Chapter 21
Isla checked her reflection in the round mirror that hung on a chain in the small bathroom in the bookshop. She’d checked her watch and there was still half an hour to go until closing time, but the main rush of customers had already left and Penny had ushered her away to get ready.
The lighting in the room wasn’t ideal, but Isla quickly changed the sweatshirt she had been wearing all day for a black lacy top and swapped her comfy trainers for a pair of heeled boots.
She pulled out her make-up bag from her rucksack, and applied a loose covering of powder, some bronze-hued eye shadow, a coating of mascara and a sweep of lip gloss.
She ran her fingers through her blonde hair so that it fell nicely into her messy bob and then peered closer into the mirror, more in hope than expectation that she was at least looking semi-decent, because it didn’t really offer a great view.
Wandering back into the main shop with one eye on the front door, her nerves began building.
She’d had several conversations with Guy, and while some of them had been fun and enjoyable, others had been embarrassing, awkward even.
She only hoped they could avoid anything like that tonight, but going for a drink, just the two of them, certainly added a frisson to the proceedings.
For all intents and purposes, it was a date and she was well out of practice on that front.
What if they discovered they had nothing in common or struggled to find anything to talk about?
She shook her head. She couldn’t worry about that now.
If the worst happened, she would just have to make her excuses and leave.
‘Don’t you scrub up well?’
‘Do you think?’ Isla asked Penny, giving a twirl in the middle of the bookshop. ‘I had no idea what to wear. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a date.’
‘You look gorgeous. Now, you just need to roll back your shoulders, plaster on a smile and you’ll be good to go.’
‘Thanks, Penny,’ she said, right at the same time as Guy walked through the door.
If she’d been harbouring any nerves about seeing him again then coming face to face with him in the flesh, knowing that he’d come specifically for her, to whisk her off on a date, brought all those butterflies fluttering to the surface.
Tonight, over dark trousers and a roll-top jumper, he was wearing a smart camel overcoat that she hadn’t seen him in before.
He was definitely channelling, and owning, the man-about-town vibe.
He approached her with an expectant expression.
‘Am I too early? I could wait or come back in ten minutes.’
‘No,’ said Penny. ‘You two get off. I can close up here.’
‘Are you sure?’ asked Isla.
‘Absolutely. You go and have a lovely time,’ said Penny, pointing towards the front door as if they might not know which way to go.
Guy held the door open for Isla and ushered her through.
‘You look great, by the way,’ he said, his gaze running the length of her body appreciatively, as she brushed past him, her excitement building as she caught his scent.
She hadn’t imagined it; he really did smell that good!
Manoeuvring around her, and with the gentlest of touches on the small of her back, he took the position closest to the road, and Isla couldn’t help thinking what a lovely gesture it was.
It was something her dad always did too.
While her feminist sensibilities made her appreciate that she didn’t need protecting or shielding from the busy road, she could still accept it as a gentlemanly act of kindness.
As they walked along the high street, Isla’s gaze travelled up to the rooftops, the uniform white lights twinkling up high against the gorgeous stone buildings.
The shopfronts were lit up too, casting a festive glow over the pavements.
The sounds of conversation filtered around them as people did the last of their shopping and wandered in and out of the bars and cafés.
They took the steep stairs down to the cellar bar and immediately, Isla could tell that it was busy as she scanned the room for a free table, thinking that they might have to go elsewhere, but the manager quickly located their booking on his screen and led them to a table at the side of the bar.
The atmosphere was lively and welcoming, the background music unobtrusive but relaxing.
The cocktail menu was vast and Isla spent ages scanning the different options, changing her mind several times, before opting for a Christmas gin cocktail while Guy chose a winter negroni.
Thankfully, the conversation flowed easily, with Guy asking her about her day at work, which books were flying off the shelves and what would be on her Christmas wish list, book-wise.
The drinks arrived promptly and, raising their glasses together in a toast, they wished each other a merry Christmas, Isla finding herself unwinding as the flavours of cranberry, lime and Prosecco mingled in her mouth. She took a deep breath.
‘Look, Guy,’ she said, ‘there’s something I need to tell you.’
‘Okay.’ He tilted his head to one side, his brown eyes observing her closely. ‘That sounds ominous.’
‘Not really. I just think it’s best if we’re honest with each other from the start, so that there are no surprises along the way.’
Isla had been thinking about it ever since she’d arranged this date with Guy.
It was one thing to hide the truth from her parents, but when setting out on a new relationship, even if it was destined to be just a friendship, then it wasn’t recommended to keep any secrets.
She’d twisted the scenario around in her head.
What if she discovered that Guy wasn’t really a property consultant, as she’d been led to believe, but a property maintenance man instead?
Not that his job title would affect the way she thought about him, only that she would be disappointed to discover that he hadn’t been totally honest with her.
He picked up his tumbler and gave an almost imperceptible nod of his head, inviting her to go on.
She wavered a moment, uncertain if it wasn’t a bad idea, and if she wouldn’t spoil the evening with her admission, but Guy was waiting expectantly now.
‘Yes, well, my wonderful job in London, the one that my mum has no doubt bored you senseless about, is now no longer.’
‘Oh?’
She wondered what he’d expected her to say. He certainly looked confused.
‘I’m sorry to hear that. What happened?’
‘I was made redundant. A few weeks ago. It was a bit of a body blow.’
She explained how she’d been brought in to head up the department, how great things had been expected of her and how she’d been unable to fulfil the faith and promise placed in her.
Guy nodded interestedly, his expression sympathetic.
‘Don’t judge me,’ she said, holding up her hand to him, ‘but I haven’t told my parents yet. I wanted to process it in my own head first. Besides, I thought it might put a dampener on the whole Christmas thing if I told them before the holiday.’
‘Well, in that case, thank you for confiding in me. I appreciate it. Although from what I know of your mum, I’m sure she would be nothing but supportive and understanding. Or have I got Diana entirely wrong?’ He cast her a questioning look.
‘Yes, she would, of course, but she’d also be terribly sad on my behalf.
I suppose in a way, I feel a bit of a failure, as though I’ve let my parents down.
They’ve done so much to support me over the years.
’ She swallowed down a sigh. ‘Look, I appreciate this says more about me than them, but I wanted you to know to stop you getting the wrong idea about me and my glittering career.’
At least she could raise a smile about it now, although she hoped she hadn’t over-shared with Guy. He’d probably been expecting a flirty, fun few hours with some light conversation and laughter, when instead, she’d offloaded all her work woes on to him.
‘Hey, you do realise I’m interested in you as a person? The girl from the bookshop with the lovely smile, who loves reading, dogs and speciality coffees. Your career in publishing is interesting, obviously, but it’s probably the least interesting thing about you to me.’
‘Really?’ she said, taken aback by his direct and honest approach.
She wasn’t sure if she should feel flattered or insulted, but she would take it as a compliment, especially the part about her lovely smile.
She dropped her gaze to the stem of her glass.
Thinking about it, she supposed she had made her career a defining personality trait and without the job, she wasn’t even sure who she was any more.
He glanced at her almost-empty glass. ‘Do you fancy another one of those? And what about some food? They do some nice sharing platters, if you’re hungry.’
‘Yes, to both,’ she agreed, relaxing into the mellow vibe around her, ‘if you’re going to have something to eat too.’
Every time she told someone about the redundancy, she could feel a weight slide off her shoulders. It really wasn’t as bad as she imagined, being honest, showing her vulnerability. Although telling her parents would be another matter entirely.
If her confession had impacted on Guy’s opinion of her then he didn’t show it.
He ordered a mix plate of Spanish cheeses and cold meats which came with a basket of bread, and pots of chutney, which they both tucked into eagerly.
It felt intimate to be sharing food from the same plate, their eyes snagging as they tried the different options in front of them.
‘You know what they say? It’s the failures in life that form your character, not the successes.
It’s how you deal with those disappointments that is the most important thing.
You strike me as someone who is resilient and determined so I’m guessing you won’t have any problems in securing another position? ’