Lone Wolves

Chapter six

"So selling knock off TVs in a lay-by is obviously pretty lucrative?" Mack commented as he strolled around her plush but cosy flat, picking up her ornaments as she poured them both a glass of high-end whisky. He picked up a framed photo of Kim, Steve and Jaime from Kim and Steve's wedding day. "Aw look at you. Proper wee there weren't you?" Jaime rolled her eyes, taking it from him. "Hmm...I was 6. Can't believe my mum chose gold as her colour scheme. Bit different from my dad's second wedding." She showed him a photo of Jaime and Steve at his wedding to Chloe, Jaime in a navy blue floor length bridesmaid gown which matched Steve's tie. Jaime grimaced "Chloe, my stepmother, was furious that I wore that dress. She had planned some tacky chiffon short thing." Jaime smirked, putting the frame down and handing him his glass, taking his hand and leading him to the sofa where she sat next to him, her legs curled up under her as she sipped her whisky. "Not a fan of your stepmum then?" "Nope. She's pretty vile. Hence the absence of any photos of her. This remains a Chloe Travers free zone." She gestured round her living room. "My little sanctuary. Especially considering I have to see her everyday at work. When I'm not lingering in lay-bys with tall, dark and handsome Scotsmen." She put her glass down on the coffee table, so she could lean in and kiss him again. "Handsome eh?" He said as they pulled away from each other. "Very. So...tour?" She raised her eyebrows. "Aye go on then."

They stood and she led him through the flat. "Kitchen..." she gestured vaguely. "Bathroom." She waved in that direction. "So...you've seen the whole place I think?" She twisted her mouth, looking up at him with her back against her bedroom door, reaching behind to open it. "Unless? You fancy seeing this room?" She pulled on his hand dragging him in. "You're pretty forward aren't you?" "I've learned that when I want something Mackenzie Boyd...I'm going to get it." She moved him toward the bed and pushed him onto it, undressing in front of him. "Life's too short to waste time." He sat up and watched her, enthralled and enticed by her attitude toward life. He grabbed her wrists, pulling her down to him. "My philosophy entirely darling."

***

The alarm clock blared startling Jaime as she reached over groggily to turn it off, surprised to find Mack still next to her. "Oh...morning." She said, yawning. "Didn't take you for the sleepover kind? Or were you just too weary to make your way home?" She teased, stroking his bare chest. "No. I'm just not the kind to bed and run. Sorry to disappoint. Also this bed is way more comfy than mine." He leaned in and kissed her. "Though I am pretty worn out. Especially after that third time, when you did that thing with your legs." He grinned. "Why the alarm hen? Can't we rest and pick up where we left off?" "Hmm no. Afraid not lover boy." She tapped his cheek playfully. "Got my real job to go to. Plus I need to go to the gym on the way to work." "Nooo...can think of better exercise here." He pulled her back as she started to make her way out of the bed. "Oi. Don't be clingy Mackenzie. It was fun but casual. Yeah? So I'm going to get ready. Do you need taxi money?" She said coldly, frighteningly reminiscent of Kim, getting out of the bed and slipping on her silky floral robe. "So that's it? Wham, bam but away wi' yer, man? God hen, you'll give a guy a complex." He sat up, watching her get ready for the gym. "Don't take it personally darling. It was very nice. Happy for a repeat performance whenever I'm at a loose end but...a girl's gotta stick to her routine. So chop chop. Let's be having you." She leant down to kiss him and he attempted to deepen the kiss as she backed away. "Don't be greedy now." She smirked, sauntering off to the bathroom to get ready. Mack stretched out, surprised by her attitude, he reached down for his t-shirt and jeans, dressing. "Is it too much bother to make meself a coffee hen?" He called through the en-suite door. "Go for it. You can make me one too." Jaime called back, washing her face and brushing her golden blonde hair to tie into a high pony before changing into her gym gear.

Mack took the opportunity to nose around Jaime's living room, smiling at the photos of a very different looking Kim to the one he knew, flicking through her post, some papers on her desk, his eyes widening as he saw her bank statement. "Stolen TVs must pay well." He muttered to himself. He continued having a look round, surprised by her record collection and her drinks cabinet. He went back into the kitchen to make them a coffee, as he waited for the Nespresso to work, he noticed the invite to HOP's investors event that evening. Jaime entered the kitchen, taking the mug from him and leaning against the counter. "Cheers. So what do you do then? Apart from what we did yesterday." He stood next to her, sipping his coffee. "I tend to do whatever I want Jaime. Bit of work for my sister. But mostly look out for myself. What about you? You can't be affording all this from what we did yesterday. Small potatoes." "Same as you. I look out for myself. Yesterday was a bit of a one-off, a test to see if I could be trusted. Most of the time I'm Jaime Tate, Head of Brand at Marchant/Travers Drinks." Mack fake yawned. "Oh sorry, I drifted off there for a minute." Jaime laughed, swatting him. "Shut up, nothing wrong with an honest job." "That your daddy gave you." He teased but quickly regretted it, seeing her face fall. "No. I got it on my own merit. Actually. Do you know what? You're really eating into my time, I've got a sprint class so..." she took his coffee and poured it away, chivvying him out of the kitchen. "Hen I were only having a joke." He looked surprised she'd got so uptight. "Yeah well, something about the cold light of day and being sober that means your jokes are less amusing." She handed him his coat and grabbed her gym bag, escorting him out. "Jaime come on, I can't be the first to mention you working for your dad?" Jaime locked up her flat, and headed to the lifts. "No. But it's not like that. I work hard. Harder than most in order to prove myself. That's why I don't use his name at work. And it's why I don't work for my mum. I'm not some spoiled little girl who swanned into a job." She jabbed at the lift doors again, irritated that she was feeling like she had to prove herself to Mack. "I worked hard, went to uni, got my degree. I know what I'm doing." Mack watched, slightly amused that he'd rattled her so much and sort of curious as to what her reaction might be to his goading her more. "Fine...I get that but life's hardly been a struggle has it pet? I mean, look at you. You're gorgeous, you've got this place. A mum and dad. Swanky car I'll bet?" She rolled her eyes. "So what? Because I've got a bit of money, that means my life has been a walk in the park? Good to know." She swept into the lift, going to press the 'close doors' button but he stopped the doors with his foot, entering the lift and standing close to her. "Not a morning person are yer hen? You were much friendlier yesterday afternoon and...last night obviously." "Yeah well I don't enjoy people making assumptions about me. If you had a single clue what I've been through..." "Haud yer wheest." He said it firmly this time, not in the same lighthearted way he did yesterday. "We've all got stuff okay? Okay your mum's Kim Tate, that's bound to traumatise anyone." Jaime smiled despite herself. "Ah. There we go. Better. I'm just saying hen, if you took that chip off your shoulder...we could have a lot of fun." He pushed her against the wall of the lift, lifting her so her legs wrapped around his waist and kissed her firmly and passionately, knocking the wind out of her at first but eventually she found herself clinging to him, matching his passion.