Free Rory's Proposal by Lynda Renham Page B

say I love you but he doesn’t. He never does unless I say it first. I’m not going to say it in front of Tom am I? I’d then need to say I love you too so Tom thinks Luke did say I love you but seeing as Luke never said I love you in the first place, it will seem odd saying I love you too, and then Luke is bound to think I’m being funny. My head is spinning. All I know is I really shouldn’t be having hot chocolate with Tom.
    ‘I have to go,’ I say rummaging in my bag for my purse.
    ‘How much was it?’ I ask the waitress.
    ‘No, it’s on me. Flo, about Rory’s …’
    ‘It’s kind of you to advise me but I really have to go.’
    He bites his lip.
    ‘I was just going to say, why don’t you tell them what you want, name your price, or ask for a salon in a nice area? I think, from what I’ve heard, Mr Rory is not so bad and …’
    I scoff.
    ‘Even you believe the propaganda,’ I say, fanning out my pashmina and wrapping it around my shoulders.
    ‘I’m a business man Flo. Some things make good business sense.’
    ‘Well it doesn’t make good business sense for me to throw in the towel on the one thing I’ve started to make a success of. Luke won’t want to marry a failure and I really want to marry Luke.’
    ‘I can’t think why, if he makes you feel so bad,’ he says scathingly.
    I stare at him.
    ‘How dare you, you don’t even know Luke. Thank you for the chocolates, and the hot chocolate but I must go now.’
    Before he has time to speak I am out in the street hailing a cab. How dare he say that about Luke? I feel like crying but the truth is he is right. I don’t think I’m good enough for Luke, and Luke makes me feel that way with his dismissive attitude towards the salon. I know he loves me, I just know he does, but why doesn’t he ask me to marry him? No, don’t think about it, don’t think about it but how can I not think about it?
    ‘I can give you a lift Flo,’ Tom calls from the doorway.
    I decline his offer. Good business sense my arse. I’ll show Rory’s. It’s not until I’m halfway home that I realise Tom knew my full name. A little tingle of pleasure runs through me. Why would he go to all that trouble if he didn’t like me? I quickly dismiss the idea as stupid. Someone as successful as Tom wouldn’t give me a second glance would he?
     

Chapter Nine
    Tom, one hour earlier.
     
    I drive slowly towards Portobello Road, checking the directions Grant had given me. I remember Grant’s words and repeat Flora in my head a few times. A dotty spinster. I can’t understand why Grant is making such a big deal over this. She should jump at the chance to get well over the market value for her little salon. It shouldn’t take long to sweeten her up. Grant must be losing his touch, everyone has their price and Flora Robson would have hers. She’s smart though, I’ll give her that. Pulling out at the last minute, and after the two shops either side have signed. She’s got us over a barrel and she knows it, but it will all be down to money at the end of the day. I go over the agenda for tomorrow’s board meeting and by the time I turn the corner into Church Lane I’m singing along to James Blunt. I grab the chocolates and tap on the door. I try the handle and the door swings open, a little bell announcing my arrival. She turns at the sound and I recognise her immediately. It’s Flo, the girl who reversed into me. Flo, Flora, this has to be a joke. She turns to look at me. Her warm brown eyes sparkle with recognition. Her mouth turns up at the edges and she smiles. Her face is open and expressive, the kind that you can read like a book. I was not expecting this. She is wearing leggings that show off her slim legs and sexy backside and I make a conscious effort to make eye contact. Her dark hair is tied back and she runs her hands over the back of her neck.
    ‘Oh,’ she says.
    ‘You’re Flora Robson,’ I say and could kick myself.
    She smiles.
    ‘Yes, the one and only