Chapter 18 #2
Cammy was still staring at it. ‘I don’t know.
There’s something… familiar about her.’ He was flicking back through scenes in his mind.
Was she someone from the glory days when he was out in Glasgow clubs every night of the week?
Or someone that used to come into the shop?
He had such a feeling it was more recent.
‘Could it be someone you’re friends with on Facebook? ’
Lila shrugged. ‘Don’t think so, but I’ve got over two thousand friends and I’ve never met most of them, so it’s possible.’
That whole concept never failed to bemuse Cammy. Over two thousand friends online, and she couldn’t pick most of them out in a line-up.
‘It could be one of the nurses or doctors from hospitals I’ve dealt with. I’ve told loads of people this is your shop…’
‘Thanks for the plug,’ Cammy interjected.
‘You’re welcome. Anyway, people always look different out of uniform so that could be it.’
Cammy stared at the screen again. There was definitely something about the woman that struck a chord.
‘I’m sure it’ll be something like that. But look, just keep an eye out.
There are all sorts of weirdos around these days.
Crazy stalkers on every corner,’ he said flippantly, then realised that Lila wasn’t in on the joke.
‘Hey, I was only kidding.’ He pulled her towards him, kissed her, long and slow, his hands gently tracing a line down the side of her face.
‘It’ll be fine. There will be a perfectly innocent explanation.
In the meantime, why don’t I get Digby to lock up and we can go home, and I’ll pour you a drink, and do filthy things to you to take your mind off all this. ’
Usually her shoulders would relax, her breath would deepen and her hands would start to wander at that very suggestion, but not today.
‘I’d love to, baby,’ she said, and she looked so sexy that, for a moment, he was sure she was going to agree, ‘but I’m not finished work yet. I’ve got one more appointment.’
His arms still around her, Cammy’s face was one big question mark. For fuck’s sake, this was all he needed. Hadn’t enough things gone wrong today? And now she had to work late.
‘At this time on a Friday?’
His irritation dissolved when he saw how mournful Lila was.
‘Sorry, babe, but it’s a meeting that got postponed from earlier. A cardiac surgeon. He got called into theatre. I’m just going to pop into Pluckers for a quick something, then go back to see him.’
‘Can’t it wait until after Christmas?’
She was already disentangling herself from his arms. ‘It can’t. I just need to get an order from him and if I don’t get it today I’ll miss my target. You know how it is – these guys work all kinds of hours and sometimes I just need to be flexible and fit around their schedules. It’ll be worth it.’
Cammy didn’t have much of a clue how her commission structure worked, but it had to be a big deal or there was no way she’d be going there instead of knocking off early.
She stretched up on to her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek – the cheek.
‘I’ll be back in time for dinner though. What time are we going?’
‘We’re meeting your mum and dad there at eight o’clock.’
‘Okay, well I’ll try to make it home for sixish. That’ll give me time to beautify myself even more,’ she added with a giggle.
Leaning down, he kissed her again. ‘I love you, Lila Anderson. Don’t be late,’ he said softly, wondering if she could tell his heart was banging at the prospect of the unlimited list of things that could still go wrong – attempting to propose to a girlfriend who was working late and couldn’t make it being top of that list.
‘I won’t,’ she promised. ‘Love ya.’
And then she was gone, her heels clicking all the way through the shop, only stopping when the ping of the front door told him she’d exited the building.
He wandered out of the staffroom after her, trying not to pay any attention to Josie and Val’s beady, inquisitive stares. He cracked in seconds.
‘Oh for Christ’s sake,’ he said, laughing. ‘I’m no match for you two. Okay, so she has to go back to work and it’s no biggie – she’ll definitely be home in time to get ready for dinner. We’re still on for tonight. All systems go. Houston, we do not have a problem.’
Their silence told him that neither of them were impressed by this news.
‘So you have two choices,’ he continued. ‘Go spread your evil cynicism elsewhere… or stay here while I try on a few suits and help me choose one.’
They thought about it for a moment.
‘Will there be partial nudity involved?’ Josie asked suspiciously.
‘Almost definitely,’ Cammy answered.
Josie pondered that for a moment, then, ‘I don’t have anywhere to be, do you Val?’
Val shook her blonde bob. ‘I don’t, now that you mention it. Digby, son, I’ll have another coffee, if you don’t mind.’
Cammy shook his head, ruefully. ‘You two are a complete nightmare, you know that don’t you?’
‘We do,’ Val said solemnly. ‘It’s part of our winning charm.’
‘Can we ban them from the premises?’ Digby asked, joining in. He’d only known Val and Josie for a few months, but he could see why everyone loved them – they could dish out banter and take it back in equal measure.
Cammy sighed. ‘They’ll just keep coming back. We’re better putting them to good use.’ He rubbed his hands together. ‘Right ladies, we’re game on. I have about an hour to find the perfect outfit in which to ask the woman I love to marry me.’
‘No problem, son,’ Josie replied. ‘Digby, have you got any straitjackets in stock? Size 42 long.’