‘The manager’s job? Good on you, girl.’ Ronnie raised a glass. ‘Cheers!’
‘Yes, cheers!’ Jules and Sasha repeated.
‘Thank you.’
‘So how the hell did that happen?’ Sasha asked. ‘I thought the boss’ son was the new manager.’
‘He was. But at our meeting today, he gave the job to me. And I’ll tell you something else.’ She leant forward conspiratorially. ‘He’s bloody gorgeous, so I’m kind of hoping that’s not the only thing he might give me.’
‘Ali!’ Jules and Sasha looked at one another and then stared at her.
‘Seriously?’ Jules queried. ‘I thought you hated everything his family stands for.’
‘I do. But apparently that doesn’t stop me fancying the pants off him. You just wait till you see him. That man who plays Poldark on the telly pales to nothing compared to Aidan Rourke. Talk about takes your breath away... I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t think, I couldn’t move. All I could do was sit there and lust after him. He must think I’m a complete idiot.’
Sasha shook her head. ‘Then he won’t be the only one. You can’t possibly fall for a guy who is so damn rich that all he does is lead the life of a playboy. When he and his family aren’t demolishing perfectly good buildings, or replacing reasonably priced leisure centres with exclusive clubs and ripping everyone off in the process. No matter how gorgeous he looks in a photo.’
‘You’ve seen his photo?’ Ali was surprised. ‘Why didn’t you show me? At least then I wouldn’t have been so gobsmacked when he walked in.’
Sasha pulled a face. ‘I thought you’d checked him out online.’
‘I checked out his dad and the companies they own. I don’t remember seeing any photos of Aidan.’
‘I could only find a couple. Anyone would think the guy doesn’t actually want his photo taken.’
‘Probably because he’d have thousands of female stalkers if he did. I’m not kidding you. I have never in my life seen a man as gorgeous as him.’
Jules shifted in her seat. ‘And you’ve got to work with him?’
‘I’m not really sure. He told me that he was leaving the place in my hands but that he would be popping in from time to time. And then, get this, he leant forward, all sexy-like and said in a voice that alone could make you orgasm: “and now that I know what this place has to offer, I’ll be popping in a lot more”, or something along those lines. To be honest I was so busy trying not to grab him, throw him on the desk and jump on top of him, that I didn’t hear exactly what he said.’
‘Oh my God!’ Sasha knocked back her drink. ‘I need another. If that was a double, I’m a Ninja Princess.’
‘Keep drinking like that, babe,’ Jules said, downing hers. ‘And you probably will be. At least, in your imagination.’
Ali shook her head. ‘I can’t keep up with you two. I’m OK with mine.’
‘Slacker.’ Sasha headed towards the bar yet again and returned with three more G&Ts.
‘I said I was fine,’ Ali complained.
‘Save it for later, babe,’ Jules said. ‘Bruce is paying.’
‘I almost feel sorry for your fiancé.’
Jules smiled. ‘So do I. Sometimes. But then I realise how lucky he is to have me.’
‘Oooh! I forgot.’ Ali slapped the palm of her hand on the table. ‘I think Simon proposed to me this morning.’ A spray of liquid hit her in the face. ‘Oh God, Sasha! You just spat your drink all over me.’
‘Sorry.’ Sasha swiped her hand across her mouth. ‘But bloody hell, Ali. You can’t come out with something like that and not expect a reaction.’
‘Sasha’s right.’ Jules was clearly stunned. ‘Simon proposed? To you? Was he drunk?’
Ali wiped her face with a tissue from her handbag and threw the tissue at Sasha. ‘Yeah. Thanks for the vote of confidence. But seriously. I’m pretty sure he was joking. He said he was. And it wasn’t so much a proposal, as a suggestion. The thing is … it sort of got me thinking.’
‘About marrying Simon?’ Sasha shrieked.
‘God no! About exactly what his feelings are for me. I mean, we’ve always been really good friends. Best friends. I talk to him about the same things we talk about.’
‘What menstrual cramps and bikini waxes?’ Jules joked. ‘Having sex with guys?’
‘Oh, very funny. Although, I think I have discussed menstrual cramps with him.’
‘Jesus Christ.’ Jules rolled her eyes. ‘I bet he found that fascinating.’
‘He didn’t seem to mind. Anyway, we’re getting off topic. The point I’m making is, is he harbouring feelings for me? Or was it the alcohol from last night?’
Jules and Sasha exchanged looks and nodded simultaneously. ‘Alcohol.’
‘He’s known you too long to suddenly get the hots for you,’ Jules said. ‘It might be different if you’d been fat and lost a lot of weight, or something. You know? Like in those films where the girls have been hit by the ugly stick then suddenly turn into drop-dead gorgeous bombshells overnight. But you haven’t changed one bit in all the years he’s known you.’
‘She’s grown boobs and got a waist since she was two,’ Sasha pointed out. ‘Oh, and grown several feet in height. But yeah, no change other than that.’
‘Really?’ Ali peered at her friends. ‘No change? Nothing?’
Sasha rubbed Ali’s arm. ‘Hey. That’s a good thing. Change is highly overrated.’
‘Well, look at it like this,’ Jules said, emptying her glass once more. ‘You will be changing tomorrow. From tomorrow night, you’ll no longer be a plain, white blonde. You’ll be a stunningly, Strawberry Blonde. I think we should drink to that. Oh bugger. I think there’s a hole in my glass. I’d better get another one.’
Ali sighed. This was going to be a long evening. And tomorrow, she’d have Strawberry Blonde hair. What would Aidan Rourke think of that? Or would it have washed out before he got a chance to see it?
Chapter Five
Ali trusted Jules with most things but as she sat in one of the purple chairs in Shimmering Scissors Hair and Beauty, she was shaking. Actually shaking. It didn’t help that every song playing on the radio since she arrived had been about people making mistakes, and the fact that they were about things going wrong in relationships, not at the hairdressers, didn’t make any difference to Ali’s premonition of doom.
‘Trust me,’ Jules said, tying the purple gown at the nape of Ali’s neck. ‘What could possibly go wrong?’
‘You’re asking me?’ Ali’s fingers gripped the arms of the chair.
‘What I meant was, nothing will go wrong, babe. I’ve done this thousands of times.’
For some reason that wasn’t very comforting. ‘Planes take off and land thousands of times – but sometimes they crash.’
‘Seriously, Ali? You’re likening having your hair coloured, semi-permanently let’s not forget, to a plane crash?’
‘It’s going to be Strawberry Blonde. That’s flame-like. Strawberries are bright red.’
Jules shook her head. ‘I wonder about you sometimes, babe. It’ll be fine. Drink your coffee and eat the biscuit. You’re in safe hands.’
‘I bet that’s what Sweeny Todd, the demon barber, said to his customers.’
‘If you don’t shut it, you bloody well will end up in a pie. If you don’t want to do this you’ve only got to say so. I mean, it’s only my wedding we’re talking about. It’s not like it’s anything important, is it?’ Jules’ voice hit fever-pitch.
‘OK. I’m sorry. It’s simply that I’ve never coloured my hair before. Ever. I think my hair is the one really attractive thing about me and forgive me if I’m feeling just a little bit scared of losing my one real asset.’
‘Rubbish,’ Sasha said. She was sitting in the chair next to Ali and her hair was slowly turning a pale pink before Ali’s eyes. ‘You’ve got good legs, a nice bum, your eyes are lovely and, um, your boobs aren’t bad. Not brilliant, but not too shabby either.’
‘
High praise indeed. Thanks, Sasha.’
‘Was that sarcasm? Because I’m only trying to help, you know.’
‘Sorry. I know you are. I’m terrified, that’s all. But I do trust Jules, so let’s get on with this.’ She reached out for the biscuit and dunked it in her coffee.
Jules placed her hands on Ali’s shoulders. ‘You sure?’
‘I’m sure,’ Ali said, through a mouthful of soggy chocolate digestive.
Jules walked over to an alcove as Ali watched in the large oval mirror hanging on the purple and gold, papered walls in front of her chair. Daisy, Jules’ assistant had put some bottles on a worktop and Ali could see Jules pouring liquid from three of them into a bowl and stirring vigorously with a long slim paintbrush-like tool. Moments later, Jules returned with the bowl which now contained a soup of bright orange-looking goo. Ali sent up a silent prayer that it wasn’t going to be that colour once it sunk into each and every fibre of her beautiful, white blonde hair.
A flash went off beside her. ‘Just taking a photo of you as you are now,’ Sasha said, smiling at Ali. ‘Just in case it’s the last time you’ll ever be that colour.’
Ali’s stomach knotted, her throat went dry and her heart pounded against her chest as she stared at Sasha. ‘Thanks a lot.’
‘How was your first day as manager?’ Jules asked, slathering the revolting mixture onto Ali’s locks.
‘OK, I think. It’s not going to be that colour when it dries, is it?’
‘Nope. What do you mean, you think? Weren’t the other staff pleased? I thought they all felt you should’ve got the job in the first place.’
‘They did. And yes, they were pleased. We were going to pop out for a quick drink to celebrate but we thought better of it in case Aidan turned up unannounced. I nipped out and bought a couple of bottles of bubbly instead and we had a few glasses before I came here.’
‘Why didn’t we think of that?’ Sasha asked Jules. ‘Could we send Daisy out to get some before she leaves for the evening?’
‘That’s a good idea.’ Jules disappeared into another room via a purple, open door and reappeared with Daisy following behind her.
Daisy smiled at them and jogged towards the glass door of the salon. ‘Back in a mo.’
‘So, did Gorgeous-balls show his handsome face?’ Jules asked, plastering on more of the goo until Ali’s hair stuck firmly to her head.
‘Sadly not. But perhaps he wanted to give me space and time to tell the staff – all ten of them. He’s probably leaving us to it for a few days and then he’ll turn up and do a spot check or something. We’re simply carrying on as normal. It’s pretty quiet this week, but when the school holidays start, things will really pick up. The dormitory is full from next week onwards until virtually the end of the summer and we’ve got a few other groups booked for sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and kite surfing. Then there’s the wake boarding and, of course, water skiing. It’ll be all go. But I like it when it’s like that. It’s the quiet times I don’t like so much, when we’re all sitting around doing nothing.’
‘But there’s always something going on throughout the year,’ Sasha said. ‘It’s a shame you can’t boost the quieter months even more by arranging other activities.’
‘That’s actually one of the things we were discussing today. Ways to do just that. We haven’t come up with anything yet but there’s plenty of time. I hope.’
‘Why hope?’ Jules asked. ‘Do you think the Rourkes have other plans?’
‘No idea. It’s simply an odd feeling I have, that’s all. It’s probably nothing.’
‘I think you’ll find that feeling is lust,’ Sasha said, grinning. ‘You probably don’t remember what that’s like because it’s been so long since you had sex with anyone, but you’re lusting after Aidan.’
‘You’re not wrong there. D’you know, when I got to my office this morning all I could think about was the way he was sitting on my desk yesterday and the way his eyes seemed to be telling me that they’d be seeing a lot more of me – if you get my meaning.’
‘Oh we get it, babe,’ Jules said, as Daisy burst in through the door with a bottle of bubbly in each hand and another tucked under her arm. The convenience store was only two doors away but she must have run like an Olympian to make it there and back so fast.
‘Will three be enough?’ Daisy asked. ‘That’s all they had in the shop.’
‘I suppose it’ll have to be.’ Jules nodded towards the other room. ‘Grab some glasses will you, babe? They’re in the cupboard in there. Top shelf. You’ll join us for a drink or two, won’t you?’
Daisy hesitated. ‘Thanks. I’d love to but I can’t. My boyfriend’s picking me up and I saw his car as I was coming in the door. I’ll get your glasses and then, if it’s OK, can I dash off?’
‘You go,’ Sasha said, getting up. ‘I’ll get the glasses. Don’t worry, Jules, I won’t drip onto your floor.’
‘My hair colourant doesn’t drip, thank you very much.’
‘Thanks. Bye. Have a brill time,’ Daisy said, and was gone before anyone had time to reply.
Sasha got the glasses and poured the drinks. ‘Here’s to Ali’s promotion, and to the future, whatever it may hold. Cheers.’
They all clinked glasses and drank. Jules brought out more digestives and they nibbled those and drank some more.
‘Ooh!’ Jules said, with a mouthful of biscuit. ‘I almost forgot. Have you spoken to Simon today?’
Ali nodded. ‘Yeah. Just briefly. I felt a bit crap when he called. I usually tell him everything and I was going to call him yesterday to tell him about the promotion, but then you phoned and we went to the pub. You’d said he’d be joining us so I waited to tell him face-to-face, but then of course he didn’t show up. I was a bit the worse for wear and still shattered from the party so … well, in a nutshell, I hadn’t told him I was promoted to manager and he was a bit pissed off that he was the last to know, especially as he’d left me a couple of messages and all I’d done was sent a text saying: ‘Went better than expected. Will see you soon to tell you all.’ He did at least have the decency to congratulate me and he suggested we go out to celebrate tonight, but I told him I was having my hair done and he went all weird and said something along the lines of: ‘Fine. Call me when you’re free and we’ll do something then.’ And rang off. I got the impression he wasn’t happy, so I’ll have to make it up to him, I suppose.’
‘I bet he’s not,’ Sasha said. ‘He’s usually the first person you tell when you have news, whether it’s good or bad.’
‘I know. And that’s why I felt crap. But since that proposal joke and me meeting the gorgeous, demi-god, Aidan, something’s changed, I think. It’s as if … oh, I don’t know. It’s like something’s come between us. I’m sure it’s nothing and we’ll be back to the way we’ve always been in a week or so. At least I hope we will. I can’t imagine not having him as my best friend.’
‘One of your best friends, you mean, babe. Let’s not forget about me.’
Ali smiled at her. ‘No one could ever forget about you, Jules.’
‘Anyway, that’s not why I asked.’ Jules poured more Prosecco into their glasses. ‘Did he mention the cruise?’
‘Cruise? What cruise?’
‘Is Simon going on a cruise?’ Sasha piped up.
Jules shook her head. ‘Not Simon, no. His mum.’
Ali’s mouth fell open. ‘Maggie doesn’t go on holiday. Well, not unless Simon goes with her, or for a day out or something as a treat, or to visit relatives up north. If she’s going on a cruise – which I frankly doubt – then Simon must be going too. The only place she goes without him, is to visit her sister-in-law every couple of months in Norfolk, and even then, Simon drives her there and picks her up again.’
‘Wrong!’ Jules grinned triumphantly. ‘For once I know more about Simon than you do. Maggie told me herself, so I got it from the horse’s mouth. She came in this morning for her weekly cut and blow-dry and she’s booked a cruise.
But Simon did help, which is why he didn’t come to the pub yesterday because they booked it online and she’s crap with the internet, she says, so he had to do it all for her. They spent hours looking at various cruise lines and destinations but they eventually found one and booked it. Oh, and she’s going with the sister-in-law you mentioned. They Skyped one another about it, or something. I didn’t catch all of it because the hairdryers in here were going, and Maggie does chatter-on, doesn’t she?’
Ali banged her glass down. ‘And he got stroppy because I hadn’t told him about the promotion. Bloody cheek. You wait until I see him. He didn’t even mention it.’
Jules and Sasha exchanged glances.
‘Something weird has definitely happened between you two,’ Sasha said, shaking her head in a doom-like fashion.
‘Yeah,’ Jules added. ‘Really weird. But on the up side. Simon might not be such a mummy’s boy in future.’
‘Simon’s not a mummy’s boy.’
‘OK. No need to bite my head off.’
‘Jules does have a point,’ Sasha said. ‘The guy is almost thirty-five and he still lives with his mum. Don’t get me wrong, we all love him, but still. He needs to get a life. I don’t even think he’s had that many girlfriends, has he?’
‘He’s had ten in the past fifteen years.’ Ali grabbed another bottle of Prosecco from Jules, who was struggling with the cork, and popped it for her. ‘But he always seems to pick the wrong type of women, so they never last. And it’s Maggie who can’t cope without Simon, not the other way around. That’s why she had her house converted into flats. So that he would always be close by. I tried to tell him at the time that it might not be the best idea to go along with, but he said he couldn’t simply move out and leave her in the lurch. He’s got such a good heart.’
Jules opened her mouth, glanced at Ali, then at Sasha and quickly closed it.
‘What?’ Ali glared at her. ‘Come on, say it. We’re all friends here.’
‘Um. It wasn’t Maggie who had the house converted. It was Simon. Didn’t he tell you? That’s one of the things I did hear her tell me today. She was so excited about the cruise that it all came tumbling out. People often tell hairdressers things they shouldn’t.’
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