Page 62 of Cover Story

Why couldn’t his libido behave normally? Had the slow death with Jen messed him up? He was no longer able to fancy a nice, appropriate woman who liked him back, he instead yearned for an emotions-free hookup with a spiky adversary who’d punish him for his weakness.

It was embarrassing to stifle the surge of unwanted lust and had probably made him a little more caustic than necessary after they disentwined. Though she did restart the jibes about him being coldly careerist, which was pretty galling when he’d been ready to do anything to protect her.

When Bel whispered in the dark about how sincerely grateful she was to him Connor had opened his mouth to replyand then, as the seconds ticked by, he couldn’t find the words or the pitch. Any response was either too flippant or too loving and it was easier to pretend to be asleep.

He decided to enjoy the superior facilities given he’d had no choice to be here. He stood for a cleansing five minutes under hot water in the rainfall shower in her en suite. Connor didn’t lock the door on the basis Bel knew he was here and would rather permanently lose her eyesight than expose herself to a full-frontal, yet it still felt like alien behaviour.

Connor appeared down in the kitchen in last night’s clothes, with damp hair.

Bel, hair in a top knot and hoodie over her pyjamas, face flushed from proximity to the grill, slid a coffee towards him.

‘I didn’t know your preferences so I’ve made both brown and white toast. The sandwich is a bespoke self-assembly job.’

She set down plates of food in front of him, HP brown sauce, ketchup and a butter dish, handing Connor a fork so he could spear the rashers himself. She’d cooked them properly: the fat was copper-coloured, not burned. Connor thanked her and inwardly conceded, without saying as much, that Bel might be a nice friend. Her acquiring Shilpa made more sense, if Shilpa liked brunch.

As Connor buttered wholemeal toast, Bel read from her handset, out loud: ‘Morning Bella, the monster (Rick, not Gertie) awoke at 6 and we’ve decided to get ourselves gone– so embarrassed, I’m so sorry. Let me know how we can make it up to you, assuming you ever want to see us again. Rick is blaming the ‘boozy raisins’ hahahahaha. He looked like a boozy raisin more like. And sorry to Connor too …’ Bel trailed off and glanced up.

‘She says more about you, but I’m not sure I can bear sharing it.’

‘I deserve to know, information is power,’ Connor said, smiling, as the brown sauce fart-squirted as he squeezed the bottle.

Bel sighed.

I’m sure you know this, but Connor is such a catch, he has a personality as nice as his looks. The way …

Bel cleared her throat. Connor saw a new flush appear on her neck, and he started regretting forcing the disclosure.

…the way he looks at you, like you’re magnetic to each other, is so sexy. Just flagging you can never break up and destroy my faith in love.

Connor blinked as he absorbed the idea he was looking at Bel in any particular way.

‘Top marks on the acting. Take a bow, the real Larry Olivier,’ Bel said, stiffly.

Connor was surprised to see Bel was discomfited. He’d have expected her to shrug this off with a derogatory joke, and the fact she didn’t made him worry hewasgazing at her. Connor flashbacked to last night’s clinch and thought, oh no, did Bel pick up on anything untoward there? The idea he had a thing for Bel was sodding ridiculous and both Bel and his penis needed to be clear on that.

‘It’s very much a joint effort,’ Connor said, with a forced lightness, making a start on his sandwich. Bel got kitchen roll from the cupboard and passed it over.

‘I’ve said we’d love to go to a Cee Vee lock-in. It’s time to try to put ourselves near the iPad.’

Connor nodded, mouth full.

‘Work wise, regards the investigation, to recap. We’ve had corroboration of Glenn Bailey’s reputation and the rumours from Aaron,’ Bel continued. ‘We’ve heard direct from Amber that the Airbnb in Didsbury is Gloria’s property, and a denof ill repute. It feels as if the story’s coming together. Now all we need to do is prove one of the visiting shaggers is Bailey.’

‘Ah, the small matter of the iPad breaking. I think robbing a bank vault in a Ronald Reagan mask would be easier.’

‘Yup. We’re going to need a strategy. It might be worth us finding an excuse for you to get out of the office to attend a meeting next week with Toby?’ Bel said.

‘Sure,’ Connor said. ‘I dread having my stupid face on that screen somewhat. I know it was, uh, happenstance, but I still feel a huge div for having ambled into your story.’

‘Oh,’ Bel blinked: ‘I never told Toby that, actually.’

‘What? Really?’ Connor said, pausing mid bite, ‘Why does he think I’m involved then?’

‘I told him I thought the undercover sting would work better as a couple, and that I’d witnessed how conscientious, willing and methodical you are. I requested to have you come in on it with me.’

Connor was slightly stunned.

‘Why did you do me that big a favour?’

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