The Way We Were_ A Novel - Marcia Willett [66]
‘Liv,’ he said. ‘It's so good to see you again. D'you remember Joe?’
‘Of course I do.’ She smiled at the man behind the bar. ‘How's it going?’
Someone called to him as she spoke and he turned away, casting a quick apologetic smile back at Liv over his shoulder. She grimaced at Matt.
‘That was a bit tactless, I suppose,’ she said. ‘He's hardly likely to be thrilled with all this, is he?’
‘Joe's OK,’ said Matt. ‘He'll be glad to get it sorted. Liam's sold his house and moved upcountry so Joe's been left holding the baby He's suggested we go and look around upstairs first so we can talk about it over lunch. He's keeping the table in the snug for us so we can have a bit of privacy. Would you like a drink?’
‘I'll leave it until we eat.’ Liv grinned at him. ‘I have this feeling that you can hardly wait to get up there.’
Matt laughed. ‘Is my enthusiasm showing? Sorry. I'm really looking forward to having your reaction. I will admit that I've got a very good hunch about all this.’
Liv found that she was responding to his personality, enjoying being part of his excitement.
‘Go on then,’ she said. ‘Let's have a look at The Place Upstairs or whatever you're going to call it.’
He led the way up the narrow staircase to the first floor; talking as they went along, he threw open doors, going into the office and the storerooms, outlining his ideas.
‘We'd need to gut all this,’ he said. ‘Open it right up and have one huge area. Reinstate the fireplace at that end, sofas here and here. What d'you think? Make it more elegant than the bistro atmosphere downstairs. A bar, of course …’
She asked a few questions, examined the rooms carefully, and then he showed her the two big attic rooms on the second floor.
‘These could be converted into a nice little flat,’ he told her. ‘You could do what you liked with the conversion if you're drawn to the idea of living over the shop. It would be up to you.’ He saw her wary expression and held up his hands placatingly. ‘I know you haven't made up your mind yet, and I'm not trying to rush you, but I wanted you to know that this could be part of the package.’
Liv looked out of the dormer window at the cathedral spire; the sun slanted through at an oblique angle on to the dusty floor and she was seized with a sudden sense of optimism. Matt was watching her with that disconcerting gaze; hands in pockets, head slightly lowered.
She thought: How attractive he is – and gave a little involuntary shiver.
‘You've thought about where you'll rehouse the things that are upstairs?’ she asked, playing it cool. ‘The office and store-rooms? The lavatories?’
‘There's plenty of wasted space out beyond the kitchens,’ he told her. ‘Though we might need to keep the loos where they are, I think. Can't send the punters through the kitchens, though we might be able to use part of the cellars and put in a new staircase. Lots to talk about, anyway. What d'you think so far?’
‘I think it's very exciting,’ she answered – and smiled at the mixture of relief and hope that flared over his bony attractive face.
‘Great,’ he said. ‘That's all I need to begin with. Let's go and have some lunch and throw some ideas around.’
She followed him back downstairs and settled in the little snug whilst he went to fetch drinks from the bar. Examining her feelings, Liv realized that she was enjoying being with a sexy man who had no emotional commitments: it was a delightful change. The Place was filling up, and people were laughing and talking; comfortable and at ease in the basket-weave chairs at the round, black-stained beech tables. There was a cheerful, lively