Cindy turns around to show off the skirt and I spot the row of embroidered red roses running down the back seam and nod my head in approval. She has topped it off with the cutest little figure hugging red lace blouse with dainty puff sleeves and a ditsy little collar. The outfit is finished off with a wide black patent belt.
‘And here’s Sadie wearing a fitted skirt suit in a modern tweed fabric. Each piece can be worn as separates or as you see them today.’ Samantha takes the jacket off to reveal a silky little sleeveless pink top, slashed at the neck and accentuating her curves as it hugs her body. Worn with sky high stilettos she looks every inch the Hollywood movie star.
While the girls go to get changed, Katherine produces swing dresses in jewel colours and silk fabrics and my favourite pencil dresses in lace, silk and jersey. They are made to hug the figure and show off the curves and I love all of them. I grab Muriel excitedly and she gives my leg a little squeeze in return.
Then the models are ready to come out again. ‘The next items you’ll see have been made by my partner, Mark.’ She flourishes her hand towards the stock room where the girls were emerging. Cindy comes out first, with legs that go on forever and my eyes light up at the most beautiful scarlet corset I have ever seen. The fabric is boned to take in every curve and edged with a deep thick black lace at the bust and the legs. Dita Von Teese eat your heart out. My heart gives a little flutter and I know I just have to have it. I can just imagine James’ face when he sees me dressed in that bad boy.
I beckon Cindy over so I can feel the lace. ‘This fabric is exquisite, you say your partner made them?’
‘Yes, Mark, he’s studied corsetry for years, he just loves dressing women in gorgeous underwear.’
‘And he does it so well,’ I say, as I rub my hand over the edge of the corset.
Then Sadie comes out wearing a midnight blue velvet corset in a similar style, beaded at the bust. My mouth hangs open. ‘Muriel, I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.’
Muriel holds onto my hand. ‘I knew you’d love them.’
Finally Cindy and Sadie come out wearing wrap dresses in jewel colours made in a silky fabric which flows over their bodies and clings in all the right places. I nudge Muriel. ‘They will fly out of the shop, I love them.’
As the girls disappear to get changed Muriel goes off to make tea and coffee. Katherine and I get down to business and I order pencil skirts, blouses, little tops, dresses, oh lot’s and lot’s of dresses and as many corsets as they can make. We agree the items will be showcased in the shop and I’ll make a healthy percentage on each sale, which I’m very happy with.
Katherine then produces a lace sheath dress in midnight blue and a wrap dress in black silk with a tiny little rose pattern dotted across it. ‘These I made up for you to try out for yourself, so you could get a feel for our garments first hand.’
‘Oh wow, they’re beautiful,’ I say, and run my hand over the fabrics. ‘You’re a genius, how did you know I’d love these?’
‘Aunty Muriel told me the sort of thing you like to wear and of course your sizes.’
‘Good old Aunty Muriel. Thank you, I can’t wait to try them on.’ I hold the dresses against myself and admire them in the mirror trying to work out which one to wear first.
By the time Katherine and the girls leave I am bursting with ideas and optimism. Muriel and I devour the last two cup cakes while we stand in the shop arranging where we are going to put everything.
‘So when do we get the first stock?’ she says.
‘We agreed on two weeks for the wrap dresses and pencils skirts. Katherine thinks she should have some of the blouses made up by then too.’ I rearrange some of the bags on the shelves now that I have just sold the Kelly bag to Katherine. ‘We just need to get the website up and running and we are laughing, Muriel.’
‘That is in hand and you’ll have something before the new stock gets here.’
‘Oh I’m so happy Muriel; everything is finally going my way.’ It did seem as if things are finally falling into place, not just in the shop, but with James and the house too. I smile, giving myself a mental hug, with the naïve confidence that things will now start to go my way.
Chapter Ten
The rest of the week I am on a high, full of excitement and optimism following my exuberance from the fashion show. As I get in the car after work on Thursday evening my phone beeps. It’s a text from James telling me to dress up on Saturday as he is taking me away to a lush hotel for the night. Then he proceeds to go into minute detail of what he is planning to do to me once he gets me alone in the hotel room. I fan my heated cheeks as I read it and smile to myself.
Apart from the incident by the river, he has been really sweet since we got back together, so thoughtful and attentive - maybe it is about time I gave him a break. If I seriously want to give it a go with him, and I think maybe it’s the right thing to do, I should just get on with it and stop holding him at a distance. After all, we have slept together many times before. So I quickly reply I am looking forward to it and a few other things I’m not going into detail about now. Let’s just say I was surprised steam didn’t come out of my phone as I typed my reply.
I haven’t seen or heard off Robert since Monday morning, so I’m a little surprised when I pull up on the drive at home and see Harley bouncing around on the front lawn and yapping at the mole hills. As my eyes scan the front garden for his owner, I notice all of the weeds have gone and the hedges have been trimmed back. I get out of the car just as Robert comes round the corner of the house, shirtless with a fine layer of sweat glistening across his broad chest. I have an overwhelming urge to run my hands across it, but I reluctantly drag my eyes away from his body and walk over to where he now stands.
‘Hey, Lola,’ he says, as he pulls off gardening gloves and pushes them into the back pocket of his jeans.
‘Oh my goodness, Robert, have you done all of this?’ I turn to take in the neat garden.
He smiles. ‘Yes, I felt like a bit of fresh air and didn’t want to slum around the house all day.’ He raises his eyebrows cynically.
I blush a little and bite into my lip. ‘I’m sorry about that comment the other day, I was out of order. What can I say, I’m an arse sometimes.’
He doesn’t disagree with me. ‘Forget it, you needed some help and I live here too, so it’s no problem.’
‘Well thanks, I really appreciate it.’ I beam a smile at him. ‘The least I can do now is make you some dinner. I think you’ve earned it after that.’
‘Already in hand. I’ve cooked a Spaghetti Bolognese, and have knocked up some garlic bread which is ready to put in the oven.’
My eyes widen in surprise. ‘You really are a dark horse. I’m surprised some woman hasn’t snapped you up already.’
At this he just smiles and side steps my comment. ‘Okay, so I’m all done out here. If you’re hungry we’ll be good to go in about ten minutes.’
I follow him and Harley into the house where the smell emanating from the kitchen is divine. Robert pops the garlic bread into the oven and turns to face me. ‘While I think about it, your mom called this afternoon.’
‘Oh great.’ That happy feeling packs its bags and exits the building.
‘She said she has left you three messages this week, and if you don’t call her back today she will get Malcolm to drive her over here to make sure you’re still alive.’
A sudden panic fills me at the thought of my mom landing on the doorstep. She will probably bring an overnight bag with her and then I’d never get rid of her. I quickly pull my mobile phone out of my bag. ‘I’ll call her right now.’
He smiles and disappears into the shower room and I hear the water turn on as my mom’s phone begins to ring. ‘Hi, mom.’
‘Lola, there you are. I was beginning to think you had been murdered.’
I sigh. ‘No mom, I’ve just been busy at work.’
‘We’re all busy, Lola, but I don’t have time to keep chasing you to make su
re you’re still alive.’ I roll my eyes at this and purse my lips. ‘And don’t give me that look.’
‘How do you know what look I’m giving you over the phone, mom?’
‘I know you well enough to know, young lady, so don’t be flippant.’
Oh God, she’s calling me young lady, now I know I’m in trouble. I keep my face straight for fear of setting her off again. ‘Sorry, mom.’
‘Yes, well I didn’t call just to chat about you.’
This totally baffles me as firstly I had called her, not the other way round, and secondly she had supposedly been checking on my welfare.
‘I just wanted to let you know I have spoken to Alexander and he says he will call on you soon so please make sure you’re at home.’
And there it is. It just gets better and better. I suppress any facial tick at the mention of Alex’s name. ‘When is he coming?’
‘He’s very busy so he couldn’t say.’ Her voice is clipped.
‘Well I need to know if I’m going to be home when he calls.’ I give a little snort. ‘Of course I could always check my crystal ball.’
‘You’re so rude, Lola, and very ungrateful as usual. I can’t think why Alexander would take time out to help you.’
I know exactly why Alex wants to help me, something to do with helping himself to my money. ‘There’s no reason for him to come at all mom. Everything is fine here.’
She ignores me and changes the subject. ‘I did notice a strange man answered your phone this afternoon. What is he doing there while you’re at work?’
‘He’s my lodger, he lives here.’
‘Well I’m not sure I approve of that, Lola. You’ll never sell the house with a sitting tenant.’
‘I’m not selling the house, I’ve told you this countless times before.’ I feel the frustration bubbling up inside me as my voice gets louder.
‘Don’t raise your voice at me young lady.’
‘Sorry, but there’s no need for Alex to put himself out on my account, I’m fine as I am.’ I hear the water turn off in the shower room. ‘Anyway, I have to go now, mom. I’ll catch you soon.’ I end the call before she can come back with anything further.
I help Robert dish out the Spaghetti Bolognese and he cracks open a bottle of red wine. We sit down and I tuck in straight away as the smell of garlic is now driving me insane.
‘Was everything okay with your mom?’ Robert winds the spaghetti round his fork several times but pauses before he puts it into his mouth. ‘It’s just I heard you shouting while I was in the shower.’
I munch down the mouthful of spaghetti and take a sip of wine to wash it down before answering. ‘Yes, sorry about that. She keeps harping on about selling the house.’
‘Why would you want to sell a house like this?’ He says, slurping spaghetti through his lovely lips.
‘My point exactly. It would literally break my heart to hand the keys over to a stranger.’ I drink some more wine and feel the warmth spreading through my body, relaxing my muscles as it goes. Just what I need to de-stress after a conversation with my mom.
‘I can see you really love the house and it’s coming along well. Although, your builders might need a kick up the arse if you don’t mind me saying.’
‘No, I know they do but I’m stuck at work most of the time so I can’t see what they get up to everyday. I pop back when I can, but I can’t leave the shop for too long as my assistant is only in part-time.’
‘Well I’m here all day, I’d happily keep an eye on them, if that’s okay with you?’
‘Oh would you?’ I stop shovelling food into my mouth. ‘I mean, if it doesn’t keep you away from your day job. It would be great if someone could jolly them up a bit. The job would be done so much faster and it might even end up costing me less.’
‘It’s no trouble. I would feel better if I thought they weren’t taking advantage of you.’
‘Oh, Robert, that’s really sweet.’ I think I will have to look at Robert in a whole new light from today. Who knew he would turn out to be so useful to have around the house?
After we have finished dinner Robert opens another bottle of wine and we continue chatting for the next couple of hours. I tell him about the house, Gran and Granddad and about living with James, splitting from James and getting back together with James. I tell him how I feel about being back with him and my doubts about the relationship. It isn’t like me to be so free and easy with my personal life but I think the wine has really loosened my tongue. As it gets dark outside Robert gets up and stacks the plates into the dishwasher. I have really enjoyed taking to him and don’t want it to end, so when he asks me if I want to pop over to the Waddling Duck for the last hour I am more than willing to join him.
We find a table in the corner of the pub, having spent the first half an hour chatting to Mike and several regulars at the bar. I am dying to know some of Robert’s back history so in my subtle way, and my bravado helped along by the large quantity of wine I have already consumed, I jump straight in. ‘So, Robert, how are you still single?’
A look of surprise flickers across his face and he picks up his pint and takes a generous gulp. It seems like ages before he replies. ‘I left my fiancé in Edinburgh.’
‘Oh, does she not mind you living so far away?’ Not for the first time this week I feel myself deflate, he really does have a girlfriend after all, not that it should make any difference to me, but I am only human.
‘We split up the day I left.’ He picks up his glass again, poised by his mouth.
Okay, so no girlfriend. ‘Right. She didn’t want to move with you then?’
He smiles, takes another mouthful of beer and places the glass back on the table. ‘No.’
Well that was a bit final. I am about to ask more questions, to delve further when Mike appears and sits himself down at our table and makes himself comfortable. I’d have to leave the interrogation to another time.
By closing time, the wine has started to take effect and I am definitely feeling woozy. A fine rain has started to fall outside as we leave the pub.
‘Oh no, we’re going to get soaked.’ I say, pulling up my collar.
Robert just laughs and grabs hold of my hand, and puts it through his arm as we walk down the street back to the house. As the rain gets heavier, he holds onto my hand and we run the rest of the way, laughing and jumping over the puddles.
By the time we reach home we are both soaked to the skin and fuelled by the alcohol we are laughing at everything, even though it isn’t funny. Robert opens the front door and holds it for me. I tumble through it as my foot skids on the wet floor. His hand shoots out to steady me and he holds me in his grasp. He looks down into my eyes and in turn my eyes came up to meet his, our gazes locking together. His face takes on a pained expression, as he pulls me towards him, wrapping his arms tightly around my waist and pressing his body against mine. Then he loosens his grip on me briefly, and gently lets me fall against the door jamb, while his hand comes up and his thumb traces a trickle of rainwater down my face towards my lips. I feel the heat coming from his skin and tingles run through my body at his touch. The smile has disappeared from his face as he moves his other hand up my body and pulls my head towards his. Then his lips come down on mine and he kisses me, gently at first, then harder his tongue easily slipping into my mouth and meeting mine.
The front door is still open and I can hear the rain pelting down outside, while droplets blow in across the threshold and onto my skin. Shivers shoot through my body, and I press myself into him as he moves his hands down my body and pulls me closer still, and I instinctively wrap my arms around him. I can feel every muscle of his chest through his damp tee-shirt, and I sigh with pleasure as he pushes me back against the door frame, his body crushed against mine.
A gust of wind blows into the hallway, and the front door ricochets off the wall. Harley barks from inside Roberts’ room. A light comes on in Roberts’ eyes as he comes to his senses, springing back from me like he’s
been electrocuted. We both stand frozen, looking at each other, for what seems like an age but is probably only a few seconds, and then he turns and strides off into his room, slamming the door behind him.
I awake early next morning as the daylight pours into my room. My head is pounding from lack of sleep, and I am sickened from last night’s wine, wracking my body with swimming sensations. I get up, shower and pull on a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt, putting my make-up bag into my handbag, ready to fix my face at work later. I creep down the stairs as quietly as possible so as not to wake Robert, and gently shut the front door behind me.
As I am still really drunk from the night before, I decide to walk to work and clear my head, grabbing a coffee on the way. It is way too early for Muriel, so I get stuck in at the shop and start sorting out some of the rails. I clean the windows and re-arrange the displays of hats and gloves. I tidy underneath the counter and sort carrier bags into size order. I do anything to get rid of the image of Robert kissing me, and the elation I felt when he held me tight, his body firmly pressed against mine. I feel his heat again as I replay the kiss in my imagination.
My hand automatically goes to my face. I can still feel where his stubble has bruised my skin. In my head I keep replaying the event on a loop, against my better judgement. I still can’t believe what has happened, and worse, I had really wanted it. I dread to think what would have happened if Harley hadn’t started barking, how far would we have gone? I think about James and his plans for tomorrow night and a sudden flood of guilt washes over me.
I don’t want to share what has happened with anyone, so as the back door opens, and Muriel comes bustling into the shop, I push my feelings of guilt deep down where no one can find them. I need to work through this on my own and decide what, if anything, I will tell James.
Chapter Eleven
Lola's House (Lola Series) Page 8
