Take a Breath(27)

“No one gets to touch you, Ana. No one, except me.”

He pulls his head back from my ear and kisses me. My heart quickens and my body is about to explode. I reach my hands up and put my fingers through his hair squeezing him into me. I hear a growl escape from him as our kiss becomes so fierce it’s almost as if we can’t seem to get quite enough.

He pulls away from me suddenly panting, his eyes are like turquoise fire.

“I seem to forget where I am around you. We have a barbeque and we’re the hosts. We can’t do this here, we’ll get caught. I will speak to you later."

He quickly adjusts himself and I’m still panting on the side of the wall.

“And don’t fucking go near Tony!” With that he storms off.

I can’t believe what just happened. I’m still clueless as to what’s going on inside this man’s head. He seems to want to claim me and at the same time runs away from the situation and I’m angry at myself for letting him see just how much of an effect he has on me.

Suddenly feeling brave, I feel I must up the ante. “Well, Mr. Bennett, we shall see about that, won’t we?”

I gather myself together and walk around to the back of the house where there are lots of people talking around the pool.

“Ana, lovely to see you. How have you been? You look fabulous.”

Mike’s wife, Alison’s sweet smile is greeting me.

“Thank you, Alison. You look lovely too.”

Alison is fifty-four and looks fantastic for her age. She has short blonde hair and lovely sparkling light brown eyes.

“How has work been? I’ve heard it’s been pretty intense with this killer on the loose. Mike is really cut up about the whole thing and doesn’t talk about it much. Have you heard any updates at all?”

Come to think of it I hadn’t heard a thing. I was normally kept up to speed on cases but this one I’m being shut out.

“I haven’t heard anything to tell you the truth, Alison. I’ve been dealing with a spate of burglary’s in the Roanoke and Fairfax County areas, so that’s been keeping me busy.”

“Ana, do you want a burger?”

I look over to Jake holding a plate out to me. I am starving now. I walk over and take it from his hand. His green eyes like pools of turquoise sea water, I just want to dive in.

“Thank you,” I say, smiling.

“I bet this is the first you’ve eaten today isn’t it?” he asks.

My eyes look sheepishly down.

“Ana, you have to eat,” he reprimands.

Before I can determine an answer, Tony decides to make his presence known by marching over with a glass of wine. Jake lets out a growl which sets the butterflies off in my stomach.

“Ana, your glass of wine was still in the kitchen.”

“Thanks, Tony.”

I take a sip just as Alison decides to speak.

“Ana, dear, your back is full of dust. Have you been rubbing yourself up against a wall?”

I suddenly start choking on the wine unable to contain the horror on my face. I look and see Jake’s eyes widening. My eyes are going glassy as I’m coughing everywhere. I feel Tony patting my back and wiping down my dress.

“Are you ok, Ana?”

I try to compose myself. “Yes, I’m fine thanks. It just went down the wrong way.”

“Go and sit down and eat. You can’t be drinking like this on an empty stomach,” Jake grumbles.

I salute him and say, “Yes sir,” as sit down on one of the sun loungers under a parasol. The heat is getting pretty intense now and the pool looks more and more inviting. Jake is eyeing me up and also keeping a good eye on what Tony is up to. He really doesn’t like Tony for some reason.

I eat my burger in under a minute and it is quickly replaced by another from Jake. He is certainly determined to see me eat. I quickly relish that one also and before I know it a loud burp escapes me. I instinctively cover my mouth and blush a deep red as everyone around me laughs.

“Well that has to be a compliment to the Chef,” Mike winks.

“I’m sorry guys; I didn’t mean to be rude.” Oh god, how embarrassing.

“Do you want another, Ana?”

I look at Jake who is trying hard not to laugh again. “No thanks, I think the tank is full now.”

Satisfied with my answer he turns towards his audience. “Ok, who else wants another?”

A row of hands shoots up which everyone ceremoniously laughs at.





Chapter 12




The party is later in full swing and I am kept busy getting the salads and buns coming. I also make sure everyone’s drinks are replenished, which Jake is grateful for. After everyone seems to be suitably filled, I grab myself another glass of wine and sit on the table and chairs outside relieved at the thought of resting my feet. The sun is going round now and there is a welcoming cool breeze. I close my eyes and let out a contented sigh. I open them to find Tony sat next to me staring intently.