Running Scared, page 10
“Don’t you ‘later, Em’ me, Gary Bedford.” She stood in front of him with her hands planted firmly on her pretty little hips. “I want to talk to you right now!” She stormed into the house, and as his brothers smirked in his direction, Gary decided he’d better do as bid, otherwise there just might be a storm brewing, and he didn’t mean in the sky!
“So, what? You think I should just drop everything and marry you in three weeks time!” Exasperated, Emma paced the floor. “I’ve got a business to set up! I can’t get married in three weeks. And I’ve got a house to sort out. Staff to hire. Advertising to organize...”
“Em,” Gary interrupted, “Slow down. And for God’s sake, calm down.”
“Calm down?”
She was angry, but hell, he’d sweet-talk her round. “God you’re beautiful when you’re angry.” He carefully caught Emma around the waist and holding her intimately, leaned in to kiss the most fascinating, heart-warming, loving, beautiful, infuriating woman he’d ever known.
As she tried to wriggle out of his grip, she winced in pain. “Em, don’t fight me—it’s inevitable, so why not sooner than later?”
“Because I don’t like being told what to do. By anyone.” But she didn’t get away, because this time he cupped her face and took what his heart desired. Emma struggled momentarily, but finally relaxed in his arms.
“Damn you,” she whispered breathlessly.
*
“I need to ask you a favor.”
Emma looked up sharply as he spoke.
“I’ve got this friend.” As they sat on the sofa, Gary picked up her hand and brought her fingers to his lips. “He needs a job. Desperately. And I thought,” God, I hope she buys this! “Well, since you’re hiring, maybe you’d consider David—that’s my friend.”
“Hmmm, what kind of reception skills has he got?”
“Oh, plenty. He’s been doing receptionin’ for years,” Jeez, you’re a good liar, Bedford!
“What about handling money? And making appointments? Phone manner?” The questions were coming quick and thick.
“What about if I ring David, and get him over here? He’s good with computers too, so that could be a help.” It’s about the only thing I can truthfully say, he added silently. Hmmm, maybe I should add code-breaker to that list. Nah, better not!
As Emma shrugged her shoulders, he knew he’d won. “Okay, whatever. You make the arrangements.” With that, she stood to leave. “You coming? I’m starved.”
*
“This lemon meringue pie is just scrumptious, Mrs. Bedford,” David declared, tucking into his pie.
“Why, thank you, David,” Queenie proudly accepted.
Most of the family had either gone or were about to leave as David arrived, and knowing how much he liked his food, Queenie had put aside a sampling for him.
“Well, we must be off.” Queenie leaned in to give Emma another hug. “Bye dear. Look after yourself. And you,” she eyed her oldest son, “Make sure you look after her properly this time.”
“Please Queenie, don’t be tough on him...” Emma begged.
“He deserves it,” Queenie said. “My boys look after their women! Gary has been too complacent, but he won’t be anymore, will you, dear?”
“No, Mum.” Gary leaned down and kissed his mother on the cheek. “See you later.”
“Right then,” Emma announced, as she walked toward the house. “I’ll make coffee, then we’ll talk.”
Gary held David back to instruct him. “Just agree to everything. You have to get this job.”
“But, Gazz, a receptionist?”
“I told you before,” Gary recalled, “It’s not really a receptionist job. You’ll be doing what you do best—protecting a target. I don’t know any cop who does it better. It’s just that this time,” he pondered, trying to find the right words, “You’ll be play acting at being a receptionist at the same time.”
“Come on you two, coffee’s poured.” Emma called to them from the front door. “I saved some cake, if you’re hungry.”
“Can she cook?” David asked, as they started for the door, as though that was the most important thing in the world.
“Oh yeah, she can cook, it’s safe to eat!”
As they sat sipping their coffee, and eating the heavenly sponge cake she had baked the day before, Emma was casually interviewing David for the job.
“And you’re happy to handle money?”
“Oh yes, no problem,” David agreed.
“And what about making appointments, you’ve done that before?”
“Oh yes, most definitely. Of course, everyone has a different way of doing things,” he added for good measure.
“And Gary tells me you’re good at computers. Can you set up receipts and statements? That’s definitely a requirement,” Emma added solemnly.
When he agreed once more, Emma stood up happily. “Fine. If you’re happy to help set up, you can start tomorrow, otherwise it will most likely be another week or so.”
She reached out and shook David’s hand, and found her own dwarfed by his. David was a big man, close to Gary’s height, but he was a much bigger man. He was all muscle, solid muscle, and, Emma pondered, she would probably feel safer at the clinic with him than if she had hired a puny girl.
“Tomorrow’s good, isn’t it, David?” Gary intervened. “Emma’s got to get her massage table and computer and stuff moved into the clinic,” he explained. “So, Clay and I will bring everything over, and you two can get it all set up.”
Another bridge crossed.
*
“David!” Emma exclaimed, opening the front door.
“Uh, Gary asked me to pick you up,” David explained. “That way, him and Clay can go straight to the house.”
“Guess he forgot to tell me.” Emma opened the door wider to let him pass through.
“Damn it, Em, what have I told you about answering the door?” Gary complained as he came toward them. “G’day mate.”
“Coffee, David?” Emma offered.
“Uh…”
“No, he doesn’t, do you, mate?” Gary answered. “Clay will be there shortly, so we’d better get a wriggle on.”
Just then, the doorbell rang again.
“It’s like a flaming freeway here this morning,” Gary complained, opening the door. “Finn! I forgot about you, mate. Is Sally ready, Em?”
“Sally! Uncle Finn’s here!” Emma yelled down the house.
“Uncle Finn!” Sally sang, running toward the group assembled at the front door.
“Hello, sweetie,” Finn said, scooping her up for a hug. “Okay, give Mum and Uncle Gary a kiss, and we’ll be off.”
With all the farewells over, they all headed out to their respective vehicles.
*
“This will be my office, and that will be Treatment Room One,” she explained, walking through the building, “And that’s Treatment Room Two. In there, is for making tea and coffee. It’s a bit small, I know, but we’ll make do. This is your desk, and of course, this is the waiting area.” Emma walked over to a bag of cleaning supplies by the wall.
“It looks very nice,” David encouraged her.
“Hmmm, but very dusty,” she said, as she began to clean the desk.
He walked over and picked up the phone. The line was dead.
“How good are you at being a receptionist, David?” Emma asked, with a smirk. “I mean really?” He glanced across at her with an inquisitive look. “I’m not stupid, I know Gary put you up to this. And don’t think I’m not grateful, because I am. But if you don’t know what you’re doing, tell me now, and I’ll start teaching you.”
This one’s no dumb broad, he decided. “I have absolutely no idea,” he confessed, while his mind was screaming Gary is gonna kill me!
“Hmmm. Okay, I appreciate your honesty. Well, as soon as the boys have dropped everything off, we’ll start lesson number one.” Emma smiled at him, and David knew exactly why Gary was in love with her. No matter what it took, he was going to protect this lady to the hilt.
“He didn’t lie about the computers, Emma. I’m really good with them.” He crossed his heart as he spoke.
“Good, then maybe you can help me design some brochures.” Emma headed for the backdoor as she heard a vehicle pull into the drive. As she struggled with the door, David walked over to help her, to no avail.
“Looks like it’s stuck bad,” he finally said.
“Looks like,” she repeated, and as she glanced up at him, David got the distinct impression that Emma thought he had something to do with it, which he didn’t. But, he decided, more likely than not, Gary did.
Gary and Clay brought in Emma’s massage table, then the computer, filing cabinet and the various other items she had.
Slowly but surely, everything was put in its rightful place, until the two men announced they were going back to the house to sort some more.
*
As they walked through Emma’s front door again, Gary stood looking around him. “Well, Bro, where to start?”
“Maybe the bedroom,” Clay answered with a shrug of his broad shoulders. “A lot of fine things have been hidden in a bedroom before.”
Standing in the doorway to the bedroom, Gary looked about them. It was pretty sparse, but had possibilities.
“How did we miss that before?” Gary asked, heading for the answering machine. He pressed a button and the tape began to rewind.
“You have called Emma Larkin. Leave your message after the beep, and I’ll get back to you,” Emma’s sweet voice told them.
“Boy, she doesn’t know squat about keeping a low profile!” Gary said, more to himself than his brother.
“Listen!” Clay commanded.
“You got somethin’ I want, Emma Larkin, and I want it back!” There was a series of beeps before the caller hung up.
“Damn.” Gary pulled the tape out of the machine and put it in his pocket. Then he took out his trusty Swiss Army knife and began to undo the screws. “You want to check that lamp and clock-radio? When I’ve finished here, I’m going to tear this mattress to shreds.”
“After the last near miss, you still want to shred things?” Clay smirked. “Man, are you game!”
After checking, clearing and packing every possible item in the room, they moved onto the lounge. The sofa was already in shreds, and they checked it thoroughly. Clay pulled the television to pieces, and then re-built it. He did the same thing with the video machine, the portable telephone, and finally, Sally’s hand-held computer games.
“It would be very helpful if we knew what we were looking for, Bro,” Clay announced.
“You got that right!” Gary agreed. “We’re getting nowhere damned fast. I don’t think I’ve been this frustrated with a job for... Actually,” he amended, “I don’t think I’ve ever been this frustrated with a job.”
“Come on, let’s start on the kitchen. You know what?” Gary asked Clay, “I’d love a coffee. I’ll put on the jug.” Searching through the cupboards, he came across a small stumpy looking gadget. “What in the heck is this?”
“Hmmm, looks like one of those froth-makin’ things.”
“Really?” Gary queried. “Well, I hope it still works when we’re through with it. I just love froth on my coffee!” He laughed, as he began to disassemble the item.
*
Emma sank back against the sofa as Gary gently massaged her shoulders, relaxing music playing in the background.
“Your muscles are all twisted up, and no wonder.”
“Hmmm, that’s great. I could take it forever.”
“Forever is what I’m counting on.” He stopped massaging, leaned forward and gently kissed Emma’s neck. Then he came round to sit next to her on the sofa. “You, me, Sally and maybe several little Bedfords—one big happy family!”
Emma’s eyebrows shot up. “Several?”
“Hmmm, I think several should be fine.” Gary stood, then pulled Emma to her feet.
They slow danced to the music and Emma felt giddy with happiness. Apart from all this madness going on around her, this was the happiest she had been in her entire life.
She looked up at Gary and gripped his shirt. “Come down here, big boy,” she commanded him.
“Yes Ma’am,” he joked, as he leaned down to accept her kiss.
Their lips met in a sea of passion, all knowledge of anyone else, anything else, totally erased from her mind. As Gary tasted her sweetness, his passion deepened, until he could barely control himself. Emma felt heady, his passion filling her to overflowing.
“You make me hungry,” he whispered.
“Hungry?” she asked, surprised. “I make you hungry?”
“Hmmm, hungry for love, hungry for you,” he answered, his dark eyes flashing with gold, in line with his mood.
Emma sank against him, relaxing for the first time in days.
“You know, you don’t have to do this massage thing,” he cautiously began.
“This massage thing!” she shrieked, pulling away as though his touch had burned her.
“Emma, I’ll look after you,” he clarified. “You don’t have to work.”
“But I want to...”
“And I want to kiss you, again and again.” He covered her mouth, his tongue exploring her very being, then he nibbled on her neck, her ears, his hands slid to her breast...
Emma’s heart began to beat wildly as she relived those terror-filled minutes. She jumped back trying to get away, her face etched in horror.
“Em, I’m sorry. I didn’t think,” he apologized, pulling her softly to him. “If I get my hands on that mongrel,” he quietly spat, more to himself than the woman he held in his arms.
“I’m all right, I’m all right, I’m all right,” she repeated determinedly, as Gary’s hands, moving across her back, slowly lulled her into a sense of safety and relaxation once more.
Chapter 7
Emma sensed she was alone in the bed and rolled over to check. She glanced sleepily up at the clock. Three am. Where the heck was Gary?
She tried to wake up, but she was just so sleepy...
Emma drifted back off to sleep for what seemed an age, but when she glanced at the clock again, only ten minutes had lapsed.
With a groan, she slid her legs over the side of the bed then rolled herself into a sitting position before reaching for her satin wrap.
Emma made her way through the house, down the stairs and into the kitchen in virtual darkness. She couldn’t find Gary anywhere. As she walked across the lounge room, she noticed the front door ajar.
“Thanks Pete, I owe you one,” she heard Gary say, then heard a ‘click’ as his mobile phone snapped shut.
What the heck is he doing talking to someone at this hour of the night? Emma wondered.
Gary sat on the top step of the veranda, cigarette in hand, smoke wisping up into the cool night air.
“Couldn’t sleep?”
He spun around at the sound of Emma’s voice.
“How long you been standing there?” he asked steadily, taking a long draw on his cigarette.
“I didn’t know you were a smoker,” she returned, carefully avoiding his question. She sat down on the step next to him, and a nervous smile curled at the edge of her mouth.
“I’m not,” Gary mumbled, as he eyed Emma’s flimsy black nightie beneath the open wrap. “Just occasionally when I need to think.”
“And you need to think now?”
“Maybe.” Gary put his arm around her shoulders. “You’re cold,” he said standing up. “Come on. Inside.” He pulled Emma to her feet, stamping the barely smoked cigarette out under his moccasin.
“And you’re not? You’ve got less on than me.” Emma appraised Gary’s state of undress. How could he even contemplate coming out in the cold night air in just his jeans?
A grin that lit up her world spread across his face. Emma stepped forward and ran her fingers along Gary’s hair-covered chest. His hands came up and locked over Emma’s, and as she glanced up at him, their eyes met in an air of mutual consent.
Emma took another step closer, wrapping her arms around Gary’s waist, then slowly but agilely, swept her hands across his back, finding pleasure in the response her touch evoked.
Gary was stunned into momentary rigidity, but as her fingers splayed across his back and began a sensual exploration, his head came down and claimed her mouth. Emma’s arms slipped around his neck, and Gary began an exploration of his own.
As his tongue moved around her mouth, feeling, tasting, wanting, learning, his hands did their own investigation. Soon the cold night air was forgotten as their blood boiled in a flare of passion.
Gary pulled Emma to him, and as he held her close, she had no doubt as to the extent of his need for her. Through the thickness of his jeans, and the thin layers of her nightwear, Emma could plainly feel his arousal against her.
She slid her hands down his body, skimming intentionally over his heated, swollen erection, then worked her way back up again.
As Gary leaned in to kiss her bare neck, Emma heard him groan, and before she could protest, he picked her up. Locking the door behind him, Gary was soon heading toward their bedroom, Emma cradled in his arms.
“Would you like a massage?” she teased, as they ascended the stairs.
He looked down at her, his amusement reaching all the way to his eyes, and a hint of mockery tinting his lips. “I’ve got more important things on the agenda right now,” Gary whispered, as he nuzzled her neck.
As they reached the doorway to the bedroom, Gary stood momentarily looking across at the bed, the relish of what was to come evident in his expression.
Kicking the door quietly behind him, Gary carefully dropped Emma onto the bed and began to slowly, sensually and with careful deliberation, remove what little clothing she wore.
She lay on the bed watching his every move, and her eyes did a swift but thorough appraisal of their own. His long hair lay loose over his shoulders, and the thick dark hair covering his chest came to a peak just below his naval then disappeared. Emma licked her lips as she fantasized about removing those jeans, and wondering whether or not he had anything under them.
