Chapter Thirteen
Thirteen
When Kate saw the prices on the menu, she was glad she wasn’t paying.
However, by the time she had finished her first course of pan-seared Rye Bay scallops with lemon butter, she forgave the cost.
They were utterly delicious, and even more so because the Cinque Port town of Rye was not far from Bluewater Bay. She was happy to pay a bit more for food that was locally sourced.
Although she wasn’t the one paying.
Raff hadn’t flinched at the prices on the menu, nor on the wine list, and as he was staying here, and had told her he’d stayed here a few times before, both last year and this, he clearly wasn’t concerned. He too, had ordered the scallops.
For their mains, Kate had selected Asparagus, Courgette, and Broccoli Linguine in a white wine sauce, while Raff was sticking with seafood and had ordered Baked Sea Bass with Smoked Aubergine served with roasted asparagus, wilted spinach, and garlic butter baby potatoes.
For dessert they had, once again, made the same choice, namely the Claybrooke Melting Chocolate Surprise, consisting of a decadently rich chocolate brownie topped with a melting chocolate dome sprinkled with edible gold sparkles, and a hot, white chocolate and Irish Cream liqueur sauce.
‘I would eat this every day for the rest of my life if I could,’ Kate said, savouring every mouthful.
Raff grinned at her. ‘I’m not sure about every day, but once a week, definitely.’
As a nod to Valentine’s Day their coffees had each come with a white chocolate heart filled with salted caramel.
During dinner Raff had told her more about the current Rafferty and Hope’s Rescue Centre for Dogs, in Oxford.
He had also disclosed that Oxford was where his parents lived, and where the school at which he taught was situated.
That obviously meant Raff lived in Oxford, because he had mentioned previously that he resided in a beautiful cottage on the school grounds.
Until then, Kate hadn’t asked where he called home because she wasn’t sure she wanted to know how far away – or not – it might be, but now she had discovered he lived in Oxford, she didn’t know whether she was pleased or disappointed.
Oxford wasn’t that far from Chelmsford, but it would take around two hours to get there from her home.
Similar to the journey from Chelmsford to Bluewater Bay.
More of a day trip than an evening out. And a day trip between Oxford and Chelmsford would mean a total travel time of over four hours there and back, so a weekend excursion would be preferable to a day trip.
Then again, Avery had managed to come and see Beth from his home in Meribel. Oxford was virtually next door in comparison.
Not that whatever this was between her and Raff could be compared to what Beth and Avery had.
Why was she even concerned about how long the journey would take? When Raff had talked about them seeing one another again, he probably meant whenever they both happened to be in Bluewater Bay at the same time.
He did appear to have enjoyed the evening as much as she had but that didn’t guarantee he’d want to repeat it anytime soon.
Although he had seemed keen to do so earlier. Would he ask her out again before she went home tonight? Or would he play it cool and wait for a few days? The ball was in his court. Having been the one who had done the asking today, she couldn’t be the one to ask for a second date.
Not that this was a date … Was it?
Hmm. It was time she went home. She was letting her imagination run wild.
Kate had been so engrossed in their conversation that she hadn’t noticed the weather had taken a turn for the worse. It had been appalling earlier in the evening but during their dinner both the wind and rain had intensified considerably.
It was only when Raff nipped to the loo that Kate became aware of the ferocity of the storm. How had she not heard until now, the howling wind and the pelting rain that were battering the building and rattling the windows?
And how had she not noticed that the restaurant was now virtually empty? Only two other couples remained.
She grabbed her phone to check the time and was astonished to find it was eleven p.m. How had the evening gone so quickly?
And how had she not heard her phone ping more than an hour ago when Granny Viv had sent a text? She hastily opened the message and was relieved to see her gran was fine. Not just fine; as mischievous as ever.
The text read: Please don’t come home. Weather diabolical. Millie’s staying here. You should stay there. I’m sure Raff won’t mind. Too dangerous to venture out. Have fun. Lots of Love. XX
Kate tutted. Granny Viv would try anything. True. The weather did sound dreadful but if her gran honestly thought that text would have the desired effect, she was gravelly mistaken.
Yet when Kate called Bluewater Cars a moment later, she was shocked to be told there were no cabs available.
And there wouldn’t be for several hours.
There was no guarantee even then, due to a backlog of bookings, a shortage of drivers, and a number of roads closed after several reports of flash flooding.
There were no other cab companies nearby but even when she rang another in the closest town, the dispatcher almost laughed at her.
It was too far for her to walk even in good weather.
In this storm she would never make it. Raff couldn’t take her home because he’d definitely be over the limit after the champagne and the wine they’d consumed.
And besides, Granny Viv was clearly right.
It was too dangerous to venture out in any case.
Raff looked anxious as he returned to their table. ‘I don’t want to worry you, but it’s blowing a gale out there.’
‘I know. Apparently there’s been some flash flooding and several roads are closed. I think I may need to spend the night. I’ll have to ask if they have a room available.’
‘Of course you must stay here. Even if you could get a cab, I’m not sure it’s wise to be out in this weather. I’m sorry I dragged you out here.’
‘You hardly dragged me,’ she said. ‘And I’m glad I came. The food was delicious and the company was great.’
He smiled. ‘My room has a double bed and a sofa. You can have the bed and I’ll take the sofa.’
Kate blushed at the thought of sharing his room.
‘I can’t ask you to do that?’
‘You didn’t. I offered.’
She considered it for a second. ‘That’s a really kind offer. Thank you. But I think it’s best if I ask if there’s a room available. Please don’t take offence.’
‘None taken.’
When the manager told her they had nothing at all free, she wasn’t sure what to do next.
‘The offer still stands,’ Raff said. ‘I promise not to try to take advantage of you.’
‘I didn’t think for one moment that you would.’
But if the man kept looking at her like that, she might be the one to try to take advantage of him.
‘Kate, it isn’t a big deal. I’m happy to sleep on the sofa.’
‘But I…’ She didn’t really have a choice. ‘Thank you. But I’ll take the sofa and you must have the bed.’
He grinned at her. ‘Must everything be an argument with you?’
‘No. But I couldn’t possibly throw you out of your bed.’
He raised one brow. ‘You’re not. I’m making the decision. Now please just accept this.’
‘I…’ She smiled at him. ‘Okay. Thanks.’
‘There. Problem solved.’
‘Oh. Not quite. I can’t sleep in this dress. This inbuilt corset thing will kill me if I do. I don’t suppose I could borrow a pyjama top, could I?’
‘Not from me, I’m afraid. I don’t wear pyjamas.’
‘You sleep naked? In winter?’
He sniggered. ‘In summer, too. All year round, in fact.’
‘Oh!’ Either the heating had been turned up or her body was overreacting to the thought of Raff sleeping naked. ‘I sleep in PJs all year. Brushed cotton long-sleeved sets in winter, and pure cotton shortie sets in summer. And Beth and I always buy a new set of festive-themed PJs for Christmas Eve.’
‘Really? Always PJs? Never a nightdress?’
She frowned at him. ‘If you’re picturing me wearing one of those winceyette, button-up, high-necked, elasticated long-sleeved nightgowns, forget it. I wouldn’t be seen dead in one of those.’ She folded her arms across her chest although she wasn’t sure why she was getting cross with him.
He slowly raised one brow. ‘I can assure you, Kate, that wasn’t at all how I was picturing you.’ His smile sent new sensations racing through her. ‘And I have the solution to your current predicament. You can borrow a clean shirt.’
She slowly unfolded her arms and breathed out a sigh of relief.
‘Thank you. That would be great. I could’ve just slept in my knickers, I suppose, but if I forget where I am and get up in the night, you might get an eyeful.
That happened to poor Avery via a video call and although…
’ Realising that, once again, she was divulging all sorts of things she really shouldn’t be, she let her voice trail off.
What the hell was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she just shut up?
Did she really have to tell him every single thought she had?
She smiled sheepishly. ‘Sorry. Too much information.’
He threw her a devilish grin. ‘On the contrary. Not enough information. But please don’t worry on my account.
I’m sure I could handle it. In fact, now I come to think of it, I’m not sure I do have a clean shirt to lend you, so …
’ He laughed. ‘Don’t worry. I do. And in the same spirit of consideration for others, I’ll keep my boxer shorts on tonight. Or you might get an eyeful.’
Their eyes met and Kate laughed too.
‘Thank you. I appreciate that.’
‘Shall we have a nightcap in the bar?’ Raff suggested. ‘As you won’t be dashing off.’
‘Why not. But please, please, please, let me pay for those at least.’
‘No. Sorry. We had a deal. The next time is on you.’
Kate puffed out a sigh. ‘Fine. I’m just going to text my gran to tell her I won’t be home tonight. I don’t want her to worry.’
‘Good idea. I’ll go ahead and get the drinks. Champagne? Cognac? Something else?’
‘I’d love a Drambuie. But I usually only drink that on special occasions.’
‘This is a special occasion. It’s Valentine’s Day.’ He grinned and headed towards the bar.
Kate typed a text: ‘I’m staying but don’t get excited. No cabs available. Sleep well. Love & kisses. XX’
She knew her gran would have a field day when she read the text, despite the fact that Kate had tried to make it clear she wasn’t staying for romantic reasons.
Granny Viv would be imagining all sorts of scenarios and no doubt thinking up a variety of schemes to get Kate and Raff together again as soon as possible.
Mind you, Kate had to admit that Granny Viv could never have guessed that Kate would phone Raff and ask him out to dinner tonight.
Nor could she have known they’d be having dinner in the restaurant of the hotel in which he was staying and that it was, for all intent and purpose, in the middle of nowhere.
And not even Granny Viv could have conjured up a storm of such magnitude that roads would be flooded, and getting a cab would be impossible.
The woman couldn’t have planned this better herself.
In fact, it almost seemed like … Fate.