Dreams to Sell (11 page)

‘Very pleasant. I really enjoyed being home, but now I'm glad to be back here.'

‘And your mother was well?'

‘Very well. Cooking as though there was an army in the house, instead of just me. She always thinks men need hot food on the hour, or they'll collapse!'

‘My mother's a bit the same.'

They stood for a moment or two, exchanging glances, then Roz hurried away to the staffroom and Jamie, sighing deeply, sat down at his desk and looked at the letters she'd opened for him.

Their work that day was confined to the department, with Jamie busy meeting more clients than usual, most encouraged by the summer weather to rush into moving, one way or another, while Roz had an extra load of particulars to type and post out, as well as continually answering the phone. Even so, lunchtimes were still lunchtimes and when Jamie came back from his, Roz was able to tell him how much she and Norma had enjoyed his Kelder White cheese.

‘Oh, such a treat!' she told him. ‘To have something different and with such a lovely taste! Can't thank you enough.'

‘What's a piece of cheese?' he asked, smiling. ‘Not exactly a luxury item.'

‘Why that's just what it is! It's real luxury, to have something nice to eat.'

She didn't add that she'd had to put up with a lot of conjecture from Norma on why Mr Shield had brought Roz a cheese from the Borders, which she'd managed to dampen down by being non-commital until Norma's questions had dried up. Pity she'd had to eat the cheese at lunchtime, but if she hadn't, the whole point of the gift would have been lost, and she didn't want that – not when she'd been so touched by Jamie's thought.

It seemed he'd had another, though whether it was anything to do with Roz or not she didn't know, for after he'd begun with the words, ‘I was thinking,' the telephone rang, and he stopped.

Someone wanted to make an appointment for a valuation, Roz told him, before moving to her own office where she thought he'd follow. When he didn't, she shrugged as she rolled paper into her machine. What had he been thinking, then? She would never know at this rate, would she? It couldn't have been important, anyway. When she popped her head round his door there was no sign of him, and she guessed he'd gone to continue his other work. Returning to her desk, she felt ill at ease, still being unsure of whether he had special feelings for her or not, or indeed whether she had any real reason for wondering if he had. And what about her own feelings? She answered that question by typing as fast as possible until it was time to get to the post.

It was almost five o'clock before she saw Jamie again when he came back to the department, saying he'd been with Miss Calder who had been showing him the firm's legal archives – very knowledgeable lady, eh?

‘You didn't come for any tea and I didn't know where you were,' Roz remarked.

‘Sorry about that. I had a cup with Miss Calder.'

‘Oh, well—'

Roz was turning to leave as he stood watching.

‘I'll just say goodnight.'

‘Goodnight? The sun's cracking the flags still.'

‘Goodbye, then.'

‘That's even worse.' Jamie laughed. ‘Listen, Roz, I was wondering … It's such a nice evening … Couldn't we have a drink together?'

She stopped in the act of picking up her bag and stared, her lips parted, her expression stunned. ‘A drink?' Even to her own ears, she sounded incredulous.

‘Yes, a drink.' Jamie was shaking his head. ‘You might be looking at me as though I've suggested an orgy, but that's all I'm offering – a drink at the Adelphi in George Street. Don't know if you know it, but it's very pleasant.'

‘It's kind of you to ask me, Jamie.'

Roz was hesitant – one part of her thrilled, the other wondering what those at Tarrel's would say if she and Jamie were seen going out together. ‘The only thing is, I'm not sure if it'd be a good idea.'

‘Not a good idea? Why not? It's just two colleagues having a drink after work.'

‘Mr Banks might not approve.'

‘Mr Banks?' Jamie groaned. ‘In other words, God? I tell you, Roz, I sometimes wonder if I'll ever get used to working in this place. No first names, no drinks with female staff – what does he expect to happen if we're a bit more friendly?'

‘It's just the way things are, Jamie.'

‘Well, my offer still holds. I like you, Roz. I want to be able to talk to you outside a work situation. Be honest – what's wrong with that?'

‘Nothing, really. Well, there wouldn't be, if things were different.'

‘But you like me, don't you? You wouldn't mind spending time with me?'

‘I do like you, Jamie. I wish I could spend time with you.'

‘Look—' He glanced at his watch. ‘We're wasting time. You probably don't want to be late home, so let's away.'

‘You mean, still go to the hotel?'

‘Sure I do. Let's take the risk, eh? Hell, live dangerously. Why not, for once?'

She laughed. ‘Why not?'

They moved together to the door, where Jamie suddenly stopped.

‘We can go separately, if you like? I don't want you to be worrying, Roz.' His face was rueful. ‘So much for living dangerously!'

‘Might be better,' she agreed. ‘Norma's probably still around – if she sees us together she'll never let me forget it.'

‘OK. What's that other saying? Discretion is the better part of valour? You leave first and we'll meet in the hotel entrance.'

But they
were
living dangerously – Roz, feeling like an excited conspirator and not looking back as she walked ahead to Tarrel's front door, called cheerfully to Norma at Reception, ‘Goodnight, Norma, I've got to run!'

‘Goodnight, Roz!' cried Norma. ‘See you tomorrow!'

And away went Roz, walking fast, to George Street and the Adelphi Hotel.

The Adelphi Hotel was not only pleasant, it was smart; a frequently written-up venue in the glossy magazines for dinners, receptions or cocktails for the well-to-do. Certainly not a place Roz had ever been to, but was fascinated to see, while at the same time worrying that she wasn't wearing the right clothes.

‘Wear something smart,' Chrissie had ordered for the meeting with Richard, and Roz couldn't help wishing that she'd had the same advice before coming to the Adelphi. Why on earth had Jamie chosen it?

As they took seats in the cocktail bar, she glanced round at the clientele and, at the sight of the women's outfits, looked so glum that Jamie at once asked her what was wrong. Didn't she like the Adelphi?

‘It's too grand, Jamie. I'm not wearing the right clothes.'

‘You look perfect. Always do.'

‘But why did you choose it?'

‘Simple. It's not the sort of place we're likely to meet anyone from Tarrel's.'

She raised her eyebrows. ‘You were already thinking we shouldn't be seen together?'

‘No, I just want privacy. To be with you.' He touched her hand. ‘But let's forget Tarrel's. What would you like to drink?'

‘I don't know – I don't drink much.'

‘How about a gin with tonic you can add yourself? Then you can put in as much tonic as you like? I'll have the same.'

When their drinks came they each sipped a little, then nibbled the salted nuts provided, and were silent.

‘Hey, we're supposed to be talking,' Jamie murmured. ‘Why are we sitting dumb?'

‘I feel sort of shy,' Roz confessed.

‘Shy of me? Come on, no one's ever shy with me. If there's one talent I have, it's being able to talk and to get others talking too. So, come on, Roz, tell me about yourself.'

‘You know it all already. I've told you about my dad, and my folks. There's not a lot to add.'

‘I think there's something.' His look was steady, his hand placed for a moment over hers, dry and firm. ‘Something you didn't tell me, isn't there?'

She sighed and sipped her drink. ‘I suppose there is. It's about – well – my mother.'

The next moment, she was telling him about Flo: how she'd been hit so hard by Arthur's death that she'd sunk into a depression which was still with her, on and off, and was something her family had to watch out for and try to bring her through. Swiftly, easily, the words flowed, and Roz knew she was talking to him as she'd never really talked to an outsider before, and that she felt the better for it. He'd been quite right about himself, hadn't he? He could get people talking, without a doubt.

‘Thank you,' he said softly. ‘Thank you for telling me about your life, Roz. I hope it wasn't hard for you?'

‘No, it was helpful. I've never talked about poor Ma before – I mean, to someone who wasn't family.'

‘It seems to me that you've all been very brave, having to face complex problems, and all so young.'

‘I suppose we got used to it. Though you never know when the moods will come – that's the difficult part. Poor Dougal, my brother, caused a lot of trouble when he wanted to join the army, but in the end Ma accepted it, which was a big relief.'

‘And you, Roz, you're all right? I mean, you're happy with what you're doing at Tarrel's?'

She topped up her drink with tonic again. ‘I'm happy, yes, because I love working with property and I admire Tarrel's, but – well, I'll have to admit, I do feel a bit resentful that it's not likely I'll ever run the department.'

‘You easily could.' Jamie drained his glass. ‘But you're not a lawyer, is that it?'

‘As far as Tarrel's are concerned, yes, that's it. A woman as well!' Roz laughed. ‘I'd be the last person Mr Banks would consider.'

‘And you're so right for the job! It's a damned shame. Have you considered trying an ordinary estate agent's?'

‘You know how many there are here.'

‘You could go over the Border. There are plenty in England.'

‘As I told Mr MacKenna, I'm not likely to do that.'

‘Thank the Lord!' cried Jamie. ‘I don't want you going anywhere. Like another drink?'

‘No, thanks, I must go.'

They sat for a moment, looking into each other's eyes, before Roz grabbed her bag and stood up.

‘It's been lovely, Jamie. Thank you.'

‘It was lovely for me too, Roz.'

He paid the bill and they moved out into the evening sunshine still lighting the elegant George Street.

‘May I take you home?' Jamie asked as they stood together, but Roz shook her head.

‘No need. I'll get a tram.'

‘I'll walk with you to the stop, then.' A few minutes later, as her tram came into sight, he asked, ‘You don't regret it? Coming out for that drink?'

‘I don't regret it at all. It was good; I enjoyed it.'

‘Would you come out with me again, then?'

She looked away. Her tram was grinding to a halt and people were getting off while others waited to board. Her eyes moved to his. ‘I'd like to …'

‘But?'

‘Well, there is what we talked about.'

‘I don't think we need worry. We could have a meal in town, somewhere right away from Tarrel's. No one need see us.'

‘Let's decide later, then. I must get this tram.'

‘Promise we will?'

She smiled, waved, stepped on to the tram and, with the usual squeaks and clanks was borne away, while Jamie stood watching until the tram was out of sight.

So, now she knew, Roz thought, going home on a high, her head spinning at what she'd discovered. Jamie Shield was attracted to her, had definite feelings for her. She'd not been wrong about those looks of his, after all.

How did such knowledge make her feel? Wonderful, she would have liked to cry from the top deck of the tram. Yes, wonderful, because she couldn't deny that she was attracted to him, probably as much as he was to her, though she hadn't been willing to admit it until now. But of course she couldn't really cry ‘wonderful', from the tram or anywhere else, because – well, because there was Mr Banks.

It was all very well for Jamie to say that Mr Banks was old fashioned, out of touch, and that there was no harm in colleagues going out together, even if they were man and woman and worked in the same department. Maybe that was true, but Roz could also see it from Mr Banks's point of view. He was the boss, he had to make his law firm pay and get the most efficiency from his staff – and if his staff became tangled with each other, how efficient would they be? That was the way his mind would work and who could blame him?

On the other hand, even if she and Jamie were attracted to each other, they might never become truly involved. Who was to say that they would go so far? Why, she'd all along said herself that she wasn't keen on commitment and wanted to have a career, and quite likely Jamie would say the same. Heavens, what was she worrying about? They'd had one drink together. Why get all worked up at such an early stage?

As she left the tram, Roz decided she would indeed go for a meal with Jamie, somewhere in town, as he'd suggested, where they wouldn't see folk from Tarrel's. Just for the moment, the future could take care of itself, eh? Decision made.

It was a relief, all the same, to let herself into the empty flat and not have to face questions over where she'd been from Ma or Chrissie, who were still at work. Lovely to sit down, have some tea and something to eat, and go over her time at the Adelphi with Jamie all over again.

For the next few days Roz and Jamie conscientiously tackled work, not allowing themselves to show anything new in their manner towards each other. As Roz had reminded herself, they'd only had one drink together. There was no need to behave in any other way than colleagues should. Except – well, they'd had that drink. And there was also that talk of having a meal together, even if it hadn't been arranged. Roz had thought Jamie would ask her as soon as he saw her on Tuesday, but it wasn't until the end of the day on Wednesday when he asked her quietly if she would be free the following evening.