‘God, especially when I was a teenager! My mother sent the cleaner into my bedroom every morning to tidy everything up and make my bed. I was allowed to have three posters on my wall.’ Sally paused to scoop another biscuit from the packet on the floor next to her. ‘As long as they were posters of horses. I was more of a Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran kind of girl, but she wouldn’t let me put them on the walls. Ghastly creatures, she called Duran Duran. And Spandau were yobs. I think she was terrified I’d find myself a boyfriend who wore ruffled shirts and make-up.’

Lola pictured Adele’s horror at the prospect. ‘So what happened next?’

‘Daft question. I found myself a boyfriend who wore ruffled shirts and make-up:

‘And you were how old when you left home?’

‘Eighteen. But I’ve never lived on my own, it’s always been either flat-sharing or moving in with boyfriends. Which means there’s always been someone around to moan about my decorating plans. I’ve spent the last eighteen years having to compromise. Well, not any more.’ Sally’s exuberant gesture encompassed the room and caused the contents of her glass to spill in an arc across the rug. ‘From now on I’m going to do what I want to do and no one’s going to stop me.

No more Tim the Tosser, no more Pisshead Pete, no more boring men telling me I can’t have leopard-print wallpaper in my kitchen. Bum, my glass is empty.’

‘That would be because you just swung it upside down.’

Did I? Bum, now this is empty.’ Tipsily aghast, Sally gave the second bottle a shake. ‘OK, don’t panic, I’ve got a bottle of white burgundy in the fridge — whoops, my foot’s gone to sleep, I hate it when that happens.’

‘Shall I get it?’ Lola jumped up, because Sally’s attempts to stand were of the Bambi-on-ice persuasion.

‘Excellent plan. But you’ll have to hunt around for a corkscrew.’

In the kitchen, Lola took out the chilled burgundy and rummaged through drawers in search of Gabe’s corkscrew Surely he hadn’t taken it with him.

The doorbell rang and she heard Sally say perplexedly, ‘Who can that be?’ But she must have limped over to the intercom because twenty seconds later the door to the flat was opened and Sally exclaimed, ‘I wasn’t expecting you here tonight!’

Friend?

Mother? Please no.

Old boyfriend?

Lola’s hands froze in mid-corkscrew search as she heard the visitor say, ‘I know, but I have to meet a client in Oxford tomorrow morning, so this was the only time I could bring the stuff over.

I tried to call but your phone’s switched off.’

Oh, that voice, it was like warm honey spreading through her veins. Not one of Sally’s old boyfriends then, thought Lola. One of mine!

‘That would explain why George Clooney hasn’t rung. Thanks, just dump the cases against the wall.’ Bursting with pride Sally said, ‘So what d’you think of my new flat?’

Lola listened, holding her breath.

‘Bloody hell. It’s like a cross between Santa’s grotto and a Moroccan souk.’

‘I know, isn’t it fantastic?’ Sally clapped her hands. ‘I can’t believe how gorgeous it looks!’

Doug said drily, ‘I can’t believe you’re my sister.’ Evidently spotting the empty wine glasses on the coffee table he added, ‘Drinking for two now? Or has someone else been round?’

Sally giggled. ‘Someone else is still round.’

OK, enough skulking in the kitchen. Lola stepped into the living room. ‘Actually I wouldn’t call myself round, more curvily girl-shaped.’

Chapter 14

’Oh, for God’s sake.’ Dark eyes narrowing, Doug said impatiently, ‘Not you again.’

It hurt, but as far as he was concerned, Lola knew she deserved it. Just as well she was the optimistic type; maybe she could win him round. Dougie, I’ve already said I’m sorry’

‘I know you have. But what are you doing here?’ he demanded.

Dougie, don’t be so rude,’ wailed Sally. ‘Lola’s my friend.’

‘I’m more than her friend.’ Lola flashed him a playful smile and saw the split-second look of horror on his face ... Jesus, surely not ... ‘I’m her next door neighbour.’

Doug shook his head in disbelief; being a neighbour might not be quite as alarming as being a predatory lesbian but it was evidently a close-run thing. He looked over at his sister. ‘You didn’t mention this.’

‘Of course I didn’t. If I’d told you I was going to be moving in next door to Lola, you’d have tried to talk me out of it.’

Exasperated, Doug retorted, ‘Damn right I would. And I’m not the only one.’

‘Well, too bad. I don’t care what Mum says — it’s not my fault she doesn’t like Lola. You and Mum should put all that old stuff behind you, it’s irrelevant now. Anyway, this is my flat and I’m jolly well staying here!

Overcome with gratitude, Lola longed to burst into applause, but the line of Dougie’s jaw wasn’t exactly forgiving. Instead she attempted to change the subject.

‘Errm, I couldn’t find the corkscrew.’

‘OK, I think there’s one in one of the cases in my bedroom. Hang on, I’ll go and have a look.’

‘You never know,’ Doug said softly when Sally had left the room, ‘play your cards right and you could land yourself another handy little windfall. My mother might be so keen to keep you away from Sal that she’d be prepared to pay you to move out.’

It hurt like a knife sliding in under her ribs. Lola said, ‘Look, what do you want me to do? Fall on my knees and beg for forgiveness? I did a bad thing once and I’m sorry I hurt you, but at the time I didn’t have any choice.’

Doug shook his head. ‘Fine. Anyway, we’re not going to argue about that again. I’m just here to drop off the rest of Sal’s things. I’ll fetch them from the car.’

‘I’ll help you! Had Sally still not managed to locate the corkscrew or was she being discreet and keeping out of the way?

‘No need.’

‘I want to.’ Lola followed him out into the hallway. ‘I can manage.’

‘But it’s going to be easier if there’s two of us.’ She clattered down the stairs behind him. ‘And I’m strong! Remember that time I beat you at arm-wrestling?’

Doug’s shoulders stiffened. ‘No.’

‘Oh, come on. At Mandy Green’s party. Her brother started this whole arm-wrestling competition out in the garden because he said no girl could beat a boy. But he was wrong,’ Lola said proudly, ‘because I did, I beat him and I beat you—’

‘That’s because I let you win: Doug said curtly.

‘What?You didn’t! Ouch.’As he reached the front door, Lola cannoned into his back.

‘Of course I did.’ Doug yanked open the door, shooting her a dismissive look over his shoulder.

‘Did you seriously think you were stronger than me?’

‘But ... but ..’ Lola had spent the last decade — ten whole years — being proud of that achievement. And now Doug was shattering her illusions. This was like suddenly being told that Father Christmas didn’t exist.

Woooooop went the dark green Mercedes on the other side of the road as Doug pointed a key at it.

Unless ... unless he was lying when he said he’d let her win.

‘Right, you can carry the bags with the clothes in. They’re not so heavy.’ He opened the boot.

‘I’ll deal with the boxes of books: Books. If there was one thing Lola was the queen of, it was carrying piles of books. Who needed to lift weights in a gym when you worked at Kingsley’s?

Reaching past Doug she slammed the boot shut.

‘Jesus!’ He snatched his hand away in the nick of time. ‘You nearly had my fingers off! What d’you think you’re playing at?’

‘I don’t believe you lost on purpose. I think that’s just your excuse.’ Pushing up the sleeve of her sweater to give her elbow some grip, Lola angled herself up against the corner of the car’s boot and waggled her fingers. ‘So we’ll just fmd out, shall we? On your marks, get set ...’

‘I tell you what,’ said Doug, ‘why don’t we just carry my sister’s things into the flat?’

‘Chicken.’

‘Lola, let me open the boot.’

‘Clucka-lucka-luck’

He gave her a raised-eyebrow look. ‘What?’

OK, if she hadn’t been a teeny bit squiffy she possibly wouldn’t have done that. ‘It’s my chicken impression.’

‘Not exactly Rory Bremner, are you?’

‘Ooh, I saw Rory Bremner once,’ Lola said excitedly. ‘In a delicatessen:

‘He must have been thrilled. Can we get the stuff out now?’ She waggled her fingers once more.

‘You’re really scared I’ll win, aren’t you?’

‘I don’t believe this.’ Heaving a sigh, Doug pushed up the sleeve of his pale grey sweatshirt, assumed the position against the car and clasped Lola’s right hand. Her heart lolloped as his warm fingers closed around hers. She could feel his breath on her face, smell the aftershave he was wearing, see the glint of stubble on his jaw, imagine the way his mouth would feel if she were to kiss him right now ...

Like premature ejaculation it was all over far too soon. CLONCK went the back of her forearm against the boot of the Mercedes.

‘That’s not fair,’ Lola wailed. ‘I wasn’t ready’

‘Correction. You weren’t strong enough.’ He paused. ‘What are you doing now?’

‘Nothing. Just looking at you.’ She’d seen a lot of eyes in her life but none more beautiful than Dougie’s. He had the thickest, darkest eyelashes of any man she’d ever known.

‘Well, stop it. I don’t trust what’s going on here. All of a sudden you’re persuading my sister to move into the flat next to yours and I want to know why’

‘I didn’t persuade her. It was her decision. But I’m glad she chose to,’ said Lola. ‘Because I like Sally. We get on well together. And I’d rather have her living next door than the geeky nerdy type who would have moved in if she hadn’t come along in the nick of time.’

‘Is that the only reason?’

‘Of course!’

Now why don’t I believe you? Oh yes, that’s right, because you’re a mercenary liar. Take these.’

Having sprung open the boot once more, Doug dumped a huge pink canvas holdall in Lola’s arms.

‘How many times can I say I’m sorry?’

‘Forget it. Not interested.’ There was that muscle again, twitching away in his jaw as he hauled out two boxes of books. ‘Just so long as you aren’t still harbouring some kind of plan to persuade me to change my mind about you, because that’s not going to happen.’

‘I know. You told me that last week.’ Honestly, whatever happened to forgive and forget?

then we went back to my flat and tore each other’s clothes off. We had wild sex all night long and it was ... ooh, fabulous!’

‘Nice try, Pinocchio.’ Cheryl carried on stacking books on a table in readiness for an author to come in and do a stock-signing. ‘So what really happened?’

What had really happened was far less encouraging. Lola pulled a face and said, ‘He emptied the car, dumped Sally’s things in her flat and drove off.’

‘Oh dear. So you won’t be bringing him along to Bernini’s tomorrow night. I was looking forward to meeting him.’

Tomorrow night was their works Christmas party. This year for some reason someone had suggested it should be fancy dressand in a moment of madness Lola had agreed. ‘I wouldn’t inflict that on Dougie. I’m not sure he’s the dressing-up-like-an-idiot kind.’

‘Plus,’ Cheryl helpfully pointed out, ‘he’s not exactly your number one fan at the moment.’

‘I know, I know’ Lola began folding the books’ jacket flaps to the title pages to make signing speedier. Too ashamed to reveal the whole truth, she had left out the money aspect; as far as Cheryl was concerned, all that had happened was that Dougie had reacted badly to being chucked.

‘Oh, cheer up,’ said Cheryl. ‘If anyone can win him round, you can. Think about it, meeting up with your first love again is fate! It’s romantic! You made a mistake before, but there’s no reason why you can’t give things another whirl, especially if he’s as gorgeous as you say he — oh, hello!’

Looking up, Lola saw that the man who wasn’t a private detective was on the other side of the table.

‘Hi.’ He greeted them both with a friendly smile.

‘How did you get on with ... ?’ Bugger, out of the books she’d recommended, Lola couldn’t remember which one he’d ended up buying.

‘It was great. I’m going to try the other author you mentioned. It’s just that he’s written a whole lot of them and I wasn’t sure if I should start with the first in the—’

‘Lola, there’s a drunk guy trying to steal books.’ Tim rushed up, his face puce with indignation.

‘He’s over in Mysteries, trying to stuff a load of Agatha Christies down his trousers. Quick!’

Euww. Dropping the book in her hand, Lola raced across the shop floor in Tim’s slipstream, dodging customers and cursing shoplifters. Poor Agatha, what a grim thing to happen. She definitely didn’t deserve this.