Chapter 10
After paying for the fuse and ordering the other part she needed to fix the heater, she pushed the shop door open and stepped out into the cold, grateful for the fresh air and lack of judgement.
Keeping her head down, she turned in the direction of the van, halting as she felt herself collide with someone.
Looking up, she felt her face redden. ‘Rowan, I’m so sorry.
I wasn’t looking where I was going… again. ’
‘Hey, no worries.’ Kneeling down, Rowan picked up the takeaway coffee cup which was gently rolling across their path, leaving a trail of brown liquid in its wake.
‘Oh, I’m so sorry.’ As he stood up, she realised a large patch of spilt coffee had formed across the front of yet another brightly knitted Christmas jumper peeking beneath his open jacket.
Shoving the fuse into her bag, she pulled out a pack of tissues, tore one out and stepped forward, wiping at the mark on his jumper.
‘What is it with me and drinks? If I’m not bashing into your cart and smashing a load of cups, then someone is smashing mine and now I’ve even managed to knock a takeaway cup out of your hands. ’
Rowan placed his hand over hers, stilling her as she scrubbed at the stain. ‘No harm done.’
‘Right.’ As the realisation that they were standing there, his hand over hers, sank in, Scarlett froze.
His touch felt good against her skin. She shook her head and gently pulled her hand away.
What was she doing? Apart from making a complete fool out of herself, that was.
‘Sorry, I… Were you delivering that drink? I’ll come back to your cart and buy another one before taking it wherever you were heading. ’
‘No, it was mine. And you’ve probably done me a favour.
I really shouldn’t be drinking coffee on my day off, especially buying one from one of my competitors.
’ He chuckled as he stepped towards a bin and dropped the cup inside before turning back to her and nodding towards the hardware store. ‘You’re doing some DIY?’
‘My heater broke last night. I think it’s the fuse or another part I’ve ordered in.
Or else I’m hoping it is, otherwise…’ She shrugged.
She wasn’t about to tell him that she’d have to put up with freezing until she’d saved up enough money to replace it.
She hadn’t even earnt enough money from that excuse of a craft fair to fill the camper’s tank up, let alone to buy a heater too.
‘Do you live far? I can give you a hand if you like?’ He held his hands up, palms forward. ‘Not that I’m saying I don’t think you can fix it. I guess what I’m really saying is I’ve got a free afternoon, and would you like to hang out?’
Scarlett laughed. She’d seen enough of Rowan to realise he hadn’t meant it in the way he was worried it would come across. ‘I suppose I do owe you a coffee.’
‘Haha, that’s true.’ Looking down at the path, Rowan ran his fingers through his short hair before meeting her gaze again and holding his hand out in front of him. ‘Lead the way.’
‘Right, well, it’s not far.’ Leading the way towards the camper, she glanced around the street, relieved when she didn’t spot Miss Cooke lying in wait for her. Reaching the van, she clicked the keys to unlock it before sliding the door open to reveal her home on wheels.
Whistling through his teeth, Rowan stepped inside and turned on the spot before looking back at her and raising his eyebrows. ‘This is amazing.’
‘Huh, thanks.’ Following him in, Scarlett closed the door quickly behind her. She had a feeling not all of Meadowfield’s residents, especially Miss Cooke, would approve of her living quarters.
‘You live in here?’ Walking across to the back of the van, he opened the door of the tiny toilet.
‘For the last four months or so I have, yes.’ Kicking her boots off, Scarlett dropped to the floor in front of the electric heater and pulled the fuse out of her bag. ‘This shouldn’t take too long and then the place will warm up and I’ll get you a coffee.’
‘Okay, thanks.’ Sitting down on the sofa, Rowan turned to Thelma’s cage next to him. ‘You’ve got a pet, too.’
Shifting position, she glanced behind her towards him.
‘Yes, meet Thelma the guinea pig. Actually, could you open the cage door so she can wander, please? I rescued her just before I travelled down here. The poor thing was cooped up in a cage that wasn’t fit for a hamster, let alone a guinea pig, and forgotten about for her entire life, so, even though I got her a new cage, I like to let her free roam whilst I’m here.
I’m going to guinea pig proof the van so she can have the freedom all the time when I can. ’
‘Oh, bless her. That’s no life for a beauty like you, is it?’ Unlocking the cage door, Rowan held his hand out and grinned as Thelma nudged him with her nose.
‘Aw, she likes you.’ Smiling, Scarlett reached behind her and pulled her toolbox towards her.
As she changed the fuse, they fell into a comfortable silence, only broken by Rowan as he spoke softly to Thelma.
Scarlett felt a warmth growing inside her.
She may have only met Rowan a week or so ago, but she felt as though she’d known him far longer.
‘So, have you been living in Meadowfield long?’
‘No, only a couple of years.’
‘Ah, what brought you here then? If you don’t mind me asking. Was it because you’d heard good things about the tight ship the lovely mayoress runs?’ Scarlett grimaced. She shouldn’t have said that; for all she knew he thought highly of Miss Cooke, or, worse, they were related.
Rowan chuckled. ‘I’m guessing you’ve had a run-in with her already? About parking the van in the village, by any chance?’
Twisting around, screwdriver in hand, Scarlett looked up at him. ‘How did you guess?’
Rowan shrugged. ‘She used to complain about my coffee cart too before I plied her with coffee until she granted me a street vending licence.’
‘Haha, good idea. Although I’m not sure what I could bribe her with. I could maybe start posting my cards through her letter box or something.’
‘Or else you could just start chucking mugs at her front door until she gives in and lets you be. You’re good at that.’ Rowan chuckled again, his laugh contagious.
‘Oi! I think we’ve both lost enough mugs for the time being. Any more, and we’ll both be out of business.’ Turning back, she repeated her question. ‘So why Meadowfield of all places?’
Rowan’s tone shifted as he spoke quietly. ‘My marriage broke down and I needed to get away from where I was living. I just couldn’t move on with my life whilst I knew my ex might be around every corner. And I’d come to Meadowfield and stayed at Pennycress Inn whilst travelling with my last job.’
‘Right. That’s my cousin’s inn.’ Turning her back on him, Scarlett frowned. It seemed they had both found Meadowfield as their sanctuary then.
‘What about you? What’s your Choosing Meadowfield story, or are you just visiting your cousin?’ By the tone of his voice, he obviously hadn’t noticed how much his revelation had affected her.
‘Oh, umm, yes, just visiting my cousin.’ With the fuse now changed, she plugged the heater back in, switched it on, and stood up. ‘Right, coffee time.’
‘That was quick. It would have taken me at least an hour to figure out what I was doing.’ Rowan nodded towards the heater.
‘Haha, I was the go-to handyman, or I should say handywoman, at my last job, so I’ve changed a few in my time.
’ Turning, she switched the kettle on. She’d have to give Devon a call later and see how he was getting on finding a replacement for her.
She hoped she hadn’t totally left him in the lurch and that the other waiting staff would have stepped in to cover her shifts.
She hated the thought of letting him down after all he’d done for her, after being there for her for so long and supporting her through so much.
‘What did you do?’ After gently lowering Thelma to the rug, Rowan joined her in front of the small workspace and set out two mugs.
‘I worked as a waitress at this wine bar. The punters were awful, but my boss was the best and like a dad to me.’ Picking up the jar of cheap instant coffee, she grimaced. ‘I’m afraid this won’t be a patch on what you sell.’
Turning to face her, Rowan smiled. ‘Any coffee is good. Especially when the company is better.’
She looked away and spooned the coffee granules into the cups.
Was it just friends he wanted? Was it only friendship she wanted?
She closed her eyes briefly, listening to the click of the kettle as it steamed.
There could never be anything else between them; he wouldn’t want there to be, not when he discovered the truth about her.
Forcing a smile, she filled the mugs before adding the milk.
‘Here you go. One weak and tasteless coffee.’
‘Thanks.’ Taking his mug, he sat back on the sofa.
Scarlett leaned against the work surface before wrapping her hands around the hot mug and frowning. ‘Is it still cold in here, or is it just me?’
‘Afraid not. It’s still cold.’ Standing up, Rowan held his hand in front of the heater.
‘It’s not working, is it?’ She slumped her shoulders and sighed. She’d known a broken fuse had been the best-case scenario, but she’d been hopeful, nonetheless.
‘Nope, sorry, it’s not.’ Rowan shook his head.
‘Drat. I’ll need the other part then.’ Scarlett scrunched up her nose. She couldn’t impose on Laura and Jackson again tonight. Well, she could, she knew they’d have her, but she didn’t want to. She’d always hated the thought of being a burden.
‘Have you got another form of heating for tonight or somewhere to stay? It’s supposed to fall below freezing again tonight.’
‘I stayed at Pennycress last night, I’m sure they’ll have me back.’ Scarlett grinned before finishing her coffee. It was what it was.