The Cotswolds Cookery Club by Alice Ross

Author:Alice Ross
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin (UK) Ltd
Published: 2017-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Some thirty minutes later, Trish had discovered Steve hadn’t been exaggerating in his description of the house. It really was enormous. And it had been exquisitely decorated and furnished with the most modern of cons, and a tasteful mix of old and new furniture. He hadn’t elaborated on what he did at the bank, but he was obviously way up there if they’d put him in a house like this. She’d caught a brief glimpse of Amber – what seemed like half a mile down one of the upstairs landings. She and Miguel had been messing about with an amp. Noting her daughter’s flushed cheeks and the shy smile she’d shot her young host had made Trish all warm inside.

‘I think Miguel’s quite smitten,’ Steve had whispered, as they’d scurried off without the teenagers even noticing them.

‘He’s not the only one,’ whispered back Trish. ‘Somehow I don’t think partaking of the early-morning air is the reason my daughter has recently developed an all-consuming urge to deliver newspapers.’

‘I must admit, I didn’t think Miguel would stick it for long,’ confessed Steve. ‘But the last week or so, he’s been buzzing. And I’m sure that hasn’t anything to do with the air either.’

‘What are they like?’ sniggered Trish.

‘A couple of teenagers,’ they snorted together.

They finished the tour in the kitchen, where Steve pulled out a bottle of Prosecco from a fridge almost as big as Trish’s entire kitchen. ‘Just the one?’

She pulled a face. She really shouldn’t. Not only because she had to drive home, but because, now they’d come to a stop, she was cringingly aware that it was just the two of them. In one room – albeit an enormous one. She might go all weird again. Clam up like a… clam. Then again, a drop of alcohol might relax her. And she had enjoyed Steve’s company immensely so far. ‘Oh, go on then. Just the one,’ she replied.

‘Promise not to tempt you with more,’ he said, cracking open the bottle. ‘I’ll make some punch for the kids in a minute.’

‘That’s very thoughtful of you.’ Trish slipped onto a stool at a marble-topped island, easily the size of one housing a lesser-known tribe in the South Pacific.

‘I enjoy it.’ He tipped the wine into two glasses. ‘In fact, since moving here, I’ve begun dabbling a bit with cooking. It relaxes me.’

She accepted the glass he handed her. ‘Goodness. You sound like a perfect candidate for my cookery club.’

‘A cookery club, eh? I’ve never heard of one of those before.’

‘Nor had I. Until Connie invited me to join.’

‘Connie from the newsagent’s?’

‘Yes. She set up the club a few months ago. The members take turns hosting it, make dishes together, then eat them. We’re working on a Spanish theme at the moment.’

‘Wow. That sounds great. Cooking and eating – two of my favourite pastimes. And talking of both…’ He strode over to the fridge again, hauled open the door and began decanting trays of meat in various guises onto the worktop.

Trish’s eyes grew wide.

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