Patently in Love (25 page)

"Hmm." He rested his cheek lightly on the top of her head. "Doesn't sound good,
does it." His sigh made the hairs on her nape stand up.

"Susan's on your side," she said.

"I know. She's a scary boss, but very loyal to her staff," said Marsh. "Besides, I get
the impression she knows what Keith's like."

"Maybe he tried to pull something on her when he first started," said Jane. They both
sat in silence for a moment, contemplating it.

"Nah," Marsh said after a moment. "Not even Keith is that stupid." He looked over
her shoulder. "Are you done?" He slid off the bed and set the tray on the dresser. When he
returned to her and gathered her to him in a kiss, Jane flung her arms around him and kissed
him back.

They lay together on the bed, kissing with the enthusiasm of teenagers. After some
time, Marsh said, "I guess I should tuck you in and take that tray downstairs."

Jane groaned. "Do you have to?"

"I think I should. I don't think I'm allowed to sleep with the paying guests." He
paused and shuddered slightly. "Not that I've ever wanted to before."

Jane slipped under the duvet. Marsh tucked her in. "It gets quite cold at night. Are
you sure you're going to be warm enough?"

"I would be if you were in here with me." Her eyes were already closing.

"I'll see what I can do." He kissed her forehead. "Goodnight Jane. Thanks for coming
to find me."

"The pleasure was all mine," she whispered.

* * * *

Jane woke in the middle of the night, wondering where she was. Remembering, she
smiled into the darkness. Marsh loved her. Okay, she was in the tabloids again and her job
was in jeopardy, but she could deal with all that. Because Marsh loved her.

There was a soft knock on the door. Jane sat bolt upright, her heart suddenly leaping
with hope. "Yes?" she whispered, and turned on the bedside lamp.

"It's Marsh," came an answering whisper.

Jane slipped out of bed and opened the door. It was cold now that she was out of her
nice warm bed. She let Marsh in and scrambled back under the duvet.

He was barefoot and wearing jeans and a t-shirt. In the soft light of the bedside lamp,
he looked ruffled and unutterably sexy. "Do you still need a hot water bottle?"

Suddenly Jane was very much awake. "It is quite cold."

"Certainly is."

She enjoyed the movement of muscles as he pulled his t-shirt over his head and
dropped it on the floor. Jeans and boxer shorts followed soon after. Jane had to resist the urge
to reach out and grab him.

"Shift up," he said.

"No way. I've warmed this side of the bed up. I'm not moving."

Marsh slid in between her and the duvet. His naked body pressed against hers.

Jane's heart sped up as she felt his heat. He propped himself up on his elbows so that
he didn't crush her. "In that case," he said, as he traced the line of her jaw with his finger,
"we'll just have to share."

From: James Edwards

To: Marshall Winfield

Welcome back. It's good
to have you around again.
I see Keith is back too. Never mind.
Were
the committee fair to you? I gather not being made partner is your punishment.
I suppose that's punishment enough, really.
Jim

##

From: Marshall Winfield

To: James Edwards

I'm just grateful to have
my job. I guess we've all been let off lightly. Of course, none of it was actually
my fault. Or Jane's.
Susan hinted that strong words have been had with
Keith. She wouldn't be drawn any further on that.
I'd better get back to
work. The client has okayed the text we sent, so I have to finalize the
documents and get them filed before the deadline.
Marsh

##

From: Marshall Winfield

To: James Edwards

PS: Thanks for helping
Jane out when she was looking for me.

##

From: James Edwards

To: Marshall Winfield

That's what friends are
for.
Lou wants you and Jane to come for dinner and tell her all the details.
She says you owe us.
Jim

##

From: Marshall Winfield

To: Louise Edwards

Cc: Jane Porter
, James Edwards

Lou
Jim says you
want to feed me and Jane. How about weekend after next--Stevie will be back
down for the weekend. She's still a bit cut up about Buzz, but seems to be
coping okay.
Marsh

##

From: Louise Edwards
To:
Marshall Winfield

Excellent.
I'm
looking forward to meeting Jane, we've heard so much about her. It will be
lovely to see Stevie too.
I spoke to Stevie yesterday, in fact. All she
wanted to talk about was you and Jane. I guess it's taken her mind off Buzz
nicely.
I'm really happy that you've found someone. I've always said it was
a waste that you were single.
Love
Lou

SWAGGER! The brand new album by Manchester bad boys
Triphoppers.

The album covers a range of songs about the nightlife in Northern cities
and the hard working and gritty lives that people lead. The lyrics, penned by
the multi-talented front man of the band, Ashby Thornton, and the drummer,
Pete Gosling, have been hailed as lyrical poetry by afficianados. Put together
with Triphoppers' distinctive style, the songs capture the work hard, play hard
feel of life in the north and are bound to succeed.

Swagger!
is released under the King Penguin label and hits the
stores on Saturday.

* * * *

Jane hummed to herself as she walked towards the music megastore, where she'd
meet Marsh before they went to Jim and Louise's for dinner. The sun was shining on streets
still slick with the morning's rain. Traffic hissed over wet tarmac. She was snug in her winter
coat and was feeling warmer and happier than she remembered ever being.

As she passed the entrance, she saw a large cutout of Ashby and the band. Once it
would have caused her a twinge of hurt, but now she felt nothing. She didn't even bother to
read what it was advertising, and went straight upstairs.

Marsh was frowning as he looked through a row of CDs. He looked 'round when she
spoke and smiled. "Hi," he said, and gave her a quick kiss.

"What are you getting?"

He showed her a handful of CDs. "It's been ages since I bought any new music. I'm
looking for the band Stevie keeps talking about." He flicked through more CDs. "Ah. Here we
are."

"The Electric Beehives," Jane read over his shoulder. "What do they do?"

"Heaven knows. Apparently, they're indescribable." Marsh did a good impression of
his sister showing awe.

Jane chuckled. "That could mean anything."

When Marsh had paid for his purchases, he looked at his watch. "We've still got
loads of time. Fancy a coffee?"

The coffee shop on the top floor was full of excited teenaged girls. Jane and Marsh
found a nice alcove and sat squashed together, drinking their coffee and taking wild guesses
what "indescribable" might possibly describe. Suddenly all the teenagers stampeded out of the
coffee shop.

"Wonder what's going on." Jane's voice sounded loud in the suddenly empty
room.

"A band's doing a signing today," said a waitress as she picked up half empty cups.
"It's always like this when there's a signing on. Chaos to start with and then they all run off,
leaving half eaten stuff everywhere." She threw a barely touched muffin into a bin bag.

"Perhaps we should get out while the exits are still visible," said Marsh.

"I'd use the side entrance, if I were you," said the waitress. "The bands are usually at
the front end of the store."

The upper floors were deserted and there was a huge racket coming from downstairs.
As they walked to the escalator, Jane looked over the side and saw screaming fans waving
pieces of paper and clothing at a group of people who were being moved through the crowd
by big men in suits.

"I wonder who it is." The moment the words left her mouth, she recognised the band.
At the same instant, Ashby looked up. He stopped, making Pete, the drummer, walk into the
back of him. The rest of the band looked up too. One by one, everyone around him turned to
see what Ashby was looking at.

Trapped on the escalator, Jane and Marsh were suddenly the centre of attention.
Cameras flashed as she was recognised. They had no choice but to carry on descending,
slowly to the ground floor. She felt Marsh's hand close around hers, letting her know he was
there.

At the bottom of the escalator the crowd parted to let them through. They ran a
gauntlet of whispering people and flashing cameras until they reached the circle of guards,
who, at a word from Ashby, let them through.

"Er...Jane," said Ashby, when she came to a halt directly in front of him. He
removed his sunglasses.

She had known him long enough to recognise his nervousness, even though he was
trying to look nonchalant in front of his fans. "Ashby."

Behind him the band silently nodded their greetings.

Jane linked her arm through Marsh's. "Marsh, this is Ashby. Ashby, Marshall."

The two men eyed each other, unsmiling. Jane remembered Marsh saying that if he
ever met her ex, he would punch him on the nose. Her grip on his arm tightened.

Marsh gave her an amused glance and thrust out his hand. "Pleased to meet you." His
smile didn't match the expression in his eyes. "I've heard a lot about you."

Ashby smiled back, employing the full force of his charisma. Several cameras
flashed. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said with a flourish. "The lovely Jane and her new
partner, Marshall."

Jane smiled and waved to the crowd, hoping she looked gracious. Marsh waved too,
but didn't take his eyes off Ashby.

"Anyway, babe. I've got to go sign some CDs and things. Best of luck to you both."
He caught Marsh's hand for another shake before leaning in to give Jane a swift kiss on the
cheek. "No hard feelings, eh?" he muttered in her ear.

Jane was torn between annoyance and amusement. How like Ashby. Irritating and
enchanting at the same time.

"Right then." Ashby turned away and strode into the store. "Somebody give me a pen
and lets sign some shit."

The noise level went up a pitch as the fans forgot all about the newcomers and surged
towards their idol. Jane and Marsh, forgotten, shouldered their way through the crowd
towards the exit.

"So that was Ashby," said Marsh, when they reached the street. "Interesting
character."

"Yeah," said Jane. "Irritating as hell."

"Hmm," said Marsh. There was a sudden spike in volume from inside. "They seem to
like him."

"They're welcome to him. I'd much rather have
you
."

"Likewise." Marsh put his arm around her waist and together they walked down the
street, away from the screaming teenagers.

* * * *

There was surprise for Ashby Thornton yesterday when he
turned up to meet his fans at a popular music store. Who should be shopping
there but his elusive ex girlfriend, Jane Porter, with her new man. Readers may
remember that
Cause Celeb
tried to help heartbroken and remorseful
Ashby by finding his lost love for him, but alas we were too late. Jane had
already found someone new.

Ashby graciously shook hands with Jane's latest beau, Marshall
Winfield--inset--and the two appeared to part on friendly terms.

"I'm glad Jane's found happiness with someone else," said Ashby. "She's a
great girl and really deserves it. A part of me will always love her, but I think
it's time we both moved on. I'm sure the perfect girl for me is out there,
somewhere. I'll just have to keep looking"

So, there you have it girls. The gorgeous Ashby Thornton is single and
looking for love!

Nearly 8 months after the release of their fabulous second
album
Swagger!
The boys are taking a well-earned break from
touring. Ashby, Pete, Lee and Josh talk to our very own Amber Jackson about
life on the road, food, sleepless nights and the search for love.

The interview will be available to download as a podcast so that you can
listen to it over and over again!

What are the questions you've been dying to ask them? Email your
questions to Amber and you might even hear the answers.

* * * *

From: [email protected]
To:
All Staff
Subject: Keith
Durridge
Keith Durridge will be leaving Ramsdean and Tooze to take up a
position as head of patents at the soap manufacturer SolTol International. Keith
has been with R&T for 15 years, since he joined us as a trainee.
We
congratulate Keith and wish him well in his new venture.
Keith's last day
will be Thursday. A presentation will take place in the canteen at
12.30.
Gerry Bently
Human Resources.

##

From: Susan Jameson

To: All Staff

Subject: New Partners
On behalf
of the partners, we would like to congratulate Marshall Winfield and Georgina
Heath on being nominated to become partners of Ramsdean and
Tooze.
There will be doughnuts and tea to celebrate on Friday.

##

From: Marshall Winfield

To: Stevie
Winfield
I did it! See
attached.

##

From: Stevie
Winfield
To: Marshall
Winfield
Wow! Well
done! You really deserve it after all this time.
I'm so pleased for you, I
can't stop smiling. I'll call you tomorrow, when you've finished
celebrating.
Love and hugs
Stevie
PS: What about the other thing?
Have you asked her yet?

##

From: Marshall Winfield

To: Stevie
Winfield
Thanks. I'm pretty
pleased myself.
Re the other thing, I haven't asked her yet. I was going to
wait until after the partners' decision. I didn't want to jinx things after what
happened last time.

##

From: Marshall Winfield

To: Stevie
Winfield
Okay, wasn't quite
the way I planned, but I think the celebratory champagne went to my
head.
Anyway. I asked her...
SHE SAID YES!