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That’s what I could do, I think. Cook for them all. She’s still mid-peel of an orange when I say, in a rush of bonhomie, ‘Come to dinner. At the weekend. Everyone from the salon.’ I’ll have to squash them all into my little dining room, but it can be done.
‘I’ll get Mike in too. Has Steph got a man on the go at the moment?’
‘Two or three, I think, but I’m sure another one wouldn’t go amiss. If you’re thinking of matchmaking though, Miserable Mike might be single but he’s so not her type.’
‘You don’t think so?’
‘Noooooo way!’ Nina decides.
‘But he’s lovely.’
‘I’d agree with that now,’ my friend says a bit cagily.
‘I’ve always told you so.’ I don’t dare remind her that she didn’t seem too reluctant to get close to him on New Year’s Eve.
She gives me a sideways glance. ‘Then why didn’t you snap him up?’
I have no answer to that.
‘Steph would eat him alive,’ Nina continues. ‘You couldn’t do that to him.’
‘Maybe not.’ She has a point. Still, it would be nice to see Mike fixed up with a girlfriend and other than Steph – or the sex-starved ladies of The Nashley Church Flower Committee – I can’t think of any other single women that might suit him.
‘Do you think the boys would like to come?’
‘Not speaking,’ Nina fills me in. ‘They had a big bust up at the weekend. Tyrone texted me. He caught Clinton getting jiggy with another bloke at some nightclub.’
‘When are they next in?’
‘Clinton’s in tomorrow. Ty’s not in until Wednesday. We’ve got two quiet days before the fireworks start.’
If it’s as it usually is, they’ll be sulking at either end of the salon, interspersed with bitch-slapping episodes. Cristal won’t want to come as she’d rather be out trying to pick up some Johnny No Stars bloke to shag.
‘I’ll see what I can do.’ I get a warm fuzzy feeling inside. ‘I’d really like you all to meet Dominic properly.’
Then you will love him, I think. Then you will love him. Just like I do.
Chapter Sixty-Two
I’ve put on my LBD and I’ve ironed and laid out on the bed some of the new clothes we bought for Dominic: a fitted black shirt and some bootcut jeans.
I wrap my arms around him tightly. ‘I want you to look fabulous tonight,’ I tell him with a kiss. ‘I want them all to see what a handsome man you are and what a lucky woman I am.’
He grins. ‘I will try my best for you, Just Janie.’
As I’m wondering if we’d have time for an extra-quick quickie, the doorbell rings. I check my watch. Whoever it is, they’re early. ‘Get your finery on and come down as soon as you can,’ I instruct. Then, giving Dominic a quick kiss, I disappear downstairs to let the first of our guests in.
As I might have suspected, it’s Mike who arrives first for our dinner party.
‘Hey,’ he says and pecks my cheek shyly.
His hair is freshly washed and there may well be a smidgen of gel in evidence. He’s tried with his clothes too – black jeans, Ted Baker grey shirt. And he looks pretty hot. Despite Nina’s warning, I’m so hoping that he likes Steph and that she likes him. I’ve told her that she has to be on her best behaviour and be nice to him and view him as potential date material even though he’s not married.
‘You look lovely,’ he ventures.
‘Not too shabby yourself, Mr Perry,’ I tease as I take the proffered bottle of champagne from him. ‘Wow. You’re flash.’
‘I thought we might celebrate Dominic’s arrival in style.’
‘I’ll drink to that. Thanks, Mike.’
Tyrone and Clinton are talking once again and so are coming along together tonight. Kelly and Phil couldn’t make it – busy, she said. But to be honest, I think Phil hates socialising with the minions from the salon, sees it as beneath him. He’d rather be out with the movers and shakers, not the cutters and blow-driers. Can’t say that I’m too disappointed and it’s enough of a crush in my dining room as it is. Out of all of them, I’m most nervous about Nina and Gerry as I really want them to see how great Dominic is.
Cooking isn’t my natural forte, but I’ve made an effort with the food tonight: a spicy leg of lamb with pilaff rice and a Greek-style salad of tomatoes, cucumber, olives and feta cheese. For afters, I’ve whipped up the speciality of the house – a chocolate bread and butter pudding. I’m only slightly disappointed that despite the delicious smells wafting from the kitchen, Dominic has requested just a bowl of porridge. It sounds ridiculous, but I wanted them to know that he can blend in perfectly well with everyone else and there’s nothing weird or unusual about him, that he’s exactly the same as everyone else. I’m worried that if he just eats porridge they’ll think he’s funny.
