After the One, Cass Lester [top romance novels .txt] 📗

‘I just hope to God people turn up,’ she said.

‘It’s the calm before the storm,’ promised Pam. Prophetically, as it turned out.

Charley had already changed into her skimpy Prosecco costume when Nisha arrived at the shop shortly after two o’clock, but had concealed it under her coat.

‘Let me see!’ demanded Nisha.

Reluctantly, Charley undid her coat.

Nisha nodded approvingly. ‘It’s perfect!’ Charley groaned. ‘No, seriously, you look stunning!’

A few minutes later Tara arrived, also wearing a coat to cover up her Prosecco outfit. By contrast to Charley, however, she burst through the door, dramatically flung off her coat, struck a flamboyant pose and cried, ‘Ta da!’

She was wearing the highest pair of heels Charley had ever seen her in, and possibly the brightest red lipstick available either online or on the High Street. Her voluptuous figure simply screamed sex appeal.

‘Good grief,’ gasped Pam.

‘Bloody hell, Tara!’ said Charley.

‘I know, darling! Somebody call Vogue!’

Nisha laughed, then instantly switched to back her professional persona. ‘Okay. Final checks. Baz is bringing the tablecloths and the glasses, check?’

‘Check!’ said Tara.

‘And you’ve got the float?’

‘Check!’ repeated Tara, indicating her handbag.

‘Cupcakes?’ queried Nisha, looking at Pam.

‘Under the table,’ replied Pam.

Peering underneath the serving table, Nisha saw a stash of large transparent plastic tubs full of stunning cupcakes. She nodded approvingly at Pam, and then handed Charley and Tara a wodge of flyers each. ‘Right, off you go. Back here half five, latest.’

Charley didn’t move.

‘Go!’ urged Nisha.

Clutching the flyers and grasping the nettle, Charley followed Tara out of the door, still wearing her coat.

‘Charley, coat!’ demanded Nisha, holding out her hand.

‘It’s cold out there!’ Charley clutched the garment tighter to her body.

‘Coat!’ repeated Nisha.

So, reluctantly, Charley slipped it off. She’d never felt so… exposed. Thank God she wouldn’t have to pass Ricky’s shop on the way into town. ‘I think I need the loo…’ she muttered, but what she actually needed was a longer skirt, a higher cut top and Teflon-coated self-confidence.

The woman who ran the florist called over to her as they passed. ‘Big event tonight then!’

Charley nodded. ‘Yup!’

‘Good luck! I’ll pop in later.’

‘Great!’ grinned Charley.

Nisha was right about the costumes – they certainly made an impact. The flyers flew out of their hands and there were barely any left when Charley and Tara headed back to shop at five thirty. They were both footsore and weary, half frozen and struggling to summon up the energy to face the launch itself.

But by six o’clock a sizeable crowd had gathered outside the shop. Tara was clearly elated, Pam beamed delightedly and Charley was a sweaty-palmed bag of nerves. Nisha, the personification of cool, calmly stepped outside to officially open the event.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to The Annual Kim Henderson Memorial Prosecco Night and the official grand opening of Charley’s Prosecco Pop-Up!’

There was a small cheer and people poured into the shop. Charley was frankly stunned by the turnout. She had feared that only family and friends and a few of the Prosecco Night regulars would turn up, and that the whole thing would be a bit of a let-down. As it turned out, the fourth Annual Kim Henderson Memorial Prosecco Night was insane. Nisha and Tara could barely pour the fizz quickly enough and Pam’s Prosecco cupcakes sold out within the first half hour. The card-reader pinged virtually non-stop, and Charley thought a fight was going to break out over the last box of chocolate Prosecco truffles. It was pandemonium. The shop was heaving, like an inner-city pub on a match night. Charley had no idea how many people had crammed themselves into the shop. Ideally, she’d have liked to re-stock some of the rapidly emptying displays, but realistically she knew there was no way she could even get to the boxes of spare stock she’d stashed on top of Baz’s dresser. Looking over, Tara caught her eye and grinned at her.

Despite being frantically busy, every now and again Charley caught herself glancing around and over the heads of the crowd, looking for Ricky. He had said he would come, but perhaps in all the chaos she’d missed him? Or maybe he’d been held up. Either way she didn’t have much time to think about it – the endless queue of customers saw to that.

Halfway through the event, Angie and Will arrived with their whole gang. Wrapped in a soft white fleece with pale blue bunnies on, and wearing a white cotton hat and mittens, Lily lay snuggled in her dad’s huge arms. Well, briefly. Pam instantly abandoned serving Prosecco to cuddle the baby. Charley took over from her, but made sure Angie’s other kids didn’t feel left out. Unscrewing the lid from a large jar of Prosecco gummy bears she offered them round, turning a blind eye at the size of the fistfuls they grabbed.

‘Umm… have they actually got alcohol in them?’ asked Angie, warily watching her kids stuffing their faces.

‘Ooops!’ Charley’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘Oh my God, Ange. I’ve absolutely no idea!’

Beth’s eyes lit up wickedly. ‘If we get drunk, it’s all your fault!’ she said, shoving another gummy bear in her mouth.

‘Nooo!’ cried Charley groaning in mock horror.

‘Let’s share them with Daddy!’ said Angie, flicking an amused look at Charley, before shepherding her kids off to find Will. Charley watched them go and then she glanced around, still hoping to see Ricky. And suddenly there he was. In the doorway. He was scanning the room, and Charley knew he was looking for her. She gave him a slight wave and the moment he saw her, his face broke into a beaming smile, and he pushed his way towards her through the crowd.

‘Congratulations! What a success!’

Suddenly acutely aware that she was still in her ridiculous costume, Charley slid round to take cover behind the till before handing him a glass of Prosecco. He took his wallet out to pay for it, but Charley held up her palm. ‘Absolutely not! You’ve done so much to help me, you’re not paying for