Chapter Fifteen
Watching Andrea Carpenter leave, Cat decided she had definitely earned the title ‘client from hell’.
The past hour had been simply awful. Her head spun.
After four years of managing weddings in the hotel she should have known what was coming as soon as the woman arrived in reception.
She recognised the type immediately. Blonde and brash, a large, beige Michael Kors tote over one shoulder, she strode in, in a blaze of white, gold sandals on her feet and heavy jewellery decorating her neck and wrists.
Newly arrived in the area, she was here for an initial discussion about holding her daughter’s autumn wedding at Tarwin House.
After a quite fractious meeting, where Cat was left in no doubt about the limitations of the hotel, she departed with an insincere smile and a wave of one of her perfectly manicured hands.
Much as she hated to lose a potential customer, watching the white Range Rover disappear into the distance, Cat knew on this occasion she’d had a lucky escape.
‘Nightmare,’ she said under her breath before turning and walking back into the hotel.
As she reached her office her mobile buzzed.
She opened it to find a text from Luke, telling her he’d pick her up at seven thirty.
He was taking her to a new Italian in Newquay tonight.
Could life get any better? Their first unbelievable night together had, over the past few weeks, developed into a full-blown love affair.
Despite his regular texts during the day, every minute he wasn’t with her seemed unbearable.
The working day dragged and she longed for the evening when they could be together again.
She found herself recalling their intimate moments: his lips against her skin, the feel of him moving inside her, the passionate conclusion to their lovemaking and the way he held her afterwards, his arms wrapped around her as they drifted off to sleep.
Is this what falling in love felt like, she wondered?
She treasured her time with him, whether like this evening they were eating out, or simply spending a wet afternoon curled up together at the cottage watching a movie with a bottle of wine.
Quickly she texted him back, closed down her computer and went in search of Nathan, hoping he’d remembered their lunch date.
Making her way down the corridor, which linked the dining room to the bar, she met Marika coming towards her carrying a large jug of iced water.
‘Hi, Marika,’ Cat greeted her with a smile. ‘How are you today?’
‘Me? Fine.’ She gave an insolent shrug as her blue eyes met Cat’s.
Something in her arrogant attitude instantly irritated Cat.
She knew Jordan and Marika were now an item; that he often called at the hotel to pick her up after her shift.
Since then she appeared to have turned into a total prima donna.
Cat was never deliberately spiteful but something in the waitress’s attitude sparked the need to deliver a few home truths about Jordan Hunter.
Besides, when things did go wrong, as they almost surely would, at least she couldn’t say she hadn’t been warned.
‘Before you go,’ Cat said gently, keen to make this feel like friendly advice, ‘I’m aware you’re dating Jordan at the moment, but I think there’s something you ought to know. He likes to play the field … he’s not the kind of guy who settles with one girlfriend for very long.’
‘I do not think you know him very well.’ The waitress smiled and shook her head with a patronising smirk. ‘In fact, I do not think you know him at all.’
‘I grew up with him, Marika. I know him a lot better than you do.’
‘Then you are jealous, maybe, because you want him for yourself.’
Me and Jordan? Cat wanted to laugh out loud at the absurdity of such a statement.
Amusement began to lift the corners of her mouth but she quickly pulled her face back into a more serious expression.
She didn’t think Marika would take kindly to being laughed at.
‘I don’t fancy him, I never have, and my words are not out of jealousy but out of concern for you. I’ve seen what happens to—’
‘Miss Trevelyan …’ Marika cocked her head to one side and her infuriating smirk resurfaced.
‘It is very kind of you to have this concern for me but you need not worry. We are already in love, you see … yes, we are together, and for him I am most special. He says it often and I tell him, Jordie you are special too.’ She gave a silly little laugh.
‘All these stupid girls he has been with, they are nothing. And you know why? Because I am the one he has asked to meet his parents. Yes, I am invited to a meal at their house,’ she said excitedly, ‘so what does this mean? It says I will soon have the ring on my finger to prove I am the one. A diamond I think, I adore diamonds.’ She waved her left hand provocatively at Cat.
‘Now, if you excuse me, I have my work to do.’
Exasperated, Cat watched her disappear. A wave of irritation came from nowhere. The girl’s uppity attitude rankled. Right, she decided. Jordie or no Jordie, she would simply leave her to her fate, the smug little madam.
Evie Hunter looked around her glossy state of the art kitchen with a satisfied smile.
Today was a first. Jordan was bringing a girlfriend home.
She must be special, she decided. For years she’d been privy to gossip about the number of young women who had breezed in and out of her son’s life.
Martha Boden, who came in to take care of the weekly laundry at Clyffe House, was always keen to tell her the latest news about Jordan.
What she didn’t know wasn’t worth bothering with.
She’d always believed the reason he didn’t stay with anyone for long was because he hadn’t found the right sort of girl.
From the glimpses she’d seen of his female companions in the past she was less than impressed.
Blonde, flashy young women who probably thought the world turned for them.
Not at all the kind she wanted for a daughter-in-law.
But now it appeared someone had come into his life; a girl very different from all those others.
Naturally, Jordan was being very secretive about the whole thing. Trust him to want to surprise her.
‘What’s she like?’ Evie had asked.
‘Funny. She makes me laugh a lot,’ he’d replied.
‘Is she local?’
‘No.’
‘Is she pretty? Will I like her?’ she’d asked, knowing she was beginning to sound overanxious but she couldn’t help it. Jordan was her baby and it was important if he was thinking of settling down that the girl met with her approval. And Gareth’s, of course, she added as an afterthought.
‘Mother.’ He’d tapped her lightly on the nose with his finger. ‘You’ll just have to wait and see. Now, behave please.’
Memories of their conversation seeped into Evie’s brain making her feel uncertain.
What if she doesn’t like me? It’s so important we get on.
Oh God! She walked over to one of the kitchen wall cabinets and extracted a wine glass.
Taking it to the double-fronted fridge she swung the door open and took out a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Uncorking it, she poured herself a large glass, leaving the bottle on the worktop as she savoured her first calming mouthful.
The amount of wine left in the bottle bore testament to the fact this wasn’t the first drink she’d had today; the impending visit had set her nerves on fire.
She wanted everything to be perfect; well at least the food would present no problems. She’d already asked him about his mystery woman’s taste.
Following Jordan’s suggestions she’d made a detailed food list and her order had arrived half an hour ago via the local deli in Carrenporth.
Thank God for gifted people, she thought.
I’m completely useless beyond roast lunches.
Now all she had to do was to unwrap everything and set it out on the patio table.
Gareth was currently in the process of showering and changing.
He’d take charge of the wine as soon as he came down.
Wine. She took another fortifying mouthful of Cabernet, already feeling its warming properties bolstering her confidence for the coming lunchtime session.
It would be fine, absolutely fine. She smiled.
Draining her glass, she returned the bottle to the fridge before hurrying upstairs to change.
Jordan pulled up outside the house, whipped around to the passenger side of his car and helped Marika out.
‘Your house is so big.’ She stood there wide-eyed. ‘In Poland we …’
Oh God here we go again, he gave a silent groan.
Why did the silly cow keep on making comparisons about her life in Poland?
He smiled, his thoughts drowning out the comment she’d just made.
He wasn’t interested. In fact, he was beginning to wish he’d never dumped Chantelle.
At least she was on his wavelength. She knew all about fun and having a good time.
Marika seemed to see-saw between big-eyed wonderment – like now – and an overabundance of touchy-feely.
Ed, Daniel and Spence found the whole thing highly entertaining.
Jordan didn’t share their amusement. To him, being continually groped in public had become completely embarrassing.
It wasn’t as if she was much of a lay either.
True, she was one of the best looking girls he’d been with but his plan for a summer fling had well and truly backfired.
Still, she had one last use before he dumped her.
He couldn’t wait to see the expression on his mother’s face.
‘Come on, time to meet the parents,’ he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the front door.