Page 28

* * *

By the time I’ve explained my family dynamics and Troy’s unfortunate remark to Hebe about the hot tub, our breakfasts are long finished and we’re most of the way through our second cups of coffee. Nathan has proved to be a good listener, showing what feels like genuine interest and asking lots of questions.

‘I’ve just realised something,’ Nathan says as he drains his coffee cup. ‘Your brother must be Troy Littlejohn.’

‘Unless he’s changed his name when I wasn’t looking,’ I agree.

‘Of T. Littlejohn Limited,’ Nathan continues, evidently warming to his theme.

‘Yes. Why?’

‘I’ve got a pair of his shoes. I bought them as a reward at the end of my first profitable year. Incredibly expensive, but by far the most comfortable pair of shoes I think I’ve ever owned. In fact, I’m trying to find an excuse to buy myself another pair.’

‘I’ll tell him. I still can’t quite believe it’s what he does now, but he seems to be good at it. He made me a pair too, actually, even though he doesn’t do ladies’ shoes as a rule. I’m going to wear them on Monday as part of my anti-Jeremiah armour.’

Nathan laughs. ‘He doesn’t stand a chance, does he? First, your killer hair and now the killer shoes, and that’s before you even hit him with your presentation. I almost feel sorry for the guy.’

‘He’ll live. Well, as long as he takes everything I have to say on board, he will.’

‘We’re in danger of straying into work territory again,’ he tells me, looking at his watch. ‘And we probably ought to think about setting off to our next destination. The final question I think we need to answer here is whether the Buitenverwachting wines really are beyond expectations. I think we can agree the breakfast was, especially the coffee.’ He picks up the leaflet on the table and scans it for a moment before speaking again. ‘According to this, they specialise in white wines, most notably Sauvignon Blanc. Apparently, the cool climate makes for fresh, crisp and full-bodied wines. I know we’re not due to do any tastings here, but I kind of feel like I ought to buy a bottle anyway. The only problem I have is doing the currency conversions.’ He pulls out his phone and starts tapping at it. ‘I’ve got an idea, if you’re interested.’

‘Go on.’

‘So, as I said, Buitenverwachting specialises in white wines.’

‘You just love saying that, don’t you?’

‘I might. And Groot Constantia, where we’re going next, allegedly does some cracking reds.’

‘OK.’

‘How about I buy a bottle of white from here, you buy a red from Groot Constantia, and we have a wine tasting later?’

‘Sounds like a recipe for a hangover and lots of regrets,’ I say firmly.

‘I wasn’t trying to get you drunk, I promise,’ he replies. ‘For starters, I thought there would be food involved, to help soak up the alcohol, and we’re grown-ups, aren’t we? I’m sure we could limit ourselves.’

I laugh. ‘You’re seriously trying to tell me that we wouldn’t “accidentally” finish both bottles?’

He does have the grace to look a little sheepish. ‘Well, there’s a first time for everything.’

I look at him and something within me quietly gives way. It’s partly because his uncertain expression makes him look, if anything, even more edible, and partly because spending time with him is infinitely preferable to staring at my laptop screen trying to put together a presentation to wow Jeremiah the Perennially Miserable. I’ll just have to be very, very careful how much I drink. If I let my guard down, come on to him and he rejects me, that would be a serious blow to my ego and lose me the only friend I’ve got here. If he doesn’t reject me, well, that would be very nice in the short term, like scratching an itch. However, my credibility with Jeremiah hangs by a thread and, if I’m to make this project the success I need it to be, I can’t risk being distracted, even by someone as delicious as Nathan.

‘Fine,’ I tell him. ‘How would this work exactly?’

‘It’s pretty simple, really. I buy a bottle of white, and make a starter to go with it. You buy the red for the main course.’

‘You’re inviting me to dinner at your flat?’ I ask carefully.

He smiles. ‘Not exactly.’

‘Dare I ask?’

‘I was thinking you could come to me for the starter, and then I could come to you for the main course. Like a magical mystery tour and, if we run out of things to talk about, we can at least compare the views from our balconies.’

I think about his suggestion. It’s actually not bad, although it does need one tweak, because I need to have control of when the evening ends, just in case.

‘You’re on,’ I tell him. ‘Although I’m going to do the starter and you can do the main course.’