Silly Games - Chapter 42

Chapter 42

 

And in a fairy tale that would have been enough. But in life there was still an unknown arsonist, or rather someone who’d paid an arsonist, and parents that didn’t approve. Each one was a barrier to their future, and they could pretend that it didn’t affect them, but it did.  

The following day Laura had fun at the beach, it was her first day helping Marina with surf lessons, the surf was well and truly up, and she spent five hours on the beach and in the water, laughing and teaching a few groups of friends how to stand on a board.

When she got home she felt exhausted, but happy, it had been a great day, and she knew that she was coming home to a man who loved her.  As she pulled into the driveway, she stopped the engine to hear her phone ring; he was going to be late. What time that meant she didn’t know. But the thought of a bath, a movie, a slump on the sofa sounded like heaven.

There was a downstairs cloakroom and shower that was the best place to fully dislodge the sand from her body, it almost seemed an injustice to this beautiful house to traipse sand through it. After dousing herself thoroughly, she wrapped herself in towels and was trying to make some sense of the tangled mess of her hair in the small mirror when the doorbell rang.

She wasn’t expecting anyone, so it unsettled her slightly. Hanging from a hook in the cloak room was a hoodie of Adam’s and a pair of shorts, better than nothing.

Laura was still swiping through her hair with her fingers when she pulled back the door...to see Diane Purcell, immaculate in a twin set and pressed trousers on the doorstep.

                “We need to talk!” Adam’s mother offered.

Laura wanted to snap, to tell her exactly where to go, but she knew that was the wrong thing and but her tongue.  “Mrs Purcell, do you want to come in?” Her voice was clipped as she tried to hide her anger, her anxiety and her fear of this encounter.

The other woman nodded and walked past her into the lounge. Laura feeling like an idiot being caught unaware in such a ridiculous position could do nothing but follow her.

                “It seems I underestimated things.” The older woman stopped in her tracks and spun around to face Laura. Laura skidded to a stop glad she hadn’t catapulted into the back of Adam’s mother. “You’re still here.”

Laura nodded, anger and animosity was not the way to play this, but neither was she going to be bullied, “Adam loves me Mrs Purcell, and I love him. You need to get used to us.” The words were meant to warn the other woman to back off, but it was the first time she’d said that, and the realisation that it was the truth made her impulsively smile...like a Cheshire cat!

Diane refrained from laughing, but Laura could tell it was hard work to do that, her response when it came was genial, “Adam has been out of sorts the last few months, and I’m presuming that it has something to do with you?”

Laura shrugged, refusing to back down, this woman was intimidating to her, and she wasn’t about to give in, “it may well be.”

                “Hmm.” The older woman moved further into the lounge and to Laura it was a slight victory.

                “I don’t want us to get off on the wrong foot Mrs Purcell. Adam is very important to me...and I know that you’re important to him too.” Laura sighed, “I’m not interested in changing that.”

The other woman sighed too, “look, Adam has had a lot of women in his life, some I meet, some I don’t. I’m just suspicious of one that turns up like this lock, stock and barrel. You can’t blame me for being suspicious...he’s got a lot to lose.”

Laura leaned against the wall and stared at the other woman, “so have I! You have a low opinion of me Mrs Purcell, quite undeservedly. It’s just lucky you didn’t have that opinion of my father!”

It was a low gibe, and a little childish, but she wanted to unbalance this woman, she had no right to judge her like this. When she saw the older woman flinch, she added, “my father is Stafford Marshall.” That turned the flinch into shock and then outrage. Before the other woman could show disgust or start screaming profanities at her she added, “I am adopted, so there’s no need to be repulsed. But I think that may give me the credentials to be an adequate match for your son. Don’t you?”

With that she walked into the kitchen, leaving Adam’s mother to deal with her own emotions.  Laura was secretly proud of herself for that retort.  The coffee machine had almost finished its brew when Laura sensed the other woman behind her. It had taken her several minutes to compose herself,

                “It’s not the easiest thing to think about you know.”  There was an element of humility in the voice, but Laura was unforgiving when she looked up at her.

“You think it’s easy for us? We’re both bloody scarred by the screwed up lives of our parents, then we end up meeting like this, and you can’t choose who you fall in love with! We’ve both tried to fight this, the worst thing would be for this to drive huge rifts into our families, but on the other hand, we both feel that we belong together. My father thinks it’s a disgrace, you judge me as some sort of harlot...or worse. Mrs Purcell, you seriously need to leave Adam to work this out for himself. Neither of us is appreciating the heavy hand of parenting. Tea?”

Her question threw the woman again, and she nodded mutely, Laura could see she was trying desperately to formulate a response, “I’ve never interfered in Adam’s life before.”

                “So why now?” Laura poured hot water into the two mugs.

                “Because he’s never been this distant from me, I sense this is more than he’s ever had before.”

Laura appreciated her honesty, “Come on! He’s thirty one!  You can’t control him anymore. Has he ever told you how devastated he was to know that you lied about his father for his whole life? You sat back whilst another man despised him, made him feel unloved. It’s not just meeting me that is making him behave differently Mrs Purcell. I’m not the one to blame here.”

Diane looked a little stunned but she nodded graciously, “none of us is perfect. There are things I’d change if I could...despite what you think, I didn’t come here today to argue or criticise, I came to apologise.”

It was the sign that Laura was waiting for, she didn’t want to continue this animosity, but she also knew that she couldn’t back down, Diane had been out of order at their first meeting, so grinning, she held out a hand, “now that I can manage! I’m Laura! Pleased to meet you!”

Sharing the smile, Diane shook her hand, “start again?”

Half an hour later they were sat opposite each other on the deck, drinking tea and watching the sea. They were a long way from best friends, but they were civil, maybe more than that.

                “Is it safe to come out?”

Both women looked up as Adam peered around the side of the door from the lounge. Then they both laughed.

                “Your mother is telling me all about your childhood...and of course the best place to get my hair done!”

He rolled his eyes, but Laura could see the relief in his that they weren’t fighting. “More of the latter, less of the former mother, you hear that?” The two chuckled a response, then he added, “I’m going to grab a shower. Do you want to go out for dinner later?”

                “I was planning to cook!” Laura announced, then turned to Diane, “I’m trying to blind him to my bad points by overwhelming his taste buds!”

As Diane laughed, Adam dropped a kiss onto Laura’s forehead, “you don’t have any bad points!”

The echoes of their laughter accompanied him up the stairs.

When Adam emerged half an hour later, his mother was preparing to leave.

                “Aren’t you staying for dinner?” He leaned across to kiss her cheek.

Diane shook her head, “neither of you need me here, I’ve done enough interfering. Maybe I could take you both out to dinner next week?”

Adam hesitated not really wanting to think that far ahead, but a voice echoed over his shoulder, “that would be wonderful Diane. Call me not him!”

                “I’ll just see her out!” Adam offered shaking his head at the conspiracy. As he opened to door for his mother to exit, he froze. A large airport taxi had pulled up outside his home, and Stafford Marshall was climbing out of it.

There was something about Adam’s tone as he muttered, “well isn’t this just perfect Happy Families!”, that made Laura move from the kitchen towards him, and she was poised perfectly at his left shoulder when she spotted her father stood at the bottom of the stairs. Shit! Any pleasure at seeing him after a couple of weeks was outweighed by apprehension. She’d managed to enjoy the time getting to know Diane, it had been so much easier than she’d imagined, and whilst they were anything but best mates they’d got along. But throwing her father into the mix?

Laura felt Adam’s hand encircle hers and he gave it a squeeze, and it was a show of solidarity that she needed. As she opened her mouth to offer an anxious “Dad?”

But he wasn’t looking at her; Stafford Marshall only had eyes for the woman stood beside them.

                “Stafford? Is that you?”

Her father suddenly seemed to put two and two together and his mouth dropped open at the woman stood in front of him, holding onto the doorframe to steady herself. “Diane?”

Never had Laura felt so awkward, she couldn’t imagine how difficult it was for these two people to see each other after thirty two years and to acknowledge what their reckless together night had caused. Then there were the lies, Diane hid Adam, but then her father had met Laura’s mother not long later. If they had their time over would they change anything? One thing she knew was that they needed a moment, that last thing they needed was the guilt of their children affecting this.

She looked around her; it was all very complicated and very awkward. Adam was floundering and the two parents were no better.

Laura smiled at him, then looked at her father, “Dad, why don’t you come in? I’m sure you and Diane would like to talk?”

It was Diane that nodded, “I’d like a chance to explain...”

Laura smiled again, “well Adam did say he’d take me to the supermarket, there’s no bread...” She linked her fingers through Adam’s, “we’ll only be twenty minutes.”

As a bemused Adam followed her to his car, he was really grateful for the chance to escape. When he fired the engine she started to laugh, a little hysterical at the evening’s occurrences.

Adam glanced across at her and then shook his head in amusement too, “I’m so glad you were thinking and got us out of there. That was...is that the most crazy thing in the world ever?”

                “It’s almost as crazy as me going to the supermarket in your dog walking clothes that were the only thing in the downstairs shower when your mother arrived. Can you tell I’m not wearing underwear?” she wiggled her eyebrows needing to lighten the mood somewhat. It worked!

He laughed, “way to distract me from a meeting with BOTH my parents!”  Rolling his eyes he opened the engine and hit the highway, knowing that they both had a lot to face when they got back, but it felt so much easier thinking they were facing it together.

Silly Games - Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Dropping beside her, Adam looked at her profile, her brow creased with a frown, her cheeks wet from tears. “I’m sorry Laura.”

She shrugged but didn’t look at him, and didn’t offer a reply.

Reaching out he laid his hand over hers, but she snatched it away as though she was burned, “don’t Adam, please, this is what you do. Overwhelm me with your passion...we need to talk and this is not the way to do it.”

Adam groaned, “I’m sorry. It’s...” He had no answer to that, for the last three days he’d avoided talking, buried himself in his desire for her, that was the ultimate distraction and it took the worries away. But it was cowardly, and selfish. “Don’t hate me.” Was all he could offer.

Laura turned slowly, “I don’t hate you. I hate THIS.” She gestured wildly around herself. “You are at war with your father because of ME. And it’s NOT right. All I want is everyone to get along, and now you’ve had your business disrupted, how much will that cost? Thousands? And it’s my father? Even if it’s not him you too should be friends, the friends you’d become.”

Tugging her chin, forcing her to look at him he shook his head, “your father said it wasn’t him, and I believe him. Whatever I think of him, I don’t think he’s a liar, and in my heart of hearts I didn’t believe it was him, not really. But he was the easy option, wasn’t he?”

                “What do you mean?” she studied his face looking for an answer.

His eyes were watching her, but he gave nothing away, “I don’t want to lose you Laura, I know that now. But he’s the only real threat to that, isn’t he? You think about it. Stafford Marshall doesn’t want to lose you either. I don’t know what lengths he would go to, to secure you back in his world, and I don’t know if you’d choose me if you had to. If we both hate him it’s all easy for me.” He laughed, “but to love you, I have to love and accept him, unless you hate him too.”

Laura’s heart raced at his admission, and she suddenly felt dizzy with anticipation, “And do you?”

                “Accept him? Maybe. Love him...I don’t know.”

She gasped for fresh air for a moment, “I meant me.”

It was a nervous whisper and took Adam by surprise, he found it crazy to think that she doubted how he felt, but the way her teeth bit at her lip betrayed her nervousness. “Do I love you? You have to ask me that?” When that didn’t ease her anxiety he laughed, “are you going to make me say the words...here and now.”

Her teeth still snagging her lip in that utterly delightful way, she nodded, not daring to breathe.

Adam took a deep breath, then turned to her, her hands in his, “I haven’t thought straight since I first saw you on that beach all those months ago. I’ve become a desperate horny teenager; you have been my only thought! Oh I’ve had many women in the past, I’d lie if I said otherwise, but I never wanted them the way I want you. I mean I like sex, but it’s never felt so vital before. I mean I’ve been walking around with a permanent erection whenever I’m in your presence! It's been the only way I knew how to show you how I feel about you...I don’t know love Laura, I’ve never had it, so I didn’t recognise it, didn’t know how to deal with it. But the thought of never seeing you again, now that I have you here...this all feels fragile and I’m scared of saying and doing the wrong thing, of chasing you away. Every time I make love to you, I’m wondering if it’s the last time. And that terrifies me. Laura, I love you. This can’t be anything but love. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have you here in my home, to come home to you every night. I know there’s a lot to work out, but I truly don’t want anything to spoil this.”

Laura was swaying, her mind barely able to process his words, the relief that he loved her, that he wanted her as much as she wanted him was better than anything else she could imagine. But he wasn’t done, he was continuing, really opening his heart and soul to her, and it was all she could do to hold back the torrent of tears that threatened to fall.

She shook her head attempting to protest, but he silenced her with a finger to his lips. “Don’t stop me, not now I’m finally managing this. I didn’t have the greatest upbringing, and for years I have dreaded those genes coming out in me...the man I thought was my father was incapable of love, I can see that now, looking back I can see that my parents had a troubled relationship. But to me that was what I presumed I’d become, an unloving beast. No one could love me, so how could I possibly love anyone back? So in my head I was going to be single forever, no one deserved to be snubbed as my father snubbed me.” He sighed, “But he wasn’t my father. And maybe that’s what changed? For a while I felt part of a loving family, and it was wonderful. I wondered if that was all I wanted, all I craved. But I don’t think it is.”

He sighed, swiping a hand over his face, “I have missed you more than anything, I haven’t been able to concentrate on work, on my life...All I know is I can’t resist you Laura Marshall. I want you, ALL of you. Forever.”

It was more than music to her ears, this was the moment she’d waited all her life for, it was rapturous, enlightening, and everything. And it was so hard to digest, and it meant she had to process this, reply, tell him how she felt. She thought if he was honest with her that it would be easy to be honest back. But she could barely think for the pounding in her ears, her throat was parched.

                “You mean that?” she croaked.

Smiling Adam swiped his thumb across her cheek, wiping away a stray tear, “every word! I’m not expecting you to feel the same way Laura, at least not yet, I only hope that you will one day.”

Seeing her bewildered face, the tears threatening to fall, Adam misinterpreted her emotions of pleasure, happiness and excitement for fear and anxiety. “Come on, let’s talk about this another time, I don’t want to pressure you.”

As he stood and pulled her to her feet she resisted him, realising she wasn’t following his lead, he turned back to look at her sadly, “sorry.”

Laura shook her head, “for God’s sake Adam! You can’t say all this to me and expect me to have an immediate composed answer. I want to say the right thing but it’s all wafting around up here.” She waved her hands above her head.

                “What’s the un-composed answer?”

She smiled at the hopefulness in his eyes, the optimism and expectation, then offered, “it sounds perfect to me!” As he grinned, she held up a hand it was too quick to accept their feelings, “we’ve never discussed the rest of the world. Since I came here we’ve been enveloped in this house, separate from everyone else, and instead of discussing the future, or even the here and now, we’ve just made love, lots of it. Whilst I’m not complaining, it’s been amazing and I feel as desperate as you, we can’t hide behind that. Can’t pretend that no one else exists. We have got to deal with my father, YOUR father, ignoring it won’t make it go away. I’m never going to be forced to make a choice. You are both important to me, and you’ve both done and said things that are wrong...” she cupped his cheek tenderly, “him more than you, but he’s stubborn. If you feel as you say you do about me, then I’ll need you to try.”

If he expected her undying devotion, her reciprocation he was disappointed, but then it was her independence, her sassiness and her strength that had attracted her to him so strongly. Nodding he tried his best smile, “you know I will.”

Then he turned for the house once more not wanting her to see the disappointment in his eyes.

                “Adam!” he’d barely walked half a dozen steps when his name burst from her lips. He was struggling to contain his own emotions, and he was tempted to just keep walking put distance between them, find the time to compose himself. But she must have been wise to that, because almost instantly she skipped into his path, and put out a hand to stop him.  “I must seem ungrateful...everything you said...it was everything I’ve wanted to hear. The last few days...” She grinned, “this is what I want! You! I’ll live anywhere to be with you, I’ll work out a way of working, and I’ll work out a way for us to be friends with my father. Just as long as you keep telling me you love me!”

Suddenly it was like a light coming on, the darkness was drifting and the world was upturning once again, “I can arrange that! I can tell you every day, every hour...every minute if you like.” His smile was infectious, and she couldn’t help returning it. “As long as you’re truthful with how you feel about me as often!”

She swung her arms around his neck and kissed him briefly on the lips, “I love you Adam Purcell. More than I’ve ever loved anyone else!”

And that was the truth.

Silly Games - Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Adam looked at the dossier of information that had been collated by Marcus, using various investigators and agencies; it was the more recent pages from a contact in LAPD that had worried him the previous day. A known ‘for hire’ wastrel from the wrong side of town was seen near the warehouse prior to the fire. Adam hated that the only person who he thought could and would pay someone to damage his business was Stafford. Did he hate his son that much? Adam sighed and placed her fingers over his eyes. If his conclusions were correct, then how would Laura cope with that?

He heard the door to his office open from behind his closed eyelids, and slowly opened his eyes to see Marcus leaning against the doorframe. They’d been roommates in college, and firm friends ever since, when he became an established lawyer, Adam was in the throes of creating his business and needed his help and guidance, it had proved to be his greatest move, Marcus was the best ally any one could ask for in the cutthroat world of business.

                “You look like you’ve lost a million!”

Adam gave a half laugh, “feels that way.” He gestured to the seat opposite him, and waited while Marcus sat. “I think I know who might have paid off Troy Parkin.”

Marcus’s eyes widened, “really? And you haven’t told the police?”

Adam shook his head, “no. I...er...I fell out with my father. My REAL father. When I was back in London. I wonder whether he might...”

Marcus leaned forward, hands on the desk, “you think your father may have destroyed a huge part of your business? Really? What the hell have you done to cause THAT much anger?”

Closing his eyes he took a deep breath, Laura had been right that people would make a lot of assumptions when they learned of the closeness of their family ties. Opening his eyes he tried a smile, “Laura, she’s my father’s adopted daughter, and he isn’t happy at the thought that we’re more than siblings.”

Marcus’s eyes were wide as he stared at his oldest friend, “well, well, well. Are you that bad a prospect that he’d do this?”

Adam shrugged, “he told me I wasn’t good enough, told me to keep away from her, but she’s followed me here. I can’t think of anyone else who would have paid to destroy me. Can you? And he’s hardly going to make it to the LAPD radar. At least not unless a concrete link appears.”

Marcus shook his head slowly, “no, but I’m hoping with everything I have that it wasn’t your pop, because otherwise you’ll be asking this woman to choose.”

This was no new train of thought for Adam, he couldn’t think about it, not in any real depth. All he could remember was the kiss she’d given him as he’d left for work, her lips tasting of coffee, her body wrapped in just a satin robe pressed against him. He was rock hard in seconds. And just a slight memory caused that to happen again. The one thing he knew was that he was happy to play it all her way, but to do that, he had to share his fears. Not something he was looking forward to.

                “Do we know where the police are in tracing the money transfer?”

It was his only lifeline, that the police would uncover someone other than his father to explain the arson. But everything was on a go slow. He wanted to walk into the house and to Laura with the relief of knowing it wasn’t Stafford Marshall, but as the hours ticked by, he was running out of time.

Laura pushed the cart up and down the aisle of the supermarket wondering at the different products that filled the shelves. She had a new desire in life, and that was to provide meals for Adam, it was her way of displaying her love for him without uttering the words. She’d gathered numerous items but was still looking for inspiration for the evening. Then she passed the fresh fish counter and saw the biggest and most succulent looking king prawns, and ordered them eight each. She knew a great recipe for Thai prawns. Her mouth was watering at the thought.

Then she thought of feeding them to Adam, his lips sucking the juices from her fingers and it was more than just her taste buds that were set alight. Shaking her head she couldn’t lose the grin, but she ignored the looks of curiosity from the elderly women buying milk, instead she skipped towards the check out with a spring in her step.

As she was loading her grocery bags into the car, her phone rang, and looking at the display she saw it was Adam. Smiling she connected, “Why hello?”

                “You’re sounding happy!”

She knew she was giggling like a school girl, but she couldn’t resist. “Well the sun is shining; I’m buying food to spoil you with and having interesting thoughts about how we spend time après dinner!”

Adam dropped his head to the steering wheel and managed to hide his groan. When he’d realised Laura’s car wasn‘t outside the house, he’d wished he’d called in advance, but in truth he was thinking his courage might desert him on the journey from his office to the house. He had one question for her, and that would indicate how he felt.  But now that she was happy, shopping and planning a night of no doubt earth shattering passion, he had no idea how to go on.

                “Sounds...bliss!”

Her chuckle was like a bolt of heat to the groin, the thought of what she intended was starting to sway his own agenda once again. Then her words only muddied the waters further, “planning to make you Thai prawns, just wondering how they’ll taste on your skin.”

He laughed, “am I about to be your plate?” When she hinted at the affirmative, he knew that he had to try and find out more about Stafford under his own steam. “I’ll try not and be late then!”

Her giggle echoed down the phone as she ended the call.

Adam sighed, back to the drawing board. He had to find out more, and if he couldn’t ask Laura, that left the man himself. Starting the car, he pulled back out of his drive and headed back to his office.

The pool may be small, but it was a sun haven, the water wasn’t freezing even for late November. Laura had lost count of the number of laps she’d swum, and now she was starting to feel tired. Hauling herself out of the water, she slumped onto a sun lounger and sighed again. It was in the mid twenties, a nice temperature, and she was feeling tired. So she closed her eyes for a few minutes.

Laura wasn’t sure whether it was her thirst or the distant sound of a phone ringing that woke her. But as she walked into the house trying to detangle her hair with her fingers, she made for the kitchen, just as the answer phone kicked in.

                “Hi, this is Adam. I’m not available...leave a message.”

So aggressive! She thought as she took a can of diet coke from the fridge. She’d just popped the tab when a voice echoed around the room, and it made her whole world spin.

                “I missed your call, and understand you want some answers,” it was her father, and he sounded...sad. “I’ll tell you anything you need to know. You seem to be hinting at something big. Not sure I like that, but well...call me. Give my love to Laura.” And then he was gone.

Laura was frozen to the spot, she missed her father, and it sounded like he was missing her. That tugged at her heart strings, and she immediately made for the phone and picked it up, intending to call him back. Then her mind finally caught up with her actions, Adam had called her father, she couldn’t imagine him doing that, he’d told her numerous times how he never wanted to see him again.

Something didn’t make sense. She glanced at the clock, just after four. Adam would be home soon, she’d shower, change then start dinner, he’d tell her what was happening, she was sure.

The shower in Adam’s en suite was quite simply unbelievable, one huge central shower head dominated the cubicle, but there were also three panels of numerous smaller heads that pointed in various directions. And boy was it invigorating. Reaching for the shower gel, she started to soap her body, arms, and shoulders. When she reached her breasts, two large hands reached around her and took the sponge from her hands.

                “Let me help!” Adam whispered in her ear.

Handing him the sponge, she tried not to moan as he started a rhythmical and determined route over her body.

                “Couldn’t resist when I saw you in here!” He spoke into her neck, he was still behind her, but his hands were cleaning her, teasing her.

She turned in his arms, then started to wash her hair, it was all too much for Adam, and he took her lips as he backed her up to the glass wall.

                “This was meant to be an after dinner thing!”

Lifting her legs he smiled as she wrapped them around him, “I thought it was a ‘during’ dinner thing!”

With a shrug she pulled his lips back to her and spurred him on, this was a time when actions spoke louder than words.

Laura was grinding the galangal with a pestle and mortar when Adam finally joined her in the kitchen. She’d dressed and left him shaving after their shower, and now he stood in the room in just a pair of shorts.

Now that they were in the living area, she shouldn’t hide her concerns over the phone call any longer.

                “My father called today.”

She threw the comment out there and didn’t know what his response would be, but the last thing she’d imagined was for him to turn white, stopping dead in his tracks. “Really?”

She shrugged, “an answer phone message.” She nodded her head in the direction of the flashing machine.

Adam walked slowly towards the machine and pressed the play button, then as Stafford’s somewhat subdued voice echoed into the room, he rued not dealing with this earlier in the day. Slowly he turned to see Laura stood, hands on hips, waiting his explanation.

Great!

Walking past her he took a beer from the fridge and cracked it open. “The fire at my factory on Sunday.” He glugged at the bottle before meeting her eyes, “it was arson.”

         “You think my father did it?” She sounded incredulous, immediately making the connection, and Adam realised that this was all about to blow up in his face.

                “I’m not sure.” As he made to explain she started to shake her head.

                “Really? Really? What the hell is wrong with you?”

He saw red for a moment, “Laura! Someone paid a small time crook twenty thousand dollars to torch my storage units. I don’t have any enemies, I don’t think it’s industrial espionage or corruption.”

Laura rolled her eyes, “so you think it was my father...YOUR father?”

She had every right to be angry he realised, but he was sure that this was an option. “Does he bank through the Cayman islands? That was where the money came from. The police are on to it, if it is him they’ll find out eventually...but I called him to ask him. Ok?”

Shaking her head in disbelief, Laura made for the doors that led to the beach; she needed space to deal with this. As he made to reach for her, she glared at him until he stepped back. Adam knew he had to give her that time. As the door slid shut behind her, he picked up the phone and dialled Stafford. This was a conversation he’d find far easier.

                “Adam?” he answered the call with a question and Adam realised he’d been waiting for this call. “I didn’t think you’d call back, hell I didn’t think you’d call at all!”

Adam laughed dryly, “amazing what you’ll do if you have to.” He didn’t wait for a response from the other man, instead he added, “I just want you to answer me honestly. Can you do that?”

Stafford’s voice was quiet, “sure. If I can.”

                “Do you bank via the Cayman Islands?”

Stafford laughed, “not for years. I got ripped off by my financial advisor there a few years back, moved all my accounts to Switzerland and Jersey.”

                “Really? Shit!” Adam was part disappointed, but also largely relieved.

Instantly there was concern in the older man’s voice, “is everything ok Adam?”

Adam laughed, “what do you care? My second question, have you ever heard of Troy Parkin?”

                “Is he an actor or something?” Stafford was almost confused.

Adam wanted to laugh but he couldn’t, “did you pay someone to set fire to my warehouse?”

For a moment Stafford laughed, then stopped, “you’re serious? Adam! I’m not a crook, and I definitely wouldn’t damage your business like that!”

                “No we’ll just leave the damage to my emotions, hey? I mean how dare I call you out of the blue like this?! Someone like me! And then I accuse you like this!”

His father stumbled a little unsure of his words, “I regret some of my actions...I don’t like to think you’re in trouble.”

                “Bullshit! You just don’t want to think that Laura’s in trouble! As if I’d let that happen! I get that she’s all you care about!”

Stafford was silent for a moment, “I know you’ll look after her, but I am worried for you!”

                “Save it! I can look after myself...and her!” With that, he hung up.

As much as he didn’t want to, Adam believed Stafford, there was some quality to his answers that made her realise he wasn’t covering his tracks, but that he was genuine. And that meant he was back to the drawing board again, and this time he had no idea of who else this could be.

He looked at the phone, then to the kitchen; the ingredients for the meal still scattered over the work surface, and sighed. He’d upset Laura, just what he didn’t want to do. But he’d had to ask Stafford, and she had to know about that. But he’d screwed it all up, by not telling her the previous night. Strolling to the window he looked at the beach and the solitary figure sat on the sand a few feet from the water’s edge. What must she be thinking? He was the only person she knew here, if he let her down then she’d have no one.

Grabbing an old university hoodie, he slid it over his bare chest and headed out into the rapidly cooling evening. He scuffed his bare feet over the sand as he walked towards her, and rued the heavy heart that seemed to make his feet struggle over the sand. 

Silly Games - Chapter 39

Chapter 39

                “So what’s your problem?” Laura glanced at the message in front of her and smiled. Trust Michaela to bring it down to basics. And maybe she was right. What was wrong?  She’d had a message of her friend the previous day asking how things were, she’d then told her all that had happened in the past two days and her friend could sense the unwritten ‘but’ in her words. Laura had what she wanted. Adam. So why was she holding back?

She was sat in a cafe, a large Americano and a muffin in front of her. California was an idyllic place; she was staying with a man who seemed intent on making her happy. In every way. What could be better? She didn’t know where this relationship was going, but did anyone. She’d never felt this way about a man, never been this close to anyone, it was so special. She knew she loved him, but she didn’t have any clue about how he REALLY felt. The longevity of their relationship had always been the issue, protecting her parents from a bitter split. But somewhere over the last few months it had changed; now she knew that she had as much concern for Adam in all this. It was such a mess.

Then there was her future. She’d spent years fighting to be independent from her father, and now she was almost in a similar position with Adam, fighting a reliance on him she could see that from being alone and with the distance of a coffee shop. She leaned back in her chair. What was she scared of?

Laura thought long and hard as she drank her coffee. She had to really decipher what scared her, why she couldn’t relax and let go, otherwise she was about to throw away the best thing that had ever happened to her. She thought of her father. She’d never felt good enough for him, never thought she’d achieved what he had wanted for her. Instead of confronting that, telling him what she wanted, Laura had made it her life’s work to prove to him that she didn’t need his approval. But at some point she’d confused approval with love, and acceptance with allowances. She’d rejected everything he offered to prove she was right.

Deep! She thought, collecting her things, but why was she comparing him to Adam?

She loved the small car he’d organised for her. Small? Small by Californian standards. She headed towards Venice Beach; she had a proposition for Marina Porter.

Adam and her father. They were both so different, yet had so many similarities. After all they’d both created success from fairly humble beginnings, both were driven, ambitious, enthusiastic. And both were single minded in their ambitions. So was she fearing him for the same reason? That she didn’t feel she was good enough? Laura gulped at that thought. Did she?

It was obvious his mother didn’t think she was up to the Purcell standard, and he was close to his mother, saying that, she knew he liked her. That was obvious. No that wasn’t it, not entirely anyway.  She’d spent a long time trying to be individual, she was as likely to work for her father as she was accept free handouts from Adam. It wasn’t so much who was ‘supporting’ her, as the fact that anyone was!

She looked at her phone and sighed, she’d hoped Michaela would sympathise, but as usual her practical friend was seeing things as they were.       “Suppose my problem is I’m scared hey? I’m not like you! Spent my whole life fighting moments like this. You always knew me better than I knew myself!”

It was evening back home, and Laura knew Michaela was on a date with Paul, but her friend still replied within seconds. “Sometimes you’ve just got to trust people. Not your strongest point Miss Independent. Give him a chance, ok?”

Pulling up at the Surf hotel, she burst out of the car and ran to the building, praying that Marina was there to help her. Suddenly things were looking a lot more straight forward.

Adam was ready to drop on his feet, he was normally home from work by early evening, but it was dark as he pulled into the garage attached to his house. He was weary and after the day from hell wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and sleep. Police and insurance investigators had been hounding him all day, and he’d asked his own investigators to look into the fire. And he wasn’t happy with the initial conclusions that they were making.

Groaning he climbed out of the vehicle and locked it then dragged himself into the house. As he opened the door, the smells hit him. He’d not come home to the smell of home cooking as long as he could remember, strolling into the living area, he froze. There was Laura, in a bikini top and a tiny pair of shorts dancing in the kitchen as she stirred a large pot, her derriere wiggling along to a tune he didn’t have the energy to decipher. A soft groan left his lips, but it was loud enough to alert her, and she spun around.

                “Adam!” Dropping the spoon, she rushed across to him, wrapping her arms around him, and then plunging her lips on to his.

The exhausted side of Adam disappeared; there was nothing more replenishing than Laura, enthusiastic, wanting him, draped around him. And he responded with gusto. Like whisky to an alcoholic he devoured her, tongue thrashing into her mouth, hands pulling her scantily dressed body hard against his own.

Something had changed, and for a moment Adam was uncaring. He loved that she was still here, that she was enthusiastic, happy. It took his mind off the black cloud that had descended that day.

                “Bikini?” he breathed against her lips.

                “You were late!” Her mouth moved to his ear and she nipped at his ear lobe. Adam felt his body swell at that. “I had a swim whilst I waited. There’s food here...” Her tongue slid over his ear, lavishing exotic attention on it in the most intense fashion. “But it can wait if you have something else in mind?”

Laura was in her element, his body was hard against her, and there was something rather forbidden in the fact that he was fully, formally dressed, whereas she was anything but. And she loved it. Adam’s eyes met hers and he smiled as he popped open her shorts, with a quick wriggle and him tugging at just four ties, she was naked. And with the heat of desire that flushed her face and neck, came the swirling in her pelvis, the dampness between her thighs, and the firm bullets that were her nipples sought out the coarse pressure of his suit to assuage some of the burning that took over her.

All afternoon she’d been waiting for him to come home, desperate to see him spread out on the bed, naked at her command. But instead it was him carrying her to the sofa, her being spread out in his view, and still in his suit, even his tie still secured, he knelt between her thighs, and sought out the sensitive flesh, seeking the heat, the moisture, the evidence of her desire.

Within seconds she exploded around his fingers, but he persisted in teasing until she begged for mercy. Reaching to kiss her briefly she tasted herself on his lips, and that was intoxicating. But it was the slow removal of his clothes, the almost deliberate strip tease that made her roll on to her side and watch him intently. Once he’d slipped out of his suit and his boxers hit his thighs to reveal his own desire and intention, she could resist no longer. Dropping to her knees in front of him she took him in her mouth, devouring every inch of him, her hands exploring, holding, teasing as her mouth and tongue reciprocated.

Adam groaned and his head flew back in ecstasy, but in that position he couldn’t watch her, and seeing her, those full lips devouring him was pure sin. His hands moved to her head and it was purely to steady himself and not direct or secure her. Within seconds he exploded as dramatically and overwhelmingly as she had a few minutes earlier.

Laura purred like a cat, contented as she sat back onto her heels looking up at him, face closed, body spent. Climbing to stand in front of him she smiled as his eyes opened very slowly.

“I am sure that I haven’t done anything to deserve that!”

Grinning, she slid her arms around his neck, bringing her body tight against his sweat slicked one, “can’t I do that for you because I feel like it?”

His hands linked around her lower back and he sighed, “you can do that ANY time for ANY reason!”

She laughed, “good!” then reached for the shirt he’d slid off a few minutes earlier and covered herself.

Adam reached for his boxer shorts, and when they were on he sat at a stool at the breakfast bar with the beer she’d handed him he felt more relaxed than he thought possible. “So you’re a lot happier this evening?”

An apron over the shirt Laura was stirring a large pot of bolognaise, the other pot already simmering with spaghetti.  When she was happy with the progress, she turned to him, “I’ve had a good day! So I wanted to cook for you, show my gratitude at you helping me out.”

Jumping to his feet, Adam walked around to her and pulled her into his arms, “this is not me helping you out! This is me wanting you, here in my home, in my bed!”

Laura smiled, “well I did a lot of thinking, and I think I’ve sorted my head out. Then I saw Marina...” her smile was infectious, “I’ve arranged a deal with her, I think it might me illegal...not sure how you feel about that?”

Laughing he shook his head, “what?”

                “Well she’s employing me as a surf coach for a few months, just weekends, odd evenings and stuff. Obviously as I don’t have a work Visa she can’t pay me...but if I was staying there at the hostel I could have food and board for it...so we’ve got an informal arrangement that means I don’t have to be completely reliant on you until I decide what to do!”

                “Well if it means food that smells as great as this does, and welcomes home like I’ve just had, then I can’t complain about anything else!”

They sat together and ate their spaghetti, a rather inelegant occasion, but it was Laura’s favourite meal and she was uncaring if she made a mess. Adam was as enthusiastic about it as her, and it was a while later that she realised that he was very quiet.

                “So what’s eating you tonight?” She asked as they sat on the sofa watching the late news.

He raised his eyebrows at her faux-pas then when he controlled his grin shrugged, “nothing really, just a long day, and the worst thing was knowing that you were here waiting for me and I couldn’t get here any quicker.”

With a beaming smile she leaned back on the sofa and offered, “well then there’s no time like the present to explain to me what that means!!”

Adam loved the wicked glint in her eye as she offered herself to him, draped across the sofa. For a moment he wanted to forget the information that had ruined his day, he had no idea how he would tell her that he thought her father was involved in arson, he didn’t know how to process that himself. With a groan he moved towards her, he’d investigate the arson more tomorrow.

Silly Games - Chapter 38

Chapter 38

                “I thought you were bringing breakfast!” Laura was breathless, her back pressed against the cool glass of the wall of windows, Adam’s forehead was dropped onto her shoulder, but he was still inside her, still holding her pinned against the window, her legs wrapped around him. She’d been self conscious when he’d immediately pressed her to the glass, his tongue parting her lips, delving into her mouth. But he promised against her lips, that the beach behind her was private, only a few people had access, and they’d not see because of the tinted glass. But it was his hands that persuaded her not to care, more than her words.

Now in the aftermath, she could barely stop her stomach rumbling.

Adam lifted her head and looked at her, “really? You’re thinking of food now?”

She nodded, “as much as I loved that little interlude,” she flexed her body as if to emphasise the point, “and as much as the last thing to happen was me meeting your mother...food is the primary concern here!”

He grunted then dropped his head again, using his teeth to nip at her neck. “Lucky I picked up some bagels and bacon on the way then hey? There should be eggs on the fridge too.”

Laura eased her legs to the floor, instantly hating his body leaving hers, and when Adam gave a sigh, she knew he felt the same way. “Sounds like my fave kind of breakfast!”

They cooked food together in a relaxed and comfortable away, Laura found it hard to believe that she hadn’t known him seven months earlier. When things were quiet there were so many things that she wanted to ask him, but there was never enough time, or opportunity, and it was never right. As he cooked bacon, and she buttered the grilled bagels she was desperate to know whose dogs he’d been walking the other day, and that automatically took her to the beach in Wales all those months ago, why was he there? That was before she thought about where she’d stay tonight, and what the future held for her, and for them.  She had six weeks until Christmas, and then another four weeks until the wedding in Hawaii. But other than being here, on Adam’s doorstep, she had no plan B.

                “Penny for your thoughts?” Adam smiled at Laura’s confusion. They were sat on the veranda at a small round table, both eating ravenously.

Laura took a deep breath, “why were you on the beach in Wales? Before I knew about you. You never told me.”

He exhaled slowly, resting his bagel back on his plate, “my researcher had found you, the company uses a PI...”

                “Which is how you found me yesterday?”

Adam nodded, “it’s common in business Laura, you know forewarned is forearmed. And it was a really confusing time. I wanted to know what I was heading into, meeting Stafford. But you were off the map. No one could tell us anything about you. And you lived in a surf place...the two things merged into one, and I came out for a few days.”

Laura processed that for a moment, nibbling nervously at her sandwich, “and you don’t hate dogs?”

He laughed, “I love them, and want to have some here, but I’m away too much. My mother has two for company, and I walk them a lot. Your crazy dogs in Wales just threatened to expose me, that’s all, I was defensive!” He drank some coffee before adding, ““Are you sure you’re ok about my mother earlier?”

Rolling her eyes, she lowered her bagel, “it was SO embarrassing, I was dancing around in just this shirt, to Neil Diamond of all things. Devastating! And she KNEW what was going on!”

Adam gave a hearty chuckle, “really? Can I get a replay of that? Sounds indecent! But seriously, my mother is a little on the back foot at the moment, I think me meeting with Stafford has unsettled her.”

                “She doesn’t know you’ve fallen out with him?”

He cradled his hot mug of coffee in his hands and studied her for a moment, “I’ve not told her a lot really. She knows some serious shit happened, I’m no actor and I’ve found some things really difficult to manage, but I haven’t told her anything of note. So she didn’t know who you were today. No clue.”

                “Can’t wait until she realises I’m Stafford’s daughter. She’d going to jump to conclusions. Everyone will...”

Placing a hand over hers, he squeezed her fingers, “it’s no one else’s business what we do. You have to let that go.”

Laura looked up at him with a watery smile, “bit difficult when my father has reacted the way he has. I mean he has virtually disowned us.”

Adam’s gaze was intent on her, “when he told me I wasn’t good enough for you, ‘someone like me’, I have to admit I felt rejected all over again. But then my mother acted almost exactly the same to you. I suppose we have to accept that parental care isn’t exactly uniform. Sometimes they interfere in a bad way. We have to decide what we want regardless of them. Do you see that?”

Laura pulled herself up into standing; it was so easy to believe that when they were cocooned up here together with nothing but each other. But life was harder than that. She loved her parents, and she knew that she didn’t want to make an either/or choice about them. But she also knew she shouldn’t have to. Moving across the veranda she leaned on the rail looking out to sea, unaware of the vision she became to Adam, still sat down as the breeze whipped at her hair and the shirt that was still the only item she wore.

Standing, he followed her, standing behind her his hands either side of hers on the wooden rail, his mouth near her ear as he spoke. “Honestly, we have this one chance, it may not be popular with our folks, but they have to learn to accept us, don’t they? I mean I’ve never felt this way about anyone Laura; I can’t let you go again. I just can’t.”

She sighed, but couldn’t stop her head pressing into his, needing that contact like oxygen, he was right, they needed each other, they had to see if this was as special as it felt. But was it indulgent to put themselves first?

                “I can hardly stay here forever though Adam, I’ve got to find my way. I’ve got no job, no money, no prospects; I’ve always worked, always been independent. I can’t be your kept woman. And I KNOW you’d do that for me, support me...”

He turned her in his embrace and smiled at her confusion, “think of this as either a prolonged holiday, or a scouting mission. You’re halfway to Hawaii anyway, there’s no point in leaving first, or heading there early. Can’t we just see how things go until then? You can look for options here. It’s hard to get a visa to work, but I can try and see what I can do...or there’s school?”

                “Back to college?” She cocked an eyebrow up at him. “Wow! Not thought about that as an option!”

Her face was such a display of conflicting emotions that he couldn’t resist sweeping down to kiss her lips. It was only a brief kiss, but he added, “let’s just see what happens. Will you trust me?”

It was a no brainer, she needed to spend time here with him, she hadn’t been able to focus since he’d walked away, and she knew that she had to put them, him first for a change. So despite the consternation, she nodded, “I do trust you. More than anything!”

Two hours later they were surfing together; they’d headed to her hotel and thanked Marina Porter for her help and hospitality, before checking out and taking all her things back to his. Adam grinned when he spotted the wetsuit taking up most of her luggage space. This woman was amazing, and so far from the likes of Kristi.

The surf wasn’t the greatest off the private beach behind his home, but it was cathartic for them both, it kept his mind off work, her’s off family, the future and anything else. That evening he drove them down the coast to a small restaurant where they had lobster and champagne, and laughed together like they hadn’t laughed in ages.

When it came to bed time, he led her upstairs by the hand; suddenly the whole situation was awkward. But like a true gentleman, he made for the bathroom, giving her time to change into her pyjamas. This premeditated trip to the bedroom without the spontaneity of their previous nights together was making them both struggle. Once he came out of the bathroom she took her turn to clean her teeth brush her hair...and waste a little time.

Adam was lying in bed, flat on his back, hands behind head, and snoring softly when she emerged. So much for awkward and difficult. It was a battle to turn off the lights, everything in this house was modern and a little more difficult to use than it should be. Then she slipped into bed beside Adam. If he was awake he didn’t let on, instead he instinctively wrapped his arms around her, and she fell asleep warm and safe with him.

They’d woken in the night, and fallen into each other’s arms for a brief yet passionate coming together. But it was early morning light that woke Laura in the morning. For a moment she’d feared that he’d left her and headed to work, but then she heard the shower in the bathroom. Within five seconds she was sliding into the cubicle behind him and taking him by surprise. He turned towards her protecting her from the powerful jets, and taking a moment to take in every inch of her, with his eyes and then his hands.

                “You are about to make my work suffer AGAIN Miss Marshall.” But his face broke into a devilish grin as he lowered his lips to her. In a few moments he’d lifted her against the tiled wall and joined them again, neither was able to control their ardour. When he finally lowered her jelly legs to the floor, he took a sponge and applied a liberal amount of shower gel. Then Laura was mortified as he soaped every inch of her with great care. She tipped her head into the hot spray to cover her embarrassment, but she was powerless to do anything other than absorb sensations when from his position on one knee in front of her, he dropped the sponge and replaced it with his fingers, and then lips...and tongue. Her eyes rolled back in her head as she dropped back against the wall and exploded like a firework.

                “I’ll call you a bit later ok?” Adam was trying to rush his cup of coffee, all business in his suit, crisp shirt and tie. He was handsome, clean shaven and all authoritative, though she still preferred the barefoot bare-chested beach bum she’d come to love. She loved every part of him, and every version, though she was yet to tell him that, though she had to soon, or it would slip out when she least expected it, and that wouldn’t be good.

                “I’ve not got any plans!” She offered lightly.

He lowered his mug to the kitchen surface and smiled, “I’ll sort out a few things for you later, hold on till then, ok?”  Reaching in his pocket he pulled out a business card and handed it to her. “Sounds a bit crass I know, but you can call me any time. If in doubt call Barb on my office number and she’ll find me, ok?”

                “Why do I feel like a prostitute?” it was said half in jest, but Adam could tell there was a serious element to her comment.

Pulling her close, he planted a huge kiss on her lips, “you are anything but. Things will work out, you’ll see.”

Nodding she watched him leave.

Mid morning whilst she was watching daytime TV and enjoying some time to think, he called.

                “In the cupboard in the hallway are keys to all my cars, in the garage. I’ve insured you on the white one. So you can use it to your leisure. My lawyer will call to speak to you later; I’ve given him your number. He needs a few answers before he looks into immigration.” He paused for a moment. “I er...I...”

Laura giggled at his sudden nervousness, “I have money! If that’s what eating at you! I’m not rich, but I can survive for a bit longer!”

He sighed, “sorry, but your prostitute comment is weighing heavily on my mind.”

He was so genuine, and his concern touched her, “it was meant as a joke,” she offered, “sorry!”

She could hear the smile in his voice as his reply promised to debate the finer points of this later. Then he hung up. Leaving Laura to dress, find her car, and then head out onto the streets of LA and find a solution to her problem.