Free The Catch by Tom Bale Page A

workout.
    The Tylers lived in a Tudor-style home in Woodland Drive that put Robbie’s apartment to shame in terms of both luxury and vulgarity. The living room had dark oak panelling on the walls and teak parquet flooring. It also had the largest TV he’d ever seen, and a dartboard right next to the French doors that overlooked the patio and swimming pool. One corner of the door frame was studded with tiny holes from stray darts, looking like it had been attacked by woodworm.
    Bree greeted him at the door wearing a towelling robe. Robbie had barely stepped inside before she shrugged it off to reveal hold-up stockings and a lacy bra-and-knicker set.
    ‘I was gonna get properly dressed but then I thought: why waste time?’ She giggled wildly, and Robbie felt a twinge of concern. If she’d been at the Buck’s Fizz for breakfast he’d never get away.
    ‘Like what you see?’ she asked, preening for him. ‘We can spend the whole day in bed if you want.’
    ‘I’ve got to work later.’
    ‘Really? That’s not like you.’ Another giggle: it set his teeth on edge. Bree tilted her head and drew her perfectly threaded eyebrows together. ‘What’s up, hun?’
    ‘Nothing.’
    ‘Jimmy texted from the airport. Him and the boys were having a full English and a few pints before the flight.’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘Thank God he’s not back till tomorrow. Fried food makes him fart like a camel.’
    ‘I’m not worried about Jimmy,’ Robbie said, then realised it was virtually an admission that he was worried about something.
    ‘Is it your mum? Honestly, what a cow she is.’
    Robbie shrugged, then looked at his watch. Bree slapped him on the arm.
    ‘All right, you’re in a rush.’ She tutted theatrically. ‘You know you can’t be this grumpy when you’re doing it for a living.’
    ‘I’m not gonna be doing it for a living.’
    Ignoring the denial, she poked him in the tummy. ‘Better get to work on that six-pack, Mr Sex God.’
    Sulking, he grabbed her arm, and was rougher than he intended. Her yelp of surprise turned into a moan as he slipped the bra strap off her shoulder and eased one perfect breast free from its cup.
    ‘I told you,’ he murmured, his lips moving from her cheek, towards her neck. ‘I don’t need to do that.’
    ‘You liked the idea last week.’
    ‘That was last week. Things are looking up.’
    ‘Wouldn’t have guessed it from your face.’ She shivered, and made to undo his belt. ‘You gonna tell me about it?’
    ‘No. The thing is, Bree, I’m really pushed for time—’ A gasp as her fingertips caressed his groin. ‘How about just oral, yeah?’
    She snorted. For a second Robbie thought she was going to back off completely.
    ‘All right, babes, but on one condition.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘It’s my turn first.’

CHAPTER 15
     
    Denham Electricals was a modest, family-owned retailer situated in an unfashionable part of Lewes Road, just north of Elm Grove. It was both an anachronism and a minor miracle. Unable to compete on price or range with the Internet retailers or the big chain stores, it concentrated instead on the quality of its service, and somehow it was still breaking even.
    Dan Wade had been an integral part of that service for a little over eight years, having risen from a lowly retail assistant to his present role of sales manager. That sounded more impressive than it was, given that the store employed only eleven sales staff, of whom seven were part-time. There was a service department as well, dealing with repairs and installations. The recent TV switch-over to digital broadcasting had caused a welcome spike in business.
    Add a pair of delivery drivers and a handful of office staff dealing with stock orders, accounts, personnel and payroll, and the building employed a total of twenty-six people under the benevolent, slightly erratic gaze of the managing director and third-generation owner, Willie Denham.
    Only one member of the sales team had served a longer term