recover from the temporary blip on my radar and close the sale of Sunflower Cottage. That was what I was here to do.
Chapter 7
A buzz of chatter greeted me when I got back to the guesthouse, as did the smell of baking. I followed it to the kitchen and found Noah and Rose sitting at the table as Dixie chased a green tennis ball around the room. The conversation came to an abrupt halt and they each turned to look at me. Dixie immediately rolled out the welcome wagon and brought me her ball, so I threw it down the lobby for her.
âHello, dear!â Roseâs voice was as bright and sunny as the day outside. âNice to see you getting out and about! Thereâs food going if you fancy any?â
I could see Noah staring in my direction, his facial expression unreadable. It was as though he was searching for some tiny imperfection on my face; his brow was crumpled and his eyes slightly narrowed. I squirmed; I didnât like being under the spotlight.
âSure,â I replied, taking a seat at the table. âIâd love some. Maybe we could talk business too?â
Noah took that as his cue to leave, calling to Dixie to come with him. He shot me a dark look before he left the room. Rose didnât seem to mind and cut us some cake, sticking the slices on china plates and joining me back at the table. I got ready to put my business head on and banish that dayâs bombshell from my mind. Business was what I knew, what I was comfortable with. It would help me forget.
Rose, however, had other ideas.
âDonât mind him,â she said, leaning in conspiratorially. âHeâs a lovely boy really, just forgets himself sometimes. As youâll probably have gathered, heâs none too keen about me selling this place. Canât say I blame him really; Sunflower Cottage has been like home for him since⦠Well, it means a lot to him, letâs just say.â
Her eyes quickly darted to her tea, as though she knew sheâd almost said too much. âH⦠he was telling me your car will be up and running again soon; something to do with the battery or somethingâ¦â
I stared at the door heâd just walked out of, expecting him to come storming back in at any moment. âDoes he help you run this place?â
âWhen heâs not busy at the garage, yes,â said Rose. âHe wants to be here full-time; would spend every waking minute here if he could! But I told him: I said I wanted him out there living his life instead of being stuck here with me. The silly sod gave up his job last year after I had a fall and moved down here! He had his own mechanics business in Leeds and he sold it to come and live in Luna Bay. Told me heâd only be staying a few weeks until I got back on my feet then casually announced heâd bought a cottage nearby! I nearly fainted with shock.â
Noahâs devotion to Rose and Sunflower Cottage came as something of a pleasant surprise and I found myself smiling.
âWow, so he just packed up his life and came down here? Thatâs brave,â I remarked, trying not to let my surprise seep into my voice.
âHeâs a brave person.â Rose chose not to elaborate and took a forkful of lemon drizzle cake. âNow, letâs get down to business, shall we?â
*
I spent the next hour eating my body weight in cake, drinking enough tea to fill the North Sea and explaining the features and benefits of Walter Marshall Hotels to Rose again. I laid her fears to rest and told her we wouldnât be bulldozing Sunflower Cottage and replacing it with some anonymous glass-and-steel skyscraper, even showing her a PowerPoint presentation on my laptop.
âThis place has so much character,â Iâd said, gesturing around at the gorgeous country kitchen. âWhy would we want to lose that?â
By the time I left to go back to my room, I felt more confident about closing the deal than ever. Rose had made some very
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