United States of Love: HarperImpulse Contemporary Romance

by Sue Fortin

  Anna shrugged in response.

  Tex decided it was best to keep off the subject of their personal lives. Anna must have thought the same when she changed the subject by asking, ‘So how come you ended up here in England?’

  ‘Jamie and I were at catering college together but it didn’t take him long before he realised being in the kitchen wasn't for him. Instead, he put his organisational skills to good use and started working for a PR company arranging work placements in the UK for chefs from France and vice versa. This gradually expanded through word of mouth and soon Jamie was helping foreign nationals to settle in the UK. Such was the demand, he had the foresight to leave the PR company and set up his own relocation company.’

  ‘Good that you remained friends though.’

  ‘Yes. Through his help I was able to open my first restaurant. That was five years ago. I've been looking for premises in this area for a long time to open another and finally came across this place.’ He gestured in the air with his arms. ‘Next week I need to start looking for an apartment so I can keep a closer eye on the refurbishment. The Guildford restaurant runs itself mostly.’

  Anna wasn't quite sure where the two hours went, but when she glanced at her watch she was shocked to see it was gone two o’clock.

  ‘I'd better go, otherwise I'm not sure what time I'll get back. I think there's a train in about half an hour. I'm supposed to ring Jamie when I get home. He'll think I've resigned before I've even started.’

  Tex dropped his napkin to the table. ‘I'll take you home.’

  ‘Oh, you don't have to.’

  ‘I know.’ Tex paused as he pushed back his chair. ‘Or does it go against your no business with pleasure rule?’

  ‘Probably,’ said Anna, ‘but a lift would be nice all the same.’ She silently tutted at the desertion of her willpower. It was very difficult to say no to Tex Garcia.

  Twenty minutes later Tex pulled his car to a halt outside Coach House Cottages. Anna noticed both Mrs Meekham's curtain twitching and her car parked in the resident's parking bay a little way up the road. Mark was obviously back.

  ‘Can I see you again?’ asked Tex, as he turned in his seat to face her.

  ‘You'd better check with Jamie. He said something about me going to Brighton next week to help a family who want to look at schools.’

  ‘Not business,’ smiled Tex.

  Anna gulped and reminded herself to breathe. His voice was giving her all sorts of problems. ‘Pleasure?’ It was almost a whisper.

  Tex nodded. ‘Are you free Friday evening? Me, Jamie and Yvonne are coming down for the weekend. I have a few things to sort out to do with the refurbishment, and Jamie's got a client he wants to see in Sussex. As it’s also Yvonne's birthday, we thought we would go out for a drink. Maybe you'd like to come too?’

  ‘Did you not listen to anything I said about not mixing business with pleasure?’

  ‘I was hoping I may have changed your mind and that maybe you weren’t so goddamn stubborn.’ Tex let out a sigh of resignation.

  ‘It’s hard work being this stubborn. Sorry.’ Anna looked apologetically at him, her sigh matching his. ‘I can’t anyway; I'm going out with my sister-in-law. We were supposed to go out last week but couldn't for one reason and another, so we rearranged for this week.’

  ‘I understand. Where are you going? Anywhere nice?’

  ‘Just the Fish and Fly, our local haunt.’

  ‘Perhaps we could all meet up there? Just for one drink.’

  ‘I think this is where I'm supposed to say no,’ said Anna, feeling her resolve weaken. ‘That would be against my no business with pleasure rule.’

  ‘Think of it as, how do you say, a work's do.’

  How could she resist that smile, those eyes and that voice?

  Anna felt as if she were floating as she walked up to her front door. Funny how she could suddenly justify her actions, relegating her work ethics to the back of her mind. Like Tex said, if they were going to work closely together then it was inevitable that a few social occasions would arise.

  Her feeling of happiness didn’t last long. In fact, within seconds of walking through the front door it was totally eradicated.

  Chapter Nine

  Mark was standing at the window, glaring at the Ford Ranger as it drove away down the road. As Anna closed the door, he turned to her. From the look on his face, Anna could instantly tell he was in a bad mood. She gave an involuntary shudder as it immediately took her back to the dark days of their marriage.

  ‘What's with the bloke and the pick-up then?’ Mark said stiffly.

  ‘Not that it's any business of yours but, if you must know, that was my client today. He kindly gave me a lift home because someone didn't bring my car back in time.’

  ‘You still got there okay, and got a lift back in style.’

  ‘No thanks to you.’ Glaring at him, Anna dropped her bag to the floor and threw her coat onto the back of the sofa. ‘You could at least apologise.’

  Mark gave a sideways look. ‘I'm sorry.’

  He didn't sound particularly sincere, Anna thought, but at least he had apologised.

  ‘I was just hoping you would have time to think about us. I didn't expect you to be getting it on with your client.’

  Anna let out an exasperated sigh. ‘I wasn't getting anything on with my client. It's just business.’

  ‘So that answers one question. What about the other? Did you think about us?’ His voice was calm and soft now.

  Anna sighed sadly. ‘Mark, I think we’re better off apart. In fact, I know we are.’ She really didn't want to have this conversation. She almost felt sorry for him, guilty even, until she remembered how she had felt during their marriage, and what he had done. The pain might not be so real now but she couldn’t forget how much hurt she had endured back then.

  ‘Listen, there's something I want to tell you,’ began Mark. ‘I … ’

  Anna shook her head fiercely. ‘No. Not now, Mark. Please.’ Picking up her bag, she made for the stairs. ‘I'm too tired and I still haven't finished work yet.’

  Leaving Mark standing open-mouthed by the sofa, she went upstairs to ring Jamie.

  ‘Tex was really impressed with you,’ enthused Jamie. Anna wondered whether Tex was referring to her skills as a PA or in being able to say no to him. ‘I'm really happy and confident about giving you more work if you want to carry on,’ Jamie continued.

  ‘I'd be delighted,’ answered Anna, a morass of feelings swirling round in her head, half of her hoping the work would be with Tex, the other half hoping it wouldn't. She didn't know if she would be able to resist him for too long.

  Home from school, Luke grinned with delight at seeing his father seated on the sofa. ‘Hi, Dad! You're back then.’

  ‘Yeah, I'm back here with the Ice Maiden. She's not in a good mood with me.’

  Anna ignored Mark's comment, the atmosphere between them as stilted as it had been all afternoon. She continued preparing the evening meal. Jacket potatoes tonight. Nice and easy. And she knew Mark didn't really like them.

  Luke headed straight for the fridge. ‘You still fed up about the car, Mum?’

  ‘Don't start picking, tea will be ready soon.’ Anna tapped Luke's arm and closed the fridge door. ‘And as far as your dad is concerned, just ignore him.’

  ‘I don't know why you're being so pissy, you're not usually,’ frowned Luke, stealing a pinch of cheese Anna was grating.

  Mark appeared in the doorway and lounged against the wall. ‘I was thinking of going back to the States,’ he announced. ‘I'm not sure if it's working out me being here.’

  ‘What?’ exclaimed Luke. ‘You've only been here a couple of weeks. He doesn't have to go does he, Mum?’

  ‘Well … it's up to your dad,’ said Anna, totally surprised by this apparent U-turn. What was all that about getting back together then?

  ‘Of course I don't want to go, but … ’

  ‘Just stay, Dad,’ pleaded Luke. ‘It wi
ll be okay. Mum's just having a couple of stressy days. Aren't you, Mum?’

  ‘It's not quite that simple,’ Anna said.

  ‘I think maybe my coming back was a mistake.’ Mark looked over at Anna as he spoke. If he was hoping for her to refute this, then he was out of luck. Anna said nothing.

  ‘It wasn't a mistake, Dad. It's a good thing. I've really enjoyed you being here. It's just like it used to be. I wish you could stay, you know, for good. Here.’ Luke dropped his gaze to his trainers. ‘Just stay for now, please.’

  ‘All right,’ said Mark after a lengthy pause. ‘I'll hang about for a bit longer, just as long as your mum doesn't mind.’

  ‘You don't mind do you, Mum?’ said Luke looking eagerly at Anna.

  ‘Well, I … err … ’ began Anna. Yes, she did mind wasn't what Luke really wanted her to say.

  ‘Why don't you just say yes?’ her son snapped. ‘Why don't you just say, “I think it's a great idea? Your dad is more than welcome.”’

  Anna looked at Mark, hoping for a bit of support. Wrong. Mark just shrugged in a nothing-to-do-with-me sort of way. Not for the first time, she sensed that Mark was manipulating everyone around him.

  ‘Don't you need to get back for work?’ she asked Mark, hoping he would take the hint.

  ‘Oh no. They can manage without me for a bit longer. Well, that's that sorted then.’ Mark pushed himself upright from the wall and grinning at Luke, gave him a playful punch on the arm. ‘Cheers mate.’

  Luke beamed back.

  Anna had to marvel at the laser-precision, pincer movement Mark and Luke had just executed. Attack from both sides. She never stood a chance. Now it looked like she had Mark here indefinitely.

  ‘Just give him a chance, Mum,’ said Luke after Mark had gone upstairs for a shower. ‘Everyone deserves one. You always say that yourself.’

  ‘It's not that simple,’ said Anna reticently.

  ‘Of course it is. You're just making it difficult.’

  Anna sighed. How much did you tell your son about your marriage? ‘Listen, Luke. You know I wouldn’t say anything bad about your dad to you, but you have to understand lots of things happened between me and him, things that you wouldn’t know about.’

  ‘I’m not stupid,’ grumbled Luke. ‘I remember the arguments. Dad being out late or all night. You crying.’ He paused, looking at her before dropping his gaze. ‘I know about the baby and the other women.’

  Anna gulped. She had often wondered if he knew more than she or, indeed, Mark gave him credit for. ‘I’m sorry you do. I guess I never protected you from it as much as I thought.’

  ‘But you could still give him another chance. Now that he’s had a year to sort himself out. Couldn’t you?’

  Anna gave Luke a hug, which felt slightly ridiculous as he was several inches taller than her already. ‘Let’s just worry about you and Dad getting to know each other again. That’s the important thing.’

  Jamie had asked her to step in at the last minute to cover for another member of staff who was sick. She was to accompany a German woman and her two children on a school visit in Brighton and help with the interpreting. Anna had really enjoyed this assignment. It was great to be able to practice her German and the family were very charming and polite. An unexpectedly busy week as it had transpired, as a small document concerning a property transaction in France had also come in for translating. However, Anna was glad to have Friday free, which meant she could implement phase one of her ‘Help Zoe’ plan.

  ‘Just be ready in half an hour,’ said Anna down the phone to Zoe. ‘Both you and Emily.’

  ‘Can't you just tell me what we're doing? Just a hint?’ pleaded Zoe.

  ‘Nope. Bye.’ Anna hung up before her sister-in-law could delve any deeper. She checked through the two bags on the kitchen table to make sure everything was there. Satisfied, she placed them by the door ready for action.

  The gym was quiet. When Zoe protested she didn't have any sports clothes with her, Anna produced the bag from the boot of her car. ‘All your stuff's in here. Nathan got it for me the other day,’ she said, grinning triumphantly. ‘And before you say anything about Emily, she's booked into the crèche, which Nathan has checked out, so you have absolutely nothing to worry about or any reason to duck out. Come on, girly, we're getting you sorted.’

  Picking up the car seat with Emily still strapped in, Anna strode off across the car park, leaving Zoe little alternative but to follow obediently.

  Anna called back over her shoulder. ‘Anyway, I could do with your advice about something. Come on.’

  Anna had been grateful to get out of the house a couple of times in the week. There had definitely been a shift in dynamics since Mark had wrangled what seemed to be a pretty much open invitation to stay. She didn't want to seem paranoid but, as she explained to Zoe while they strode side by side on the treadmills, it was like Mark and Luke had their own little club now, one that she was excluded from.

  ‘Luke's bound to be a bit like that,’ puffed Zoe, turning the speed setting down. ‘For the past year all he has really wanted is to have a relationship with his dad. Now Mark's here, he has finally got it. The only thing that would top that is you and Mark getting back together. It's only natural he doesn't want to upset Mark. Luke knows that you will always be there for him and that's why you're getting the brunt of everything. It's a familiarity thing.’

  ‘I know you're right,’ sighed Anna, taking her lead from Zoe and slowing the speed down, ‘and I do try to put Luke first in all this but it's very difficult. I wish Mark wasn't living under the same roof as us though. It's not like I've even got the space really. I feel quite claustrophobic at times.’

  ‘And he hasn't said how long he's staying for?’ asked Zoe, as she pressed the red stop button and wiped her face with her towel.

  ‘No. I just wish he could stay somewhere else. Things may start to get a bit more complicated at home now.’

  ‘Oh yeah? What's this then?’ Zoe eyed her sister-in-law with interest. ‘Come on spill the beans.’

  ‘Well, I have sort of met someone,’ began Anna. ‘Hang on, let me get off this thing. I can't concentrate.’

  ‘What do you mean “sort of”? You either have or you haven't.’

  ‘Okay, I have met someone, but he's a client.’

  ‘What, through your new job?’ They wandered over to the water fountain so Anna could refill her bottle. ‘You kept this quiet. Come on then, I want all the details.’

  Within the quieter weights and exercise room, which fortunately was empty, and whilst laying on the floor holding Zoe's ankles while she did sit-ups, Anna relayed her two encounters with Tex.

  ‘So there you have it,’ finished Anna. ‘We might bump into each other briefly on Friday evening.’

  ‘Well, good for you,’ said Zoe warmly as she lay flat out on her back. ‘I have to stop, my stomach muscles are hurting already. Oh, that's better. Look people meet each other through work all the time. I can't see a problem. Besides, it's about time you started going out and finding someone. I mean, I've done my best over the past year to fix you up with eligible bachelors.’

  ‘I think you need to work on your matchmaking skills a bit more. Some of the men you lined up for me, well, they were just terrible.’ Anna laughed at the look of mock indignation on Zoe's face. ‘What about at that barbecue for your birthday last year? You introduced me to Evan. I mean, where did you find him? His idea of stimulating conversation was to recount the past twenty Eurovision Song Contest winners, complete with songs title and total points.’ Anna eased herself backwards over the blue exercise ball.

  ‘Sorry, that was Nathan's idea actually. A friend of a friend,’ grinned Zoe.

  ‘Okay, I'll let you off Evan, but what about the New Year fancy dress party and the Chinese Elvis lookalike? I couldn't believe it when he told me his name was Wai Ling. How funny is that? He really did sound like he was wailing when he got up on the karaoke machine.’ The memory of this sent her and Zoe off i
nto fits of giggles. Anna rolled off the ball and onto the floor to attempt some press-ups.

  ‘I was only trying to help,’ chuckled Zoe, who seemed to enjoy just resting on the mat. ‘So this Tex, he's got a few tough acts to follow.’

  ‘Doesn't he just.’ Five press-ups were enough. Anna sat up on her heels. ‘Joking aside though, it's all a bit scary. I mean, it's exciting, as I haven't been remotely interested in getting involved with anyone since Mark and I split up, but now suddenly I feel like a sixteen-year-old, all nervous and giggly.’ Anna gave a quick look round the room to make sure it was still empty. Zoe, attention piqued, sat up. Anna continued. ‘Ignoring the fact that he's a client for a minute, do you know what really worries me about getting involved with anyone?’

  ‘Mark?’

  ‘No. Well, a bit, but that's not what I was thinking of. What actually makes me nervous is sex.’

  ‘Now you really do sound like a sixteen-year-old.’

  ‘No seriously, Zoe. I haven't slept with anyone since Mark and I split up. I mean, I haven't slept with anyone other than Mark since I was nineteen! I know I'd be so nervous if it actually came to it. I'd be such a disappointment. A real let-down you could say.’

  Zoe giggled, then looking sympathetically at Anna said, ‘I really think you're worrying about nothing. Don't go getting yourself all worked up about it. Don't do anything until you feel it's right and then everything will just come naturally, all your worries will vanish. You'll be lost in the moment and everything will be okay. Correction, everything will be beautiful.’

  ‘You're such a romantic.’

  ‘You should try it again sometime,’ smiled Zoe kindly.

  ‘Maybe I should, just not with a client,’ sighed Anna. ‘Do you think we should go somewhere else tonight and not meet them?’

  ‘It’s up to you but it’s not like a date or anything. It’s just you and me possibly meeting your boss, his wife and your client for a friendly and brief drink. What could possibly go wrong?’

  Chapter Ten