Under New Management (25 page)

Lou frowns at her, “What if he doesn’t? What if he wants to marry you and give you babies? He bought you a Porsche, for crying out loud. Maybe that is exactly what he wants,” Lou tells her with a voice full of exasperation.

Mollie doesn’t flinch. She knows Jack and she is absolutely sure she’s right.

“Look trust me. He may think he wants all that but it is purely because I’m not giving in that it’s a challenge. He really is that superficial. Sorry, but he is.

If I change the dynamic and start chasing him he won’t be so enamoured. Jack hates needy women, they drive him insane. He thrives on the chase and that’s where you come in. By Saturday night he’ll be wishing he hadn’t invited me. You are going to be beautiful and totally indifferent to his charms. You are going to ignore him. Well, perhaps not ignore, but you have to remain indifferent to him for the entire evening.”

“What? The whole evening? Nooo, don’t make me.” Lou stares at her in horror.

“Yes, all evening. As I just said Jack has to do the running. If you don’t give him anything to chase he’ll get bored. You’ve already started, remember last Friday? He already believes that you’re not bothered. He was really miffed that you didn’t get funny about Florrie. He couldn’t believe that you didn’t make a scene and you had him interested. You can do that again, but better. If Jack isn’t contacting you for a date by Sunday, I’ll eat my hat. Well alright I’ll eat one of Dad’s, as I haven’t got one.” Mollie sips her wine as she lets Lou digest her words.

Lou thinks about it... it could work. Now that Mollie mentions it, he had seemed pretty fed up when she just walked away from him and Florrie. He had stalked her at the bar a couple of times but Florrie was never far behind. Lou hadn’t had the inclination to fight for his affections, far too pissed really, so she’d concentrated on the barman instead. Lou sighs, as it turned out Andy had bored her by the end of the night, so she’d jumped into the minibus without saying goodbye to him.

Lou can do indifferent. She would be absolutely fabulous with everyone else, but cool and disinterested with Jack. If it worked, great, if it didn’t, well she and Mollie would have fun playing the game anyway.

Lou isn’t that bothered whether she gets it on with Jack or not, but she certainly won’t turn it down either, so it’s worth a try.

Lou laughs, “Go on then, sod it! I’m in. This could be fun. You have to start with the texts now though, I really want to see this.”

The girls start giggling as they work out what the first text should say.

That evening at ten, Jack is relaxing in the small sitting room. He’s lounging on the sofa, his socked feet stretched out and resting on the large coffee table. He’s watching a film and mentally congratulating himself on his deal with Mollie. She would be eating out of his hand on Saturday night. He knows she still fancies him, even if she won’t admit it. He and Mollie will be back on in no time, though Jack knows he’ll have to behave himself this time round. He is slightly nervous about that, but he’s sure he can manage it.

Kieran hardly spoke to him at dinner, just kept glaring at him across the table. He’d made some sarcastic dig about the Porsche and the flowers but Jack just smiled at him. That had infuriated Kieran who’d left the table without finishing his dinner.

Jack felt a little mean about it. He didn’t really want to piss off Kieran but he’s the one with the movie star girlfriend, after all, albeit a slightly unhinged movie star girlfriend, but still. Jack is single, why should he feel guilty about going out with Mollie? He shakes his head at the unfairness of it. He has to admit to enjoying himself just a little at Kieran’s expense. Kieran’s always the blue eyed boy, never puts a foot wrong. It’s boring.

He sighs and tries to concentrate on the film. His phone beeps and he retrieves it from the pocket of his jeans. His heart jumps as he sees it’s from Mollie. Has she changed her mind?

Jacky Boy, it’s weird, I can’t stop

thinking about you tonight. I know

I said I wouldn’t be your date on

Saturday but a girl can change her

mind can’t she? Trouble is you see,

I keep thinking and remembering

all those times at uni.

I loved you so much then.

Can I trust you not to break my heart

again? Xx

Jack nearly drops the phone.
Christ, what’s all this about? Is she pissed?
Mollie always called him Jacky Boy at uni. He hated it, the name unnerved him, not that he ever told her that. He frowns and texts back.

Are you pissed?

Xx  

He waits and the phone beeps again.

No, what makes you say that?

Stop avoiding the question!!

Xx

Shit,
Jack has no idea what to write.
Is she serious or winding him up?
That first text was pretty heavy. How is he to know the answer and who the hell said anything about hearts and breaking them? Had he? Well, actually, he may have given that impression, what with the Porsche and everything. Was she still in love with him? Isn’t that what he wanted?
Flippin ‘eck!
He needs to be careful in his reply and not say too much.

Of course you can trust me!!

Xx

His hands have started sweating.
This is ridiculous,
it’s Mollie. He wants her back and if he gets his way it’s going to be heavy. He’s crapping himself over one bloody text! He needs to get a grip.

The phone beeps again.

I’m so glad you said that.

I was worried that you were

messing with me. I want to trust

you with my heart again Jacky Boy

but I couldn’t survive you hurting me

again. If we do this it’s for keeps.

Marriage, kids the whole thing!!

Then you can buy me as

many cars as you like

;-) !!! xxxxx

This time Jack does drop the phone. He sits up quickly, banging his heel on the coffee table in the process. As he grabs his foot, rubbing it with one hand, he fishes around on the floor for the phone with the other. Finding it, he reads the text again.
Fuck!

Mollie and Lou are beside themselves with laughter, they’re both in tears.
This is absolutely brilliant!

Bloody hell, she must be pissed. What is she thinking?
Jack nervously scratches his head. What does he do now? What the hell is he supposed to write back? He racks his brains before answering.

Crikey Molls, all in good

time eh?!!! Plenty of time,

let’s have a good time for a

while. I’ll speak to you

tomorrow.

Night, night.

Xxx

The girls cackle with laugher at this one and decide to let him off for the evening. Plenty of time to up the ante. Mollie can’t wait for tomorrow, he’s going to be crapping himself by the time she’s finished with him.
Bring it on!

Chapter 26

At nine on Friday morning Mollie is pottering about in the kitchen in her PJs and dressing gown. Her parents are at work and she has the house to herself. She has already texted Jack; she needs to keep up the onslaught. She kept it light, just said

Morning Jacky Boy,

did you sleep well?

I hoped you dreamt of me.

I dreamt of you.

;-) !!!!!! xxxx

She couldn’t help giggling to herself when she sent it and still hasn’t received a reply.

Making herself some toast she sits down to her breakfast. She needs to make the most of the peace, as they are all taking the afternoon off later to go shopping. They’re leaving at midday for Cheltenham to hit the ‘posh shops’ as Jim calls them.

Before that Mollie has some job-hunting to do. She has worked on her CV and a standard covering letter. She’s signed on with a number of agencies and today she plans to search the job sites. She has no idea what she wants to do, but isn’t ruling anything out.
Maybe it’s time for a change?

The doorbell startles her and she mentally curses it. Assuming it’s the postman with a parcel, she takes a bite of toast, gets to her feet and scuffs in her slippers to open the door. As it swings open she sees Kieran on the doorstep, looking unfairly hot. Mollie gasps in shock and the toast she is chewing on is sucked back into her mouth. She feels it lodge somewhere deep in her throat. Her eyes go wide and she can’t seem to take another breath.

“Mollie, I’m sorry to call unannounced, but you left me little choice, you know. I’ve tried ringing, a couple of times actually.” Kieran stops wittering as he realises that Mollie seems to be going a strange colour.

“Mollie? Umm Mollie, you OK?” She stares at him with wild eyes her colour deepening. “Mollie? God Mollie, are you choking?” Kieran’s voice is shaking.

Mollie manages to nod at him, she really can’t breathe but she seems incapable of anything else either.

Kieran flies into action he lunges at her, spinning her round. Holding her around the waist he pulls her backside against him bending her over he hits her sharply between the shoulder blades a number of times. When nothing happens he pulls her up and with her back to him clasps his hands under the area of her stomach, bending her forwards again. He pulls backwards and upwards hard with his hands. On the third attempt the toast dislodges and projects from her mouth landing on the floor a fair distance from them. Mollie sinks as her knees give way and Kieran takes her weight.

He manhandles her into the kitchen half carrying and half supporting her. Putting her down on a chair he rushes to get her a glass of water. After passing it to her he pulls up another chair and sits with his knees on either side of hers as he gazes at her, his eyes full of concern.

Mollie’s breathing has returned to normal but she is shaking with shock, not only at her choking but the fact that Kieran has just saved her life. She conveniently ignores the other fact that if it wasn’t for him being here she wouldn’t have choked in the first place. She sips at her water whilst trying to calm her racing heart. Kieran is staring at her and he wipes a stray hair from her sweating face.

“You OK now?” he asks his voice full of concern.

Mollie nods at him. She tries to speak but the words seem hoarse so she gives up.

“No don’t speak, your throat will be sore. Just nod or shake your head,” he orders.

Mollie smiles weakly at him and Kieran smiles back.

“Do you want to see the doctor?” he asks and Mollie shakes her head adamantly.

“How are your ribs? I haven’t broken anything, have I?” Again, a brisk shake of her head.

“OK, a definite no.” He smiles at her, “Would you like a cup of tea or coffee, or something?” She nods her head.

“Great. I’ll put the kettle on then but you aren’t allowed to drink it until I know that you are ok. We may have to shoot off to the hospital yet.” Mollie widens her eyes at him in horror. Kieran laughs, “Don’t panic, you seem OK but I need to be sure. You stay there you’ll be a bit shaky for a while.”

Mollie tests her throat out. She clears it a couple of times until the sound seems normalish. “I think I can speak now,” she says with a smile. “Yes I can talk. Thanks. Where did you learn how to do that?” she asks him.

Kieran looks round after flicking the kettle on, “Oh, first aid course. I like all the staff to be first aid trained. There are lots of things that can happen when you’re dealing with members of the public, so I do it myself. I don’t expect them to do anything I wouldn’t.” He shrugs at her.

“Wow, very admirable. Well it certainly paid off just then - I thought I was a gonner. That was possibly the scariest moment of my life, I think,” she confesses shakily. She is shocked to find tears welling in her eyes. Trying hard to stop the flow she makes a snorting noise. The tears start sliding slowly down her face regardless.

Kieran tears off a square from the kitchen roll on the worktop and hands it to Mollie.

“God, I am sooo sorry. What an idiot,” she sobs as she grabs at the kitchen towel.

“Mollie, it’s fine. You’ve just had quite a shock. I’d be more worried if you didn’t cry. Have a good bawl and get it out of your system. In fact I’m feeling slightly tearful myself, would you mind if I joined you?” he teases as he grabs a fistful of the kitchen roll and sits down next to her.

Mollie starts to laugh and cry at the same time. She manages to slap him on the arm for being an idiot and he laughs with her. Eventually she composes herself and Kieran produces two mugs of sweet tea. Mollie grimaces when she takes a sip. “Eeugh, sugar.” She pulls a disgusted face at him.