Free Dreams to Sell by Anne Douglas Page B

MacKenna. And then if there’s anything particular I can do for you, please say.’
    â€˜Oh, Miss Rainey, I’m not sure where to start!’ He ran a hand through his hair, then hastily tried to flatten it. ‘But, yes, I’d be very glad of your help, as I was told I would be. To begin with, I’d like to see the file on house prices here, they being very different from Border prices, you understand. Obviously, I’m going to have to bone up on those before I do my valuations.’
    â€˜Certainly, I can help you there. Just out of interest, what part of the Borders are you from, Mr Shield?’
    â€˜Kelder – that’s a small market town some miles from Berwick. I don’t know if you know it?’
    â€˜Not really. I’ve only been to Berwick once, on a school trip.’
    â€˜Beautiful country, Miss Rainey. I’ve always lived there.’
    Roz smiled. ‘Hope you’re not going to be too homesick, then, living in a city?’
    â€˜Oh, no, I want to be here. I’m very glad they gave me the job.’ He shrugged. ‘Bet they wouldn’t have done if an Edinburgh man had applied. Guess I was lucky they didn’t.’
    She hesitated, wondering if she should say she was sure it wasn’t just luck that he got the job, but decided against it – might sound patronizing, eh?
    â€˜I’ll get you the recent prices file,’ she told him.
    She was turning away when he said lightly, ‘Just one more thing, Miss Rainey—’
    â€˜Yes, Mr Shield?’
    â€˜Well, it’s what I called you just now – Miss Rainey. All a bit formal when there are just the two of us in the office, don’t you think? May I not call you Roz?’
    Her eyes widening, she could only stare. Was he serious? Did he not know what Mr Banks would say to that idea?
    â€˜My name’s Jamie,’ Mr Shield added cheerfully, seeming unaware of her reaction. ‘I was christened James, of course, but I’ve never been known as James.’
    â€˜Mr Shield,’ she said slowly. ‘We don’t use first names here. Norma Ward – she’s the typist – is the only person to call me Roz, and she’s the only one I call by her first name.’
    â€˜Oh, come on, last night at Mr MacKenna’s farewell, first names were being bandied about all the time! Why, I heard him being called Ronnie and you being called Roz. How about that, then?’
    â€˜That was just for a special occasion. Normally, Mr Banks likes things to be formal. It is usual in most offices, from what I’ve heard.’
    â€˜Not at Hanna and Hanna’s, where I worked,’ Mr Shield said firmly. ‘We were all first names there. Not in front of the clients, of course, just between ourselves, which is what I was suggesting to you. But if you’re not happy about it, please forget I asked. The last thing I want is to upset you, and on our first day at that!’
    His expression was so rueful, she found herself shaking her head and laughing.
    â€˜I’m not upset at all. I think it was very nice of you to suggest it and I wish I could’ve agreed, but, you know, I think …’
    â€˜It might not go down well with Mr Banks? I understand. Our Mr Hanna was a bit younger, you see, rather a different guy altogether.’ Mr Shield sighed and returned to his desk. ‘Let’s stick to the status quo, then, all right?’
    â€˜Right, Mr Shield. I’ll get you your file.’
    â€˜And maybe a cup of coffee?’
    â€˜And coffee too.’
    First names or no first names, thought Roz, I’m still the one to get the coffee, eh?
    At the end of the day, though, she felt much more cheered than she’d feared she might have done. True, she missed Mr MacKenna and the familiar routine with him, but Mr Shield had turned out to be just as pleasant as when she’d first met him, and she was sure now that they would have a good