The Hard Way

sneaking up on people?”
Walker held his arms up in surrender. “I’m sorry! I didn’t think you’d jump. Please, forgive me?” Again, his concern appeared sincere.
She waited for her heart rate to slow. “It’s all right.” She laughed and closed the boot. “So, what did you want to say just now?”
He looked scared and shuffled his feet. “Well, it’s all gone to shit now, hasn’t it? I might as well go back and start over. Shit! I hate this crap.”
“What crap? What’re you talking about?”
“I was all confident just now. I was going to ask if you want to join me for a beer, or something. I was going to be all smooth, like, but now I’ve gone and botched it.”
Miller smiled. “You’re asking me out?”
“It looks like it, yeah. I know a decent bar nearby if you fancy it?”
Walking round to the driver’s side, she waited until she opened her door before replying. “No, I don’t fancy a bar tonight. Sorry!” She noted his disappointed expression. “I’m trying to avoid bars at the moment, but you’re welcome to join me for a beer at my place. I’ve got cold ones in the fridge. Best I can do, I’m afraid.”
His gorgeous face lit up. “You’re on. My car’s back there, I’ll follow you?”
“I was going to offer you a lift, but–”
“I’m on call tonight, so I need my motor with me. Give me a sec, I’ll be right with you.” He strutted off.
His strut made her grin. Such a lad, she thought. The dash clock said it was 21:25. The night was but young. And Miller was looking forward to an energetic evening with the lovely Luke Walker.

13
“So, what’s it like working with the legendary Amanda Hayes?” Walker held Miller in his lap tighter. “I bet you’ve learned loads from her.”
Miller sat up, her TV on in the background. “She’s a workaholic. That’s why she’s so legendary. The woman lives and breathes the force. Don’t get me wrong, I put more than my fair share of hours in, but Hayes, man she obsesses. She’s already on her second divorce, no children. I can sum her private life up in two words: she reads. Like, a lot. It drove her second husband mad, apparently. She either works, or she reads.”
Finishing her can of Carling, Miller placed it on the coffee table in front of her. “Anyway, enough shop talk. Are you ready for another?” By another, she meant squash for Walker, who’d already drunk his limit of one can of lager. She’d polished off three cans already, not that she was counting.
“Nah, you’re all right. Don’t want to go into the station in the morning with a squashover, now, do I? What’ll the boys think?”
She chuckled to herself, unfolded his arm from around her waist and stood from the couch. They had some banal action-drama programme on in the background. Whenever he stroked her arm, he sent shivers down her. She loved it. “I’ll be right back.”
Grabbing her hand, Walker pulled her towards him and forced her to sit on his lap again, which Miller pretended to fight against, until he leaned forward and kissed her. With his strong hands on her waist, she let go and enjoyed him.
Opening her eyes, her palm on his stubbly cheek, she stared into his blue eyes. “Hi!” Was the only thing she thought of to say.
“Hi!” He seemed equally nervous.
Instead of getting up, she leaned forward this time, her lips meeting his. As she kissed him, deeper and longer each time, she thought how she’d never felt like this before.
Miller felt safe with Walker, protected, which was a strange sensation, as even her husband had never made her feel safe. Miller was strong, in both body and mind. She didn’t need protecting by any man. So, why did she feel so feminine sat on Walker’s lap?
His hands began to wander. This was the part she dreaded. “Wait!” She pulled away from him, remained sat on his lap and stared into his lust-filled eyes. “I have something I need to tell you, before we go any further.”
He pulled a surprised face. “You’re not a man, are you? You’re not going to whip something bigger than mine out from between your legs?”
Miller liked him, liked his sense of humour, his body, everything. Walker was the first guy she’d liked since her marriage had broken down. Her fling with Billy, a stockbroker, didn’t count. Now was crunch time.
After she moved into this awful, tiny flat, and after the divorce, she tried dating on three occasions. All had ended badly. Miller was by no means a girly-girl, in any sense of the term. “Of course not. I might even be too much woman for you to handle.”
“Ouch! Then what’s up?” He tried lifting her T-shirt.
“Stop it! I’m being serious. I have something I need to tell you.”
Walker pretended to zip his mouth, wiped it from smirking to serious. “Go on. I’m listening. I’m sorry! You have my undivided attention.”
Now she had him quiet, she didn’t want to go through with it. “God! This is so embarrassing. I’m sorry to even tell you this.”
“Whatever it is, Rach, don’t worry. I’m not going to laugh, I promise.”
She believed him. “I’ve only been with my husband. We met at school. We married when I was twenty. He had his career, I had mine. So, I haven’t had much experience with, you know, other men? Oh, and a guy called Billy. That’s it.”
Walker wiped his brow with the back of his hand. “Is that it? Phew! I thought you were going to say something serious. None of this bothers me. We can take this as fast or slow as you like. You’re in charge, okay?”
When he started unbuttoning her jeans, she wanted to run, but stayed, as he gently tugged them down. He stood and pulled her T-shirt over her head, leaving her in just her bra and knickers. It was erotic, sensual, having him feast his eyes on her.
“You are beautiful.”
Calling