating meeting for the annual Love’s Harbour Autumn Fête. I’d like to welcome our new member, Adrian Hardy from Ladywell Farm, who takes the place of Vince…” Eva coughed and everybody gathered around the pulled together tables shifted in their seats, “who resigned due to unreasonable?—”
“Unresolvable, Nan. Unresolvable.” Ryan smiled at his grandmother.
“Ah, yes. That’s right.Unresolvableartistic differences. So let’s all give Adrian a big welcome.”
Adrian met Ryan’s eye, who answered with a shit eating grin. Somebody sniggered. He nodded to the gathering, and shifted in his seat, wedged in between Beryl, the owner of Baps ’n’ Buns bakery, and Joss, the young veterinary nurse with the ever sunny smile who was the official notetaker. He didn’t want to be here, but he’d been powerless to refuse when he’d been literally cornered in the pub’s kitchen when he’d dropped off a delivery. Faced with Eva, indomitable despite her newly coloured candy floss pink hair piled high, and with a determined glint in her eye, he’d had no chance.
“Refreshments are served.” Charles arrived, pushing a trolley heaped with cups of tea and coffee, and plates of biscuits. Adrian accepted a coffee and passed the biscuits along. He’d stick the meeting out, and then speak to Eva quietly afterwards, a firm and definite resignation from the fête committee. He had way too much to do on the farm and?—
The door opened, the bell stopping all chatter. Adrian’s hand froze around his cup.
“I’m so sorry I’m late.” Luca smiled at the gathering. “I got caught up — running a hotel is nothing if not unpredictable,” he said as he shrugged off his waxed jacket, not new and pristine like so many worn by the newer locals, but older and worn in. With dark jeans and a fitted shirt in the palest pink, he was effortlessly both casual and elegant.
“It’s starting to rain.” Luca brushed his hands through his hair. “Perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to walk.”
A ripple of laughter broke out.
“Luca, I’ve kept a space for you,” a cultured, assured voice said.
Jonathan Something, Whats-It. Whatever.
Adrian had poured all his effort into ignoring the man who sat across from him. He didn’t know Jonathan as much as Jonathan didn’t know him. It didn’t matter that the guy didn’t deserve any of the antipathy Adrian silently threw his way. It didn’t matter that it was unwarranted, irrational, and juvenile. But it was what it was, because Jonathan, smiling, assured, and looking very at home, was a hard, gut punching reminder of everything Adrian had worked hard to try to forget.
Adrian forced himself to take a closer look at him. There was a strong and unmistakable surface resemblance to the man he couldn’t bring himself to name. The swept back dark hair with silver at the temples, the firm and chiselled jaw, the assured air, the confident glint in his pale grey eyes. Attractive, Adrian grudgingly admitted, and fully aware of it.
Jonathan threw his arm across the back of Luca’s chair, his hand resting easily on Luca’s shoulder, and the muscles in Adrian’s own shoulders and neck stiffened. Why shouldn’t Jonathan do that? They were — or according to Harry — an item. It was no business of his. About to turn his attention away, he stopped when Luca looked across, a friendly smile on his lips, as he pulled his chair closer to the table, dislodging Jonathan’s arm. Adrian smiled back, the tension in his muscles softening.
Eva called for attention. “At our last meeting, we talked about striking a balance between maintaining the traditional, rural feel to the fête, and introducing newer ideas to keep the event fresh.” Eva looked around the assembled group, the backcombed pink fluff on her head wobbling with every movement. The woman seemed to have a different style and neon colour every time Adrian saw her; god alone knew how it hadn’t all fallen out. Perhaps she wore wigs? But he didn’t think they made wigs that bad.
“I have a suggestion, if I may?”
Adrian dragged his attention away from Eva. Jonathan’s smile was relaxed and easy. He leant forward and addressed the group, oozing easy confidence.
“We talked about widening the food and drink offering, at the last meeting, beyond mere hotdogs and cake.”
“I like hotdogs, with loads of onions and ketchup,” Joss muttered, on one side of Adrian, as on the other Beryl, purveyor of mere cake alongside baps and buns, stiffened and breathed hard through her nose.
“I’ve been speaking to restaurateurs, both here in Love’s Harbour, and in neighbouring villages. They’re keen to get involved, and offer smaller or tasting portions of their key dishes. It’s standard practice at all the better, more upscale local festivals. Perhaps even The New House’s kitchen could be persuaded to come onboard?” Jonathan smiled at Luca.
Adrian frowned.
Luca’s lips curved downward.
“It’s an excellent idea, but I’m afraid that won’t be possible. We’re fully booked and we also have a number of functions lined up, all of which keep the kitchen very busy. However, Alex and Ryan,” he nodded to Ryan, sprawled in a chair next to his nan Eva, “and I all want to support the event. I understand that a feature of the fête is a grand raffle, and The New House would like to offer spa day vouchers as prizes, and an all inclusive lunch or dinner for two.”
A babble of excited voices rippled around the table. “That’s very generous. You didn’t tell me this, Ryan. Quick, Joss my love, record that in the minutes.”
Adrian looked down and smiled at Eva’s eagerness, as though she were afraid the offer would be rescinded if it were not officially recorded. He picked up his coffee and looked over the rim, his gaze finding Luca, who’d produced a note pad from somewhere. In his hand he held the slim, silver pen and as their eyes met his lips lifted in a small, warm smile.
“… and also Le Bistro has a wonderful tasting menu which can be adjusted for an outdoor event. Wonderful Provençal cuisine. And the Harbourside Wine and Deli is arguably the best champagne bar this side of Bristol, if not in the whole of the West Country. There are so many quality options in the village and surrounding area. If we approach this in the right way — and I’m more than willing to be the key liaison on this — we could have a food and drink festival that would be second to none in the region. We should make it a showcase. A destination event, if you like.”
