Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on her side. Everyone’s attention now appeared to be focused towards the stage where Tex stood with a microphone in his hand. Feeling obliged to stand still and pay attention, Anna was dismayed to feel Handy Andy brush up alongside her.
‘Could I have your attention for one moment please?’ Tex began, flashing a killer smile around the room. Anna could almost hear the collective swoon of all the females there, his soft drawl was practically X-rated.
‘First, I would like to thank you all so much for turning up here this evening, it means a lot. Second, I must thank Forresters Outside Catering for the fabulous buffet they have provided. And my thanks also go to local architects Hanson & Williams for the excellent scale model in the centre there. Perhaps you could join me in a small round of applause.’
Everyone seemed more than happy to join in, Anna noted. Tex had obviously been working the room well leading up to this little speech.
‘You will see from the display,’ Tex continued, ‘that I intend to open a contemporary restaurant: high-class food for the working man’s pocket. Not a pizza delivery service with a horde of mopeds ‘whining up and down’ the road, as some of you might fear.’ A little ripple of laughter circulated.
Anna felt a flush race to her face as he fixed his eyes on her, a hint of amusement playing at the corners of his mouth. He so knew what he was doing. To her relief, he looked away and carried on speaking, telling the attentive listeners how he was looking forward to being part of the community, that there was enough room for everyone, and how pleased he was to be putting something back into the local economy, jobs for local people, and so on.
God, he was good. By the time he had finished, the whole audience was clapping and smiling broadly at him. Mission complete it would seem.
‘So thank you again for coming,’ he said as the applause died down. ‘I’m looking forward to getting to know you all much better.’ His eyes swept the room, coming to rest at Anna, as another flutter of clapping spread throughout the guests.
‘Smarmy Yank,’ muttered Andy, leaning into Anna and snaking his arm around her waist.
She resisted the urge to point out the irony of this statement, and attempted to wriggle free.
‘What say me and you slip away for a quiet drink at the Kings Head?’ Andy suggested, tightening his grip on her waist and running a finger down her arm.
Anna shuddered but tried to retain a degree of professionalism. ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea, Andy. Thanks all the same.’
‘You’re not knocking me back again, are you?’ A frown folded over his face. ‘I wouldn’t want to have to complain to Howard about the lack of service.’
‘Andy, can you stop this please?’ He had been trying for the past six months, on and off, to get her to go on a date with him. It just wasn’t happening. Ever. Purposefully, she took hold of his hand and prised it from her waist. ‘As I’ve said before, I don’t mix business with pleasure.’ Not that he would be a pleasure by any stretch of the imagination.
‘Oh, come on, Anna.’ He went to take hold of her again, but now that everyone was milling around once more, Anna seized her opportunity.
Spinning on her heel to avoid his groping hand, she propelled herself forward and found herself running straight into the chest of Tex.
Chapter Two
Tex wrapped his arms round her as she bundled into him. He couldn’t have planned it better if he had tried. Hugging her tight to his chest, he appreciated the feel of her curves against him. He grinned down at her.
‘We seem to be making a habit of this,’ he said.
‘Maybe. Trouble is, this morning, I thought I had bumped into Tex. Now I seem to have bumped into Nico Garcia.’
‘And which one do you prefer?’ He noticed she hadn’t tried to wriggle free.
‘I’m not sure yet. Although I do know someone who isn’t a contender.’ She jerked her head backwards.
Tex had already spoken to the castle curator earlier in the evening and had also clocked him pestering Anna. In fact, he had just been on his way over to rescue her. Again.
Releasing her from his hold, but catching her hand in his, he smiled politely at the brooding curator. ‘Would you mind excusing us, I need to speak to Anna about the tour guides. Thank you.’
He didn’t wait for an answer, instead plucking a glass of wine from a passing waiter’s tray, he whisked her away through the guests to the back of the hall.
‘I had it all under control there, you know,’ she spoke, after a rather large gulp of her wine.
Tex nodded. ‘Of course you did.’
‘I did!’ She took another sip, trying to hide a small smile of embarrassment behind the glass.
Tex didn’t miss it. ‘Look, I wanted to speak to you anyway,’ he began. ‘About earlier. I didn’t say anything because I was curious to hear an unbiased and honest opinion of what folks were feeling around here. I was going to tell you. Honest!’
She eyed him sceptically. ‘Okay, so what if I tell you I’m not really Anna but my name’s Sheila and I’m the local planning officer? I was just preparing a report to uphold an objection against the development of this building.’
What the…! He felt himself draw back to look at her again through fresh eyes. ‘You serious?’ Jeez, she looked it.
Then she broke into a huge smile and laughed out loud. Tex felt the air expel from his lungs, and found himself laughing too.
‘Oh, your face,’ she said once she had calmed down. ‘Got you going there for a moment. Serves you right.’
Tex shook his head. He was in no position to complain. He deserved that.
‘You two look like you’re having fun,’ came Jamie’s voice as he wandered over with Yvonne.
‘Don’t ask.’
‘Do you and Tex already know each other?’ Yvonne asked Anna, accepting the glass of wine Tex had summoned over.
‘Not really. We did briefly meet this morning. You could say he saved my life.’ Anna gave Tex a grateful smile.
‘Twice,’ Tex added.
Jamie patted Tex's back. ‘The all-American hero.’
Tex shrugged. ‘Hey, what can I say?’
‘So do you work around here?’ Jamie asked.
Anna repeated what she had told Tex that morning, adding, ‘I also do a bit of work from home, translating electronic manuals or legal documents. Nothing particularly exciting, but it's all work.’
‘You’re a busy lady,’ said Tex, surprised. She hadn’t mentioned all that this morning.
‘Just three small jobs, no different to working full-time at one.’
‘So as a tour guide, do you speak any other languages?’ asked Yvonne, exchanging a glance with her husband.
‘German and French.’
Tex gave Anna a little nudge, whispering theatrically in her ear, ‘Watch out, he’ll be trying to employ you next.’
‘Interesting,’ mused Jamie. ‘I run a relocation company, primarily for clients who are moving to the UK from overseas. It's a sort of handholding, fix-it service for foreigners working, visiting or relocating here. I use bilingual staff as some of my clients, especially their spouses, can't speak enough English to deal with things like banking, property purchases, schools for their children etc. We basically help them in any way they need it where the language might prove a barrier.’
‘That sounds interesting. Have you got clients locally then?’ asked Anna.
‘That will be me,’ put in Tex.
‘Oh, I thought you were just friends.’ Anna looked a mixture of confused and embarrassed.
‘We’re both. BFFs, as you girls would say,’ grinned Jamie, putting his arm round Tex and pretending to plant a kiss on his cheek.
‘Sometimes I feel like the gooseberry,’ said Yvonne.
‘A real bromance then.’ A small giggle escaped Anna.
While Jamie and Yvonne laughed at the joke, Tex looked blankly at the three of them, which just made them all laugh even more.
; ‘Think of it as brotherly love,’ explained Jamie. ‘Bromance. Girls find it highly amusing.’
‘Oh, not amusing,’ teased Anna, ‘more like sweet.’
‘Yes, sweet,’ agreed Yvonne. ‘You two are so cute.’ She gave it her best coochy-coo voice.
‘Hey, don't knock it,’ winked Jamie.
As the four of them chatted easily for a while, discussing the local town of Arundel, nearby Chichester and Goodwood Racecourse, which Jamie had attended recently, Anna seemed relaxed and at ease in their company, Tex thought, aware that he was glancing at her more than was necessary.
He felt the familiar buzz he always got when the chase was on. First though, it looked like he still needed to get rid of the castle curator who had just sidled up to Anna.
‘Apologies to interrupt, but have you finished here now?’ The curator’s hand rested on Anna’s back. Tex felt himself bristle unexpectedly at the gesture. He was about to tell this slimeball to back off when Anna spoke.
‘Is it important, Andy? Can’t it wait until tomorrow? I could call over to the castle in the morning, if you like?’
They were speaking in low tones but Tex could just about make out what was being said. He studied her face. He couldn’t tell from the expression whether she meant it or was just trying to get rid of him. He checked himself and said nothing.
Andy now looked irritated. ‘As I said earlier, I’m sure Howard wouldn’t want to find out you’ve been neglecting me.’
Tex studied Anna’s face for an indicator. He still couldn’t read her, although he did notice she was fiddling with a couple of rings on her right hand, rapidly twisting them back and forth.
‘But this isn’t work’s time, so I don’t think it counts,’ she replied firmly.
‘Let’s make it count.’ The impatience in Andy’s voice was thinly disguised, the leer in his eyes even less hidden.
Something inside Tex snapped. He’d had a bellyful of this Andy guy already. He stepped forward, his arm cutting between Anna and the curator, then hooked the surprised man away.
‘I think the lady doesn’t want to be bothered and I’ve still got some business to discuss with her, so why don’t you be a good boy and take a hike.’
The surprised look on Andy’s face and his mouth flopping open in astonishment sent a feeling of satisfaction through Tex. He gave Andy a shove towards the exit and watched him disappear out of the door, before turning triumphantly to Anna.
Damn it! She did not look impressed.
‘Very caveman-like,’ she said evenly. ‘I was handling it myself actually.’
No, she definitely wasn’t impressed. ‘He’s a jerk,’ he replied.
‘That’s as maybe, but he was my jerk, and I could do without him complaining to my boss.’ She looked at him reproachfully. ‘And you could do without making any enemies, which is what I thought tonight was all about.’
She had a point, but he didn’t think some nerdy castle curator was too much to worry about.
‘Will you get into trouble? With work, I mean,’ asked Yvonne.
Anna shrugged. ‘I’ll find out Monday when I’m next in the office.’ She gave Tex a small smile. ‘I suppose I should say thank you. Again.’
He wondered if it was necessary for him to smile so widely, but he seemed to have lost control of his facial muscles. ‘This is becoming a habit.’
‘Look, Anna,’ said Jamie, ‘if you have any bother at work and fancy a change, give me a call.’ He took his wallet out from his inside pocket and extracted a business card. ‘Here, take this, it would be good to chat.’
Anna took the card. ‘Thanks, I might just do that.’
‘I was going to say I don’t have any lecherous clients,’ said Jamie, ‘but then I remembered him!’ He nodded at Tex, who was relieved to see Anna grin, the awkwardness passing.
‘I suppose I had better go. I’ve got to get back to Chichester,’ said Anna after a while.
‘I'll walk you to your car,’ said Tex.
‘Don't forget my offer,’ Jamie called after her.
There was a chill in the night air as they stepped outside. Anna shivered, wishing she had brought a cardigan with her. As if reading her mind, Tex slipped off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She could smell the citrus-fresh fragrance of his aftershave on the collar.
‘You don't have to walk me. I'll be fine.’
Tex smiled. ‘I know I don't have to, but I want to.’
She could feel his hand resting between her shoulder blades as he ushered her across the road, and he kept it there as they walked.
‘Well, this is my car,’ said Anna as they reached her battered old blue Fiesta. As she stood in front of him, she suddenly felt self-conscious.
He cast an acknowledging eye over her vehicle before turning back to her. Anna didn't know what to say next. Meeting his steady gaze, she felt tongue-tied, like a teenager on her first date. She had forgiven him for tricking her earlier and had enjoyed his company this evening, very much aware that she had been unable to stop herself looking at him. A couple of times when he had caught her watching him, it had caused her to look hurriedly away, embarrassed. Despite this, she had looked back again and again. Like an addiction, she couldn't help letting her gaze linger on him. Those eyes were so welcoming, they seemed to be able to smile all on their own, and as she had listened to the timbre of his soft drawl, it were as if her eardrums were being caressed by his voice. It was enough to give her an eargasm.
Realising that she was doing much the same again now, she quickly turned her attention to her feet. This was awkward. Sneaking a look back up at him, she saw that Tex was now peering at her feet too.
‘What?’ she said worriedly.
‘Nothing. I was just wondering what was so interesting on the floor.’ For a second or two he looked deadly serious then, looking up, his whole face broke into a broad grin.
Anna laughed. He had such a lovely smile that seemed to reflect in his eyes. ‘Thanks for … well, you know … rescuing me … ’
‘Can I see you again?’ he asked gently, interrupting.
She caught her breath. He wanted to see her again – yay! The feeling of joy competed with the nervousness in her stomach.
Since Mark had left a year ago, she had only been on two dates, courtesy of Zoe, her sister-in-law. Neither date had been her choice, but Zoe had gone through a matchmaking phase last year and decided that the two candidates were just perfect for Anna. Apparently. Apparently not, as it turned out. Anna had soon got rid of them by pointing out that she was still married and had a teenage son. It was a good tactic to deter any undesirables.
Tex must have misread her silence. ‘It’s okay, you don’t have to say yes.’ He lifted her left hand and ran his thumb along her bare third finger. ‘Sorry, I assumed you were single.’
‘I am. Well, sort of. Oh God, I’m making a mess of this.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I’m separated, have been for the past year and I have a teenage son.’
‘Okay, separated is good,’ smiled Tex, still holding her hand. ‘As for a son, that’s not unusual, so why do I feel you are still hesitant?’
‘I don’t get out much,’ she said, then catching the look of amusement in Tex’s eyes, found herself laughing again. ‘Oh, that sounds bad.’
‘Hey, that’s cool. We should remedy the situation though.’ Letting go of her hand, he took out his iPhone. ‘I'll ring you, if that's okay with you?’
‘It's very okay.’
Anna slipped his jacket off her shoulders as he tapped the number into his phone, double-checking he had it right.
‘I'll call you,’ he said smiling, taking the jacket. He paused as his hand brushed hers, his face still, his eyes even more still as he gazed at her. Anna felt her stomach knot as for a moment she held her breath, willing him to kiss her. He seemed to have the same idea, and in an instant, he was drawing her towards him. When his lips made contact with hers, it were as if she had been tasered, a shockwave shooting through the ver
y core of her being.
‘Are you sure you have to go home?’ he murmured when he eventually pulled away.
She nodded. ‘Sorry.’ That didn’t even begin to cover it.
He let out a long sigh before stooping for another kiss.
‘Oh man, this is no good. I’m gonna have to go,’ he groaned as he disentangled himself.
As she drove home, Anna’s tummy was performing all sorts of gymnastics at the thought of a date with Tex. She hoped he would ring. He hadn’t seemed too bothered about her ex, Mark, or the fact that she had a son, so that was a good sign.
Not that Mark should be a problem; he was over five thousand miles away building a new life for himself. Her and Mark were very much separated, her marital status a mere technicality.
Chapter Three
Anna was thankful that the last group of foreign exchange students hadn't wanted to ask any questions at the end of their guided tour of Chichester Cathedral. Spurred on by the thought of a chilled glass of wine at the Fish and Fly tonight with her sister-in-law, she picked up her bag and headed towards the main entrance.
It was then that she saw him. He was just standing there, grinning at her obvious shock. For a moment she thought her legs would give way.
‘Hey,’ Mark murmured, as if stroking her with the word.
Anna stared back, went to speak but her mouth and throat had completely dried up. What the hell was he doing here? He was still as good looking as the day he had left, all six foot of him. His blonde hair, the tips now white from the LA sun, tanned complexion and Wedgwood blue eyes. The teeth, however, weren't quite as Anna remembered. Now they seemed whiter, and possibly straighter.
‘Hi,’ she finally managed to say.
‘You're looking well. You cut your hair.’
Anna's hand automatically went to her now short hair. Her break-up haircut. Of course, Mark hadn't seen it. She knew he preferred long hair, that was part of the satisfaction of getting it cut.
‘It's nice,’ he continued as he took a step closer, his arms slightly open.
The Little Shop of Afternoon Delights Page 69