Page 3 of For Love or Money
‘Don’t worry about not getting us all paired up. This isn’t my first time at the fair. I know not everyone goes home with a prize.’
‘Well, I’m sorry you didn’t have better luck. But feel free to come back another time – no charge.’
‘Thanks.’ She didn’t like to say it to Helen, who clearly felt bad about the way the evening had ended, but Lesley didn’t think she’d be taking up the offer of a return visit. She was a one-strike-and-you’re-out kind of person: decisive. She liked that about herself.
She buttoned her coat and burrowed her gloved hands into the pockets as she went out, her shoulders automatically tensing against the frosty night air. It was still early and she didn’t have far to walk. She’d be home by ten-thirty. She’d make a cup of tea and have her cake on the sofa with Graham Norton. On the whole, it had been quite a satisfactory evening. And she had the Ian McKellen story. As anecdotes went, it was a pretty good one.
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She was just out the gate when she heard the door close behind her.
‘Lesley! Wait!’
She turned to see Al hurrying down the road after her.
‘Hi,’ he said, sounding pleased with himself as he caught up with her. He had a red scarf wrapped around his neck, and his hands were buried in his pockets. The tip of his nose was already turning red. ‘Are you getting a cab?’
‘No, I’m walking home. I’m not far from here.’
‘Oh, me too,’ he said, falling into step beside her.
Lesley was surprised. She could have sworn he’d said he lived in Blackrock.
‘Well, that was interesting,’ he said, smiling at her.
‘Yeah, it’s not every day you don’t get to meet Sir Ian McKellen. It’s definitely one to tell the grandkids.’
‘So, I was wondering if you’d like to invite me back to your place.’
Lesley stopped dead and looked up at him. ‘Oh, you were, were you?’
‘Yes. I thought we could have our cake, and um ...’
‘Eat it?’
‘Exactly. We were meant to be sharing dessert anyway. What do you say?’
‘No, thanks.’ She started walking again.
‘I’d ask you back to mine, only I’m, er ... having some work done on my kitchen,’ Al said, keeping pace with her. ‘But we could go and get a drink somewhere, if you like.’
‘Look, just because we’re the only two left doesn’t mean we have to get together. That’s not how it works. Are you new to the dating scene?’
‘Um ... not exactly. Sort of. I’m a bit out of practice, I suppose.’
‘Well, I’m an old hand, so let me give you a tip. You’re not going to hit it off with someone every time. Don’t feel you have to flog a dead horse just to get your money’s worth. Just chalk it up to experience. Cut your losses and call it a night. That’s what I’m doing.’
Al raised his eyebrows. ‘But it’s only ten o’clock.’
‘What’s that got to do with anything?’
‘You can’t call it a night at ten o’clock. It’s a late evening at best.’
‘I’m not saying you have to go straight to bed. You could watch some TV or ... I don’t know, whatever you like to do.’
‘I can? Gosh, thanks. Anyway, I’m not asking you out because we’re the only two left.’
‘Oh, so now you’re asking me out? That escalated quickly.’ She stopped and eyed him suspiciously. ‘Are you a chubby chaser, Al?’
