Page 32 of Rescuing Rosie
‘Of course he was.’
‘Oh – and you left your boots in the bar,’ he said, edging past her. ‘I’ve put them in the porch, ready for tomorrow.’ He raised a hand. ‘Sleep well, sweetheart!’
Chapter Thirteen
Sunrise hot yoga with bendy Caleb from Cockermouth, or breakfast in bed, propped up on deep pillows, looking out over the fells beneath a cornflower-blue sky in which – yes –just one lonely cloud was floating. Rosie was happy with her decision.
She sighed with pleasure, lifting a weighty silver fork loaded with creamy scrambled egg to her mouth. A full English felt like an appropriate breakfast choice before an ascent.
Today was the final day of the wellness weekend. Rosie was aware she hadn’t spoken to any of the guests and was running out of time. Ashley was driving the crew to the start of the walk at 10am, two hours hence, so after a shower she’d head down and get some quotes while the ladies were tucking into their breakfasts.
She smiled as she cut into a sausage, remembering Dale’s quip. On the bedside drawers was the beer mat with his phone number and message. Maybe she’d send a text saying how much she was enjoying her first taste of Cumberland sausage. A thrill rippled through her as she remembered their moment on the terrace. Damn, but he was hot! She glanced over at the space beside her in the queen-sized bed, imaging his dark curls againstthe snowy linen. Giving a little wriggle, she picked up her phone, but as she woke it up, the notification about Reuben’s message appeared again and her smile faded.
I’m totally here for your rebound, Dale had said. But was Dale in fact the sticking plaster she needed, right now?
Gah. Overthinking things, as per. Why couldn’t she just enjoy a fling and move on? But Rosie was all too aware of her sensitive nature. And she was especially vulnerable, right now. What if, over the course of her time here, she developed feelings for the cheeky northern lad? He was so beguiling, and she had this habit of endowing people she barely knew with imagined backstory to explain their character traits. It was a writer thing, probably. Perhaps Dale was such a flirt because he was in fact deeply insecure after a loveless childhood, and needed constant validation from women to help him with that? And when he properly fell in love, and was loved in return, he’d lose the compulsion to flirt, and would be faithful and true? Was Dale, right now, thinking about her, wondering if long-distance might work?
Stop it! You don’t have time for this. Get up and get reporting!
She put down her knife and fork, took a final gulp of coffee, and headed to the shower.
Rosie tied up her hair in a ponytail, applied barely-there make-up (because Dale), then dressed in her internet-approved walking apparel. Special socks, as supplied by Hill and Dale, her pink leggings (again, but her only other options were the tartan trousers, or jeans, and the internet said denim wasn’t great for the mountains), a T-shirt and sweatshirt (becauselayers) and the puffer. Her boots were still downstairs. She had no waterproofs, but it was a sunny, windless Sunday and the weather looked settled. Jono was a sensible chap; he wouldn’t risk his drone if that was likely to change.
She put her water bottle in her small daypack, hoping there might be one of Ashley’s special packed lunches to go with it, picked up her fully charged phone and room key. She was ready.
Rosie was pleased to find several wellness ladies in the breakfast room, and they were keen to share what a wonderful time they were having, howwellthey felt, but most of all how lovely it was to spend time with gal pals away from their busy jobs and the demands of their families.
Rosie resolved to suggest a weekend like this to her own mates, thinking for a moment about how she’d let those friendships slide. Reuben hadn’t warmed to her closest friend, Milly, whom she’d known since childhood. Milly was a teacher with two kids; she’d married young, to Tom, also a teacher and obsessed with football. After driving down to see them in Basingstoke one Sunday, Reuben had made it clear he wouldn’t encourage a reciprocal invitation. ‘Not much common ground there,’ he’d said.
Reuben had got on well with Rosie’s parents, but the only other person in her life he’d had time for was her boss, Amara.
But then, Rosie hadn’t been crazy about Reuben’s friends, either. Emilia, his best mate’s girlfriend, had mean-girl vibes. She’d been chummy with Reuben’s ex, and referred to her often, side-eyeing Rosie as she did. The week they’d recently spent in Courchevel with the couple had been purgatory, and not only because Rosie was shit at skiing.
Milly’s youngest would be three, now. Old enough to manage without her mum for a couple of days. Rosie imagined coming here with her old friend, how much they’d both enjoy that. Maybe Ashley would give them a special deal.
And I’d get to see Dale again.
Ashley was already in the entrance hall, along with the crew. Kayleigh was dabbing at Madison’s face with a sponge, whileVeronica briefed Jono yet again on what she was expecting from the shoot, swiping, pointing, and enlarging images on an iPad.
‘Yup, got it, Veronica, I’m good to go.’ He looked down at the two backpacks by his feet. ‘Dale can carry one of these, easy as.’
Rosie collected her boots and sat down on a sofa to put them on. Veronica took the space beside her and reminded Rosie of the objectives of the shoot. ‘Get some quotes from Madison about how much she loves the gear,’ she said, then added quietly, ‘She’s a pro, so I’m sure she’ll make it work with Dale, in spite of … Well, hopefully she’ll resist the temptation to push him off a rock.’
Ah, so Veronica had noticed last night’s goings on.
‘Try and bring at least one of them back alive,’ she said.
‘Where’s Dale?’ Rosie asked Ashley, nonchalantly, as they made their way to the van.
‘We’re picking him up from the shop. I’ve got the gear he’s going to model.’
Jono joined him in the front, and Madison and Rosie sat in the back, their backpacks beside them. Madison was in silver-grey patterned leggings, and a super-puffy neon-yellow jacket over a turquoise top. A woolly yellow beanie with a turquoise bobble completed the look, which Rosie found most appealing. Kayleigh had done a great job with Madison’s makeup, aiming for mountain-healthy and as natural as possible. Which was not very, but her lips were a neutral shade and her eyelashes lighter, wispier.
‘That’ssucha cool jacket,’ Rosie said, as they pulled up outside Hill and Dale.
Madison shook her head. ‘It’s too short. I’m so done with people perving my bum …’ She stopped as Dale emerged from the shop, looking drop-dead gorgeous in jeans and a white T-shirt, bright in the sunlight.
That’s probably not the quote Veronica’s after.
