Chasing the Sun: The laugh-out-loud summer romance you need on your holiday!. Katy Colins

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СКАЧАТЬ what happened?’ I asked, flicking through my diary to check that I had time for a quick catch-up before my next call, which Erin had set up. Realising I had an unexpected free half an hour, I settled onto the comfy sofa next to the bookcase, stacked with glossy brochures advertising exotic destinations and trips that we offered.

      ‘Well, I mean, we had a few new clients interested, but most of them just wanted to eat Val’s cakes and nick a few of our pens,’ he grumbled.

      ‘Maybe it will be one of those things that takes a little time to pick up?’ I offered, sensing how disappointed he was that his latest idea hadn’t taken off exactly as planned. Conrad was always coming up with ways we could increase our client base and spread the word about what we do, from holding Thai cooking classes to promote our Southeast Asia trips, which ended in two people getting food poisoning, to an outside Australian barbecue that fell victim to the unpredictable Manchester weather.

      ‘Hmm, maybe. I think we’ll have to shelve the “pin the tail on the llama” game for the Chile trip – almost took a poor lassie’s eye out,’ he confessed, cringing. ‘But, I’ll keep trying. You know the sales figures speak for themselves, but I can’t help thinking there’s something that we’re missing out on,’ Conrad said, as he poured in milk, his face growing serious for a moment. ‘I haven’t quite put my finger on what it is yet, but I’ve been sending my spies into our rivals’ businesses and hopefully they’ll be back with ideas. I just have this sense that there’s some trick we’re missing, something we could offer our customers that would knock the competition out of the park.’

      He was right. As great as our reviews were, the profits healthy and customers going home happy, I often had this niggle in my head too. To keep moving the company forward, we needed to make sure we moved with the times and offered over and above what other travel agents or tour companies did.

      ‘Well, we can only keep trying.’ I gratefully took the steaming mug he handed me.

      ‘Aye, that we will do.’

      I glanced around the small room as Conrad picked up his ringing phone and smiled. In the corner, they’d set up a snack station for customers with hot drinks and complimentary cookies, which came from Val’s café over the road. This had gone down well, but it wasn’t like a free slice of banana bread or homemade Eccles cake was going to be the trailblazing idea we’d imagined.

      ‘So, how are things with the lovely Val?’ I asked, absent-mindedly picking up a cookie and breaking a piece of buttery biscuit off as he got off the phone. ‘She could put Mary Berry to shame.’

      His ruddy cheeks broke into a wide grin at the sound of her name. ‘Well, it’s not gone tits up between us yet.’

      I laughed. ‘And I’m sure it won’t either. Tell her from me that she makes the best cakes in town; in fact, I’m surprised you’ve not put on ten stone since meeting her.’ I brushed crumbs off my shirt.

      It was probably for the best that the snack station hadn’t been implemented when I’d worked in this shop full time. With this much temptation in my way, there’d be nothing left for the customers. I tried not to think about how snug my work clothes had got since Ben and I had moved in together. There was something about the comfort of being in a happy relationship, eating a lot more takeaways, not wanting to leave the warm bed for an early morning run, and sharing a bottle of wine most evenings, that was a hell of a lot of fun but did nothing for your figure. Sexercise only burnt a fraction of the calories I was indulging in.

      ‘Keep it to yourself, but I’ve started this new fitness regime.’ He leant forward, dropping his voice to a whisper, even though we were the only ones in the shop. ‘She’s had me join a gym.’

      ‘You? At a gym? I never thought I’d see the day!’

      ‘Mock all you want, but it’s the only way I don’t balloon. Anyway, that’s not the worst part.’ He lowered his voice even more. ‘She’s got me taking a few evening classes.’

      ‘Oh yeah? Like what?’

      He grimaced, as if locked in a mental disagreement over whether to tell me or not. ‘Dancing.’ He sat back in his chair, waiting for my reaction. I couldn’t help but let a giggle escape at the thought of Conrad pirouetting in a fetching pink tutu; he ignored me and carried on. ‘Well, first it was Zumba, then it was this salsa beat workout, and now it’s sodding ballroom with a twist.’

      ‘Ballroom with a twist?’ I repeated, quite enjoying the blush rising on his face.

      ‘Yep. The twist is that you break into this flaming difficult hip-hop routine midway through.’

      I couldn’t help but let a snigger escape. ‘Hip-hop? You do hip-hop?’

      ‘Don’t.’ He placed his reddened cheeks into his large hands. ‘I’ve not told anyone else and I’m making you swear that you won’t either.’

      I held up my fingers in a Brownie Guide salute as he continued.

      ‘You know those YouTube videos of couples, usually a bride and groom on their first dance, who start off all formal and then the music changes halfway through to some irritating dance song, and they perform this well-rehearsed but bloody ridiculous routine?’

      I nodded, my cheeks aching from smiling.

      ‘That’s ballroom with a twist.’

      ‘Oh, wow. So, you going to show us a move then?’

      ‘Don’t hold your breath. I only agreed to it to make her happy. The things you do for love.’ He grunted and began shuffling through some brochures on his cluttered desk.

      ‘Love?’ I raised an eyebrow.

      ‘Yeah, I love her,’ he mumbled. I had the urge to start clapping but kept my emotions in check. Conrad wasn’t usually this forthcoming with his personal life so I didn’t want to stop his flow. ‘Lord knows why she puts up with me, and trust me there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep her happy. But flaming dance classes?’ He shook his head at what he had become. ‘Seriously.’

      ‘Well, I think it sounds adorable, and don’t be putting yourself down. You’re a catch; she’s lucky to have you in her life too.’

      He shrugged and cleared his throat. ‘So, back to you, I still can’t believe you and Ben are finally taking a holiday. He’s promised me that you’ll both turn your work phones off and step away from your emails.’

      ‘Nice subject change. Don’t expect me to forget that you owe me a dance at the Christmas party,’ I teased and took a slurp of my coffee, double-checking my phone again for when the bank called. ‘I’m not sure how much of a holiday it will be with helping Shelley out, but I am looking forward to ticking Australia off my list and spending time with Ben.’

      ‘Your first trip down under! Be prepared for the jet lag as it can be a bit of a killer, you know. Why don’t you ask Shelley to delay the trip for a few days so you can adjust?’

      I shook my head. ‘No way. I don’t want to do anything to make her already dangerously high anxiety levels rocket even more. I’m sure I’ll be fine.’

      ‘You’re just going to have to have a coffee drip inserted in your arm and be prepared to ride the jet lag waves more like.’

      ‘Oh СКАЧАТЬ