Love Undercover

 

Chapter 4

 

 

It had been two of the hardest weeks in DI Jo Harper's life.  Not only had she had to do her normal job, typing up reports, filing and generally harassing bad guys but she had also spent 5 hours a day rehearsing with the band Guy had introduced her to.  So to have a day off had come as something of a luxury but when it was offered to her she wasn't going to say no, even if it meant that her companion for the day was Guy Matthews himself.

 

And once he'd asked her, she'd had no inclination to turn him down.  After all, it would give her an opportunity to get close to the man in front of the big man himself, Vasey.  And if Robert found out, what was the worst he could do?  Fire her?  Well, maybe not, but he would make her life hell for a while, probably confine her to her desk and give her petty offences to run around after until he'd cooled down.  But hell, Matthews had asked and what girl wouldn't want to sit on that arm for a day?

 

She'd concluded that despite the increasing knowledge about clothes and beauty tips she had been gleaning from her friend Marion it was probably wise to ask her to help out with getting Jo ready for her 'hot date'.  Marion had naturally accepted; if there was one thing she could do well it was taking a person with an unnatural ability to shine and make them do exactly that.

 

By the time Marion had finished her work on Jo, she had managed to get Jo to tell her who she was meeting and had promised Jo faithfully that she wouldn't tell Robert.  Not that they had been speaking recently Marion had informed Jo, "he just doesn't seem to have time for me."  Jo gave Marion a few pointers on how she should tackle the problem she was facing before sending her on her way.

 

She spent the next hour going over things in her head, deciding what questions to ask and rehearsing them so that they appeared natural when she asked them.  She peaked at the clock, 10 minutes to go before she had to leave.  She checked her bag, making sure that everything she would need for her daytrip out was in it.  She checked her purse for her card and cash and she made sure that her badge was safely tucked away out of sight if he should want to come back with her.

 

Finally the time arrived for her to leave making her local station in good time in order to catch her train.  She was soon on her way into the city.  They were to meet at Marble Arch and decide where to go from there.  Stepping out into the sunshine after ascending the steps up from the station entrance, she look around her searching for a man she should have been unable to miss.  But the area was crowded even for a Sunday and it made finding him difficult.  She fought her way to the gateway and walked under the central arch hoping that he would have thought of doing the same, he had.

 

She stopped dead in her tracks, attempting to take in the image of the man that stood before her.  He looked good enough to eat and there was enough to go back for seconds.  He smirked at her expression, "see something you like?"

 

Realising she was gawping and her chin was now resting on the floor she composed herself.  "Uh, what?"  She asked.

 

He leant in closer, his lips almost touching her ear; she swallowed as she listened to him whisper, "do you see something you like?"

 

She smiled, "yes," she remarked, her eyes roaming over the open neck of his black pin-striped shirt and the outline of his strong legs beneath the dark denim jeans that he wore. "I see something I like very much."

 

"Yeah?"  He asked, his eyes beginning to glaze over.

 

"Yeah," she pointed over his shoulder, "that Italian ice cream seller, if the weather stays like this I'll just have to have one of them later on."  Grinning, she stepped away from him and over to the nearest empty bench.  He followed, taking a seat next to her and draping himself over it.  "Do you have anything planned?"  She asked.

 

"It's a lovely day, we could just stroll around the park, take in the statues and the lakes, have something to eat at the restaurant and grab an ice cream later on this afternoon."

 

She smiled to herself before sending it in his direction.  "Sounds like a plan."  He returned her smile, before getting up from the seat and offering her his arm.  She took it and together they took to the pathways.  They stopped at Speakers Corner, listening to a young male preacher talk about how the sexual revolution had been steadily killing off the idea of family and the need for a stable home.  It gave them inspiration to have their own debate and, after finding a quiet spot under some very old oak trees, their conversation sparked into life.

 

"I think he may have a point, you know?"  Guy stated.

 

"What, about free sex becoming the desecrator of the human race?"  Jo countered.

 

"Don't you want to live happily ever after, in a loving relationship with a proper family unit around you?"

 

"Of course I do," she said, "but at what cost.  I'm not suddenly going to turn celibate so that on my wedding night I find out I'm married to some kind of sexual freak who has no way of ever being able to fulfil my wanton desires.  I want to know that the man I marry and set up home with is my sexual equal, someone who I have a complete compatibility with."

 

"You obviously haven't thought about this much, then?"  He teased.

 

"Isn't that what you want?  Or do you bed women with your caveman attitude?"

 

"Me go out and get woman by hair, bed her, she mine."  He beat his chest, stopping once he recognised a look of disdain on her face.  "I am not a caveman.  Far from it."

 

"You could've fooled me."

 

"Jo, I may be a lot of things but a womanizer I'm not.  Yes, women fall at my feet and sometimes it's useful to fulfil a need but I still want the same things as you.  A contented wife is a contented house, in my opinion."

 

"You surprise me."

 

"Why?  Because I'm being honest about what I want?  I could have any woman I choose."

 

"So why don't you?"

 

"Because it's not what I want.  I want my future wife to be my friend as well as my lover and I'm not likely to find that kind of relationship with the women I am usually around."

 

"Thanks very much."  She said incredulously.

 

"I didn't mean you."

 

"I know.  Just as a matter of interest, why are you spending the day with me?"

 

"Well, why not?  We're friends aren't we?"

 

"Are we?  For friends we don't exactly know one another very well."

 

"And that's something we're addressing today.  The strength of our friendship."

 

She looked at him mischievously.  He shot her one of his most incredible smiles.  "Ok, friend.  Who would be your ideal woman?"

 

"I'm not answering that."

 

"I'll tell you my ideal man."

 

"Look, if I say Claudia Schiffer, you'll say I'm being typical, if I say Dawn French, you'll call me a liar."

 

"Honestly, men!  I wasn't actually thinking of a real life person.  I meant what are the kinds of things you go for in a woman.  Haven't had many female friends before have you?"

 

"What's that supposed to mean?"

 

"Women don't think the same way men do; it's not all tits and arse with us."

 

"No, you're right, not had many female friends.  In fact, I could probably count them on one hand."  Jo rolled her eyes and shook her head.  "Go on then, who's your ideal man?"

 

"A gentleman.  Someone that has been brought up with manners, the kind of man that open doors for you and offers you their arm.  A man who will respect you for who you are and what you do to contribute to the household and will also help you with the housework and the children, especially if both partners are working full time."

 

"Anything else?"  He smiled.

 

"Yeah ... he's got to have amazing eyes and his backside has to look great in a pair of jeans."

 

"Not all tits and arse then."  He joked.

 

"No," she giggled, "so come on, spill."

 

"My ideal woman would be someone that would be there for me, whatever the problem.  She'd look after me in her own special way, make sure I was fine.  She would laugh at my jokes even if she knew they weren't funny and we'd sit in bed on a Sunday and read the paper together, before making love all afternoon."

 

"Oh, right."  She looked away as she felt the heat rise to her cheeks.

 

"Not what you were expecting then."

 

Controlling herself, she looked back.  "Where's the point about the legs up to heaven, the long blonde hair and the perfect size 8 body."

 

"I don't know what size 8 is!"  He pointed out.

 

"You don't?"  She watched him shake his head.  "Ok, let's see."  She looked around the women in their vicinity.  Pointing one out she remarked, "there, the redhead, she's about an 8."

 

"Oh God, no!  She's far too thin.  I like women I can hold onto," he said fleetingly.

 

"Women you can hold onto, what kind of respectful remark is that?"  She asked curtly.

 

"I'm sorry, Jo.  I didn't mean any disrespect by it.  I'm attracted to curvy women, Rembrandt classical figures, if you like."

 

"I'm not sure what you mean by that, art was never my strongest subject."

 

He looked around him before finally resting his gaze on the woman in front of him.  "You are a case in point, a true Rembrandt beauty."

 

"Get off."  She rasped, turning her face away from him, her cheeks burning again from his suggestion.

 

"Remind me to show you one day."  He got up from his position on the grass, brushing fallen leaves and twigs from his behind before holding his hand out for Jo to take and use as leverage.  She quietly thanked him as he helped her to her feet, turning on the spot to make her way onto the path.  "Hold up."  Guy said, coming close to her and repeating his gesture of earlier.

 

Jo jumped, the contact making her shiver with delight as he proceeded to dust her down.  "What are you doing?"  Her voice was barely above a whisper but he heard her and smiled to himself.

 

"I'm making sure you don't look like an idiot all day with leaves and whatnot attached to your bum."

 

"Thank you."

 

"No problem, just one of many hidden gentlemanly attributes."  He again offered his arm to her.  "You see, I was brought up properly.  My grandfather used to clip me round the ear if I was ever discourteous to a woman, including my mum and nan."

 

They began walking in the direction of the Lido Restaurant on the banks of the Serpentine.  "Did he bring you up?"

 

"Hmm?"

 

"Your grandfather?  Did he bring you up?"

 

"Pretty much.  My dad died when I was young, and my granddad had had to take early retirement so whilst my mum worked all hours to pay to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table he looked after me.  Got me to school and back, helped me with my homework, and taught me manners and how to treat women the right way.  He was the salt of the earth."

 

"You miss him then?"

 

"Very much.  He died suddenly a couple of years ago when I was out in America, I was devastated that I couldn't get back to Leicester to be with him but my boss was an arse.  I gave up the job and moved back here couldn't bear to have the same happen to me nan or, God forbid, my mum."  They continued in silence for a bit, "you're very quiet."  Jo stopped, dropped his arm and turned toward him.  Unshed tears jostled for position along the rim of her eyes.  He bent in toward her inspecting her, "what's up?"

 

"I'm sorry; I just get a bit emotional when it comes to family.  They are obviously important to you."

 

"Very.  But this isn't the kind of display I would expect from someone who was obviously brought up by both of her parents."

 

"You think?  I was orphaned at the age of 10 and the 1 remaining grandparent I had was far too old to look after me, she could barely look after herself.  At first I was placed with a family who had been my parents' very good friends.  But that didn't last.  They were divorced and I was put into foster home after foster home.  I became lost and reclusive, hitting out when the need arose and as soon as I turned 16 I found my own place.  It was a struggle for a few years, and then the money came through.  I was 18 and wanting to go out every opportunity I could.  Needless to say it didn't last long, especially with the hangers on that I thought were my friends.  That's when I decided to come to London, to make my fortune."

 

"And you're still trying?"  He asked.

 

"Aren't we all?"

 

He nodded and smiled, offering her his arm once more.  "How did your parents die?"

 

"Car crash.  Drunk driver collided with their car one night after they were on their way home from the theatre."  She bit out.

 

"You sound angry!"

 

"Wouldn't you be?  They never caught him.  I wanted my parents' death to be avenged but it never was."

 

"I'm surprised you didn't become a police woman."

 

"I did!"  She exclaimed; he looked at her blankly an odd expression hiding behind his eyes.  "I mean, I wanted to but I wasn't tall or fit enough to be able to join."

 

"Right!"  He answered suspiciously.  "What did you do, Jo?  If you don't mind me asking?"

 

"I worked in a shop," she glanced sideways to gauge his reaction.  "I worked in various shops, then in several restaurants too.  But I decided that enough was enough and I needed to make a change.  That's when I decided to go to college."

 

"So what are you studying?"

 

She mulled over a few things in her head.  Beauty, no!  Fashion, no!  "Accountancy and Economics," she burst out.

 

"Really?  You don't seem the kind to want to sit in an office all day and embrace numbers."

 

"You'll be surprised at what I like to do; after all, I did accept your offer of employment, didn't I?"  He had to agree, he simply nodded.  "So, what exactly do you do?"

 

"I look after the casino."

 

"I know that, what I meant was, how did you get there?"

 

"It's boring!"

 

"If you lived and worked in America then it is definitely not boring."

 

"I'm actually an architect."

 

"As in designing buildings and the like?"

 

He laughed, "yes, as in designing buildings."

 

"How can that be boring?"

 

"When you have to do it out of necessity not because you love the job.  Yes, New York was a fantastic experience for me but the work was dull, mainly corporate stuff.  I hated it.  When I came back home, I couldn't find work, couldn't even set up on my own.  It was horrible for a while.  Then, through a friend of a friend I found out that someone needed a manager to oversee the casino, I blagged my way in and I've been there ever since."

 

"Do you enjoy it?"

 

"It has its advantages.  Do you enjoy being a mature student?"

 

"It has its disadvantages but also its advantages.  Age and experience play a major part of that.  I love it, actually."

 

"Rather you than me.  Glad that bit is over for me."  By this point they had arrived at the restaurant.  "Would you like to sit inside or out?"

 

"It would be a tragedy to sit inside."

 

"I agree.  A table for two please, outside if you can."

 

"Of course," said the waiter, his French accent evident "please follow me."  He led them to a table that was a little more secluded than the others.  "Is this ok?"

 

"It's perfect," Jo managed, noticing the smile that beamed across Guy's face.  The waiter helped to seat her as Guy took his place opposite her.  They were handed menus, asked for their drinks order before being left on their own once more.  "Do you come here often?"

 

"Not as often as I'd like.  I've always felt this place is for couples not single people."

 

"I can see why," she said from behind the menu, "look at the price of some of this stuff."

 

"Jo, don't concern yourself with the cost, just choose what you'd like."  Jo perused the menu, attempting to comprehend what some of the things actually were.  The waiter appeared again with their drinks and stood awaiting their order.  "Have you decided, Jo?"  Guy asked.

 

"Um," she was a simple girl with simple tastes, and then she spotted something she recognised.  "Caesar Salad, please."  Guy looked at her disbelievingly across the table; she closed her menu and gave it to the amused waiter.  "What?"

 

"Salmon Rigatoni, please."  The final order signalled the disappearance of the waiter, but Guy checked around himself to make sure their conversation was completely private.  "What was that all about?  Caesar Salad, that had to be one of the cheapest things on the menu."

 

"Actually a glass of water was cheaper at £2.50, although I hope for their sake they're not charging that for tap water."

 

"Jo, I said you could have anything you wanted."

 

"And I did, to be honest I didn't know what half of the stuff on the menu was, seeing as it was in Italian.  Why do these places have to be so pretentious?"

 

"Why didn't you ask me?"

 

"I didn't want to look stupid."

 

"What?  You're far too intelligent for that.  You've not had much experience at being taken out to nice restaurants then?"

 

"No, I'm a simple girl with simple needs.  I just need to be fed every now and then, it doesn't matter what with."

 

"Has there never been anyone special enough who would take you out anywhere like this?"

 

"Good relationships are not my best attribute.  Any that I've had have generally ended soon after they were started."

 

"I'm sorry, Jo."

 

"What for?"

 

"That all you seem to have had in your life so far is misery."

 

"There have been good times."

 

"But not many, by the sounds of it.  Well that's going to change for a start.  Consider me your guardian angel.  I'm going to make sure that you have the best time ever today and tonight, and then tomorrow and next week as well."

 

"Why would you want to do that?"

 

Guy reached a hand over the table, covering one of hers, "can't you see why?"  They sprang apart as the waiter returned with their food.  Jo quickly picked up her cutlery and began to devour her food.  Guy picked up his fork and picked up a generous portion of his pasta.  "Jo?  Try this?"  He reached across, fork in hand, allowing her the time to finish her mouthful of salad before opening her mouth and taking what had been offered to her.

 

"What's this?"  She managed, still chewing her mouthful and savouring the explosion of tastes that were invading her senses.  She closed her eyes.

 

Nothing had been lost on Guy as he'd watched her take the mouthful of pasta.  Ok, so she obviously hadn't been told about trying to speak with your mouth full but when she'd closed her eyes he'd found the picture alluring and strangely erotic.  "Salmon Rigatoni."

 

"It's good."  Now that she had finished her mouthful she looked back across at him once more.

 

Guy swallowed, "it was bloody fantastic from where I'm sitting too."  She coloured at his words, resuming her assault on her salad.  Guy took a mouthful of his lunch and chewed slowly.  He mulled over what he had learnt of the enigma that sat before him before issuing his next statement.  "Jo, forgive me for saying this but you don't seem to understand the concept of a compliment."

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"Twice already today I have said things that would have been lost on other women, but you, rather than slap me for what I've said you get embarrassed and turn away from me, like you're doing right now."

 

"I'm not used to them, that's why.  I never had them when I was growing up, well a couple of times from this lecherous foster father once, but I soon cut him short."

 

"What did you do?"  Guy momentarily thought about his question and seeing that she was about to explain, cut in, "maybe that should be a story for another time.  I don't particularly want to be put off my food.  What about boyfriends?"

 

"I've not actually had that many."

 

"A pretty girl like you?  You're doing it again, blushing profusely."

 

"Guy, I've never considered myself pretty.  I've not had many boyfriends because I'm not pretty."

 

"Rubbish.  Have you ever put yourself out there?"

 

"Yes, of course."

 

"I don't just mean on your birthday, getting the odd kiss from a passerby because you're both drunk and your balloon tells them to.  I mean, like when you were 18 going out all of the time."

 

"I couldn't afford to do that."

 

"You don't need to; if you're clever you could've got men buying you drinks all night.  Not that I'm saying that's what you should be doing.  I'm not saying that at all, in fact."

 

"What are you saying?"  Guy looked around him once more, "Guy, please, what are you saying?"

 

"I like you, Jo.  I really like you.  I didn't just ask you out today so that we could get to know one another better, I asked you out today so that I could ..."

 

"Yes?"  She asked expectantly.

 

"I could ... I want you in my life as not only my friend," he reached across the table once again, but she quickly pulled hands from the table into her lap.  He leant back, "but as my lover, sharing my bed with me every Sunday ... forever."

 

Jo was unable to comprehend what had transpired.  "What?"

 

"Oh shit, I was trying to build up gradually to this.  From that first night I saw you when you came into that pub, I have wanted you.  I knew it as soon as soon as I bought you that drink, when you sang you stirred things inside me that I'd never felt before and when we'd kissed ...

 

"I thought all was lost when I asked after you in the pub the following day.  Nobody wanted to impart any information about you.  I even tried another couple of places that I thought you might have been in to see if they knew who you were but nothing.

 

"And then the next thing I know you're in the casino.  Mind you, I thought I'd blown it with you, you seemed so distant that night but when you took up my offer of you singing to my customers I was beside myself.  I've been watching you these last two weeks and I can't wait to see and hear you perform.  You're voice is amazing, far too good for the casino but everyone has to start somewhere.

 

"And as I was watching you again last night, I suddenly decided that I couldn't miss seeing you for a day, I couldn't cope having to wait 48 hours until I saw you once more.  So I plucked up the courage and asked you to come out with me today in the vain hope that we could at least get to know one another better."

 

"Right."

 

"I'd like to take you out again, well continue this afternoon and into the evening, first off."

 

"Oh, right."

 

"Then see where we end up, maybe we'll have a better idea in a couple of weeks."

 

"Guy, I ..."  Jo grabbed at her bag, her eyes filling with water, "I'm sorry, I can't, I ..."  She got up from where she was sat and walked from the restaurant.

 

Guy was on his feet, searching for his wallet in order to put the cash down on the table and leave.  By the time he got back onto the path she was nowhere in sight.  He tried running up a few avenues to see if he could spot her but by the time he got back to Marble Arch she was gone.  "Nice one, Matthews, with your heavy handed approach, if you ever see that girl again it will be a miracle."  He turned once more in order to see if she was anywhere near before walking out of the park and back into the throng of foreign travellers and busy shoppers.