‘Am I ever?’ Callie said and they walked the short distance to the pub together.
The Happy Hare was the sort of pub where you instantly felt at home. With its dark beams and cosy corners, it was just the sort of place to warm up on a cold winter’s afternoon.
‘Grab that seat by the fire,’ Sam said, ‘I’ll get the drinks. What would you like?’
‘Just an apple juice,’ she said.
‘You sure?’
‘I’m driving home.’
‘Of course,’ Sam said. ‘An apple juice it is, then.’ He turned to the bar and ordered the juice and a glass of wine for himself and then joined her by the fire.
‘I am so glad that’s over!’ she said.
‘You tired?’
‘Funnily enough, not as tired as I thought I would be. I’m still kind of numbed by it all. It went by in such a blur of busyness that I feel a bit like it didn’t happen at all.’
He laughed. ‘Bryony’s events often make people feel like that,’ he said. ‘Her author signings are some of the most popular I’ve ever seen.’
‘She works hard, doesn’t she?’
‘She does,’ he said, ‘but it was you signing all those books.’
‘Yes and I probably won’t be able to write for weeks now. I’ve got a very sore arm!’
Sam’s phone beeped and he took it out of his pocket. It was a text from Bryony.
We’ll leave you two love birds to it! x
He put his phone back immediately.
‘Everything okay?’ Callie asked.
Sam cleared his throat. ‘Bryony’s asked me to say a huge thank you for today.’
‘Isn’t she coming?’
‘She’s – erm – no, she’s not,’ Sam said. ‘Something came up.’
‘Oh,’ Callie said. ‘What a shame.’
Sam took a sip of his wine, suddenly feeling awkward which was ridiculous really because he loved being in Callie’s company. It was just the constant pushing from his family to turn his relationship with her into something else – something it could never be – that made him feel uneasy around her.
‘Are you okay?’ she asked him.
‘I’m fine,’ he said, doing his best to pull himself together. ‘Do you think it’s too early to eat?’
She smiled. ‘I’m absolutely starving,’ she confessed.
‘Yeah?’
She nodded. ‘Let’s order something, shall we?’
Two large plates of lasagne, chips and salad were soon served up and they both got stuck in.
‘Pub food’s the best in the world, isn’t it?’ Callie said.
‘I think so,’ Sam said.
‘I saw my fair share of London restaurants when I was living there and they were fun, but they always used to make me a bit nervous with their and fussy little portions. Give me a good plate full of simple home-cooked food any day,’ she said.
‘So, tell me about the signing,’ Sam said. ‘Any awkward customers?’
‘Not at all,’ she said. ‘Everyone was really lovely.’
‘Good.’
Callie looked thoughtful, her fork resting on her plate. ‘Sam?’
‘Yes?’
‘Bryony told me about Aidan.’
He frowned. ‘Did she?’
She nodded. ‘Just at the end of my signing before you came into the shop. She didn’t go into any detail or anything. Did you get all your books back?’
‘Yes,’ he said, making a mental note to personally strangle his sister at a later date.
‘That must have been really scary,’ she said. ‘I can’t imagine why somebody would do that.’
‘Greed,’ Sam said simply. ‘My ex thought I had something expensive that belonged to her and she wanted it back. She didn’t want it because it was a beautiful item. Nor did she want it because it had been given out of love. She wanted it because it was worth a little bit of money.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Callie said gently. ‘That’s really awful.’
‘I’m trying to forget about it,’ he said, ‘but that isn’t always easy in a small town and with a big family who keep reminding you about it every five minutes.’
‘And then I go and raise the subject too,’ Callie said. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned it.’
‘I wasn’t blaming you,’ Sam said. ‘Please don’t think I was.’
They smiled at each other.
‘Another drink?’ he suggested.
‘I’d love a glass of wine,’ she said.
‘What about driving home?’
She chewed her lower lip. ‘How about I get a taxi and collect my car tomorrow?’
‘You sure?’
‘A big glass of white!’ she said with a laugh.
Sam laughed too. ‘Coming right up.’
Callie watched as Sam ordered drinks at the bar and willed herself to remain calm. She was feeling strangely energised after her book signing. She was floating on a euphoric little cloud somewhere beyond herself and she didn’t want to go home just yet. She spent too much time on her own, she knew that, and – for tonight at least – she wanted to talk and be a part of things for a little while longer.
She remembered the strange pattern of emotions from her public events in London. There’d be the initial swell of pride at being asked to do an event but, as the time of the actual event approached, fear would take over until her nerves were so jangled that she could barely think straight. Then, once the event had begun, and she had met a few readers and heard their sweet messages, she would begin to relax although it wasn’t total relaxation, of course – it was more of a coma-like state which carried her through. Then, once it was all over and she was back home, a rush of loneliness would engulf her. Piers had rarely been around for those moments, but Sam was now with food and wine and his wonderfully warming smile.
‘Two white wines,’ he said as he returned to their table. ‘Cheers!’
‘Cheers,’ she said, clinking glasses.
‘And well done on a really successful event.’
‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘Let’s hope that keeps Bryony happy for a while.’
‘Until the literary festival in the summer at least,’ Sam said.
‘I’ll make sure I’m on holiday that week.’
Sam laughed. She did like his laugh and, thinking of it now, sitting so close to him, made her blush. She really did like this man, didn’t she?
‘You okay?’ he asked. ‘You’re a bit red.’
‘It must be the wine,’ she said. ‘Or the fire.’
‘But you’ve hardly drunk any,’ he said.
Callie took a hearty swig. ‘But I will,’ she said.
They were quiet for a moment.
‘I hope I’m not keeping you from anything,’ Callie said.
‘Not at all,’ Sam said. ‘Now, let me see. What would I normally be doing on a Saturday night?’ He cast his eyes to the ceiling and frowned. ‘Hmmmm. Absolutely nothing.’
Callie laughed. ‘Me too. Although I’m totally fine with that. Always have been actually. Is that really boring?’
He shook his head. ‘If it is then I’m the world’s biggest bore. I think Emma used to get a bit fed up of me preferring a night in with a good book than wanting to go out.’
‘Did she?’
‘She liked to get dressed up, you know?’
‘No,’ Callie said. ‘I’m not one of those women. Well, not very often anyway. I like a nice dress, but I’m not one of these women with miles of wardrobe space. I’d much rather have shelves of books than shelves of shoes.’ She took another sip of wine. She was getting through it at an alarming rate and was beginning to mellow which was a wonderful feeling.
‘When Emma and I got married, she didn’t own any books.’
‘What – none at all?’
‘Not one,’ he said. ‘Not even a holiday paperback.’
‘That’s worse than–’ Callie paused, ‘worse than not having any food in the house.’
‘It is, i
sn’t it?’
‘It really is!’ Callie said. ‘I’d much rather go without food than without books. Well, for up to a couple of days at least.’
‘Even if you’re not a big reader, isn’t it a comfort just to have a few books around you?’
Callie nodded enthusiastically. ‘I love how books instantly furnish a room,’ she said. ‘When I moved into Owl Cottage, unpacking my books was a top priority. I just love the look of them and having them all around me.’
‘I think my collection drove Emma mad,’ Sam said. ‘She once asked why I needed so many.’
Callie laughed. ‘What did you say?’
‘I said they were part of what keeps me alive just like the air I breathe. I have no more than I absolutely need.’
They talked for a while longer and Callie acknowledged the fact that, once again, they’d slipped into their easy way of rambling from subject to subject, but always coming back to books.
Callie bought the next round of drinks: two more white wines.
‘Sam?’ she said when she sat back down.
‘Cheers,’ he said, lifting his glass to chink hers.
‘Oh, cheers.’
‘What is it?’ he asked.
Their eyes met, but Callie quickly turned hers away, looking down into her wine glass. She thought about the man sitting in front of her and how she’d come to realise that she had feelings for him. But did she have the courage to tell him? And did she want to take the risk of giving her heart to somebody else after having had it broken so recently?
‘Callie?’ Sam asked gently.
‘I was just thinking,’ she began hesitantly, ‘we’ve had dinner together.’ She looked up. Sam was staring right at her.
‘Yes we have,’ he said with a bemused grin.
‘And I was so sure that I didn’t want to have dinner with you. You know – when you asked me?’
‘I remember,’ he said.
‘I was really sure that I didn’t want this to happen.’ She held his gaze.
‘What are you trying to say, Callie?’ he said, leaning forward slightly.
‘I’m trying to say–’
‘Callie?’ a voice interrupted.
She started, looking across the pub.
‘Leo?’ she said.
‘Hey,’ he said, crossing the room quickly. ‘What are you doing here?’
Callie felt temporarily stunned at the intrusion, but she quickly pulled herself together. ‘I’ve just done a signing at Nightingale’s. I sent you a text about it yesterday,’ she said, watching as Leo pulled a chair from the adjacent table and sat down.
‘Oh, that’s right,’ he said.
‘You remember Sam?’ Callie said, thinking of the confession she’d been about to make to Sam before Leo had turned up so unexpectedly.
‘Hey,’ Leo said with a nod. Sam nodded back. ‘I’m sorry I forgot about your event. I’d have loved to have seen it.’
‘No you wouldn’t,’ Callie said with a laugh. ‘Anyway, I thought you were out looking for pignuts today.’
Callie couldn’t help noticing that Sam gave a little grin at that.
Leo shook his head. ‘Wrong season,’ he said. ‘So, who wants another drink?’
Callie looked at Sam, feeling awkward both for him and for herself.
‘I’ve still got this one on the go,’ she said, nodding to her glass of wine, ‘and I was just about to call for a taxi.’
‘Really?’ Leo said. ‘But it’s so early.’
‘I know, but I’m exhausted after the signing,’ she said, hoping her face didn’t colour up at her lie. Well, it was only a half-lie.
‘Let me give you a lift, then,’ he said.
‘Okay,’ Callie said. ‘I’ve got to get something out of my car first.’
‘Your car’s in town?’
She nodded.
‘I can tow it home if you like,’ he said. ‘My old Landy’s used to rescuing damsels in distress.’
‘I’m not in distress,’ Callie told him.
‘How’s your car?’ Leo asked Sam, clapping a hand down onto his right shoulder. ‘Do you need me to tow yours anywhere?’
‘No, thank you,’ Sam said tightly, getting up from the table.
‘You’re going?’ Callie said, also rising to her feet.
He nodded. ‘It’s been a great evening,’ he said. ‘I’ll see you.’
He started walking towards the door.
‘Sam!’ Callie called, crossing the room to catch up with him. He turned to look at her. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘For what?’
‘For this,’ she said. ‘I mean for not doing this sooner.’
Sam gave her a quizzical look.
‘I should have said yes to you that day – when you asked me to dinner.’ There, she thought. She’d said it. But she didn’t get a chance to say any more because Leo had joined them by the door.
‘Ready to go?’ he asked, placing a hand on Callie’s shoulder and she nodded.
Chapter 20
Callie was sitting at her computer, but her eyes weren’t focussed on the screen in front of her and she wasn’t playing out the next scene of her story in her mind. Instead, she was replaying the scene from the night before in The Happy Hare, over and over again until she felt she was going quite mad.
And then the questions began ricocheting around her frazzled brain. What would have happened if Leo hadn’t turned up? What exactly would Callie have told Sam and, more importantly, how would he have responded? She’d half-expected to hear from him this morning; hoped with all her heart that he would have called, but he hadn’t and she hadn’t had the courage to ring him either.
Getting up from her desk, she went downstairs to boil the kettle for a cup of tea. She wasn’t getting any writing done. Perhaps she should just give up and go out for a walk, but the sky was lead-grey and uninviting and Callie really didn’t fancy it.
She thought about what had happened after she’d left the pub. Leo had towed her car home from Castle Clare and she’d felt obliged to invite him in to Owl Cottage and he’d sat on the sofa in the living room, telling her something about his cocker spaniels that she couldn’t remember.
‘Callie?’ he’d said a minute later. ‘We’re all right, aren’t we?’
She’d been standing awkwardly in front of a bookcase, sliding titles out and sliding them in again without really paying attention. When she looked up at his kind, handsome face, she honestly didn’t know what to tell him.
‘We’re all right,’ she’d said at last, taking the coward’s way out.
‘Good,’ he said, getting up and giving her a kiss. ‘I’m going to leave you to it. You really do look exhausted. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?’ And he’d gone.
Now, a part of her wished that she’d had the courage to break things off with him. It was unfair to keep stringing him along when she knew that she didn’t have feelings for him.
‘And when you have feelings for someone else,’ she said to herself.
She thought about ringing Heidi, but she really wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone so, taking her cup of tea upstairs, she sat back down at her desk for some more staring at the blank screen in front of her.
‘So, what happened with you and Callie at the pub?’ Bryony asked Sam the second she managed to corner him in the kitchen of Campion House after Sunday lunch. ‘I didn’t want to ring you last night in case you’d taken her home.’
‘As subtle as usual, aren’t you?’ Sam said, throwing the tea towel he’d been holding at her.
‘No point in pussyfooting around, I always say.’
‘And can I just ask what business was it of yours to tell her about Aidan’s little visit?’ Sam said.
‘I thought she should know,’ Bryony said. ‘She cares about you.’
‘That is my personal business,’ Sam told her. ‘It’s grubby and it’s embarrassing, and the fewer people who know about it, the better.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I didn’t mean
to upset you.’
‘I know,’ Sam said, ‘but you really should think before you speak sometimes, Bry. You’re going to get yourself into trouble some day.’
‘So, how did it go?’ she asked. ‘You’re not getting away without telling me.’
Sam tutted and was about to make his excuses when Polly entered the kitchen.
‘I’m just asking Sam how his date went with Callie,’ Bryony said.
‘It wasn’t a date,’ Sam said.
‘No? What would you call it, then?’ Bryony said.
‘A set-up,’ Sam said.
‘Oh, so you’d rather not have spent the evening with her?’ Bryony asked with a grin.
‘I didn’t say that.’
‘So you got on okay?’ Polly asked.
‘Of course we did. We always do,’ he said, feeling hounded in the two-against-one situation he now found himself in. ‘We had dinner.’
‘Ooooh, dinner!’ Bryony said.
‘With wine?’ Polly asked.
Sam tutted, but he couldn’t help smiling at the line of questioning. ‘Yes, with wine.’
‘I thought she’d driven into town?’ Polly said.
‘She was going to get a taxi back,’ Sam said.
‘Was going to?’ Bryony said. ‘What happened?’
‘Leo bloody Wildman turned up and gave her a lift home, towing her car with his bloody Land Rover.’
‘Uncle Sam swore!’ Archie said as he entered the kitchen with an empty glass.
‘Yes,’ Polly said. ‘He’s a very bad uncle. What have you come in here for, Arch?’
‘Some more fizz.’
‘No more fizz today.’
‘Awww, Mum!’
‘You’ll have a glass of water if you’re still thirsty.’
‘I’m not that thirsty,’ he said, handing his mum the glass and leaving the kitchen.
‘I keep telling him that all his teeth will fall out if he drinks too many fizzy things, but he doesn’t seem worried.’
‘Kids don’t worry about teeth,’ Sam said. ‘It’s one of the great joys of being young – you believe everything is going to last forever.’
‘Anyway – back to last night,’ Bryony said. ‘What happened next?’
‘Nothing happened next,’ Sam said. ‘She went home with Leo.’
‘And you let her?’ Bryony said.
‘What was I meant to do?’ Sam said.
The Book Lovers Page 22
