Read Online This London Love by Clare Lydon - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Clare Lydon
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Jess away from Lucy.
Jess had the good grace to be concerned. “You okay?”
Kate gave Jess an ‘I-told-you-so’ look. “Well, if you call okay being cornered in the toilet by Tanya who ‘wants to get to know me better’, then yes, I’m brilliant.” Kate’s cheeks were aflame. “I’m almost impressed with her utter persistence. Notice I said almost .”
Jess grimaced, then laughed. “Perhaps the George Foreman nickname wasn’t so far off the mark.”
“Perhaps not. If this was a boxing match, I’d fear for my life.”
Jess let out a bark of laughter. “She’s not that bad.”
Kate raised an eyebrow. “She’s not trying to chat you up though, is she?”
Kate managed to navigate the next half an hour without having a one-on-one with Tanya, although Tanya did keep catching her eye and attempting to make ‘meaningful contact’.
Kate was having none of it.
When it looked like Tanya might be making a beeline for her once more, Kate checked her watch and made her excuses.
After 34 years in the game, she knew when to call it a night.
11
Saturday morning and Meg had been in the shop since 6.30am. Saturdays were always her busiest day, and today had been no exception. She’d had three weddings to sort, as well as the steady footfall of passing trade once the doors opened at 9am.
Now, at 11am, she could finally afford to take a break and enjoy the cup of coffee and croissant her brother had brought in for her when he came to pick up the last delivery 15 minutes ago. Meg and Jamie hadn’t always loved each other growing up, but right at this second, Meg thought she loved him more than anybody else in the whole world. The coffee slipped down a treat and the almond croissant she’d just posted into her mouth was buttery heaven. Sometimes, food didn’t need to be fancy, it just needed to be exactly what you wanted.
Meg surveyed the store — it would have to be a quick break. The place was in desperate need of a tidy-up after her mammoth schedule this morning. Plus, Kate was due to arrive in an hour and she wanted the shop — and herself — to look presentable.
Kate. Who Meg had definitely picked up gay vibes from, but then really, what did Meg know about gaydar? Nothing. She swore she was born with a faulty one. She quite often picked out women who she’d swear were gay, right up until the moment their husband and four children pitched up and she rolled her eyes at her inability to pick another lesbian. But if Meg were asked to lay a bet on Kate, she was fairly sure it was a bet she’d win. Or perhaps that was just wishful thinking on her part.
Half an hour later, things were as ship-shape as she was going to get them, and she’d just sold a dozen red roses to an endearingly nervous twenty-something whose hands had shaken while he was paying her. When Meg had asked him if the roses were for any particular occasion, he’d told her he was planning to propose to his girlfriend that night. One knee, diamond ring, the works. Meg had wished him luck and smiled as he left the shop. She worked in a world swathed in romance, yet her life appeared insulated from it.
She walked through to the back kitchen and grabbed a glass of water, picking up the order book she’d left out the back too. There was a stray red rose left over from one of her wedding orders too, so with hands full, she gripped it between her teeth and strode back into the shop.
And that was where she came across Kate, looking breathtakingly cool in a long blue T-shirt, skinny jeans and brogues, with sunglasses on top of her head. She looked like she’d just walked off an advert for a better you, and Kate was the poster girl.
Meanwhile, Meg was standing with a rose between her teeth.
Kate’s face broke into a grin. “Is this how we were supposed to meet? With a red rose between our teeth? Only, I think you should have warned me. Plus, you’re a florist, so I’d say you have an unfair
Jess had the good grace to be concerned. “You okay?”
Kate gave Jess an ‘I-told-you-so’ look. “Well, if you call okay being cornered in the toilet by Tanya who ‘wants to get to know me better’, then yes, I’m brilliant.” Kate’s cheeks were aflame. “I’m almost impressed with her utter persistence. Notice I said almost .”
Jess grimaced, then laughed. “Perhaps the George Foreman nickname wasn’t so far off the mark.”
“Perhaps not. If this was a boxing match, I’d fear for my life.”
Jess let out a bark of laughter. “She’s not that bad.”
Kate raised an eyebrow. “She’s not trying to chat you up though, is she?”
Kate managed to navigate the next half an hour without having a one-on-one with Tanya, although Tanya did keep catching her eye and attempting to make ‘meaningful contact’.
Kate was having none of it.
When it looked like Tanya might be making a beeline for her once more, Kate checked her watch and made her excuses.
After 34 years in the game, she knew when to call it a night.
11
Saturday morning and Meg had been in the shop since 6.30am. Saturdays were always her busiest day, and today had been no exception. She’d had three weddings to sort, as well as the steady footfall of passing trade once the doors opened at 9am.
Now, at 11am, she could finally afford to take a break and enjoy the cup of coffee and croissant her brother had brought in for her when he came to pick up the last delivery 15 minutes ago. Meg and Jamie hadn’t always loved each other growing up, but right at this second, Meg thought she loved him more than anybody else in the whole world. The coffee slipped down a treat and the almond croissant she’d just posted into her mouth was buttery heaven. Sometimes, food didn’t need to be fancy, it just needed to be exactly what you wanted.
Meg surveyed the store — it would have to be a quick break. The place was in desperate need of a tidy-up after her mammoth schedule this morning. Plus, Kate was due to arrive in an hour and she wanted the shop — and herself — to look presentable.
Kate. Who Meg had definitely picked up gay vibes from, but then really, what did Meg know about gaydar? Nothing. She swore she was born with a faulty one. She quite often picked out women who she’d swear were gay, right up until the moment their husband and four children pitched up and she rolled her eyes at her inability to pick another lesbian. But if Meg were asked to lay a bet on Kate, she was fairly sure it was a bet she’d win. Or perhaps that was just wishful thinking on her part.
Half an hour later, things were as ship-shape as she was going to get them, and she’d just sold a dozen red roses to an endearingly nervous twenty-something whose hands had shaken while he was paying her. When Meg had asked him if the roses were for any particular occasion, he’d told her he was planning to propose to his girlfriend that night. One knee, diamond ring, the works. Meg had wished him luck and smiled as he left the shop. She worked in a world swathed in romance, yet her life appeared insulated from it.
She walked through to the back kitchen and grabbed a glass of water, picking up the order book she’d left out the back too. There was a stray red rose left over from one of her wedding orders too, so with hands full, she gripped it between her teeth and strode back into the shop.
And that was where she came across Kate, looking breathtakingly cool in a long blue T-shirt, skinny jeans and brogues, with sunglasses on top of her head. She looked like she’d just walked off an advert for a better you, and Kate was the poster girl.
Meanwhile, Meg was standing with a rose between her teeth.
Kate’s face broke into a grin. “Is this how we were supposed to meet? With a red rose between our teeth? Only, I think you should have warned me. Plus, you’re a florist, so I’d say you have an unfair
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