Free Rory's Proposal by Lynda Renham

chocolate?’
    ‘A hot chocolate?’ I repeat stupidly.
    ‘Heroes, in Portobello Market. Do you know it?’
    I nod.
    ‘They do the best hot chocolate.’
    I hesitate. Luke will be expecting me. He is my boyfriend after all. What’s wrong with me? The guy’s inviting me for hot chocolate, not a quickie in the back of his Audi. I’m not sure which is the most enticing. It’s no good I’ve got to get this sex thing sorted with Luke or I’ll be ripping the clothes off the nearest man and that could well be Ryan. Heavens, that really doesn’t bear thinking about does it?
    ‘You’ve probably got something else on,’ he says.
    ‘I thought you had something else on,’ I say, appraising his suit.
    ‘Oh this,’ he says looking down at the waistcoat. ‘I had a business meeting in town earlier.’
    I bite my lip. Luke will be expecting me home. I don’t suppose a few extra minutes will matter. I’m already late because of the leaky basin anyway and he did fix my blocked pipe, so to speak. It’s the least I can to do to have a hot chocolate with him. Yes right Flora, like it’s some kind of sacrifice.
    ‘Won’t …’ I say and hesitate, ‘someone be expecting you?’ I finish boldly.
    He shakes his head.
    ‘I suppose they would, if there was a someone.’
    ‘I’d love a hot chocolate,’ I say. ‘I’ll just get my jacket.’
    I text Luke to say I’m running late. After all, he is always running late so it makes a change for it to be me for once. I grab my jacket and meet Tom by the door. It is chilly and I wrap my pashmina around my neck.
    ‘We can take my car,’ he says.
    I attempt to get into the car as elegantly as I can. He climbs in beside me and starts the engine which I have to admit sounds much healthier than mine.
    ‘It’s a nice car,’ I say.
    ‘A car’s a car,’ he says with a shrug.
    Oh really? He should have mine.
    ‘How is yours?’ he asks, reading my mind.
    ‘Sick, very sick,’ I laugh.
    The car pulls away smoothly from the kerb. His hand brushes my knee as he changes gear. The multitude of emotions I am feeling just from his touch has practically knocked the breath out of me. A few minutes later he parks outside Heroes in a parking bay. I rummage in my over full handbag and produce a crumpled pass which I stick on the windscreen. My phone is flashing and I push it underneath my make-up bag.
    ‘Great,’ he says, climbing from the car. He opens the door before I have time to grasp the handle. He takes my hand and I feel that familiar jolt. It is warm in the coffee shop and I feel my face grow hot. Tom helps me out of my jacket and leads me to a table at the back. The smell of coffee and warm waffles seduces me. The milkshake blender drowns out the music from the juke box. I love Heroes but Luke refuses to come here, saying it is a heart attack waiting to happen. Tom looks up from the menu as the waitress approaches.
    ‘Two Belgian hot chocolates,’ he says.
    ‘With cream and marshmallows?’ asks the waitress. God, is she fluttering her eyelashes?
    ‘Do you have soya milk?’ I ask.
    ‘Seriously?’ says Tom. ‘You’ll be murdering it.’
    He’s quite right of course.
    ‘Okay, can I have my marshmallows on the side and not on the cream?’ I ask. ‘And only the white ones please.’
    Tom smiles.
    ‘Sure. Anything else?’ she asks.
    I shake my head. She walks away and I look shyly at Tom. He looks so sexy in his shirt and tie.
    ‘So, why aren’t you selling to Rory’s? I imagine they made you a good offer. It’s a good location for a supermarket,’ he says leaning back in his chair. ‘What made you change your mind?’
    What makes him think I changed my mind? Do I look the indecisive type?
    ‘Because it’s all I have,’ I say simply. ‘Luke, that’s my boyfriend, is very successful and the salon is my success …’ I break off realising I have never shared this before, not even with Devon. ‘Luke doesn’t see it as a success. If I sell the salon I’ve