Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn Read Online Free PDF Page B

hour.’
    ‘I’m a good listener,’ Max said.
    ‘I’m sure you are. And I’m sure there’s a pretty young thing out there who will think all her Christmases have come at once when you ask her out.’
    ‘In that case,’ Max said, putting his cup down on the draining board and cracking his knuckles theatrically, ‘I’d better get working on these pecs. Where do you want the spuds?’
    ***
    Just as the last sack of potatoes had been hauled in by Max, Fred let himself in at the front of the shop, throwing back the hood of a raincoat that was so old fashioned the only place it was likely to be seen these days was on a fishfinger advert. He gave himself an exaggerated shake, spraying water everywhere. ‘Bloody hell, it’s like monsoon season.’
    ‘Alright, Fred?’ Max asked, wiping his hands on his overalls.
    Fred looked up. ‘Still here, are you?’
    ‘Nice greeting,’ Linda said with obvious sarcasm. ‘It’s that down-to-earth friendliness that has the customers eating out of his hand.’ She grinned at Max as Fred frowned at her.
    ‘I’m just off now,’ Max replied, biting back a grin of his own. He handed Bonnie a piece of paper. ‘The chitty.’ He leaned closer and lowered his voice. ‘Though if you look on the bottom of the page, it has my number on it.’ He did a telephone mime. ‘Call me…’
    Bonnie giggled. ‘That’s your business number; you give it to all your customers.’
    ‘Yeah, but I wouldn’t answer to all of them out-of-hours. And when pretty girls ring it flashes like the Bat-phone.’
    ‘Get out you nutter,’ Bonnie laughed. ‘You’ll be late for your harem at Cherry Ripe.’
    ‘I’ll come and lock up after you,’ Linda said, following him out.
    Fred gave Max a short nod goodbye before turning to Bonnie. ‘Stock all out, lass, or have you been hobnobbing with himself again?’
    ‘Yes, Fred, the stock is out, as you can see.’
    ‘I’ll open up then, no point in the door staying shut if folk can come and part with their money.’ Fred shuffled off to the front door.
    ‘You know he’s going to stop asking soon?’ Linda said to Bonnie in a low voice as she came back in.
    ‘Fred?’
    ‘Max, you silly cow.’
    ‘He’s not being serious. It’s just Max flirting.’
    ‘He is being serious. And he’s lovely. You’re mental to keep turning him down.’
    Bonnie turned and put her hands on her hips, fixing Linda with a serious expression. ‘What if it all turned to crap? How awkward would that be when he calls here every day?’
    ‘It wouldn’t turn to crap. Besides, Max is far too nice to get nasty over something like that. I’m sure you could stay friendly.’
    ‘No, Lind. I know what you’re trying to do and I appreciate it, but no me and Max, not now, not ever. That’s my final word.’
    Linda shrugged. Her gaze went over to Fred unlocking the front door and turning the sign over to OPEN. She narrowed her eyes. ‘Do you think Fred’s head looks funny today?’ she whispered.
    Bonnie followed her gaze. ‘Not really,’ she said quietly. ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘Like his bald patch isn’t quite as bald as it was on Saturday.’
    ‘What, like a comb-over?’
    ‘No, not like a comb-over, like…’
    ‘Oh my God!’ Bonnie squeaked and put a hand to her mouth. ‘You don’t think that’s where he was this morning?’
    Linda turned to her and nodded solemnly but her eyes were dancing with laughter. ‘I think he’s treated himself to a new rug!’
    ***
    Despite her working week being a long and very routine one, it had still flown by and Bonnie found herself with a rare Saturday off. Paige was still in bed after staying up late the previous night, mostly online, Bonnie presumed, although what Paige did behind her closed bedroom door was anyone’s guess.
    Bonnie sat at the kitchen table, staring into space. She had washed up and cleaned the surfaces, plopped a pile of meat and veg into the slow cooker with a sachet of casserole seasoning for the