Lone Wolves

Chapter one

"No no mate. I'm waiting. And I'm telling you they're late." Mack drawled in his Scottish brogue on the phone, checking his nails as he waited in the lay-by on the outskirts of Emmerdale on the road to Connelton. "I knew this was a mistake, should've just come yerself. No I'm serious. Look if they're no' here in 10, the deals off. Alreet? Look I told yer already...HM JMS1" he reeled off the number plate before he hung up, furious as he kicked the tires of the van he'd nicked from Jimmy.

"And they said, there goes the last great American dynasty." Jaime Tate sang along, driving a van she wasn't quite used to up the Connelton road looking for the pick up contact. Drumming her fingers on the steering wheel she was surprised at how excited she was, finally being trusted to do her own job. "Who knows, if she never showed...ah there he is." She saw Mack kicking gravel at the side of the road. Pulling up behind his van, she jumped down. "Mr Dog I'm presuming?" She smiled brightly, giving him the once over approvingly. "Definitely got the hot part right." She grinned. He was caught off guard, having expected someone else. "I weren't expecting a woman." "Oh really? You do know we've been allowed to drive for at least a century now darling? Bound to come across a woman driver eventually. Excited to be your first though. Jaime Marchant." She extended her hand, deciding to use her dad's name considering how close they were to Emmerdale, she didn't want to risk it getting back to her mum. Not with things getting back to normal...ish...between the two of them.

She took the time to admire the height of the stranger she was introducing herself to, gotta be at least 6'4 she thought to herself. "Now... this is when you give me your name? I'm not calling you hot dog for the rest of our encounter." "I'm no' telling you ma name until I know you're good for it." He matched her gaze, instantly feeling drawn to her. "Oh I am darling. But I suppose for now...Braveheart." "Braveheart? You know that's a wee bit racist hen?" He smirked. "To reduce me to ma Scottish heritage?" "Oh I'm dreadfully sorry darling. Consider me suitably chastised. Now...shall we get on?" She turned to her van, opening up the back so he could see the plasma TVs. "Ten of your finest flat screens. Must be a big house you're fitting out?" She grinned mischievously. "Aye that's right. I'll have yer over sometime if you want Elsa?" "Elsa? Ohhh...because I'm blonde. Clever aren't you? Though you've just admitted to watching a kids film soo..." She teased, pulling a face. Mack smiled, "You're going to help me unload? Or just keep checking me out?" He lifted the first into his van. "Ummm probably the latter to be honest. Feels like less work...and more enjoyable. But I suppose it's only fair." She lifted one into his van. They carried on loading together, exchanging mutual appreciative glances of each other as they did so.

"Right. That's all in order by the looks of things. Pleasure doing business with you darling." Jaime brushed off her hands on her jeans. "Possibly one of my top 5 moments in a lay-by." "You're quite cheeky aren't yer?" He grinned at her as they sat together on the open tailgate of her van. "It's been said." She replied. "But as pleasant as this has been. All good things must come to an end and all that." She hopped down elegantly. "Better get this back." "That's no' fun hen. Where's yer Bonnie and Clyde spirit?" He jumped down, letting her close the van. "Have to be another time. Might even learn your name then." She grinned, before her face fell seeing a police car approaching.

"Nae bother hen, they'll no' stop..." he said, just as the car came to a slow stop ahead of them. "Oh for god's sake. What the hell do we do now?" Jaime's confident demeanour fell, looking round to see Mack had deserted her. "Stupid arrogant..." Jaime cursed as the older police officer got out of his car and approached. "Afternoon officer, what can I do for you?" She smiled brightly, casually tossing her carefully tonged blonde hair back. "Which of these vehicles is yours?" The police officer said brusquely, not taken in by her attempt to be bubbly and friendly. "This one. I had to pull over, check I got the right address for my next pick up. I'm in drinks distribution. Travers/Marchant? Based out of Hotten West?" She maintained her composure, hoping he didn't notice the mild shake to her hand. "Hmm can you open the back?" "Yeah of course. It's a bit dull though I'm afraid. Empty vans usually are." She opened the back. "And the paperwork?" She strolled to the front, opening the glovebox to get her license and the falsified papers for the fake pickup she was told to use as an excuse. "There we go." She handed them over breezily as he read through them intently before handing them back to her. "So if there's nothing else? I should probably go?" She put the papers back in the glovebox. "One more thing. Whose van is that?" He pointed at the Home James van.

"That one...oh well...that's..." she started to flub a response when suddenly Mack appeared from the bushes, dressed only in his boxers, with his jeans round his ankles. "Come on honey! I'm ready for yer." He pretended to be shocked by the policeman, quickly covering up his not so modest bulge. "Officer hallo! Was just trying to spice things up with ma girl here. God...bit embarrassed now." He caught Jaime's eye as she made no attempt to hide her admiration of his form. Once their eyes met, she quickly recovered. "Darling! I'm so sorry officer. It's our anniversary, he's always been desperate to do it in the open air." Mack grinned at her, pulling up his jeans and popping his t-shirt back on and approaching the two of them. "It was a perfect storm officer. Both our routes happened to go on this road. When I knew it'd be quiet." He wrapped his arms around Jaime's waist to maintain their story. "Can't blame me can yer? I mean look at her." He kissed the back of her neck, sending a thrilling shiver up her spine. "Hmm...As touching as this little romantic moment is...you know sex in public is illegal? Indecent exposure, lewd acts...I could take you both to the station. But I'll let you off with a warning." Jaime felt Mack breathe a sigh of relief, as he rested his head on hers. She sensed he wasn't remaining close to her just to maintain the story any longer, but she certainly wasn't objecting to it.

"Of course you will need to open your van." The officer said. Jaime felt panicked, although she knew she was relatively home dry she didn't want anything to happen to Mack. Despite not even knowing his name at this point. "Is that really necessary. I mean...you know why we're here now." She interrupted, a lot less self-assured than before. Mack unwrapped his arms from around her and seemed strangely relaxed. "Course yer can mate." He opened the van, surprising Jaime as he pulled out paperwork pertaining to the TVs. "I can show you anything else you want officer, though you did get quite the eyeful earlier." He said playfully, flirting slightly. "Don't want to be greedy now do yer?" The policeman seemed to blush slightly, obviously flustered. "Right...well, I'll let you both off with a warning this time. Just keep things to the bedroom in future?" He got in his car and pulled away, leaving them alone.

"Alone again eh?" Mack grinned, standing close to Jaime. "What was that all about?" She looked at him curiously. "If you had paperwork all along...why the little show?" "Little?!? Ouch! That smarts hen. Don't think there was anything little on display. And don't think I didn't see you looking..." he raised his brow. "Thought you'd enjoy the thrill hen. Consider it your bonus for a job well done." She laughed shaking her head, walking to get in her van. He jogged after her and mimed for her to wind down the window. "That it? You didn't even guess ma name?" He grinned, leaning in through the window. "Hmmm...right...Hamish? Angus? Jock? Doug...?" She mused, interrupted by him lifting her chin to kiss her. "Mack." He whispered in her ear. "Mackenzie Boyd. And I'll see you again...Jaime Marchant." He threw the money onto her lap before he backed away teasingly, heading to his own van. He pulled away leaving her on her own, her mind racing as she started the engine, Taylor Swift blasting out on the speaker interrupting her thoughts of Mack.