Page 29 of Take My Breath Away
A burst of laughter from the counter has me snapping my head up. James is at the head of the queue.
The guy he was talking to a moment ago is gone, replaced by a smiling, blond, and very good looking barista, who looks like he’s been hired for skills that haven’t got much to do with coffee making. It’s a bitchy thought, and no doubt unwarranted, but I can’t help it, not when the barista has a very dirty smile spread across his face.
The barista leans across the counter and says something, his eyes narrowing, and James’ own smile deepens. A moment later, James turns away and threads his way back to the table, leaving the barista staring after him with a smirk on his face.
“They’ll bring the drinks over with our food,” James says as he sits down. “You okay?” He cocks his head and scrutinises me. “You look, how can I put it? Pissed off.”
“What? No, why should I be?” My faces throbs with heat under his stare. I’m not pissed off. Or not really. I’m…
Jealous.
The word whispers in my ear, and crawls over my skin.
“I don’t know. Perhaps you can tell me?”
“I’m not… but maybe looking pissed off is my natural expression?” It’s the only thing I can think of to say.
James chuckles. “No, Perry. You’re the least pissed off person I know. What’s this?” he says as he pulls his phone from the inside pocket of his jacket, just as I put mine away. “It’s Cosmo, my cousin,” he explains as he reads the text. “What’s he after now…” James mutters, but he’s smiling as he says it.
He plugs in a quick reply before shoving his phone away.
“Cosmo and Freddie used to be housemates, before Freddie and Elliot got together. He wants me to run a check on a prospective replacement to ensure they’re neither a closet straight nor a Manchester United supporter.” He chuckles as he shakes his head. “Highly irregular, of course, but I’ll see what I can do. He’s an annoying little sod, but I really couldn’t risk him sharing with somebody who follows Man U. Chelsea would be acceptable or even, God forbid, Spurs.” He smiles and gives me a wink.
“How do you mean, check them out? I don’t follow.”
He doesn’t say anything for a moment as he gazes at me, and I wonder if he’s even going to acknowledge the question. He leans forward slightly.
“My work allows me to run background checks on people.”
Background checks. Somehow I don’t think he’s talking about credit worthiness. He was in the army, then the police, and is now some kind of civil servant, which is pretty vague. I’ve not asked him about his work because I’ve not wanted to appear nosey, but now I can’t not ask.
“What is it you do?”
“I’m a humble civil servant.”
“Humble? There’s nothing humble about you.”
James’ answering laugh is rich and rumbly. “Perhaps not.” His laughter dies and the scrutiny’s back in his eyes. “My role is primarily advisory. I work closely with the police, security agencies and various government departments and their idiot ministers. I’ve signed the Official Secrets Act, so if I told you anything more, I’d have to kill you.”
“You sound like James Bond rather than James Campion.”A gay James Bond…I shift in my seat.
“Nothing so glamorous. Much of my time is taken up with very long, very dull meetings. And before you ask, no I haven’t.”
“No you haven’t what?” I don’t know what he’s talking about.
“I haven’t run a background check on you.”
“What?” I start.
“Isn’t that what you’re wondering? It never crossed my mind because I know all I need to about you. And I never will, that’s a promise.”
“Even if you did, you wouldn’t find—”
The rest of my words are cut off with the arrival of our food and drinks.
The waiter’s as blond and handsome as the barista, in fact he’s a clone. It’s another mean thought, especially as the guy’s smile is friendly rather than flirty. He’s only doing his job.
I’ll leave a decent tip.
