Page 76 of Hook, Line and Single

‘Very funny. We’re not allowed to leave these in the car, so we have to take them with us.’

I feel incredibly self-conscious walking into the pub with a gun over my shoulder, even if it is in a sheepskin case. I’m half expecting the lady behind the bar to take one look at us and demand that we leave but, to my surprise, she doesn’t so much as bat an eyelid as Cameron leads me over to a table and we lean the guns against the wall.

‘This is quite a popular pub with the people who shoot down the road,’ Cameron explains quietly. Sure enough, as I glance round, I notice that a number of the other patrons also have gun cases stacked neatly by their tables.

‘Let’s just hope nothing kicks off,’ I murmur back. ‘With all these people packing weaponry, it could get ugly really quickly.’

‘I think we’re quite safe,’ he replies with a smile. ‘This is Kent, not the Wild West. Plus, the guns should be empty so, unless they were planning on beating each other to death with them, they’re pretty harmless. What would you like to drink?’

‘I’ll have a glass of white wine, please. I think I’ve earned it.’

I watch him as he wanders up to the bar to place our orders. He seems completely at ease in this environment, and it’s obvious this isn’t his first time in here from the friendly banter he’s exchanging with the woman behind the bar. A few minutes later, he walks back with two glasses and a couple of menus.

‘How many other people have you brought here?’ I ask suddenly, surprised by the pang of jealousy that just shot through me.

‘I’m sorry?’

‘You obviously come here a lot,’ I tell him. ‘I just wondered if this was somewhere you brought many people.’

He thinks for a moment. ‘Actually, I don’t think I’ve brought anyone here before. I’ve met people here, and groups of us have come up here for a bite to eat after a morning’s shooting, but you’re the first person I’ve actually brought here as a guest. Why?’

I feel foolish. What does it matter who he’s been here with, and why? He’s just a friend; I don’t have any claim on him.

‘Sorry. I was just curious,’ I murmur, burying my head in the menu to hide my embarrassment. ‘What’s good then?’

‘It’s all good,’ he says, seemingly unperturbed by my sudden inquisition. ‘The fish and chips is excellent, as is the burger. It’s made on the premises and the meat comes from a local farm. However, I’m going to have the steak and kidney pie, because it’s my absolute favourite.’

‘Hmm. Not a huge kidney fan. I’ll try the burger.’

‘Good choice.’ He returns to the bar to place our order, and I take the opportunity to tell myself off for overstepping the boundary. When he returns, I make a point of keeping the conversation on neutral topics and, by the time the food arrives, everything feels back to normal. Cameron hasn’t undersold the burger, which turns out to be delicious, and I surprise myself by letting him talk me into a sticky toffee pudding for dessert. As he turns the car back towards Margate, I feel full and pleasantly drowsy; the monotone humming of the engine and tyres on the motorway soothes me even more, and it’s not long before I’m fast asleep, dreaming of confidently shattering clay pigeons coming at me from all directions.

‘Wake up, Ruby,’ Cameron’s voice says gently. ‘We’re here.’

I open my eyes with a start to see that the car is stationary outside my flat. I do a quick, and hopefully subtle, drool check before turning to face him.

‘Sorry,’ I tell him. ‘All that excitement this morning and then a big lunch.’

‘No worries.’ His eyes crinkle as he smiles.

‘Did you want a cup of tea or something before you head back?’ I ask.

‘I would,’ he says. ‘But there’s something I need to say before we get out of the car.’

His suddenly serious expression unnerves me and I can feel my heart starting to thud uncomfortably in my chest. My usual response to situations like this is to defuse them with a joke, but nothing is coming. I raise my eyes to meet his and there’s a fierce intensity there that I haven’t seen before. I can’t maintain the eye contact, and I let my gaze drop to my lap. I feel incredibly uncomfortable all of a sudden. The silence feels oppressive. I want him to speak, but I’m also afraid of what I think he might be about to say.

‘What is it?’ I breathe eventually. My mouth is completely dry. Please let it not be what I think it is.

‘The fact is, Ruby, that I can’t carry on like this,’ he says bluntly. ‘I know what you’ve said about friendships, and I know what Sam said about never mentioning the D word, but I can’t help the way I feel. Do you remember what I told Barry, after we won his Bonanza prize?’

‘No.’ My worst fears are coming true, and I can’t wait to escape.

‘I said I’d spotted you at the Singles Mingle event but was too shy to talk to you. I said how much I’d enjoyed spending time with you and that I was excited to see where things might go.’

‘Yes.’ I seize the lifeline. ‘But we were hamming it up, to give Barry what he wanted.’

‘I wasn’t,’ he says simply. ‘You blew me away from the moment I first set eyes on you, and I couldn’t believe my luck when you agreed to spend time with me. The better I got to know you, the more I liked you.’

‘I like you too,’ I say lamely. Please, God, make this stop.

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