Author's Note:- Rated for sexual content in later chapters and adult themes. Episode based "Breaking Glass" S3 EPs 5/6. Not mine and never will be.
Nothing but the best Chapter 10
"The management would like to apologise for the starter confusion obviously we know there was a distinct risk to your companions health." George said when Grace and Boyd returned to the table and the he had served up their main course. "They'd like you to accept this bottle of wine for the inconvenience."
"Tell them thank you." Grace smiled as Boyd eyed the bottle in the silver cooler as it was set at the table.
"That's not the wine we've been drinking we ordered red."
"Yes sir but this is a new vintage just in that the management assures is top quality."
"So they're using their apology to use us as..."
"Peter it's a nice gesture just leave it, it's nice to try something new don't you think?" Grace interrupted as the waiter left the table and she lowered her voice to a sultry whisper. "I'd say in the coming months we've a lot of experimenting to do let's start with the wine."
"You are going to be able to talk me into anything from now on you realise that don't you?"
"Give it till we get back to work on Monday and you'll happily start disagreeing with me I've no doubt about that."
"Yeah maybe but if we stopped arguing at work I'd miss it. It's always really turned me on and I know it has turned you on too." Boyd smiled loving the way his words had just as much affect on her as hers had had on him.
"Umm indeed." Grace agreed kissing him again before turning her attention to the main course in front of her. "Eat your food it'll get cold."
"Impossible with the heat around this table."
"That's it detective keep arguing, the more you show what an uncultured Neanderthal you are the quicker she'll see she doesn't belong with you." Alan muttered sipping on the one drink he'd ordered since arriving as he watched George bring the wine to the table and Boyd instantly appear to start disagreeing with the young waiter.
He'd had to sit through three songs and twenty nauseating minutes of the other man moving Grace around the dance floor his hands on her body, her clearly putting up with the invasion of her personal space but not enjoying it. She was obviously completely uncomfortable but she insisted on putting herself in the position by moving so close to him. Even now with their food on the table she was kissing Boyd, smiling at him, clearly joking about something it was sickening but he knew it was all an act.
"Oh, what is it Boyd? Wine not to your liking I wouldn't expect it to be it requires having a level of sophistication you would never understand." He said quietly as he saw Boyd lift the bottle out of the cooler and show it to Grace.
"Did they say that was a new line they'd brought in? I did hear that right didn't I?" Grace said quietly as she looked at the bottle in Boyd's hand and for a second couldn't hide her surprise.
"Yeah that's what he said." Boyd confirmed looking at her for a second his eyes narrowing. "Grace? Gracie what is it?"
"Nothing, sorry it's just I'm sure I've had that a few times, not here obviously but it doesn't really strike me as a vintage they would be claiming was new. They probably just mean new to them."
"Why do I think you're not saying something?"
"I'm not, I mean I'm not not saying something." Grace smiled pushing aside the thoughts that were germinating in her mind and turning her attention back to the wine. "Are you going to pour it then and we can establish exactly how sorry they actually are?"
"I'm not sure I believe you but we'll talk about that again later." Boyd replied pulling the two clean white wine glasses the waiter had left on the table towards him and pouring the chilled wine. "Clearly now very sorry. Jesus Grace that's terrible."
"It's not terrible it's...unique and expensive. I didn't think you'd like it though I just didn't want to influence you."
"Expensive it maybe, unique it certainly is in the sense it's uniquely awful."
"Just try and enjoy the fact it's free." Grace laughed glancing around the room knowing he saw her do it but pretending she hadn't noticed.
"No. Sorry if they wanted to apologise they should have just given us a bottle of what we had ordered ourselves." Boyd sighed waving his hand toward their waiter and waiting until he came to the table. "Could I speak to the manager please?"
"Why?" George asked his immediate reaction to the question only increasing Grace's uneasiness as she saw Boyd bristle.
"If I wanted to discuss it with you I wouldn't have asked for the manager would I? Now can you ask him to come over please."
"Sir if there's an issue I'm sure I can deal with it without needing to involve the manager he's a very busy..."
"Get me the manager or I will get up and find him myself." Boyd said firmly reaching for Grace's hand under the table to reassure her and he felt her tense.
"Yes sir." George replied moving quickly away from the table trying to get to the bar to warn Hayley before actually looking for the manager.
"Professor we have a problem. Doctor Foley's companion has asked to speak to the manager. George has tried to put him off and he said he will stall for a little while but the guy's really determined. What do you want me to do?"
"Shit." Alan muttered under his breath before turning toward the young girl and trying to look relaxed. "It's fine Hayley I'll leave them to it for now I'm sure the management will smooth things over call by my office on Monday and we'll see what we can do about polishing that thesis of yours."
"But Professor what if..."
"Everything will be fine Hayley Doctor Foley is very good at reigning in the detective she'll calm things." Alan interrupted before getting up and moving toward the door pausing only for a second to look back at Grace's table where her and Boyd were talking. For a fleeting second he thought she might have seen him but as she continued talking as he left he assured himself she hadn't. He'd have to think again, come up with something more subtle because there was no way he was letting her stay with that man.
"Grace? Gracie what the hell is going on that's twice now you've completely zoned out on me mid conversation." Boyd asked his concern peaking this time as she seemed to have her attention diverted then snap back to him as if nothing had happened.
"I thought I saw someone I knew that's all. Please don't create scene about the wine they probably thought it would be a nice gesture." Grace replied hoping the fact she was almost sure she's just seen Alan McKenzie leave the building wasn't obvious. It had to be someone who looked vaguely like him, he was on the other side of a dimly lit room, she was already on edge because of the wine choice which was one he ordered repeatedly when they'd dined together and she'd always disliked. Various parts of the evening all falling into place as she saw the manager walk toward them she said a silent prayer it was all just an innocent mix-up and in a few moments they'd get back to enjoying their evening.