Chapter 7
CAMERON
‘You’re here just in time!’ Flora said as Cameron entered the gemstone shop two days later.
The older woman was wearing a forest-green kaftan today and Izzi was already wandering around the small shop, still in her purple Candy Apple Café polo shirt because she’d been working there all day.
Cameron happened to know she’d started at six am because he’d heard her creeping out of the garden twenty minutes before.
She hadn’t taken her car, which he was going to speak to her about later.
It was too early to be wandering the streets alone.
Not that she was likely to bump into anything malevolent – unless she hated squirrels as much as Cupcake did.
He wandered in between the tall shelves, which were piled with handcrafted bowls and pots of coloured stones.
Cameron didn’t know what most of them were, although his grandma’s house was filled with them.
There were racks of colourful eclectic jewellery too, alongside essential oils, packs of tarot cards, cauldrons, rune stones and various mystical statues.
There were also piles of fleecy rugs in earthy tones and handmade embroidered cushions made from tactile materials.
Cameron happened to know Flora sold lots of those.
Izzi turned and gave him a tired smile. He hadn’t seen her since the Candy Apple Lassies meeting in the café. They’d both been working long hours, and after a talking to from his grandma, he’d had to relent and leave out a key so Izzi could access his kitchen.
As much as Cameron was uneasy about letting Izzi have free rein of his house, he didn’t want to miss out on the meals she kept leaving.
Last night’s beef stew had been delicious.
He had to admit his grandma had been right about her cooking for him.
But he still had to keep his distance emotionally.
Food couldn’t offer an easy access to his heart.
He barely knew Izzi, and was concerned she was lying to him – she’d already wormed her way into his grandma’s café and his home, he wasn’t going to let her get any closer than that.
‘Hi,’ she said as soon as she spotted him, her expression shy.
Cameron cleared his throat, alarmed at the way his whole body seemed to perk up. ‘Hello,’ he said, feeling the buzz of the word low in his throat. He cleared it, trying to wipe away his growing attraction. He heard Flora let out a light chuckle and turned.
‘Well, now we’ve got that out of the way – shall we talk about why you’re both here?
’ Her eyes sparkled as she pointed to a doorway which led into the back of the shop.
Cameron knew she used it as an office, and it was also where she did readings for clients.
‘I’ve spoken to the members of the Candy Apple Lassies, along with everyone who runs a shop in the high street, and Violet had a word with the headteacher at school,’ she explained, jumping straight to business as she led them into the small room and indicated they should take a seat on the opposite side of the desk.
The surface was covered by a silky purple cloth and had been cleared of everything but two white porcelain cups and saucers. Cameron shut his eyes for a beat because he knew what was coming. Flora had been trying to do a reading for him for years.
‘Everyone’s on board for the festival.’ Flora drew a thick yellow pad from the desk drawer.
‘I hope you don’t feel that I’m taking over,’ she said, giving them a smile.
‘It’s just I know more people in the village and it’s easier for me to communicate without Maud hearing about it than it is for either of you.
’ She directed the apology to Izzi, probably because she knew Cameron already understood.
‘Oh, I’m happy for you to do it,’ she said brightly. ‘I’m not sure Cameron and I could organise this all by ourselves, but I do want to be involved. Maud was talking about Halloween in the café again this morning and she looked… I don’t know…’ She pulled a face. ‘A little sad.’
Cameron cleared his throat, feeling the truth of that down to his bones.
His gran was careful not to show him how upset she was about the cancelled trip, but he’d known in his heart that it still bothered her and now he had confirmation.
Worse, he’d noticed an alarming number of unpaid bills for the café when he’d been covering for her at the Candy Apple Lassies meeting.
He’d tried to talk to her about it, but she’d brushed it off.
He was wondering if it was related to Sophie taking her money.
Was she in debt because she’d loaned all her savings?
He’d racked his brains for a way of getting her to share with him, but at this point there was very little he could do.
Allowing Izzi to stay in his cabin and getting involved in the festival was one way of making things up to her – at least until he’d tracked down his ex-partner and got their money back, which he was determined to do.
In the meantime, he was going to keep a special eye on his grandma.
‘We’re going to do something about that. Maud is going to love the Halloween festival, it’s truly inspired,’ Flora declared, giving Cameron a thoughtful look as if she’d read his mood. ‘I’ve got a list of projects – things you can help organise.’ She raised an eyebrow in his direction. ‘Together.’
‘Okay,’ he growled. He’d been afraid of that.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help. He did.
This whole thing was down to his mistake.
But he wasn’t sure spending more time with Izzi was good for him.
She was inching under his skin, and he couldn’t seem to stop her.
His instinct was to steer clear, but that would be impossible now.
‘Of course I’m happy to do whatever needs to be done. ’
‘Excellent!’ Flora said before flipping over one of the pages of the book and reading from a list she’d already made.
‘So, Violet’s happy to organise the Halloween costumes and parade.
’ She ticked off the first point. ‘We’re going to do spooky readings in the bookshop and I’m going to sort a bonfire – traditionally in Scotland lovers throw hazelnuts in them to see if their relationship will be happy or turbulent.
We’ll provide the nuts and have someone monitor the fire.
I’ll be interested to see what it uncovers; there are a few fiery relationships in Honey Haven at the moment, so we’ll find out if any of them will last.’ She grinned widely.
‘We’ll do crafts in the village hall. Lara McNab – Cat’s sister who runs the florist’s – is going to organise that. ’
‘Is there anything left for us to organise?’ Izzi asked eagerly.
‘Aye, lass, plenty. I need you to take care of the sweet treats, which we’ll give out during the event. You mentioned treacle scones, but there’s candy apples, and themed cakes. I’m sure you can think of plenty more.’
‘I can do that.’ Izzi nodded enthusiastically.
‘I’ve got some ideas – a fusion of American and Scottish cuisines.
My mum used to bake pumpkin cookies with me at Halloween, so I’m going to try those.
’ She eyed Cameron thoughtfully. ‘And I’ve got just the person to test my recipes on.
I’ll make notes and let you know what we think will work before deciding on anything. ’
Cameron patted a hand on his stomach – he was going to have to work extra hard in the gym if he wanted to keep it flat.
But he wasn’t going to say no to Izzi’s cooking.
She’d only been here a few days and he was already addicted.
This morning he’d found himself opening the oven and wondering if he should learn how to use it.
But he was unlikely to be able to recreate her masterpieces.
Was it all part of her grand plan to win him round by making herself indispensable?
‘Sounds good, lass,’ Flora said. ‘If you speak to Erin about ingredients, she’ll provide everything you need. The Candy Apple Lassies have money set aside for these types of community events, so you don’t need to be out of pocket.’
‘That’s… good,’ Izzi said quietly, her voice a little strained.
Was it Cameron’s imagination or did Izzi look relieved?
He didn’t know much about her finances. Short of checking that the bakery she’d spoken of existed and speaking to a couple of her friends – which he’d done – he knew almost nothing about her, and it was making him nervous.
Especially since he was beginning to like her, was attracted to her too – which complicated things.
‘Anything else?’ Izzi asked.
‘Aye.’ Flora leaned forward. ‘In a few weeks, closer to the day, we’ll need to pick up the pumpkins for the school children to carve.
We’ll want some for the Candy Apple Lassies, too, and you should both have a turn.
Cameron’s got the largest truck in the village, so we’ll need you to do that.
I’ve spoken to someone at Honey Haven Farm and we’ve got them on order.
On the day, you’ll be able to pick what we need. ’
‘Okay,’ he agreed.
‘Finally, we want to offer a spooky tour for the villagers. Something scary and fun because I know Maud will love it.’ She cackled.
‘I need you to check out a location and come up with ways to decorate it. If you need anything – cobwebs, skeletons, giant spiders, ghosts – please report back because I’ve got the contacts to source those. ’
‘Where will the tour take place?’ Izzi asked, and Cameron nodded even though he thought he already knew.
‘We’ve got the perfect place thanks to Violet, who works at the school,’ she explained to Izzi.
‘Her cousin Josh Dunbar, who lives in London, recently bought The Old Castle with a view to renovating it. He’s offered to lend it out and he’ll cover any insurances we’ll need too.
He works in the city, has friends in the right places, apparently. ’