Sue Fortin - United States of Love

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.

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?’