Chick Lit Box Set

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER SEVEN

“No I’m b****y not,” Aggie snorted into her coffee, her face turning puce at the mere thought of it. “And keep your voice down. People are starting to stare, Coco. And I just ca…”

Coco interrupted her, “Agatha Trout, as your best friend in the whole world, beauty consultant, fashion extraordinaire, and soon-to-be business partner, you need to listen to me.”

Aggie stopped, “Did you say business partner?”

Coco’s smile lit up her face and she began to nod, “But only if you agree to open a s*x shop. I will not become your business partner in any other venture. And you know that I know my stuff. I’d be the perfect partner in this situation and you can’t deny it. Plus, Vegas? Remember that you owe me? Big time?”

“But…”

“There are no buts, Aggie. It makes perfect sense. The town doesn’t have a s*x shop right now, and as far as I know, has never had one. The poor people of Frambleberry are crying out for some kinkiness in their lives.”

“Perhaps it’s never had one because the people of Frambleberry would never accept it.”

“This is the twenty-first century, Aggie, not the seventeen hundreds. People are much more open to this kind of thing. Besides, people from all the nearby towns and villages will come if we do it right. This thing could make us a fortune. Think about it. You’re almost broke. How are you going to continue paying your mortgage? A wool shop certainly isn’t going to cut it, hon. You need to do something big, something huge, something to get the town talking. And a s*x shop will do precisely that.”

“Yes, for all the wrong reasons,” Aggie muttered under her breath. “I just can’t do it. You know what I’m like, Coco. I’m so easily embarrassed, I turn beetroot red every time we even walk past Anne Summers in Sheffield.”

“Which is exactly why you need to do this. You’re twenty-eight years old, Aggie. It’s time we got you over your prudish ways.”

“I’m not a prude, not really.”

Coco’s face said otherwise.

“I’m not,” Aggie reiterated. “I’m just…just…shy about stuff like that.”

“Well, help me help you get over that shyness. Babe…look, why don’t you take tonight to think about it and we’ll meet up tomorrow over lunch and discuss it further. I’ll make a few enquiries of my own…”

Aggie frowned.

“Just enquiries, that’s all. I won’t mention your name. I promise. Think about it, okay?”

Aggie sighed and sat back in her seat, nodding just ever so slightly.

Coco beamed and finished off her coffee before glancing at her watch. “Oh s**t, I’d better go. I agreed to have lunch with Kyle today.”

“How is your brother doing?” Aggie asked. “I haven’t seen him for ages.”

“He’s doing great, thanks, babe. He’s just got a big contract in town. To build some new big development,” Coco replied as she stood up and put on her fake fur coat.

“Oooh that sounds brilliant. I’m so pleased he’s managed to sort himself out. I was so worried about him after your mum and dad died.”

“Yeah, he did go off the rails a bit. It’s a good thing Dad put a stipulation in the will about Kyle not getting the inheritance money until his twenty-fifth birthday.”

“It would have been horrendous had he got it before, he’d have blown much of it on drugs, I think.” Aggie thought about what might have happened.

“I know,” Coco nodded in agreement. “But he’s worked his arse off the past three years. I still can’t quite believe his property business has grown so much. I’m so proud of him. Hey, why don’t you join us for lunch? I’m sure he’d love to see you.”

But Aggie looked down at herself, frowned and shook her head before she followed Coco out of the cafe.

“Thanks, but I’d better head home. I’ve got a lot of thinking to do. Give him…my best, won’t you?”

Coco smiled at her friend and gave her a long hug before releasing her.

“I’ll come over to yours about eleven tomorrow. I’ll bring some sushi,” and with a wink, she turned and walked off, leaving Aggie alone with all kinds of thoughts rushing through her head.