by Lynda Stacey
‘Sorry, babes, fell asleep. You know, football on telly.’ Rob smirked. The pine door of the wardrobe closed with a bang and he stood before her. He had a wide disarming smile that lit up his handsome face. His customary tracksuit bottoms hung loosely from his hips, allowing Kate full view of his perfect abs, and the dolphin tattoos that wrapped themselves around his equally huge and perfect biceps. In fact, every muscle on his body was toned to equal symmetry. Life had dealt him the Adonis card and his body really was his temple, and it was a tool he tended to use to his advantage, at every given opportunity.
‘Stop admiring yourself, Rob. It’s quite pathetic for a twenty-something has-been.’ She couldn’t help herself. He’d hurt her, yet again, and this time she wouldn’t back down.
He looked himself up and down in the mirror. ‘Got to look my best, darling. No point being a personal trainer if the clients don’t look up to me, now is there? Besides, one of us has to earn a proper wage, don’t we?’
She resented his comments. ‘It’s not like I’ve never worked Rob, is it? I’d always worked before the accident.’
‘Darling, you were just a PCSO.’
‘Seriously, are you going to use that one? I might have been just a PCSO here in Yorkshire, Rob, but that was my choice. I had been a constable in the Metropolitan Police.’
‘So, why swap from being a real copper to being a pretend special one?’ He laughed. ‘A special bobby, that’s what you were, special.’
‘Don’t be an ass, Rob. There were no full-time posts to transfer to when I came back to Yorkshire. I came back to look after my grandmother, in case you’ve forgotten. I took what I could get.’ She glared in his direction. He stood before the mirror, flexing his muscles, while admiring his physique.
‘I know, baby. Why don’t you arrest me for being an ass?’ Again he turned and smirked. ‘Oh, that’s right, you were one of those coppers who couldn’t arrest people, isn’t that right?’
‘Sod off, Rob. You have no idea what my job involved. No idea at all, so keep your opinions to yourself.’ It was true, he didn’t have any idea what she’d done. She’d never spoken of the times when she’d saved lives, or of when her own had been put in danger. She watched as he threw dirty clothes onto the floor, replacing them with clean ones out of the wardrobe.
‘Rob, pick them up. The dirty basket is in the bathroom, and stop acting like I’m your mother, ’cos I’m not. I’m going to work and it’s about time you learned to tidy up after yourself.’
‘And what did you say your new job involved, baby?’ He paused. ‘Ah, that’s right. You’re off to play Inspector Clouseau. Really, Kate? What does your father think?’ He picked up his shorts and threw them on the bed.
‘Don’t make fun, Rob. I’ll be training to be a private investigator and, as for my father, don’t you dare try to second guess what his opinion might be.’ Kate was furious. Ever since she’d told him about her new chosen career, he’d made fun, belittled her decision and had constantly thrown at her how much her father had wanted her to follow in his footsteps and become a lawyer, just like James had been. She closed her eyes as the memory of her brother once again passed through her mind.
Would the pain ever diminish?
Kate opened her eyes, pulled the towel tightly around her, and looked around the room, down the passage and toward the stairs. She took in a deep breath, and silently thanked her grandmother for leaving the cottage to her, but then wondered if the gift had in fact been a curse. Was Rob only here for the free accommodation? Was that the reason he stayed? Or did he actually love her? There had been times when she’d thought he had, but today was not one of those days. She gritted her teeth and fixed his look with a glare. The ‘football on telly’ explanation wasn’t washing with her. She’d heard the phone call and deep down she knew that there was something going on that he wasn’t telling her.
Rob stepped towards her, his lips forming an exaggerated pout – he had the look of a scolded schoolboy – and reached out to snare her with his strong muscular arms, pulling her tightly into his bare chest.
‘Let go of me, Rob. I’m trying to get ready.’ Kate struggled against his all too familiar hold. ‘I mean it. Let go.’
‘Am I forgiven?’ His lips momentarily brushed hers, as his hands travelled up and down the parts of her naked body that he could reach. The towel she’d been wrapped in dropped unceremoniously to the floor and landed in a heap at her feet, giving his hands the freedom to roam unhindered.
‘Why, why would I forgive you, Rob?’ Her serious expression crept into a smile. ‘You’re an asshole.’ She began to laugh. After all, it was hard to stay cross whilst naked, especially with Rob.
‘Am I, baby, am I forgiven?’ He repeated the words, over and over, as he teased her mouth with the brushing of his. ‘Please?’
Kate caught the strong scent of his aftershave – an earthy, musky, manly smell. His lips left hers momentarily and began to sear a path, kissing every part of her neck and chest, making her moan with desire. His lips once again captured hers; he was more demanding this time and his tongue sent shivers racing through her body as his fingers gently traced the curve of her spine. She closed her eyes as a sudden and overwhelming sensation took over her. It was a mixture of love and lust that engulfed her and she found it harder and harder to stay annoyed.
She felt his hands squeeze her gently, making her flick open her eyes and look deep into his. Melting into his arms, she still couldn’t believe that someone like Rob loved her and the feelings she had right now were exactly the same as those she had experienced the first day she’d set eyes on him.
‘Am I forgiven, baby?’ His words were little more than a whisper, as Kate reluctantly nodded her forgiveness and lifted her lips back towards his.
But just as quickly as he’d pulled her to him, he released his grasp, a cheeky grin ripped across his face, and his hand grabbed his T-shirt from where it lay.
‘Too late, kiddo, you should’ve forgiven me sooner.’
Kate’s naked body landed on the bed, as Rob smirked, flashed a wink and strode out of the room.
The heavy footsteps on the stairs, the opening and closing of the fridge, followed by the slamming of the back door, all told Kate that he’d left for the day and he wasn’t coming back.
‘Bastard,’ Kate shouted and in a gesture of frustration she scooped up one of her heels and hurled it towards the bedroom door. As the shoe rebounded, everything went into slow motion. She could see what was going to happen, but was powerless to prevent it. Before her eyes the black patent leather shoe caught the tall stemmed glass on the bedside unit and the remnants of the previous night’s red wine splattered across a section of the cream shag pile carpet.
‘Damn you,’ she screamed. She grabbed at the fallen bath towel and dropped to her knees. She was still naked, but frantically used the towel to dab at the carpet, attempting in vain to get the stain to lift, as tears ran down her face.
The carpet would have to be professionally cleaned or replaced. She wouldn’t allow anything to stay spoiled, not in this cottage.
Chapter Two
Kate was running late. She climbed into her old yellow Volkswagen Beetle. It was rusty and creaked, but the interior was spotless and Kate was loath to exchange it, even though, as with everything else, Rob made fun of it every chance he got. But to her, it was perfect. She loved it, and just like River Cottage, it had belonged to her grandmother.
There had been a time, after the accident, when she’d wondered if she’d ever drive again. She had fond memories of driving around North Yorkshire with her grandmother, and it was only the memory of that which had actually got her back in a car, driving. At first, she’d forced herself to take short journeys around the moors. She’d gone looking for and picking heather, even though she didn’t need or want any. And on days when the sun had shone, she’d spent hours looking for the perfect picnic spot, and then sitting quietly to watch wildlife, all the time daring herself to get back in the ca
r and to drive back home. Even now, on occasions, she’d begin sweating or feel nauseous and would have to keep stopping the car to sip water, or to wipe her hot, clammy hands on a small towel that she now kept in the door pocket for such an occasion.
Kate took note of the time and reversed out of the drive. She had just twenty minutes to get to Bedale. A quick calculation meant that she only just had enough time to get to work for her nine a.m. start. She cursed inwardly while repeatedly and anxiously keeping one eye on her watch, the other eye on the road. She drove carefully. She hated to be late and normally prided herself on her timekeeping, but the carpet had been stained and she’d had to at least try her best to repair the damage.
The road between Caldwick and Bedale was unbelievably clear, which was quite unusual for a Monday morning and the car gained momentum, snaking around the long isolated roads and past the low stone walls. It was April and the fresh spring morning air made the drive pleasant, and Kate smiled as she saw sheep, scattered through the fields, all with newborn lambs by their side. Kate found herself slowing the car down to a crawl while she watched a beautiful white swan cautiously herding its six young cygnets away from the road and into the safety of a nearby pond. The swan watched vigilantly as one after another of her babies jumped in with a splash, before making their way to the safety of her side. It reminded Kate of days before the accident, days when she, James and her sister Eve would run side by side, just as the cygnets did. Days when their mother had cared enough to shepherd them to safety. Days when they’d been a family group and the happier days she’d had before the isolation she felt following the accident. It had been as though she’d become invisible, as everyone had rushed to take care of her mother, father, and Eve.
Pulling into the town, she looked at the clock embedded in the church tower. It was just five minutes before nine o’clock and she felt her breathing begin to relax. She drove over the cobbles, past pedestrians and cyclists who were also making their way to work. A parking space appeared before her and she aimed for it, knowing that she had no time to spare.
‘Nooooooooooo!’ she screamed as her foot slammed down on the brake. She narrowly missed the silver BMW, which had swiftly slid in front of her and into the space that should have been hers.
‘That was my space, you moron,’ she shouted shakily through the open window of her car, which now stood in the middle of the cobbled road, with nowhere to go. She knew she’d overreacted and felt the need to apologise to the driver, but there was no time. She had to move the car, find another parking space and get herself to work.
It was exactly nine o’clock by the time she’d parked. Near misses were not good and for a moment, she just sat and waited for her breathing to calm and for her heart to stop palpitating heavily in her chest.
Memories of the accident flashed through her mind, the car that came from nowhere, the screech of brakes, the sound of metal upon metal and then the darkness.
Parker & Son was situated close to the church. A double fronted Victorian terraced house with no signage, it stood impressively between two similar properties. A wine bar stood to the right and to the left was what looked like a new bakery. It had no signage either, but the smell of fresh bread drifted out from the open door, making Kate’s mouth water. Not only had she missed breakfast due to the wine spilling incident, but cleaning up after it had meant that she hadn’t had time to make herself any lunch either.
Kate felt a tinge of excitement. She couldn’t wait to see what lay beyond the shiny, jet-black front door and reached out for the polished brass door handle. Taking a deep breath, she checked her clothes one last time, flicked her hair back, straightened her skirt and with a look of confidence, stepped forward.
‘Oh, hi, you must be Kate?’ A woman stood up from behind the reception desk and smiled. ‘I’m Gloria.’
Kate stepped forward and allowed the door to close behind her. Gloria fumbled with a packet of Hobnob biscuits, until they spilled out onto a small china plate. She then held out a hand to where Kate stood.
Gloria had a warm smile. She was elegant, looked around fifty years old and had soft, short, golden hair. She was a mixture of Mary Poppins and a younger version of her grandmother, which made Kate feel immediately comfortable.
‘Sit down, honey. I’ll put the kettle on.’ Gloria walked to a small table that stood in the corner of the room. ‘I bought the biscuits in your honour. Do you want some coffee?’
Kate nodded appreciatively. ‘That’d be great, thank you.’ She took a seat on the brown leather settee. ‘What a lovely room,’ Kate said as she looked around the reception and admired the deep skirting board and ornate coving. Half the room was overpowered by a huge traditional high-fronted mahogany reception desk, the other half taken up by the leather settee on which she sat.
‘Mr Parker will be ready to speak to you in a minute; he was just taking a call.’
Kate sipped at the coffee. Her stomach grumbled nervously and she searched the walls for something to talk about.
‘It’s fine. I really don’t mind waiting. It’s nice to have a few moments to compose myself, especially after being late. I had a nightmare of a morning.’ She began to explain. ‘First, I had a spillage accident at home, last night’s wine.’ She pulled a face. ‘And then, I was just about to pull into the space right outside the door, when some moron stole my parking space. I ended up having to park right down at the bottom of the high street.’
‘Ah, I think that moron may have been me?’ A deep assertive voice filled the room, just as a man’s broad six-foot frame suddenly occupied the ornate doorway that stood between the reception and a hallway beyond. ‘Ben Parker,’ he said as he held out his hand to shake hers. Kate looked up and gasped as she took his hand and caught the deep density of his eyes. They were jet black with a sparkle that came from somewhere deep within. He released her hand and she glanced down to take in the expensive cut of his suit, which screamed money and her heart sank as she looked between Ben and the entrance, wondering how quickly she could make an exit. Shouting like a banshee had not been the impression she’d wanted to give her new boss, especially on her very first day.
‘Ah, I see you and Ben have already met. Coffee, Ben?’ Gloria asked completely ignoring Ben’s comment and automatically picked up a third cup before Ben had the chance to reply.
Ben stood for a moment without speaking. Kate seemed nice and he was angry with himself for having taken the parking space, wishing instead that he’d played the gentleman and given up the space to her. At least then, they’d have got off to a better start and the atmosphere in the room would have been a little less edgy.
He looked her up and down. She was stunning and looked perfectly proportioned; she was beautifully dressed and her smile immediately caught his attention. She looked nervous, which was probably his fault, but her high cheekbones and expressive brown eyes held his attention for much longer than he’d intended. Even her clothes were beautiful; they were expensive and gave her a certain quality that he admired.
‘Your coffee.’ Gloria passed him the mug, smiled and glanced between him and Kate.
‘Thanks.’ He looked fondly in Gloria’s direction, caught her eye and discreetly shook his head. He knew by the look on her face that Gloria would have loved to play matchmaker. He knew she wanted to see him happy again, but mixing business with pleasure would never be a good thing and Gloria knew it, giving him a sense of relief that at least this time she’d leave well alone. The last thing he needed right now was for Gloria to try and fix him, make him whole again, repair his damage, like everyone else had tried to do. It was as though the world didn’t see you as a whole person, not unless you were attached to someone else. But the sudden death of his wife, Julia, had taken its toll and even though it had happened four years before, the thought of moving on had never crossed his mind. It was only recently that he’d realised that his life was empty and that he needed something more than work.
‘Hobnob?’ Gloria’s voice broke throug
h his thoughts and he took the biscuit from the plate, turning himself purposely back towards Kate’s gaze. He once again held it for just a moment too long. His entrance had obviously shocked her and he was enjoying himself, watching her indecision.
‘Kate. When you’re ready, maybe you’d like to follow this moron through to the office,’ he said with a cheeky smirk and a wink, as he turned and strode from the room. ‘Mr Parker’s waiting and unless you’re the prime minister, you shouldn’t keep him waiting for very long. He doesn’t like it.’
Kate’s head spun between the door that Ben had walked through and Gloria, who had picked up another Hobnob, taken a bite and then waved it frantically in the air, indicating to Kate that she should follow.
‘Go on, William doesn’t bite, honestly. No matter what Ben says.’ Gloria continued to nibble at the biscuit, which she held in one hand, while she stirred her mug of coffee with the other.
‘But … I thought Ben was Mr Parker,’ Kate questioned as she jumped up from the settee, straightened her clothes and stepped towards the door.
‘He is dear, he’s Mr Parker junior. The Mr Parker that you’re about to meet, your boss, is his father.’
Kate felt the tension once again rise up in her chest; her hands felt hot and clammy and her heart began to beat rapidly. Again, she looked toward the exit.
Should she run now, or later?
She swallowed hard. She was determined not to fail. She caught her breath and pulled the door open, to find herself in a corridor where there were several closed doors and a staircase which rose up before her. Each new obstacle added to her already indecisive morning. And, as though things hadn’t been bad enough, she now had two Mr Parkers to deal with. But she’d been in worse situations than this. Hadn’t she? How bad could it really be?