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“Oh, that’s a shame,” said Kate. “Do you have any plans to go out there?”
“Crikey, not likely, all that funny food. Plus, there’s no way I could leave my business in the hands of my employees. It takes a special skill set to run a business like mine. Last week, this chap brought his old Ford Fiesta in for part exchange and…”
Beneath the table, Kate sent a message to Flo complaining about Archie, followed by sleeping emojis. Flo replied straight away, with a photo of her in The Sunbeam’s waitress uniform, a grimace on her face and a packed room of office workers behind her.Could be worse, thought Kate, slipping the phone back into her bag.
“Sorry to interrupt you, Archie.” Kate could’ve kissed Bob as he appeared at her shoulder. “I don’t suppose you’d mind if I steal Kate away for a while? I’ve not had the chance to chat to her all evening.”
“Well, actually, I was about to tell her about the Ford Fiesta…”
“Good chap,” said Bob, cutting Archie off and taking Kate’s arm so she couldn’t get drawn back into conversation.
“You owe me a warm chocolate brownie with fudge sauce,” said Kate as they made their way out into the courtyard.
“I’m sorry, you’re more than welcome to head back in and finish it if you want to?”
“And get my ear bent about used cars for another two hours? No thanks.” Kate noticed a smirk playing at the edges of Bob’s mouth. “Oh yeah, have a good laugh. You wouldn’t find it so funny if it had been you sitting there. There was no one to talk to on my left, the woman on my right was engrossed in a different conversation, and the man diagonally opposite me wouldn’t catch my eye.”
“Can you blame him? He’s probably been caught by Archie before.”
“Who is Archie anyway? He didn’t pause for breath long enough for me to ask who he was with.”
“He’s Morag’s husband. I don’t know why she brings him along, she’ll spend all night ignoring him. Anyway, I’m sorry I didn’t come and rescue you earlier.”
“Yeah, well, you had your harem to keep you busy.”
Bob tipped his head back and laughed till he had tears in his eyes. “My harem? Are you serious?”
“Damn right I am, they’ve been pawing at you all evening. No wonder I was left with only Archie for company.”
“Dear me, Miss Trenain, you’re beginning to sound like you’re jealous.”
“Jealous? In your dreams. I just don’t appreciate being left on my own all evening, that’s all.”
Kate was pleased it was dimly lit in the courtyard for her face was hot despite Bob’s words holding no truth at all. Anyway, so what if she was jealous, it’s not against the law to want to spend time with a friend.
“Look, I really am sorry for abandoning you. I got pulled along in the crowd when the gong sounded and found myself trapped in that spot. I tried saving a place for you, but Mildred’s a force to be reckoned with.”
“Don’t worry, you can make up for it by getting me another drink. Though I should probably have lemonade as I’ve had too much wine already.”
“Lemonade, are you sure? This is a Christmas party.”
“Go on then, I’ll have a white wine, but don’t let me have another and you have to promise to help me back up the hill later.”
“I will, as long as Mildred hasn’t persuaded me to go home with her.”
Kate looked at him open-mouthed, then realising he was joking, sent him on his way with a grin.
“Thanks,” said Kate, as Bob returned with their drinks. “You know, I’m seeing a very different side to you tonight.”
“Really? In what way?”
“I don’t know, you’re very popular for starters. You’re like the popular kid at school, you know, the one all the girls want to be with and all the boys want to be.”
“Wow, how many glasses of wine have you had?”
“Learn to take a compliment when it’s given, Mr Carter.”
“Ha, alright then, but I have to disagree with your character assessment. The main reason they’re all being so nice to me is I hold the power to hire and fire. They want to stay on my good side, that’s all. Plus, I don’t think any of the popular kids at school had a beer belly and modelled their hair cuts on a bird’s nest.”
