Take a Breath(4)

“Are you ready now, Missy? We have ourselves some drinking to do and maybe you can have a bit of, what is it you Brits like to call it, shagging?”

I’m stunned, but can’t help but laugh. It’s the way she says shagging. It has me in stitches.

Tony at that moment decides to grace us with his presence and looks at me, smiling.

“Speak of the devil,” Jessie says flatly. I almost choke.

“You ladies talking about me? I’m flattered. I hope they were all nice things?”

I quickly gather up my bag to get ready to go.

“About you, always,” Jessie purrs.

Jessie is such an outrageous flirt, she’s incorrigible. Tony gives me a wink and I smile at him. He obviously looks pleased with himself.

Jessie spots this little interaction and without making herself obvious whatsoever states, “I’m off to the ladies. Tony, why don’t you escort Ana to the bar and I will meet you two there?”

I roll my eyes at her, but Tony quickly straightens himself upright and with a smile looks at me and says, “I’ll be happy to.”

I want to hit Jessie so much right now, the conniving little minx. Tony is lovely and all but relentless. He has been pursuing me for months now and I keep trying to push him away. It’s not that he’s not good looking, or a nice guy. He is in some ways. He has wavy mousy hair and brown eyes. He looks a little like John Travolta with a dimple on his chin. He is very polite and always treats me like a lady, but there is no spark for me. I think you always need to have spark.

“You look exceptionally beautiful today, Miss Sinclair. That is a lovely dress you’re wearing.”

I stare at him and about to answer when a delicious voice appears from nowhere.

“Accosting my staff again, Mr Andrews?”

I look and see Jake staring at us, relief evident on my face.

“No, Mr Bennett, I mean Sir. I was just paying Ana here a compliment. Don’t you think she looks nice today? As always of course?”

I look over to Jake and see his piercing green eyes boring into me. I think my legs wobbled slightly.

“Whoa, steady girl. We haven’t even gone to the bar yet and you’re all over the place.”

Tony steadies me and Jake stares at Tony’s arm around my waist. He looks pissed.

“Don’t worry, babes. Tony will look after you,” he smiles.

“Did you get that report done I asked you about?” Jake said, glaring in Tony’s direction.

Tony looked bewildered for a second but then seemed to remember.

“It’s on my desk, sir.”

“Well it’s no good on your desk. Can you please go and get it and put it in my Inbox for me, for tomorrow? I’ll take Ana and meet you there.”

Tony is obviously affronted but nods his agreement and heads off.

“Are you ok?” he asks.

“I’m fine, thank you. Tony gets a bit excitable at times.”

Jakes smiles, “I know, that’s why I thought I would come over and see if you needed rescuing. If he is bothering you let me know and I’ll have a word with him, ok?”

“It is fine, really. Tony’s harmless.”

I find myself staring at him for a while, completely transfixed to this hunk of a male.

“Are you ready to go?” he asks, staring at me a little.

Jake clears the way to let me pass, allowing me to snap out of my daydream again as we leave the office.





Chapter 2





We make our way into Harley’s bar and familiar sights and smells are there. The usual Harley Davidson bike is in the bar window in all its glory. The bar itself is not a bikers bar. The owner is called Sam Harley and thought the Harley bike theme was suitable. I think it looks cool. I sit on the bar stool and see other familiar faces already drinking from the offices.

“What are you having, Ana?”

I think for a moment before making my decision. “Erm, a gin and tonic, please.”

He smiles at me and I almost fall off the bar stool. Boy, do I have it bad.

“Hey, Sam. Can I get a Bud and a gin and tonic for Ana, please?”

Sam smiles at us and says, “Coming right up, Jake.”

The drinks are laid on the table and Jake hands Sam a $20 bill.

He turns to me holding his beer up, “Cheers, Ana.”

I smile returning his words as we clink glasses. I take a swig of my drink to steady my nerves as the close proximity of Jake’s body with my own is having an unwanted effect on me. I take a few more sips, but then realise in the end this isn’t going to help the situation any. Luckily Jessie and Tony walk in to save the day.

Tony slides over to me a little too close for comfort and I catch Jake glaring at him.

Tony notices this and bends down to whisper in my ear, “Your dad is being a right pain in the ass today.”