Page 35 of Hook, Line and Single

‘And what would that be?’

I laugh. ‘If I knew that, I’d know what I was looking for, wouldn’t I! Anyway, it’s nearly midday, so we’d better get out there if we’re going to see this clock strut its stuff.’

* * *

I’m tired but contented when I come back to my cabin at the end of the day. Cameron proved to be the perfect companion, helped in my opinion by the fact that we’d both been clear from the outset that we didn’t have any expectations. Messina turned out to be quite hilly in places, and my calves are aching in protest as I step into the shower. When I’m done, I wrap a towel round myself and stretch out on the bed for a quick snooze. This bed really is incredibly comfortable.

I’ve barely nodded off before I’m awoken by a furious pounding on the door.

‘Ruby, are you in there?’ Sam’s voice calls.

‘Coming,’ I reply reluctantly as I lever myself off the bed.

‘I need to debrief,’ she says, sweeping through the door before it’s even fully open and forcing me to retreat down the narrow passage to the bedroom area. ‘Why aren’t you dressed?’

‘I had a shower and fell asleep.’

‘Oh. I was going to suggest going for a drink, but we’ve only got a little while before Barry’s evening entertainment.’

‘What’s on tonight?’

‘Speed dating.’

I groan. ‘Sooner you than me. Still, you’ve done it before, so I’m sure you’ll be able to pull out the necessary conversation.’

‘That’s what I need to talk to you about. I’m not sure I’m going to do it.’

‘But I thought the whole point of this was for you to do this stuff.’

‘Yes, but that was before I met Robin.’

‘Ah.’

‘He’s different,’ she enthuses. ‘More mature than the other people I’ve dated recently. I actually felt like I was with a grown-up today. It was the little things, like him pulling my chair out for me when I was sitting down and opening doors for me. Why are you laughing?’

‘You’re right. We’re at the funeral of feminism. I should be crying. Did he pay all the bills too?’ I put on a deep voice. ‘“It’s OK, darling. I’ll pay for dinner and you can pay me back in kind later.”’

‘We split the bills, actually, and he’s not like that. That’s what’s so extraordinary about him. He was genuinely interested in me as a person, rather than just a collection of female body parts.’ She lowers her voice to a whisper. ‘I’m thinking of going amber for him.’

‘Whoa!’ I hold up my hands. ‘I get that you think he’s a nice guy, but whatever happened to “plenty more fish in this pond”? Aren’t you in danger of settling for the first guy you see? There might be an even better person for you here.’

‘I want to spend more time with Robin. Apart from anything else, there’s a mystery I need to solve.’

‘Which is?’

‘His job. He won’t tell me what he does for a living and it’s not in his bio. When I asked, he just said that he’d rather not say until he knew me better, as people had a habit of judging him because of what he does.’

‘You could just Google it. I’m sure he’ll have a LinkedIn profile or something.’

‘Where’s the fun in that? Anyway, if he’s a spy, which is where my money is at the moment, there won’t be anything, will there.’

‘You think he’s a spy?’ I ask slowly.

‘It’s got to be something like that, hasn’t it? Otherwise why the secrecy?’

‘I’m pretty sure spies have cover stories. That’s the whole spy schtick. He’d tell you he was a cultural attaché or something.’

‘Hmm. Maybe you’re right. Anyway, I’m determined to get it out of him. I’m going to find him at the singles thing and talk to him about going amber together.’

---