Read Online Lola's House (Lola Series) by Suzie Groers - Free Book Online

sore toes.  I stand by the table for a moment and touch my fingertips to my lips which are still tingling from his kiss.  I’m a little bit gobsmacked to be honest, not at the kiss, he’s never been shy in that department, but at his whole demeanour.  His behaviour has changed; he was so courteous and thoughtful tonight and well, so not James.  I’m thinking maybe he’s had a personality transplant or perhaps he’s been cloned.  I ponder on this for a second or two, and decide to see how long thoughtful James stays in evidence on our next date.  Then yawning, I take myself off up to bed as my feet are now virtually begging me to get off them. 
     
    I am up bright and early next morning, showered and dressed in a black pencil skirt which just skims my knees and a hot pink lacy tee shirt.  As my feet still haven’t gotten over last night’s stilettos I have chosen hot pink ballet pumps to give them a nice rest, I am going to be in the shop all day so I need to be prepared for every eventuality. 
    I am sat at the kitchen table, pouring my second cup of coffee when there is a loud hammering on the front door.  The sudden noise makes me jump and I slosh coffee onto the table, looking at my watch I decide it’s way too early for visitors but get up anyway and go to find out who is making so much noise this early in the morning.  When I open the door Chrissie strides in holding a carrier bag in one hand and a bag of croissants in the other.
    ‘Morning,’ I say to her as she marches past me and into the kitchen as if she lives here.  I follow her through and take my seat at the table again.
    ‘So, how was the date?’ s he says, looking around furtively.  ‘Is he still here?’
    I take a slurp of coffee and help myself to one of the croissants.  ‘Is who still here?’
    ‘James of course, wasn’t it your big date night last night?  Thought you might have been ripping each other’s clothes off within an hour and shagging each other senseless, making up for lost time.’
    I furrow my brows at her.  ‘No, it wasn’t like that at all.  He was kind of sweet actually, and very considerate.’
    She blows out air, flapping her lips in a raspberry sound.  ‘James?  Sweet and considerate?  Did you check his passport to make sure it really was him and not his doppelganger?’
    I g ive her my oh-so-not-impressed face and tear off a piece of croissant and shove it in my mouth.  ‘Everyone can change you know.’
    ‘Yeah sure, this is James we’re talking about.  James has always lived in James world, where everyone does James things.’ She plonks herself down opposite me.
    ‘Well if you’re going to be like that I won’t bother telling you how it went.’  I purse my lips together u ntil I realise I probably look like my mother and relax them again. 
    She pick s up the coffee jug and pours herself a steaming mug.  ‘Don’t be an arse, Lola.  You know I have to give him a hard time, it is James after all.  Just tell me what happened and stop bloody pouting.’
    So, I quickly fill her in on the events of last night, including how good he looked and how thoughtful he was.  And I spend a bit too long describing the lovely kiss when he dropped me off.
    ‘S o, you’re an item again then?’ she says, not hiding her disgust.
    ‘Well sort of, we’re just taking it steady to see how it goes.’
    ‘And he didn’t try to get in your knickers?’
    ‘No, he was a gentleman.’
    ‘Blimey, people really do change.  I’ll keep an open mind though.’  She finishes off her croissant and then holds up the carrier bag she has bought in with her.
    ‘What’s that?’ I eye the bag suspiciously. 
    She pushe s it across the table towards me.  ‘It’s your outfit for Poppy’s hen night weekend.’
    ‘Outfit? ’  I shake my head firmly.  ‘Oh no, we agreed there would be no outfit.’
    ‘Yes, well Poppy had a re-think about it, and decided we ought to get into the spirit of the weekend