Page 19 of Rescuing Rosie
‘Five ten. Our Ant’s the tall one,’ he said, as his colleague returned carrying a box. ‘Why?’
‘How would you like to model with Madison in tomorrow’s outdoor shoot?’ she said. ‘You could help Jono carry his gear too, and I’d feel happier about Madison being up a hill if you were with her. We have a few of Vybe’s rain jackets for men with us, they’d look great on you. And we’ll pay you.’
‘Oh – say yes!’ said Madison, clapping her hands together. She leaned forward and touched Dale’s knee. ‘We’d make an awesome couple, I reckon.’
Rosie was surprised when Ant spoke up. ‘That’s a good idea.’ He sat back down in front of Rosie, took a big brown (ugly) boot from the box and said, ‘Let’s try this one.’
Obediently, Rosie slid her foot into the boot. He laced it up and asked if it felt comfortable. She stood up and tested it, flexing her toes, rocking backwards and forwards. ‘It’s a bit tight around my ankle,’ she said. She wasn’t going to comment on its hideousness to this man.
‘Can you get two fingers in?’ asked Dale, meeting her eye again. ‘Down the back of your heel, I mean.’ That was one cheeky grin.
From any other bloke, such schoolboy innuendo would have been killed dead with a withering look, but for some reason Rosie was bubbling with mirth inside. Maybe it was something to do with the waves of disapproval emanating from his colleague. Or maybe it was because Dale was so darned irresistible.
She held his dark-eyed gaze as Ant moved a hand round to the back of Rosie’s ankle and gently slid his fingers into the space. A pleasant sensation zipped up her leg, all the way to her thighs, taking her by surprise.
‘All good,’ Ant said.
Rosie cleared her throat. ‘Won’t it slip up and down?’ she asked Ant.
‘Not usually a problem,’ said Dale.
Ant closed his eyes briefly. ‘Like I said, your feet will swell when you’re walking. Let’s try the other one on.’
Once both boots were done up, Rosie took a turn around the shop, stopping to pat Wainwright. ‘Hello again, lovely boy,’ she said. The dog got up and followed her across the shop.Against the far wall, display shelves were stacked with maps and books, and her eyes fell on a charming collection of pocket-sized guidebooks with white covers and different-coloured borders. She picked one up. In an old-fashioned handwriting font it said:
A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells.
Book One: The Eastern Fells
by A Wainwright
‘Oh – Wainwright!’ she said, looking from the book to the dog to Ant.
At last, a smile. It was like the sun coming out.
Dale joined her. ‘We sell these by the truckload, even though they were first published in the 1950s. How’s the boots?’
‘Very comfortable, thank you.’
Madison came over to meet the dog.
‘Wainwright has his own Instagram account,’ said Dale, patting him. ‘A lot of fell walkers try to tick off all Alfred Wainwright’s peaks; doggo here’s doing the same. You should check out his account.’
‘A mountain-climbing dog? That’s amazing!’ said Madison. She passed Dale her phone. ‘Show me?’ As Rosie made her way back to her chair, Madison added, ‘And feel free to enter your number.’
‘I’m a bit worried they’ll rub,’ Rosie said to Ant as she sat down again. ‘They do feel quite stiff.’ It was probably just as well Dale was out of earshot.
Ant leaned forward to check the fit, and she noticed a silver ring on his middle finger, with archaic lettering running round it. She was about to ask if he was aLord of the Ringsfan when he said, ‘You should be fine, but it’d be worth breaking them in before tomorrow. Maybe take them for a walk this evening; justround the hotel grounds will do.’ He sat back, and there was a hint of a smile – another one! ‘Probably avoid the stepping stones.’
Rosie pursed her lips. ‘Just for the record, Ant, I did not fall off that stone because of unsuitable footwear – a fierce gust of wind blew me into the stream.’
‘And you need to take a waterproof jacket tomorrow, not an umbrella.’ His eyes went to her pink puffer. ‘Thatwill not do, if the weather turns.’
‘Don’t fret,’ said Veronica, ‘we have all the gear.’ She called across to where Dale and Madison were still heads-bent over Madison’s phone. ‘So – Dale? You’ll come tomorrow? It’ll be great PR for your shop – we’ll put you in our best rain jacket; your boots and trousers can be from your own range. You’re going to love Vybe’s gear – you’ll be begging us for stock, you mark my words.’
There was a thumping on the door, and Rosie realised there were still people outside, waiting for Madison.
The star looked out of the window and shook her head. ‘I just want some peace and quiet now. I’m knackered. Can you get rid, Veronica?’
