Chapter Twenty-Two

At work the next day Marian did her best to avoid Guy for as long as possible. She was not sure how she would react when she saw him again. They had not discussed their relationship. Were they just dating? Where they boyfriend and girlfriend? Were they meant to keep such things a secret in the office? How did he feel about their kiss? Would she ask him for another kiss or be shy and awkward because of the office incident?

She was careful to arrive at an odd time and to take the back staircase. She wanted the next time that they met each other to be in her kitchen where she would feel more in control. She snuck down the hallway and poked her head around the corner which lead to Guy's office. There was only Allan there, she would dash passed.

"Maz", Allan said in an unnecessarily loud tone of voice.

"Hello Allan", Marian called to him, trying to sound breezy as she charged passed. If she could just get to her office then she could lock herself in for the morning. Then she would simply leave when she was sure that Guy was not about. However, it appeared that getting to her office was going to be more of a challenge than she had anticipated.

"Oi, Maz. Wait a second!" Allan knew that he was still being very loud, so loud in fact that Marian wondered whether he was trying to attract someone's attention or was just losing his hearing due to his penchant for rock music. Unfortunately for Marian, it was the former; Allan had been ordered to keep an eye out for Marian and to detain her on sight – and there was no way to reach Marian's office without going passed Guy's. Allan wasn't sure what his boss wanted with Marian or why he couldn't just call her into his office but after what he had allowed to happen yesterday he was not going to question his orders … not for a few days at least.

It was with a sigh that Marian realised that she would have to stop and turn to face him. "Yes?" She asked, trying not to snap. She became even more anxious and excited as she saw Guy's door swing open to reveal the man himself.

Standing there, framed in the door way she could not help but be reminded of just how big he was. He was cleanly shaved, and had on a perfectly fitted dark blue suit which made his eyes stand out even more. Eyes, which she noticed, were twinkling as he strode over to her.

"He wanted to see you", Allan put in helpfully before pretending to hear the phone ring, answer it and take notes whilst keeping a surreptitious eye on the scene unfolding before him.

"You did?" Marian looked up at Guy as he stood before her. She tried to appear calm and breezy. She had read his email that morning and it had relaxed her a little, she had known that he would not turn down her challenge but was pleased to see that he had taken it in such good part. However, that did not mean that she was ready to see him just yet.

"I did", he agreed, trying to look stern although the side of his mouth was tugged by a smile. "Do you have a moment?" He stood to the side, gestured her into his office with one hand and placed the other on her lower back. It certainly wasn't a question, but there was nothing odd about that. There was nothing seductive about that. There was no reason why her knees should have all but buckled and that her mouth should have gone dry. But both things had happened and what was worse, from the look on Guy's face she was fairly sure that he knew exactly what he was doing to her.

She might have thought of something to say, some clever way of getting out of being alone with him until the appointed time when she would be ready, but she was not sure that her mouth would have worked even if she could have got her brain to function and so she just walked into the office, trying to put a little more swing in her step than normal. It was a good job that she had chosen one of her nice new ponte dresses that day, even thought she would have to change before they started to bake.

As she entered the office she looked around, everything was exactly as it had been the day before except for the fact that there were no documents on his desk. She waited to see whether he would indicate that she should sit.

Guy swallowed as he watched her walk in, enjoying the view but missing the feel of her dress beneath his fingers. He followed her into the office and was sure to close and lock the door, he did not want interruptions. Seeing that she was not sure where she should sit – in the lounge area or in front of the desk – and therefore what type of meeting this was, Guy motioned her over to the settee and sat down next to her.

"I got your message last night", he started, pouring her a cup of coffee from the cafetiere he had waiting on the table.

"I know, you replied", Marian smiled and took the beverage, glad to have something to hold and stir.

"True", he smiled as he helped himself to a drink. "You are right that it should not take us more than five minutes to complete the work and so we should do something else and I think that your bake off idea sounds excellent".

"I am glad that you approve", Marian said trying to ignore how close he was to her and the fact that she had been searching this place just the other day.

He was really going around the rigging here but it would be worth it when he could get to the point. "I was just wondering what made you come up with the idea".

"The idea?" Marian started a little. He didn't sound angry, but it would certainly have been easier for her if he had not asked her any questions. She could not tell him that she had wanted to have an excuse to spend more time with him but couldn't come right out and say it. Nor could she tell him that she had been trying to think of an activity which would put him at a decided disadvantage. So, she said quietly, "We talked about it the other day, don't you remember?" and hoped that it would suffice.

"Of course I remember. I was just not aware that you were thinking of doing it so soon", Guy explained taking a sip of his coffee to hide his smirk; she was reacting exactly as he had predicted.

"I wasn't. I just thought that it would be a good idea", Marian was really uncomfortable now. She was torn between wanting to run out of their as fast as her legs could carry her and wanting to rip his clothes off.

"Ah", Guy rubbed his chin and leant back so that he could examine her at his leisure. She fidgeted a little. Marian felt strange; she was so near someone she had been kissing only the day before and yet she did not know how to act.

"And you arrived at an odd time this morning", Guy continued, seeing that she was not going to say anything else unless prompted.

"I am not late", Marian replied defensively.

"I never said that you were. But you are a quarter of an hour later than you normally come in and at a time when no one else tends to be about. The early birds are already in the offices and the ones who come in on time aren't here yet. Any thoughts on why that might be?" He asked.

"No", Marina lied. It did not escape her that she was in the office in which she had been spying the day before. He had been able to see through her lies then too.

"Ah, well you see I thought that it might be because you were trying to avoid me", Guy said nonchalantly.

Marian's look of shock was unconvincing, to say the least.

Guy just smiled. "You see, I thought that that might be the reason why you also suggested that we meet later at your house for a bake off, so that I would be on the back foot as it were and you would not have to feel at a disadvantage".

Marian now looked genuinely shocked. She could not deny it, he had seen right through her plan.

"I was wondering why you be feeling so strange that you would feel the need to even the playing field and then it occurred to me", Guy started but paused to grin at her wickedly. She hoped that he would not mention the break in yesterday and much to her relief he did not. He could have done, could have made her squirm but thought better of it. He gave her a way out of it: "We have not defined our relationship".

"No, we have not", Marian said, gratefully grasping at the lifeline that he had offered. They both knew that it was a lie but she could live with that as long she did not lose face in front of him right then.

It was now Guy's turn to be nervous although he did his best to hide it. His love life over the last few years had hardly been frugal but he had never before had a serious relationship. He leant in close to her, Marian could feel his hot breath on her cheek and it made her feel giddy.

If he was going to do this, and he was sure that he wanted to, Guy was going to make damn sure that there could be no misinterpretations. "I want to be your boyfriend. I want you to be my girlfriend. And I want to kiss you". He announced, boldly.

Marian gulped. Although she had been hoping that he would say those words to her for years and their relationship over the last few weeks had seemed to be heading in that direction, she had still doubted that she would ever really hear him say those words. For a moment, she thought that she must be dreaming and was about to pinch herself in an effort to wake up before deciding that if it was a dream she was going to enjoy it to its fullest.

"Okay", she whispered and his mouth closed over hers. It started off as the sweet tender kiss, lasting only a few seconds longer than the one from the night before. Guy was just pulling away when Marian leaned over so their lips remained connected. The sensation was incredible. Guy had tried to be polite, to allow her the space that she needed but it appeared that Marian's own lust and need was taking over. She placed her hand on his arm and slowly moved it up to his shoulder. That was all that it took.

Guy took her into his arms and dragged her to him until she was in his lap, her own arms wrapped around his neck, returning his kisses with ardour as she felt his tongue flicker across her lips, gently teasing them and desiring better access. She granted it with a whimper and was lost.

No one had ever kissed Marian like that before. Hell, no one had ever returned Guy's kisses with such unschooled yearning before either. The two of them all but melted together on his settee all thoughts of coffee and evasion forgotten.

In the bathroom attached to Guy's office Marian attempted to make herself presentable again. Her lipstick was badly smudged and her hair was dishevelled from where Guy had been running his hands through it. She grinned like a fool and it was all that she could do to keep from bouncing around the small room as she brushed her hair, still able to feel the tingles all over her body.

It was saying something when a girl's heavy duty make out session could be interrupted by a troll and she was still happy. Just as Guy had been about to lay her down on the settee they heard a rattling at the door handle and the angry voice of Vaisey.

"Damn it", Guy hissed as he lifted her off his lap, then feeling around for her brief case and whispered to Marian to get in the bathroom and lock the door. She had heard him scrabbling about – no doubt getting rid of her coffee cup – and opening the door to his boss.

As Marian got herself ready her curiosity got the better of her and she pressed her ear against the door. Just because she trusted Guy, there was no reason not to practice her spying skills while she had the chance; she had the feeling that she would be needing them soon.

Guy had wiped off the worst of Marian's lipstick as he shoved her into the bathroom, got rid of the evidence of her presence and opened the door for Vaisey. He could have killed the man and was sure that not a court in the land would have convicted him but he knew that he had to bide his time. This knowledge did not stop his hands from itching to wrap themselves around his throat though, as the vile being entered, red faced, and sniffed the air.

Vaisey looked around the room and his eyes focused on the door to the bathroom, so Gisborne had a girl in there did he? He could smell her perfume in the air, it was light and flowery and he was fairly certain that it was Marian's. Well, if the boy was ploughing the old head's daughter, good for him … just so long as she didn't start having any influence over him.

He found it a little irksome that this meant that he could not speak freely with Gisborne but knew that there would be time tomorrow and so just settled for ruining his morning and saying, "Just came to wish you good morning Gizzy, I know how much you enjoy my company".

Guy gritted his teeth and said nothing; he had not missed the look that the older man had given the bathroom door.

"Well, see you later. Oh and tell your girlfriend that if the price is right she can visit me afterwards", with that he left.

In the bathroom Marian fumed but knew better than to go out to yell at him, that would just give away her identity, if it was not yet known. That comment had clearly been aimed to see who was in there and how much Guy cared about them.

Guy to his credit, did the right thing and did not make any sound or movement although in his head he played the fantasy over in his mind. He was in charge of everything, Vaisey was in the ground and he and Marian were having a picnic on his grave. It was a nice fantasy, especially the part when Marian took the chocolate sauce and …

The bathroom door opened a crack and when Marian had triple checked that the coast was clear she came out.