Chapter 1

Martha's view….

Martha stood alone in the house. She looked around, it was a beautiful day outside and she had wanted to get a serious tan for sometime. She knew that Irene, Sally and Leah wouldn't be home until late that night and that she wasn't expecting any guests all day, so she figured why not. Martha walked to the front door and locked it, smiling to herself. She then locked the other doors in the house and headed outside with a magazine and some sun tanning lotion. Martha peered around the backyard, checking for any signs of neighbours at home. She didn't see any, so in an instant she slipped her clothes off and lay down on the banana lounge.

This will get me a goooood tan, with no-one to disturb me; I could be here all day…. She thought to herself. Ahhh… a perfect Summer Bay tan… Martha looked down at her pale skin and smiled; in just a few hours she would be tanned as though she was born on a beach.

Martha put her sunglasses on and laid her head back, just when she was relaxing she heard someone clear their throat and as she looked up she smacked her head on the clothesline.

"Miss McKenzie…." The sound of the voice coming from over the fence was enough to make her face go bright red and for her to grab her clothes.

"I was just… umm… err…" Martha stumbled as the eyes of the arrogant police officer stared over the fence. "Wait, I don't have to explain myself to you." She rolled her eyes and got up from the banana lounge and began putting her clothes back on. "Are you done looking?" The officer smiled and continued.

"I am going to have to take you down to the station, for violation of clothing conduct." Martha dropped her jaw and glared at the man.

"You aren't serious are you?" She stared at him with her hands on her hips.

"I am afraid so." The officer tried hard to strain his laughter and then continued. "You're umm…" The officer pointed at her shirt and Martha again went bright red in the face as she realised her strapless top had fallen down.

Jack's view…

Jack giggled to himself as he walked into the station with Martha following closely behind. She hadn't said a word since they had left her house.

"Just wait here madam, I will be right back." The smug police officer tipped his hat at Martha and she stuck her finger up at him. Jack smiled back; "Thanks!" He headed for the desk and kept glancing back at Martha. Jack struggled to keep a straight face as Martha waited anxiously and nervously. "Thanks, McGrath." Jack headed over to Martha and sat down.

"I haven't pressed charges of yet… but I would like to warn you of what kind of damage that can cause to a person." Jack nodded at Martha and waited for her response.



"Oh, shut up, you liked it." She whacked him on the shoulder and stood up.

"Oh, Miss McKenzie…" He began but Martha cut him off.

"Just call me Martha and stop pretending. I am not royalty. I will say, you are a right royal pain in the…" She stopped and waited for the detective to walk past.

"Well, Martha, I was wondering… considering I was so generous in not laying charges, would you like to come to dinner?" He smiled at her and flicked his eyebrows.

"For one, never ever flick your eyebrows at me again. Two, I would rather starve than have dinner with an arrogant jerk like you." She smirked at him and they walked out of the police station.

"Well, I suppose we can skip dinner… seeing we have already seen each other naked. Well, I have seen you anyway." Jack erupted into laughter as he remembered Martha's face.

"Don't laugh about it, I needed a tan." She stopped and pointed her finger at Jack. "And… if you ever dare tell anyone, I swear…" she trailed off as Jack continued laughing.

"You needed a tan? This just gets better and better!" Martha winced her eyes and sighed as Jack continued laughing.

"Shut up!" She hit him on the shoulder again and he calmed down.

"Fine, but how about dinner?" He flicked his eyebrows again.

"Didn't I tell you never to do that to me again? And… I would rather starve!" Martha smirked and began to walk off.

"Hey Martha, I might hold you to that." Martha pretended to laugh and turned back around, but then realised something.

"Hey, Mr Big-shot Constable, for someone who is so perfect with the law… what were you doing at my neighbours house?" Jack smiled and Martha waited for a response.

"Haha… I live there. I suppose that is perfect, we can see each other as much as we want." Martha glared at Jack and walked off. "How about tomorrow night?" He sarcastically questioned Martha.

"Yeah, no… I am actually planning on moving houses tomorrow night." She sarcastically joked and headed home. Jack smiled; he liked this side of Martha. Actually, he liked this Martha. She wasn't like any other girl he had met… there was something rather different about her.