“Less savoury?” Will frowned at her. “Streaking down the high street – where do you get less savoury from?”
“I was pretty sweet.” She gave him her best smile, the one that she used when she was in the company of a particularly attractive man and she wanted a little extra attention. The one that had never worked on Jonny.
She heard Jake groan. And ignored it.
Will laughed louder. Jonny seemed to be shifting from foot to foot. There was no time like the present to move forward.
“What are you doing tomorrow night?” She made sure it was clear her words were directed at Will. “Want to streak down the high street with me?”
Chapter Five
The Whip and Kitten was a new establishment in Severton. In most other places, it would’ve faced outrage, partly given the name and partly because it was offering burlesque night and pole exercise classes. A journalist from one of the national tabloids who had been investigating the murder had brought it up, asking what he thought of an establishment that celebrated women stripping. Firstly, Jonny was glad that he hadn’t asked Jake, as the answer would’ve created even more controversy. Secondly, he was glad they hadn’t asked Rayah, because she probably would’ve demonstrated what she’d learned in one of the pole dancing classes. His response had been muted, simply saying he was glad of places that would show an example to his daughter how women should be proud of their bodies and then he’d braced himself for being completely misquoted.
Surprisingly, he hadn’t been, but a few other residents had. So in support of the bar, they’d taken to making sure The Whip and Kitten had as much support locally as could be mustered, especially from the female population. This had been an added bonus, as Scott’s place, the Last Temperance Bar, had become almost all male on certain nights, something that was proving to be a bit of a relief.
Jonny sat at a table near the window, waiting for his ‘date’. It was three months since Rayah had the hare-brained idea that he needed to date someone as an example for his kids. There had been her supporting argument that it would also deter the one or two women who had been keen to get in his trousers, but he barely registered them if it was the case anyway. His priority was his children.
Robyn slipped into the bar, dressed in her usual skinny jeans and shirt that showed just enough cleavage. She looked neat and tidy and classy, three words that summed her up perfectly. He stood up as she approached the table and leaned over to give her a peck on the cheek.
Because that was the stage they were at: a peck on the cheek. They had less chemistry than a demolished power station and as pretty and sweet as she was, he had never once thought about her while he jacked off. Instead of anything romantic, they had developed a friendship which suited them both: a night out or two a week, always local with a shared babysitter who would be at Jonny’s; Robyn could then leave her son to stay over if she wanted and have a morning to herself. At home. Alone.
The four kids saw two adults getting along well, having mutual respect and Sadie Grace was learning that Daddy’s girlfriend did not have sleepovers. All was well with the world.
“How’s the fire?” Robyn sat down opposite him.
“Out, thankfully. Second one this week.” Whoever had set the derelict farmhouse alight in September hadn’t finished with their firebug ways. Several other parts of the moor had gone up in flames, but fortunately with it being autumn, and a wet one at that, nothing had spread too quickly or wildly.
“Any updates on the murder?”
“It’s confirmed as female, between eighteen and forty. They’re going to use the skull to do a facial reconstruction at Manchester University, but there’s a wait before it’ll start. Alex was in the station today going over some of the details from the fire.” Murder cases, he knew, were solved in the first few hours or ended up going cold. This one was on its way to the Arctic.
“It’s really interesting. One day I should write a murder mystery. I wished that I had gone into forensics. I’d love to be working the case.” Her sigh was wistful, thoughts on something other than being on their fake date.
“It’s never too late.”
“It is when you’re a single parent with a mortgage to pay.” She picked up the glass of wine he’d already ordered before she arrived.
“Tell me about it. If I could, I’d definitely have been one of those professional adventurers, you know the ones with their own TV series where they live in the wilderness for days on end and live on what they catch.” Although with three kids in primary school, it felt like he already had that life.
“I could so see you doing that. You know if you do need to escape, I can have the three of them stay at mine. Especially if you’re having a lads’ Christmas night out.” She looked up at him knowingly.
Jonny laughed. Robyn was astute. She never gossiped but she noticed everything that went on around her, so she’d quite clearly picked up on the planned night away to Leeds, men only, where they would more than likely drink too much, fall asleep before midnight and get a message from Jake around about three am when he needed rescuing from some insane woman’s hotel room.
“Thank you. If Rayah can’t look after them, I’ll take you up on it.”
She tipped her head to one side and regarded him. “I think it’s time we taught our kids that break-ups can be positive.”
He suddenly woke up. “What?”
Robyn laughed. “Jonny, given that we have zero attraction between us although we have a beautiful friendship, I think we need to look at parting ways amicably. Then you can at least get laid in Leeds.”
“That sounds like a really bad porn film.”
“Getting Laid in Leeds? It could be quite kinky. Maybe let Jake take a collar and lead with him.”
“He really shouldn’t be encouraged. Although he’s been a bit quiet at the moment, so it might not be a bad plan.” He chuckled, the surprise at her suggestion wearing off. “I’m not that desperate. I can quite easily keep my dick in my pants for one night.”
She laughed, amused. “I know, Jonny. But as lovely as its been to have some companionship, your own son is starting to pick up on the fact that we’re just friends. And in the interests of demonstrating positive relationships, shouldn’t we be showing them what attraction looks like – and I mean that in a completely age-appropriate way.”
