Page 38 of Hook, Line and Single

He sighs. ‘I did.’

‘Then think of it as an opportunity to redeem yourself.’

The next few speed dates pass in a bit of a blur and it quickly becomes clear that we’re not going to get round everyone before dinner, but I’m very aware that Sam’s Robin is getting closer. I wouldn’t mind the opportunity to interrogate him for three minutes, so I’m relieved when he takes his place in front of me just as Barry calls that this is to be the last date this evening.

‘You’re Sam’s flatmate,’ he observes as he sits down and reads my name badge. ‘Nice to meet you, I’m Robin.’

Across the room, I can feel Sam’s eyes boring into me, but I ignore her.

‘And what do you make of Sam?’ I ask him.

He smiles. ‘She’s a fascinating woman. We had a really interesting day together and it felt like we didn’t stop talking the whole time.’

‘So why not snap her up and spare yourself the speed dating?’

‘I didn’t want to be pushy. I like her a lot but, if I’m honest, I think she’s a bit out of my league.’

‘What makes you say that?’

‘She’s a big personality, and I worry she might find me a bit boring after a while.’

‘Look,’ I tell him firmly. ‘I love Sam to bits, of course I do, but I’ll let you in to a little secret. Her recent dating history is fairly disastrous so you’re not exactly up against strong competition.’

He smiles again. ‘I know. She was pretty open about it.’

‘If I may be so bold, I think you’re asking the wrong question here. It’s not about whether you’re boring or not, although I don’t think you can be that dull if the two of you were talking all day. It’s more about whether you’re a jerk and, based on what I’ve seen of you so far, you’re not. She really likes you, although what’s all the secrecy about your job? She’s convinced herself you’re a spy because you won’t talk about it.’

He laughs. ‘I can assure you I’m not a spy.’

‘So why the secrecy?’

‘It’s complicated. I will tell her when the time is right, I promise. It’s just that I want her to get to know me as Robin, and my job kind of gets in the way of that.’

‘Fine. I’m not going to press you. All I will say is that Sam clearly thinks a lot of you, to the point that she was willing to change to an amber badge for you. Be gentle with her, OK?’

‘I will,’ he promises. ‘And thank you.’

As soon as the speed dating is over, Sam and Robin come together as if drawn by an invisible magnet, and I realise that my dating advice probably means I’m on my own for dinner, as well as the whole day tomorrow. I could see what Cameron is up to, I suppose, but I don’t want to give him the wrong impression by spending too much time with him. That decision is taken away from me, however, as he comes to find me before we make our way to the dining room.

‘How was it for you?’ he asks with a smile. ‘Did Cupid’s arrow find its mark?’

‘Ha. If anything, I was more agony aunt than anything else, and I’m still not entirely sure I’m talking to you after you roped me into it.’

He grins. ‘And you weren’t setting me up at all, I suppose?’

‘Fine, I suppose I deserved it. What about you, how did you get on?’

He groans. ‘I got Ashleigh, naturally, who made it perfectly clear she’d already written my name on her list. She’s terrifying, but all the other people seemed nice.’

‘Have you written her on your list?’

‘Of course not! She’d eat me alive.’

‘Some people might like that. Anyone else catch your eye?’

‘No.’

I only have a moment to register the strangeness of the relief that floods through me from knowing that Cameron hasn’t been snapped up by one of the other singles before he speaks again.

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