me too.’
‘It was really, really kind of you to ask him out with your free tickets.’
‘He told you?’ Lilly squinted. ‘And is that sarcasm? Don’t try to be clever. I’m too muzzy-headed to be clever.’
‘OK.’ Frankie shrugged. ‘Why did you ask him out?’
‘Why do you think? Because he’s scorching hot. You don’t mind do you?’
‘No, why should I?’
‘That’s OK then. Because you’re right about him. He’s definitely a player. He was amazing to be with, but, well, for as much
time as I can remember before the Woo Woos kicked in, he was aware of every other woman – and man, before he realised his
mistake – in the club and giving them the benefit of the Valentine charm.’
‘Always looking for the next good thing?’
‘Yeah. Dexter is a fab guy, just not a settler. Any woman who goes out with Dexter would just be one of many. Which is OK
as long as you
know.
Oooh, those flowers are lovely.’ Lilly staggered along the counter and buried her face in the bouquet. ‘Wow. Fabulous. Did
you –?’
‘No, Dexter did.’
‘Cool. See, told you he fancied you.’ Lilly pouted. ‘Now I wish I hadn’t just said all that other stuff. Sorry.’
‘Don’t be. I’d already worked it out for myself. I’ve seen him in action with his customers, and I still think he left Oxford
because of a woman.’
‘Or thirty.’ Lilly nodded. ‘Ouch. Remind me not to move my head. It hurts.’
‘So, you didn’t manage to find out why he had to leave Oxford? Or what he’s done in the past or how come he owns a mega-expensive
car or anything?’
‘No. Trust me, I tried to do a Jeremy Kyle on him. I asked all the questions, but he wasn’t telling. He just clammed up. Maybe
it’s just really boring – like he split with his girlfriend and she kicked him out of their shared flat, and he got made redundant
from whatever job he had but they let him buy his company car really cheap, all at the same time, so Ray’s invite to come
and sort himself out in Kingston Dapple came at just the right time and was his only answer to being homeless and jobless.
Maybe he just wants it to all seem mysterious, because Ray gave him a real bad-boy build-up, and he’s embarrassed that it
isn’t.’
Frankie laughed. ‘That’s pretty profound coming from you considering the state you’re in.’
‘It is, isn’t it?’ Lilly looked pleased. ‘Now, if you want me to do any work at all today, I’m just going to drown myself
in black coffee and take paracetamol and please don’t shout at me for at least an hour.’
Chapter Nine
By nine o’clock Francesca’s Fabulous Frocks was jam-packed. Everyone Frankie had ever known since she moved to Kingston Dapple
had turned up, and many, many more besides. Her throat was sore from shouting greetings across the thrum, and her face ached
from smiling.
It was absolutely brilliant.
‘This is madness,’ Lilly panted, as beside Frankie behind the counter, she rapidly folded dresses into the purple and gold
carrier bags and took money or zapped cards. ‘I think we might have overdone the publicity. I’m hungover, I’ve had about five
minutes sleep, and we need about twenty more people serving in here.’
‘I know.’ Frankie nodded, scanning the queue in front of the counter while folding a black and white Mary Quant copy in purple
tissue paper. ‘It was one thing I didn’t even think about. I’m just so used to it being me and Rita and a basically empty
shop most of the time.’
‘I think those days are long gone,’ Lilly puffed as she juggleda Visa card. ‘If it carries on like this you’re going to have to get staff.’
‘Are you applying?’
‘No way. I’m more than happy at Jennifer’s, thank you.’
‘Good.’ Frankie beamed at a girl from Bagley-cum-Russet who had just bought an exotically patterned Vivienne Westwood dress,
and something in tartan and bedecked with chains, from the 1970s rails. ‘Sharing a
‘It was really, really kind of you to ask him out with your free tickets.’
‘He told you?’ Lilly squinted. ‘And is that sarcasm? Don’t try to be clever. I’m too muzzy-headed to be clever.’
‘OK.’ Frankie shrugged. ‘Why did you ask him out?’
‘Why do you think? Because he’s scorching hot. You don’t mind do you?’
‘No, why should I?’
‘That’s OK then. Because you’re right about him. He’s definitely a player. He was amazing to be with, but, well, for as much
time as I can remember before the Woo Woos kicked in, he was aware of every other woman – and man, before he realised his
mistake – in the club and giving them the benefit of the Valentine charm.’
‘Always looking for the next good thing?’
‘Yeah. Dexter is a fab guy, just not a settler. Any woman who goes out with Dexter would just be one of many. Which is OK
as long as you
know.
Oooh, those flowers are lovely.’ Lilly staggered along the counter and buried her face in the bouquet. ‘Wow. Fabulous. Did
you –?’
‘No, Dexter did.’
‘Cool. See, told you he fancied you.’ Lilly pouted. ‘Now I wish I hadn’t just said all that other stuff. Sorry.’
‘Don’t be. I’d already worked it out for myself. I’ve seen him in action with his customers, and I still think he left Oxford
because of a woman.’
‘Or thirty.’ Lilly nodded. ‘Ouch. Remind me not to move my head. It hurts.’
‘So, you didn’t manage to find out why he had to leave Oxford? Or what he’s done in the past or how come he owns a mega-expensive
car or anything?’
‘No. Trust me, I tried to do a Jeremy Kyle on him. I asked all the questions, but he wasn’t telling. He just clammed up. Maybe
it’s just really boring – like he split with his girlfriend and she kicked him out of their shared flat, and he got made redundant
from whatever job he had but they let him buy his company car really cheap, all at the same time, so Ray’s invite to come
and sort himself out in Kingston Dapple came at just the right time and was his only answer to being homeless and jobless.
Maybe he just wants it to all seem mysterious, because Ray gave him a real bad-boy build-up, and he’s embarrassed that it
isn’t.’
Frankie laughed. ‘That’s pretty profound coming from you considering the state you’re in.’
‘It is, isn’t it?’ Lilly looked pleased. ‘Now, if you want me to do any work at all today, I’m just going to drown myself
in black coffee and take paracetamol and please don’t shout at me for at least an hour.’
Chapter Nine
By nine o’clock Francesca’s Fabulous Frocks was jam-packed. Everyone Frankie had ever known since she moved to Kingston Dapple
had turned up, and many, many more besides. Her throat was sore from shouting greetings across the thrum, and her face ached
from smiling.
It was absolutely brilliant.
‘This is madness,’ Lilly panted, as beside Frankie behind the counter, she rapidly folded dresses into the purple and gold
carrier bags and took money or zapped cards. ‘I think we might have overdone the publicity. I’m hungover, I’ve had about five
minutes sleep, and we need about twenty more people serving in here.’
‘I know.’ Frankie nodded, scanning the queue in front of the counter while folding a black and white Mary Quant copy in purple
tissue paper. ‘It was one thing I didn’t even think about. I’m just so used to it being me and Rita and a basically empty
shop most of the time.’
‘I think those days are long gone,’ Lilly puffed as she juggleda Visa card. ‘If it carries on like this you’re going to have to get staff.’
‘Are you applying?’
‘No way. I’m more than happy at Jennifer’s, thank you.’
‘Good.’ Frankie beamed at a girl from Bagley-cum-Russet who had just bought an exotically patterned Vivienne Westwood dress,
and something in tartan and bedecked with chains, from the 1970s rails. ‘Sharing a
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