The Locksmith by Linda Calvey (reading in the dark .TXT) 📕

the front passenger seat as Maureen drove them home, little George already snoozing in the back.

‘Don’t worry, darlin’, I told ya to stay. Is the villa sorted?’ Maureen asked.

‘It is,’ Ruby replied. Charlie had phoned her the day before to say he’d put her cash deposit down and it should be hers within weeks.

There was a slight pause in the conversation, then Maureen spoke. ‘A little bird tells me you met a certain Archie Willson?’ Maureen glanced quickly over at Ruby, who found herself blushing.

‘How did you know that?’ she burst out indignantly, making Maureen laugh.

‘You crack me up, Ruby. One of our friends saw you and Archie havin’ lunch. I’m told Alfie was there too, but it wasn’t him who was leanin’ in to talk to ya . . . He’s a very attractive boy . . .’

‘You know him? Of course you do. He said his dad Lloyd had done time with Charlie,’ Ruby said. ‘But I’m not goin’ out with him. I ain’t seein’ anyone while I’ve got baby George to bring up.’

‘Oh well, that’s a shame . . . It won’t be long before he’s snapped up, girl. I say go for it.’ Maureen added pointedly, ‘His father Lloyd is a big-time villain. Did he tell you that?’

‘He did,’ said Ruby. ‘He also told me about his dad bringing up him and Alfie after their mum died.’

Maureen nodded. ‘It was tragic, she was so young. Breast cancer. It takes the best of ’em. Charlie will tell you more about him. He’ll fill you in. Archie’s a catch so mind ya don’t lose him before some other woman bats her eyelashes in his direction.’

Ruby changed the subject but thought about the conversation all the way home. Charlie was waiting for them, announcing he’d booked a table at their favourite restaurant. Over a meal of tapas and Spanish wine, the conversation turned to the Willson twins.

‘Oh yeah, I know their father, Lloyd, all right. He was doin’ time for a big job, robbed a well-known bank and stole hundreds of thousands,’ Charlie started to say.

‘That’s not exactly the best recommendation for a boyfriend!’ Ruby laughed but she looked worried.

‘Listen, girl, it’s better he comes from our world. A straight goer ain’t goin’ to fit in. His dad is one hundred per cent. He’s the real deal. He’s a gent, and he’s got ambition, if you know what I mean. I’m sure his sons are the same. He did right by them when their mother died and he’s earned our respect for bringin’ them up.

‘Listen, Ruby, Archie’s got money and he’s goin’ places – in the underworld.’ Charlie took hold of Ruby’s hand and looked into her eyes. ‘But what do you think of him?’

Ruby blushed – it felt like she was always blushing these days.

‘I liked him,’ she said simply.

‘Well then, darlin’, it’s about time you got yourself a boyfriend and had a little fun. Life ain’t just deals and George, though they’re important. You’ve got to live a little too.’

Maureen nodded over at her husband. She’d clearly briefed him to say the right things. ‘It’s true, Ruby. We all want ya to be ’appy. You deserve some love. You’ve been through so much. Why don’t ya just meet him and enjoy his company? It can’t do any harm, can it?’

Ruby blinked. Why did she suddenly feel tearful? The thought of being looked after, being treated and taken out seemed overwhelmingly appealing. She considered herself an independent woman. She didn’t need a man to complete her – yet she couldn’t deny there was something about Archie, something that made her feel safe and excited at the same time.

CHAPTER 24

Perhaps it was that conversation, over good food with beloved friends, that made her agree to Archie coming to dinner. She’d regretted letting him have her number because he’d rung her every evening, making her laugh, drawing her ever closer to him. She’d also regretted saying he could come over because thinking of him made her feel so flustered and jittery. She wanted control in her life after so much had gone wrong, but these feelings for Archie were the total opposite of that. He made her feel like abandoning everything she’d worked for and sinking into his arms instead. It was a feeling she didn’t trust at all.

He arrived straight from the airport, carrying a huge bunch of white lilies and a smile as wide as the open sea. Stepping out of his shiny red Porsche, his face lit up as soon as he saw Ruby in the doorway. She’d dressed carefully for the meal in a black silk shift, a single diamond necklace and low heels. She wore her hair down as always, but had dressed up her make-up, wearing startling scarlet red lipstick.

As Archie walked up her driveway, her heart swooped down to her belly, and every nerve ending in her body felt alive. She knew herself as a woman who regularly faced up to some of the underworld’s most devious, hardened crooks yet she felt at a loss in front of this man.

She had spent hours cooking a roast dinner with all the trimmings, knowing she wanted to impress him but at the same time warning herself to keep her cool. It was all very confusing, but it was too late now. He was here – and she had to get on with it.

‘Delicious, Ruby, thank you,’ Archie said as they ate.

Bobby smiled between the two of them. George made happy noises as he chewed on a Yorkshire pudding. As soon as he’d finished eating, Bobby got up and, picking up George, announced he was going out for a walk.

‘I think that’s a subtle hint,’ Archie laughed, making Ruby giggle.

‘Very subtle,’ she agreed, raising an eyebrow.

They heard the door shut and there was suddenly silence in the house. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, more an expectant one.

Archie got up off his chair and moved round to Ruby’s side of the table. He picked up her hand and held it as