Chapter 43
CHAPTER 43
I n some ways, it was a relief. Since that very first lie to Gemma, Kent had known this moment would come, and the anxiety of predicting her reaction had grown with every passing day. Only now, she knew, and she wasn’t reacting. She was just sitting there.
“Gemma?”
He lifted his hand, struck with a sudden urge to reach out and touch her arm, only he thought better of it. Instead, he waited.
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t Oscar tell me?” Gemma said, eventually.
“I thought he had. I really did, but then you and I spoke, and then I realised…”
His words faltered as he shook his head. There was no way he could dig himself out of this. He’d had dozens of opportunities to tell her the truth, but he’d been too much of a coward. Her lack of forgiveness was the least he deserved.
“Don’t blame Oscar for this. He’s been in and out of hospital lately; it’s been a tough time for him.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” Gemma said. “I hope he’s doing okay?”
Kent felt his chest hitch. He had just come in and thrown her life upside-down, and there she was, checking on how his uncle was. She really was a remarkable woman. With an unexpected heat filling him, Kent was struck with the sudden urge to tell her as much, only he swallowed back his words. This wasn’t the time.
“So, the eight-week trial,” Gemma said. “That was your idea?”
Kent nodded. “I knew you would ring Oscar after our drink the other week, but I got to him first and persuaded him to lie for me. I know that sounds terrible, but honestly, I thought I was being kind. I hoped that by that point, we would have sorted out a decent working relationship. And then, at some point, I’d make out like I’d just decided to buy the place from Oscar, and we’d carry on like that.”
“Were you?” Gemma replied. “Or were you hoping that I’d quit?”
“What?” It was Kent’s turn to be surprised. “No, not once was I thinking that. You’re brilliant at the front of house, Gemma. You have a way with people that’s perfect for the job. I’d be an idiot to force out one of the best members of staff I’ve ever worked with.”
She raised her eyebrows as if, once again, she didn’t believe him.
“Okay,” he admitted. “Maybe not the best for me to work with personally, but definitely the best with the customers.”
He let out another sigh, allowing his eyes to drift away from Gemma and across the water. It was beautiful there, and had it been another time or situation, he could easily imagine coming for a romantic walk, sitting and feeding the ducks. Perhaps some people even thought that was what they were doing. Perhaps they thought they were a couple, just enjoying their time together. But they weren’t, and now the truth was out in the open there was no point beating around the bush.
“Gemma, my bills are big. It took everything I had to get this place. I don’t have any flexibility. If I don’t make it work, then I’m not sure what will happen, but I need to be turning a bigger profit, and I know that this place is perfectly capable of doing it. I also know it would be a lot easier if I had you onside, working with me rather than against me. What do you say, any chance?”