girls.’ Lowering her voice to a whisper the woman said, ‘Her husband, you see, ran off with one and Pat was beside herself, especially when she found out she used to be a man. The girl I mean. Not Pat. Poor thing, she was devastated. So that’s why she overreacted. I’m really, really sorry. I’ve had a talk with her and she’ll never do it again.’
‘Well, good,’ said Lola. ‘I’m happy to hear that?
The manager looked hopeful. ‘So does that mean everything’s OK? You won’t make an official complaint?’
‘No, I won’t.’
‘Oh thank you! Thank you so much.’ She clasped Lola’s hand in gratitude. ‘That’s so good of you. Poor old Pat, I know she shouldn’t have said those dreadful things, but she’s had a tough time and in a way I’m sure you can understand why she’d get upset—’
I’m not a prostitute,’ said Lola.
This stopped the manageress in her tracks.
‘Oh!’ Covering her surprise, the woman hastily backtracked. ‘Of course you aren’t! I didn’t mean it to sound like that! Heavens, of course I didn’t think that!’
Lola grinned because an outfit that wouldn’t merit so much as a second glance in Alcudia clearly held other connotations in a London bookshop in chilly November. Maybe the time had come to start modifying her wardrobe.
‘I think you did. Don’t worry about it. And you haven’t asked me yet why I wanted to see you.’
The woman looked flustered. ‘Right. Sorry, I’m in a bit of a muddle now. So why did you want to see me?’
‘This.’ Lola tapped the sign on the counter, identical to the one she’d spotted in the window earlier. ‘It says you have a vacancy for a sales assistant.’
‘We do. To replace Pat when she leaves.’
Better and better.
‘Do you need many qualifications for that?’
‘You need to love books.’
‘I love books,’ said Lola.
The manageress looked stunned. ‘You mean you’re interested? In this job?’
It was clearly an extraordinary request. ‘Sorry, would I not be allowed to work here?’
‘It’s not that! I just thought Pat said you lived abroad.’
Lola smiled at the woman and said, ‘I think it’s time I moved back.’
Chapter 4
Present Day
’You work where? In a bookies?’
‘In a bookshop.’ Even as she yelled the words above the blaring music, Lola wondered why she was bothering. ‘Kingsley’s. I’m the manager of the Regent Street branch!
‘God, rather you than me. Books are boring:The boy winked and leered over the rim of his beer glass at Lola, evidently convinced of his own irresistibility. He had super-gelled hair and a knowing grin. Having subjected her to a slow, appreciative once-over he said, ‘Nah, you’re having me on. You don’t look like the manager of a bookshop.’
What she could have said in reply to this was, ‘Well, you don’t look like a dickhead, but you clearly are one.’
‘Well, I am,’ Lola said patiently. ‘I promise.’
‘You should be wearing granny glasses and, like, a scuzzy old cardigan or something. And no make-up.’
Lola knew what she should be doing; she should be punching the stupid smirk off his face.
Aloud she said, ‘I’m guessing you don’t go into many bookshops.’
‘Me? No way.’ Proudly the boy said, ‘Can’t stand reading, waste of time. Hey, fancy a drink?’
‘No thanks. Can’t stand drinking, waste of time.’
He looked shocked. ‘Really?’
‘Not really. But drinking with you would be a huge waste of time.’ Lola excused herself and made her way over to the bar where Gabe, whose leaving party it was, was chatting to a group of friends from work.
‘Gabe? I’m going to head home.’
He turned, horrified. ‘No! It’s only nine o’clock.’
‘I know. I just feel like an early night.’
‘An early what? Hang on, where’s the real Lola?’ Gabe inspected her face closely. ‘Tell me what you’ve done with her.’
Lola grinned, because she was as mystified as he was; she absolutely wasn’t the early night type.
Parties were normally her favourite thing.
‘I know it’s weird. Maybe I’m going down with something. Anyway, you have a great time.’
Reaching up and giving Gabe a hug she said, ‘I’ll knock on your door with tea and Panadol in the morning.’
He looked even more alarmed. ‘Make it tomorrow evening and I might be awake.’
