United States of Love

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.