Why was he laughing with his friend instead of sitting with Cassie and supporting her grandfather? After all, she said she was going to work for him, and more importantly they had spent the night together the evening of the wedding… and what a night it must have been for Cassie to forget that the wedding decorations at the clubhouse needed to be taken down.
He had tried, and failed, so many times over the past few days not to think about her in Hardman’s arms – in Hardman’s bed. Tried, and failed, not to picture her kissing him, smiling at him with that sunny smile of hers, looking at him with eyes clouded with pleasure… the way she had looked at him.
He realised that his fists were clenched, so he took a deep breath and made a conscious effort to uncurl his fingers.
‘So, any idea what a Christmas Quacker is?’ Joseph quizzed the audience once more.
‘Festive Porridge oats?’ a man’s voice shouted out.
Joseph shook his head. ‘Nope.’
‘A rubbish doctor?’ Cassie’s pink-haired friend suggested.
Joseph smiled. ‘I might as well give you the answer. A Christmas Quacker, folks, is what you get when you cross Santa with a duck.’
There were whistles and hooting as Stefan pushed his way through the crowd towards the bar. At least if he stood near Hardman and his pals he could perhaps stop them from shouting any more nasty comments.
He cut through the crowd and managed to reach the bar just as applause died down and Joseph was speaking again. He made a few more jokes about Father Christmas and elves, some of which Stefan remembered because they were on the Post-it notes Cassie had given him when she came to Belthorn.
‘Last one from me, folks,’ Joseph said. ‘What do you call an impolite elf riding a reindeer? A Rud-elf!’ He slotted the mike back into the stand. ‘That’s all for tonight. Thanks for listening.’
Big Jim climbed onto the stage and gave Joseph’s back a pat. ‘Our distinguished panel of judges will now proceed to the voting and I’ll announce the results shortly.’
‘Thank goodness that’s over!’ Hardman’s friend shouted. ‘I never heard so much rubbish in my life.’
Stefan came right up to him. ‘I think you should show more respect,’ he said in a low voice.
The man opened his eyes wide. ‘Hey, I recognise you. You were at the wedding reception. What’s up? Don’t tell me you enjoyed the old man’s performance. It was awful.’
He guffawed and put his pint glass on the counter. His blue eyes were bloodshot, his face flushed. It didn’t take much to see that he was drunk… and full of himself.
‘Nobody was forcing you to stay,’ Stefan said, ‘so get out or shut up. Which will it be?’
Hardman tilted his chin and stared at him. ‘Hey! It’s a free country. The old man’s completely hopeless. Everybody thinks so but nobody has the guts to say it aloud.’
Stefan narrowed his eyes. ‘It’s Cassie’s grandfather you’re talking about.’
Hardman shrugged. ‘So what?’
The urge to punch the guy was suddenly so overwhelming Stefan had to shove his clenched fists into his pocket. Hardman must have seen something in his eyes, unless it was the set of his jaw, because he stumbled back against the bar and knocked his friend’s pint over, spilling beer all over his trousers.
He swore and looked down at his trouser legs. ‘Look at what you made me do… and all that for an old man who can’t even crack a stupid joke without forgetting his lines!’
Stefan pushed a deep breath down and forced his fingers to uncurl. He had never been a violent man but right now he could easily do something he might regret… or not.
‘What’s going on, Nathan? Is there a problem?’ Cassie asked behind him.
Stefan turned to face her. ‘Good evening, Cassie.’
She gasped, her face became even paler and her eyes opened wide in shock. No wonder she was surprised. She hadn’t seen him without a beard and with short hair before.
‘Stefan? I didn’t see you come in. You look… different.’ She looked from him to Hardman. ‘What’s happening?’
Hardman’s friend pointed at Stefan. ‘Your friend insulted us.’
Cassie frowned. ‘Did you?’ she asked him. ‘Why?’
‘I…’ Stefan swallowed hard, finding it impossible to repeat the nasty comments Hardman had said about Joseph. ‘We had a minor disagreement.’
He smiled a contrite smile. He couldn’t stop gazing at her, and taking in her tousled blonde hair, her beautiful grey eyes and the pretty pink lips set into a pout he wanted to kiss, and kiss again. How he wanted to pull her into his arms, bury his face into her hair and breathe in her sunny scent, and never let her go. He had missed her so much it was almost like physical pain.
Hardman cast him a venomous glare. ‘A minor disagreement? I could have you done for affray,’ he sputtered.
Big Jim made his way behind the bar. ‘Affray? Give over!’ He laughed, and his belly shook under his colourful cowboy shirt. ‘You had too much to drink and stumbled against the counter, that’s all. You should go home and change into dry trousers.’
Looking at Stefan, he broke into a smile. ‘I’ve been itching to shut these two up most of the evening.’
Hardman’s mouth gaped open. ‘I have just been assaulted and I’m the one who has to get out? I could have your licence revoked, do you hear me?’
Big Jim wasn’t smiling any longer. ‘Why don’t you try? I don’t think you’ll find anyone here to back you up.’
Hardman surveyed the crowed and sneered. ‘I’m not surprised, actually. It’s full of peasants who stink of sheep dung.’
Big Jim leaned over the counter. ‘Now you’re really asking for trouble. Get out and don’t bother coming back.’
Cassie gasped. ‘Jim… Nathan… Please don’t argue. It’s Comedy Night. We should be happy, not shouting at one another.’
‘Comedy Night? That’s the best joke I heard all night,’ Hardman sneered before looking at Cassie. ‘Actually, I only endured the evening because I wanted to talk to you, but I guess it’s going to have to wait until tomorrow. I’ve given you enough time to decide if you want my job or not. I’ll be at the holiday cottage until ten a.m. tomorrow. Don’t be late.’
He turned to his friend and gestured for him to follow. ‘Come on, let’s get out of this dive.’
Stefan gave Cassie a tentative smile. Hardman wasn’t the only one who wanted to talk. He had a lot to say, and an awful lot to apologise about.
He cleared his throat, which did nothing to make his voice any smoother. ‘How have you been?’
She tilted her chin up. ‘Fine. And you?’
‘I’m all right.’ He leant forward. ‘Listen, I am sorry I left so suddenly. I had to take care of a few things…’
She shrugged. ‘You don’t have to explain anything to me. After all, I’m only the scheming woman who slept with you for the sake of a measly bonus. At least, that’s what you believe.’ She drew in a shaky breath. ‘So that you know, I emailed Charles Ashville that he could keep his bonus.’ Her voice wobbled, and suddenly tears swam in her eyes.