Read Online Starlight by Anne Douglas - Free Book Online Page B

I’m just telling Jess here that she should maybe think of trying for a better job sometime. No need to stay in the box office.’
    â€˜It’s a piece of nonsense!’ Jess cried. ‘I haven’t been here five minutes!’
    Ben’s eyes moved to her and he nodded. ‘But you’ve got potential,’ he said quietly. ‘Didn’t I say you’d be going places? Climbing the ladder?’
    â€˜I like it here.’
    â€˜Ah, now, would that be because of a certain young man not a million miles away?’
    Oh, no! Jess froze. Oh, no, he’d seen her with Rusty! The very thing she hadn’t wanted to happen!
    No wonder he hadn’t made a move to be more than friendly towards her, then. Like Sally and others, he thought Rusty was her young man, which he was not and never would be. Why, she’d only agreed to meet him now and again because she felt sorry for him, all alone in a strange city. And they’d only walked in the parks, or by the Water of Leith on Sunday afternoons which were free to them in a way the evenings usually weren’t. There was nothing between them – nothing! But she could tell from the smile on Ben’s face, which was a replica of the smile on Sally’s, that she’d be wasting her breath saying so.
    All the same, she had to speak.
    â€˜If you mean Rusty, we are just good friends,’ she managed to bring out coolly, though the deepening flush on her cheeks did nothing to change the smiles on the watchers’ faces.
    â€˜We believe you!’ Sally cried happily. ‘Thousands wouldn’t. Ben, shouldn’t you be in your box? We’re going to be opening any minute.’
    â€˜On my way. Just had to snatch a smoke.’ He grinned. ‘Good film this week by the way – comedy with Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant.’
    â€˜Oh, I know, and I love those screwball films!’ Sally glanced at Jess. ‘You should do your famous nipping up to the circle, dear, and give yourself a treat.’
    â€˜I have to check the ice cream,’ Jess answered and, without looking again at Ben, left the box office.
    â€˜She doesn’t like you to say Rusty’s her young man,’ Sally whispered. ‘Don’t ask me why.’
    â€˜I never said he was,’ Ben replied. ‘Got an ashtray round here? I’d better dash.’
    On her way back to the box office, her face blank, her thoughts whirling, Jess heard her name called and swung round to see Pam Gregg approaching from the cafe.
    â€˜Hello, there, Jess! Mrs Baxter’s got me doing the rounds for Nancy.’ Pam shook a small box and grinned. ‘Like to contribute to her leaving present?’
    â€˜Nancy’s leaving?’ Jess was remembering the young waitress, Nancy Scott. ‘Oh, yes, she’s getting married, eh? Come back to the box office, Pam, I’ll have to get my bag.’
    â€˜Is Sally there?’
    â€˜Yes, just for the afternoon.’
    â€˜Good, I’ll catch her, too.’
    A waitress’s post going at the cinema cafe? For a moment or two, Jess wondered if Marguerite might be interested. No, it wasn’t likely. She’d have to work evenings, which would not appeal – hours at the teashop were much shorter. Still, she would mention it, Jess decided, just in case, and scrabbling in her bag for something to give Pam, managed to avoid Sally’s still knowing gaze.
    â€˜When’s the interview?’ she asked Pam, who said she wasn’t sure.
    â€˜But it’ll be some time in December. Nancy’s wedding’s at the end of the month.’ Pam shook her head. ‘We’re going to miss her so much, you ken. Just hope we can get someone we all like.’
    â€˜You girls and Joan Baxter can get on with anyone,’ Sally said comfortingly. ‘And Joan’ll pick the right lassie, never fear.’
    Who wouldn’t be Marguerite, Jess thought, as Fred arrived to