Authors: Doyle MacBrayne
Jane nodded and looked to her mother, “Mom, what do you think?”
She scoffed, “I think Susannah has done an amazing job, and if she’s ready to move on then we celebrate. I want James and Susannah to have children, and I want to spoil them.”
Gray spoke up, “I understand that I’m in need of a receptionist Susannah. Benefits included. Would you be interested?”
Susannah beamed, “Absolutely!”
He grinned, “Excellent, the current receptionist has been sexually harassing me. It’s been an ordeal.”
Jane narrowed her eyes, “You wish Poole.”
He grinned and sighed, “Yes, I suppose I do.”
Mrs. Austen spoke up, “Well that’s settled then.”
Gray held Jane close and whispered, “I love your family Jane.”
She grinned, “I’m pretty partial to them too.”
James leaned over to Mrs. Austen, “How does this sound to you?”
She shook her head, “I think Helen and I shall enjoy the cottage, I appreciate your willingness to move.”
He nodded, “Certainly. We’ll move your clothes over for you, any pieces of furniture you’d like moved as well? Do you want your bedroom furniture moved?”
She shook her head, “No, it’s much too big. Just the clothes and my bathroom, the rest will work itself out, don’t you think?”
Jane grinned, “True, we can move furniture once you and Helen get a feel for the space. You want your desk though, right?”
She shook her head. “No, I really like it in the office.” She moved and winced slightly, “We can make arrangement later. Just move my clothes for now.”
Gray spoke up, “I should return to work for a while, Susannah would you like to come and meet Mrs. Fairfax. She can get you in to the system.”
Susannah raised her eyebrows, “We’ll be back before the surgery?”
Gray nodded, “Of course.”
She hugged Mrs. Austen, “I’ll be back, unless you’d like me to stay.”
Mrs. Austen shook her head, “Nonsense. I’ll see you this evening sweetheart.”
James leaned down and gently hugged her and kissed her cheek, “Love you, ma’am.” Once again Gray noticed that he said ma’am more like mom. Gray kissed Jane and patted Mrs. Austen’s hand before leaving.
A few hours later she received a text from Susannah, “Where are the envelopes?”
She replied, “Bottom left drawer. You’ll need to reorganize the desk; Michelle had an extraordinary filing system.”
Susannah texted back, “Thank God. Found tape in filing cabinet, under s for scotch?”
Jane chuckled, “No, s for sticky, staples under ‘a’ for attachy things.”
While her mother was in surgery, Gray took the opportunity to take Jane down to the cafeteria to talk. He held her hand and when they sat down in the booth he sat close to her and finally whispered, “I get the sense that you are reluctant about our upcoming nuptials.”
“Damn Gray, for someone who seems to love romantic language you really don’t live it. I’m not saying that’s a problem but still…”
He grinned, “You don’t think the future generations will enjoy telling this story?”
She rolled her eyes, “It’s a little better than you knocked me up and we got married in Vegas.” She pushed the salad around on her plate. “My mother will take a hold of this idea and become obsessed with it. It’s not healthy, and I don’t want her to turn this into a circus. Also, I would like a date dammit. A real date. Movie, dinner, something along those lines. I don’t even know what you do for fun.”
Gray grinned, “For fun? I don’t have fun, or at least I haven’t had fun until I met you. I work; I read for work, I watch television for work.” He leaned back, “That was Lizzie’s greatest complaint. I never seemed to turn it off.”
“Before work, what did you do for fun?”
Gray thought about that, “I used to ski, but I would never do that now with my knee.”
Jane sighed, “What was the last movie you saw in a movie theater?”
He thought about that, “Die Hard maybe? We were in college.”
“You haven’t been to a movie since college?” she asked incredulously.
“I get out Jane.” He said petulantly and then grinned, “I don’t suppose the symphony counts?”
Jane shrugged, “Did you go for your enjoyment or for business?”
“Enjoyment?” Gray’s voice lilted up hoping it was the right answer.
Jane shook her head, “Oh dear. I thought Patrick was stodgy. You realize you can’t buy time.”
“I enjoy my work Jane. I love what I do. Do you consider painting work?”
“No. Ok, I will concede that your work is your passion.” The tone of her voice was almost resigned and made his heart clench.
“Jane, I thought you understood that you are my passion now.”
“No Gray, it’s ok. Look, dating, courting, whatever, would give us time to figure out how we fit into each other’s lives. Could we just try that first and not worry about the future right now?” Jane looked up hopefully.
Gray put his arm around her and drew her close, “Yes, of course.”
After midnight, Gray drove Jane back to her house. Her mother had made it through surgery and was resting peacefully. James and Susannah followed them in their car and in the driveway they said goodnight. Susannah hugged Gray, and kissed his cheek, thanking him for everything.
Gray looked at Jane, surprised by her sudden warmth. Jane grinned and pulled him in the house. “She’s thrilled to have a job of her own.” When Jane closed the door she pushed him against it, “and she’s very happy that you make me so happy.”
She stood on tiptoe and kissed him. It started out gentle and quickly turned into a passionate kiss. Gray pulled her closer, “Ms. Eyre, you make me very happy too.”
He kissed her forehead and chin and then nuzzled her neck, trailing kisses from her ear down her neck. She threaded her fingers through his hair and tilted her head giving him more access.
“Jane, I made a promise to your mother,” he breathed.
Jane froze, “What kind of promise?”
“I would be patient.” He pulled away and took her hand in his, brushing it against his lips, “She made me promise that we wouldn’t rush into marriage because we had to.”
“Had to?” She stepped back, “Oh my God Gray, if you think I’m waiting until my wedding night you’re nuts. You turn around and go buy some condoms, because I’m not willing to wait. Are we clear?”
Gray chuckled and pulled her tight against him, “I’m so glad you said that.”
Jane’s stomach flipped, “Oh.” She looked up at him shyly, “I’m going to shower. I didn’t have a chance this morning.”
He grinned, “Care for company?”
Jane’s looked up from under her long lashes, and nodded slowly.
In the morning she woke up, limbs tangled with Gray’s and grinning stupidly. Her body was completely relaxed and she hated the idea of leaving his warm embrace. Last night had been the most amazing, romantic, passionate experience of her life. Weeks of teasing each other had culminated in to a night of ardent lovemaking. Gray had whispered passionate promises of a life happily ever after.
His fingers traced down the curve of her spine cupping her buttock and moving her closer.
“Good morning, my love,” he murmured in her hair.
“Do you feel like running this morning?” She asked against his warm chest. Her leg was thrown over his waist, and her arm crossed over his chest with her hand tucked under his shoulder.
He groaned, “No.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead, “Is it alright if I tell you now that I only run on weekends.”
Jane squeezed him tighter, “Yes. I expect complete honesty Mr. Poole.”
He quickly rolled over and pinned her against the mattress, “In that case, I will tell you that I prefer this in the morning.” His knees pushed against her thighs, and she felt his arousal against her belly.
“Oh.” Jane said huskily, “I could live with that.”
Unfortunately the phone rang interrupting them. Jane answered it and sat up abruptly when she heard Detective Goold’s voice on the phone.
“Ms. Austen, I need to come by and speak to you this morning. It would help if James, Susannah and your mother were there too.” His voice was polite but insistent.
“Certainly, but my mother is in hospital. She fell yesterday morning and had hip surgery last night.”
“Really. What time did she fall?”
“Morning, um, maybe, I don’t know…” she turned to Gray, “What time do you think mom fell?”
Gray answered, “Seven thirty.”
Goold spoke up, “Is Mr. Poole there with you?”
“Yes.” Jane answered and felt her cheeks burn.
There was the briefest pause before Goold continued, “Have you been together since that time?”
“No sir. Mr. Poole and I spent the day and morning together, and then when I went in the ambulance to the hospital with my mother he went to work. He came by at lunch, and then after work.” She answered. “May I ask why?”
“Astrid was found shot in her home this morning.”
“Oh my God.” Jane froze. “When did it happen?”
“Between nine and eleven last night.” Goold answered.
“We were at the hospital, all of us I mean. Gray, James, Susannah, Helen, and myself. Mother’s surgery started at eight thirty and we left right before midnight.” Jane answered.
“I’ll call the hospital then.” He said matter-of-fact, “There’s no need for us to meet.”
“I would like to know what happened, when you know. I mean…” Jane stopped.
“What do you mean?” Goold asked.
“I guess I was wondering if it was one of Richard’s partners or just a random act of violence.” Jane said quietly.
“It wasn’t random.” Goold sighed, “I’ll let you know when we have some answers.”
Jane thanked him and hung up. She looked at Gray, “Astrid was shot last night. She’s dead.”
Gray blinked, “I take it this happened while we were in the hospital?”
“Yes.” She answered, “We should let James and Susannah know.”
Gray groaned, “I hate telephones, Jane. I’m beginning to understand why your mother detests the contraptions.”
Jane giggled and called over to the cottage and told James and Susannah what Detective Goold had said. James suggested she call Ben and see if he could find out more.
Gray waited until she hung up the phone before he pulled her close, “Call him later Jane. We still have some time for us this morning.”
Jane’s breath hitched, there was no way she could refuse him and he knew it. He made love like a man possessed, like a man who needed to possess her, nothing like the previous evening. This was aggressive, thrilling and Jane had no idea that she was capable of feeling so much for one person.
When he left, he swept her into his arms and kissed her chastely. “I’m spending the night, Ms. Eyre.”
Her knees nearly buckled and he chuckled, “We might even manage a dinner out, somewhere other than the cafeteria.”
“No, not until Mother is back home,” she answered.
“As you wish.” He kissed her nose and drove away.
Susannah’s car followed his and James came into the kitchen, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
“You’ve got a rosy glow about you Janie.”
“Shut up, James.” She threw a kitchen towel at him, “I’m going to spend the day with Mom, and I’ll let you know what Ben finds out.”
James smirked, and nodded his head. “If it matters, I like Gray.”
Jane grinned, “Of course it matters.” She gave James a quick hug before leaving for the hospital.
A month later Detective Goold met with Jane and Mrs. Austen in the dining room of the house. James had built a ramp at the patio door so that she had an entrance and could easily get around on the first floor of the main house.
Jane poured coffee and placed a basket of fresh blueberry muffins within reach. Detective Goold helped himself to a muffin before speaking about Astrid.
“We’ve traced the gun used to several other cases. The guy is a professional. We think, but we aren’t positive, that Astrid hired him to kill her husband and then didn’t pay.” Goold said.
Mrs. Austen clucked her tongue, “That sounds like Astrid.”
Goold cocked his head, “Does it?”
“Oh my yes, she once ordered custom curtains to be made, then decided she didn’t want them only to have her maid purchase them from the decorator at a ridiculously low price.”
Goold nodded, “It appears that she took out a substantial amount of cash, probably half of what she owed him.” He scratched his neck, “The thing is Richard had borrowed against his life insurance policy, so she killed him for nothing.”