Chapter 3

Leah continued to pretend she was busy behind the bar for another 20 minutes while still listening to the conversation taking place between the husband and wife. Eventually Jon said “Well you might want to think about phoning her at some point soon or she’ll think you’re a no-show. Hell we didn’t come all the way out here to sit in this pub all day.” Dot shot an angry glance at her husband. She understood that he didn’t want anything to mess up his tour but she also knew that he supported her in this new thing she was trying out and that’s why he had came all the way out here with her to meet this woman she’d be working with. “No Jon, we didn’t come out here to drink in the pub, we came out here because I heard this woman would be taking part in the surfing contest tomorrow and I wanted to make a good first impression and get to know her before the work starts, this is important to me.” Jon smiled at her then planted a big kiss on her lips “I know it is honey.” Feeling like she had just invaded the couples privacy Leah quickly started polishing off the counter at a rapid speed when she heard Jon ask what the woman’s name was. Dot replied simply with “Leah Mendez.”

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“Sorry to interrupt or appear nosy but did you just say you were looking for Leah Mendez?” Leah had asked the lady who had seemed caught off guard at the question from the barmaid.
“Yeah, I’m going to be doing some business with her, do you know where to find her?” Dot replied still slightly bewildered.
“Your looking at her, you must be Dorothea,” Leah extended her hand and shook the lady’s hand who now seemed more than confused at the fact her designer was working in a bar. “Don’t worry I only work here 6 nights a week so we’re free to do some work together every 7th night.” Leah could see Jon’s smile in the corner of her eye then heard him start to laugh softly at the panic that had hit Dorothea’s face. “Sorry that was my bad sense of humour, I just took over at the bar for my friend who’s up the back there entertaining some ladies.” With that, Dot felt relief sweep through her and smiled. “I should really be the one apologising I left it so late to call you today, I’ve been so nervous this is going to be my first real project and I’m really looking forward to working with you on it. I’ve heard lots of great things about your work.”
“Honey, you’re going to get your head stuck up her arse if you suck up to her any more,” Jon stated, making Dot blush and Leah laugh. Finding her voice again Dot introduced Leah to her husband Jon and they shook hands. Dot was about to mention he was in a band when Leah said “Yeah I know who he is.” Jon looked like he had been slapped across the face with something extremely hard. “You knew who I was? You never even done a double-take!” Leah laughed and then leaned in, “A man who wears his hat in the manner you were wearing your’s strikes me as someone who doesn’t want to be disturbed so I thought I’d obey your hat.” Jon grinned to himself, maybe having this woman on tour wouldn’t be so bad after all, she didn’t seem to be the stuck up in your face designer that he was expecting to have to put up with and he also thought the other guys in the band would like her.

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“Well more drinks anybody?” Leah asked and before getting a reply she had already poured the two of them another glass of wine. Dot began to relax and treat the meeting in a more casual manner which Leah welcomed as she never liked working with people who only ever talked business it drove her nuts. As they chatted Leah began to look forward to working with this woman, they seemed to have clicked and they both had big ideas for the project. Even Jon seemed to have warmed to her after claiming he didn’t want anyone new joining them on tour. Just as she was thinking about the tour Jon brought up the subject, “So Leah are you cool with the idea of coming on tour with us and doing the work there? You would have to put up with the rest of the guys but they don’t bite, well not much anyway and you’d be flying from place to place on the private plane with us so transports not a problem.” Leah looked at them both before smiling and raising a glass, “Looks like it’s all sorted then. To the tour!” and the three of them clinked glasses.

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Moments later Josh made his way back to the bar, “Did you scare her away?” Leah teased him. “Honestly? I have no idea! Turns out she doesn’t speak English,” Leah looked at him incredulously before asking “What the hell were you doing over there all this time then?” Josh turned a pink colour then admitted “Well I just kinda stared at her and nodded a lot.”
Leah heard a commotion at the bar and looked to find Jon doubled over in laughter and his wife trying to keep him quiet. “Can you believe this guy?” Leah asked him but to no response as laughing seemed to be all he could do. Hearing Jon’s laugh started Leah off, followed by Dot and then Josh joined in and caused more laughing after saying “Hey, I don’t even know why I’m laughing.” Eventually they all calmed down and Leah introduced him, “Well Dot and Jon this is Josh, first class idiot but also a first class friend.” As they all exchanged handshakes Jon found himself looking forward to introducing her to the guys, she would definitely fit in well with them that much he knew already. Josh was due to finish his shift so he suggested they all go out to dinner together which everyone agreed to and arranged to meet at a restaurant not far from the pub at 7pm.

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Dot was pleased that Jon approved of Leah, if he hadn't liked her she didn't know where this project would have gone and it meant so much to her to do something on her own. "That woman is a breath of fresh air, she might even be good for the guys to be around!" was what Jon had said of Leah after they left the pub to get changed for dinner. Dot was intrigued by her too, she didn't expect her to be anything like the woman they had just spent the day with and was looking forward to finding out more about her, perhaps this projects going to turn out more like fun than work, Dot hoped as they made their way down to the restuarant. "Wow! She looks amazing," Dot had blurted out the minute she seen Leah at the restuarant in a pretty white summer dress. "Shes gona have to bat the boys away with a stick when they meet her." Jon was blown away by how good she looked only able to mumble out a pathetic "Something tells me shes used to it." He couldn't remember the last time a woman looked good enough to have that impact on him. Leah saw them approach and couldn't help but think how great they looked together, they seemed so at home in each others company. She also couldn't help thinking what a lucky woman Dot was, seeing him at dinner he looked even better than before. The four of them enjoyed a quiet meal at the restuarant before calling it a night since Leah had to be up in the morning for the surfing contest. Dot and Jon promised they would be there to watch her and with that they wished each other good night and headed home.