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A Train Ride to - Love Ch 01

By: totallyatease



**Author's note: This is the first thing I wrote - and actually completed - a few years ago now. I was sorting through my files and came across it and thought 'what the heck' I'll post it on the net. Hope you enjoy it, but it is quite a slow going story, with the action coming later. I shall try and post a chapter a week if anyone does like it, and thanks as always for reading me.** 

Chapter one

(A meeting on a train) 

Hell!

"That train wasn't supposed to leave for another ten minutes"

"I think sir; that you'll find that was the 'five to train' which is running a bit late and I'm afraid that the 'ten past train' is also running a bit late so you might as well sit down and make yourself comfortable."

"Oh well if that's the case I think I'll go and get myself a coffee and a sandwich."

The female voice behind him caused Sam to spin around in surprise to find himself staring down into the face of one of the prettiest young women that he'd ever seen!

She grinned at him cheerfully before turning her back on him and walking away with the girl she had been talking to.

Sam looked back at the rail employee who was waiting patiently for the string of complaints that he had been listening to all day.

"How late?"

The man glanced at his watch. "About twenty minutes now sir"

He ran he fingers through his dark hair before turning abruptly and striding after the two girls.

When he reached the cafe they had entered, he could not see any sign of them and the queue seemed very long. He was beginning to feel like the world was against him. Those girls had been seconds ahead of him and yet they seemed to have missed this line of people. He joined the queue, helped himself to pre-packed sandwiches, and at the till requested a coffee to take away. Just as he was receiving his change, a voice over the loudspeaker could be heard.

"The ten past three to Derbyshire is now in the station, please could all passengers make their way to platform six immediately."

Sam grabbed his very late lunch and strode over to the train. He climbed aboard and entered the first carriage he came to.

The girl was sitting there munching away on her own sandwiches with a drink sitting on the small table by the window. He made his way over and taking the seat opposite her, he put his own cup on the table.

Opening his sandwiches, he took a huge bite and sighed contentedly.

"No dinner either?" the girl asked cheerfully between gulps of food.

"No."

The sounds of the doors being slammed shut could be heard; and then a few moments later the train lurched into motion. Food all gone the girl picked up her cup and took a grateful sip of her coffee.

Sam began to feel annoyed by this girl, and the fact that he could not seem stop watching her.

She glanced up to find him frowning at her and she blushed uncomfortably.

"I'm sorry have I done something to offend you?" she asked bravely.

He gave another irritable sigh. "No just thinking of the bad day that I've just had."

"Ah!" soft and sympathetic, and full of understanding; and then she started to rummage around in her oversized bag.

She dug out an old moth eaten paperback and curling her feet up under her, she began to read.

Sam glanced down at the floor to see her discarded shoes, they looked tiny almost childlike, if they had not been so ridiculously high; pale blue stilettos that matched the knee length flowing summer dress she wore. She wore her blond hair scooped up with a clip so that it was difficult to tell how long it was. He wondered if it was natural or from a bottle and began to imagine ways of finding out. His body responded accordingly and he shifted uncomfortably.

He moved the brief case he had with him onto his lap, and opened it up so that the girl was now out of sight. He picked out the papers he had bought with him to read on this train and slammed the lid down on his case.

She was staring at him! The colour rose once more into her cheeks as he raised his eyebrows mockingly. 

"Is there a problem?" he asked.

She swallowed and the colour faded. 

"Sorry I was miles away and didn't mean to stare."

"Penny for them?" 

She laughed and her blue eyes flashed merrily. Sam felt his breath catch; she really was lovely!

"Even with change they're so not worth it!" she responded cheerfully.

She bent her head over her book once more and seemed to lose herself in it.

Sam was not fooled - not for a minute, she was as much aware of him as he was of her.

He put his head back against the headrest and watched her. Sure enough, the colour began to enter her cheeks again.

She glanced up at him and raised her brow questioningly.

"Sorry I was miles away and didn't mean to stare," he lied

She grunted softly the only sigh of her disbelieve, and returned her attention to her book.

He continued to watch her. She resolutely ignored him.

Finally she threw her book down, looked across at him, and stuck her hand out.

"Hello there my name is Sarah Chester it's so nice to meet you." 

He leaned forward and placed his hand in hers.

"Sam, it's nice to meet you too."

Her hand was soft and small and very feminine and another bolt of awareness shot through him.

Her eyes flashed briefly and Sam realised she was responding to the contact of him.

He released her hand and moved his case and papers to the seat next to him.

"So Sarah, do you come here often?"

She laughed. "Every Friday at the same time, without fail... You?"

"No... Only when it's unavoidable... I prefer to drive myself given the choice but that was impossible today."

"Oh? Why was that?"

"My car was rear ended this morning and it's in the garage now, there was no time to organise a hire car."

"Ah!" Again soft and sympathetic and another bolt of electricity shot through him.

This was ridiculous! He'd only just met this female, she was little more than a girl, and – ok a very pretty girl but, a girl none the less he'd swear she was no more than sixteen, and here he was having lurid thoughts about her.

"How old are you?" he asked abruptly. 

She sat back and frowned slightly

"Twenty four... why?"

"You look about fourteen!" he growled accusingly 

She was silent for a moment and then she tipped her head back and laughed.

Sam was riveted. He could not take his eyes off her as she chuckled away to herself.

Finally, she managed to regain her composure and look into his offended face.

"I'm sorry," she finally managed breathlessly, "but I can't help the way I look. If it offends you so much then do us both a favour and look somewhere else."

She leaned forward provocatively. "But just for the record I am over twenty one and I am young free and single..." She leaned a little closer. "What about you?" she challenged.

He leaned away out of the reach of temptation.

"Way WAY over twenty one..." he responded. "And not young free and single."

She leaned back and sighed. "Pity!" 

She picked up her book and hid behind it and Sam realised that she was embarrassed; by her boldness, and his rejection.

He wanted to take back what he had said, to tell her that he had lied; in a moment of cruelty and well, panic actually!

He sighed and picked up his papers again. It was probably for the best, he really was not in the market for another relationship at this moment in time; and he had a feeling that Sarah for all her bravado was a romance and marriage, and happy ever after kind of girl.

He began to read, and all thoughts of the girl opposite him melted away.

Sarah stayed hidden behind her book for the next hour. She squirmed in humiliation at the fool she had made of herself. It was so out of character for her to be so forward with a man – a stranger at that, but there had been something about the way that Sam had looked at her that did strange things to her deep down inside. He had not acted like a man who was involved. He did not wear a wedding ring, but it had been more than that, that had made her think that he was not only available, but interested as well.

The carriage door was suddenly pulled open and Sarah almost hit the roof.

"Refreshments anyone?"

Sam looked up and then dug his hand into his pocket. 

"Coffee please." he looked across at Sarah. "What about you Sarah can I get you anything?"

"Same please." she nodded her head and the tea person poured two cups of coffee and handed them over.

"Anything else?"

Sam looked at her with his brow raised questioningly. 

She shook her head. "Nothing for me, thank you."

He handed the woman a five-pound note and she gave him the change she had already been sorting out.

"Thanks very much," she said cheerfully and pulled the carriage door closed. 

Sarah sat gazing at the passing scenery as she sipped at her coffee.

She could feel Sam's eyes on her again but refused to acknowledge it in any way.

She finished the coffee and putting her empty cup on the table she settled back with her book again. She made herself comfortable and having re read the same paragraph half a dozen times; she finally managed to take it in and soon lost herself in the novel.

It was a book, which she had probably read a hundred times already, but she could always find something new or forgotten in it and it never failed to draw her in.

Before she knew it, the train began to slow down and glancing out of the window, she saw the familiar landscape of home. She shoved her book back into her bag and leaned forward to push her feet back into her shoes. She refused to make eye contact with the brooding male sitting opposite her.

"Don't sulk Sarah, it's very childish you know."

She looked up her eyes flashing and the colour fanning her cheeks again.

She would not respond. She would not let him get to her, again!

He grinned at her knowingly and she wanted to throw something at him.

She stood up held out her hand again and spoke politely. "It was nice to have met you, and thank you very much for the coffee."

Sam stood too and towering over her, he took her hand. "It was nice to have met you too Sarah..." he began just as the train lurched to a halt.

Sarah staggered forward straight into Sam's arms.

"Oh!" 

"Oh indeed!" growled Sam in frustration and defeat; his head came down and his mouth claimed hers.

Sarah had been kissed before, but never like this!

His lips moved roughly over hers, and as his tongue entered her mouth; she felt herself leaning into him and reaching up, her arms moving around his neck.

"Damn!" Sam pushed her away so suddenly and so forcefully, she fell back into her seat helplessly.

He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. "I'm sorry Sarah that was a mistake!"

He grabbed his briefcase and yanked open the door.

"Goodbye Sarah – have a nice life!"

And just like that he was gone!

*

**Stories now out on Kindle by Ann Corbett - Injured Souls, Kisses of Kings and First Impressions - all in one novel called 'All Good Friends'. ** A Penny for your thoughts and A Career Girl (Now with a new ending). Two stories in one volume called 'A Penny's Worth of Trouble'. **

A Train Ride to - Love Ch 02



The weather was cooling... It was the beginning of September and the weather was definitely cooling. It was four weeks ago that Sarah had met Sam, met Sam and her life had somehow seemed empty ever since.

By the time she had emerged from the train there had been no sign of him, he had disappeared into the crowd and that had been that.

Every Friday since then Sarah had arrived at waterloo station at ten to three and her heart would do a little skip as she scanned the crowd looking for the tall, dark haired man who had so thoroughly kissed her.

She would climb onto the train and enter the same carriage and as the train would lurch into motion she would swallow her disappointment along with the slight sickly feeling.

It was September and she pulled on her jacket and changed summer dresses for snug fitting jeans and pretty blouses. She let her hair down and left it flowing in soft curls down her back.

It was six minutes to three as she clambered onto the train and dove into the nearest carriage just as the doors slammed closed and the train began to move.

Sam looked up at her as she turned from closing the door.

"How are you Sarah?"

She fell into the seat and sat staring at him. God he was gorgeous!

She cleared her throat and tried to sound casual. "I'm fine thank you Sam. How about you?"

"The same thanks."

He sat staring at her and she began to feel uncomfortable. 

"What's the matter Sarah you don't look too happy to see me again."

He sneered a little, though more at himself, she thought "Don't worry I'm not about to attack you again."

She could not help but feel disappointed. She'd had a lot of fantasies about where that kiss might have led to - had they been anywhere else.

"Oh!" she sighed as she sat back in her seat and drew her legs up, tucking her feet under her.

Sam's eyes flashed at her before he looked down at her discarded shoes.

"I'm surprised that you can walk anywhere with heels like that!" He frowned at her.

"You sound just like my dad." She smiled. "I need the extra inches they give me."

"Why?"

"Just cos." she shrugged her shoulders. "They boost my confidence."

"Why would a girl like you need her confidence boosting?"

"What do you mean, 'a girl like me'?" she scowled at him preparing to be offended.

"Beautiful, intelligent... Nice," he finished lamely.

"Oh." she said again. 

He leaned forward suddenly. "Did you miss me?" he asked softly.

"I'd only just met you Sam. I hate to break it to you but you didn't have that big an impact on my life!" she fibbed.

"Liar!" He moved across so that he was sitting next to her and took one of her hands in his.

"Don't tell me that you haven't once thought about me in these last few weeks."

"What are you doing Sam?" Sarah leaned away from him and tried to reclaim her hand. "You're spoken for... Remember?"

"I lied." He pulled her hand back, and bent and kissed it as he raised his eyes and met, and held hers; something seemed to flash in his, and Sarah felt a moment of alarm.

"You want this as much as I do," he said as he pulled her suddenly into his arms.

"Sam, please!" Sarah tried to arch away from him but he held her firmly. 

His head lowered and his lips claimed hers. Soft and gentle, coaxing and seducing and Sarah was lost.

Sam pulled away, his breathing a little ragged. 

"I knew it," he muttered, "I knew that it wasn't just a one off!"

Sarah sat upright moving away from him.

"What are you talking about Sam?"

He sat back keeping hold of her hand.

"All I've thought about for the last few weeks - is you Sarah."

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "It's stupid I don't know anything about you, but here I am sitting on a train I don't need to be on... just so that I can be with you."

"Oh!"

"Yes Oh!" he growled at her as he moved to pull her close again.

She moved away in panic. "Please Sam!"

It was the sheer panic in her voice, that brought Sam back to reality; and he suddenly felt like a real lecher.

"God Sarah I'm sorry!" he brushed his hair back again and sighed. "I know that this is too much too soon but you drive me crazy. I look at you and all I want to do is hold you. I hold you and all I want to do is kiss you. I kiss you and all I want... well I don't think your quite ready for that!"

He got up suddenly and moved across to the other side again. Sarah breathed a small sigh, partly relief but partly she felt regret.

He was nice and safe across the other side, but he did have this tendency to stare at her; and that look in his eyes was very unsettling!

She searched for something to say but her mind was a complete blank.

"So what have you been doing these last few weeks?" she asked stiffly.

"Working... Not sleeping much... working." He shrugged dismissively.

"What do you do?" 

"I deal," he said vaguely. He laughed suddenly. "We really don't know anything about each other; do we?"

"There wasn't exactly any opportunity to get acquainted last time; was there?"

"What do you do? What puts you on this train every Friday?"

"I do computers with a friend," she said promptly. "We do work for several of the smaller companies, some of them are still living in the dark ages though," she smiled. 

"Friend? Was that the girl I saw you with, last time?"

"Yes. That was Maggie, we went to college together and when we left, we decided to try our hand at running our own business. Maggie's parents live in London and they let us stay in the flat over their garage for a small rent. They have always liked to travel a lot, so they never saw the need of owning a car, especially living in London where the most effective way of getting around is by using public transport." She grinned as she shrugged her shoulders, and held out her hands as if to emphasise the point. 

"Maggie's dad had the garage turned into a workshop for us... and while they are away we can keep an eye on their home for them, so everyone is happy... then at the weekends I get to go home."

"To Derbyshire?"

"To Derbyshire," she confirmed with a nod of her head.

"What about you?" she asked. "Where do you live? Work? - Any family? You said you were over twenty-one, but how old are you?" 

He held up his hand with a smile, and she stopped the beginnings of her interrogation.

"I'm thirty three, years old, and Scorpio is my star sign I believe." He grinned mockingly. "I live and work in London," he told her, "I have a flat there. My parents are both still alive, and well... and together thank you. I have two brothers both older than me - both married... and you Sarah... any family?" he changed the topic from him to her, so suddenly that all she could do was sit and blink at him for a moment as her thoughts reorganised themselves; from assimilating information, to gathering together and parting with information. 

"Yes; mum and dad both alive, both well, and together still."

"Any siblings?"

She smiled slightly. "Yes thank you; I've two brothers..." she paused and then grinned mischievously, "and five sisters."

His eyebrows rose slightly. "Six daughters! Your dad must have his work cut out for him!" 

Sarah laughed. "He has lots of grey hair, and a slightly manic look in his eyes - most of the time."

"Do you look much like your sisters?"

"There's a passing resemblance, but I think it's certain mannerisms that we have in common that gives the game away."

He looked at her, trying to picture several more like her. 

He muttered something to himself before asking abruptly. "So what is the line up in this family of yours?"

"Well, Paula is the eldest then there's James. Samantha's next followed by Janey.

Then there is Laura, then Peter then Jenny. And last of all there's me." She pointed to herself for emphasis.

"So you're the baby of the family?" he mused softly.

Sarah grinned at him. "Scared yet?" She raised her brows and her grinned widened. "You should be you know."

Sam look at her blankly for a moment, before the implications of him fooling around with the baby of such a large - and female dominated family dawned on him.

He frowned at her. "Have you told them about me?" he asked warily.

She grinned again. "What's to tell? I met you once, we talked briefly – you kissed me - you left - I haven't seen you since." She shrugged her shoulders dismissively.

"Hah!" He leaned forward and ran his fingers through his hair, disgruntled by her reply.

"So tell me..." he suddenly asked, he kept his eyes on the ground, refusing to look at her; "your sisters, are any of them married?" 

She scowled at him distrustfully. "The elder four are," she nodded. "Jenny - the next one up from me she's engaged to Keith, but they haven't settled on a date yet, they seem to be happy enough just living together at the moment – both my brother's are married." She added before he could ask. 

"So there's just you left?" 

The door was suddenly pulled open and they both jumped guiltily.

"Refreshments anyone?"

It was the same woman as before.

Sam looked up and then dug his hand in his pocket 

"Coffee please." He looked across at Sarah, "what about you Sarah can I get you anything?"

Sarah giggled.

"Same please," she nodded her head and the tea lady poured two cups of coffee and handed them over.

"Anything else?"

Sam looked at her with his brow raised questioningly. 

She giggled again then she shook her head. "Nothing for me, thank you."

He took out a five pound note and has he handed it over to the woman, realised what was amusing Sarah so much.

"Déjà vu?" 

She giggled again and nodded her head. 

The tea lady handed over his change and left, pulling the door closed behind her.

"Will you have dinner with me this evening Sarah?" Sam asked suddenly.

She beamed across at him. "I'd love to Sam!"

"Great! I'll pick you up at seven thirty?" 

She scribbled down her address on a piece of paper and handed it to him. "Could you make that eight o'clock?"

"Sure." He sat back and started a casual conversation and Sarah felt herself relax. 

The time flew and before she knew it, they were pulling into the station. 

The train came to a halt and Sam walked onto the platform with her. At the entrance, he stopped and took her hand in his.

"I'll see you later," he told her softly, and bent and kissed her cheek. Then he turned and walked away from her... AGAIN!

She walked to the bus station and caught the bus, which would take her the rest of the way home. 

*

Walking through the back door, she came straight into the kitchen. Her mum was there cooking dinner. "Hello love what are you doing here? Are you staying for dinner?"

"No mum; not tonight." She grinned at her mother, "I've got a hot date tonight so I won't see you until tomorrow."

"Anyone we know?" 

"No and I need to go and get ready; so I haven't got time to tell you about him."

She kissed her mother on the cheek and left the house. Walking up the road and around the corner, humming happily to herself as she went. She walked down the path to the tiny two bed roomed house that was her home. 

She had received a modest inheritance on her twenty-first birthday; and with it, and some savings; she had put down a nice healthy deposit on this house and been left with only a very small mortgage to pay off.

Her mum and dad had very soon after moved from the four bed roomed house; where she and her siblings had been raised, and moved to something smaller, with it just being the two of them now. They were quite content to let their children find their own way in the world as adults, and so everyone was quite happy. 

Her sisters were always popping in on each other - when their work and family commitments allowed them the time that was.

Sarah entered her house and made straight for the kitchen. She put the kettle on and stood munching on a cookie while the water boiled. She made herself a cup of coffee, which she took upstairs with her. She left it cooling on her dressing table whilst she undressed and dove under the shower. Then wrapped in a bath towel she curled up in the chair in her bedroom and sipped at her coffee whilst she mulled over what to wear.

Sam went to the flat that he had rented in Derbyshire city centre. He poured himself a small brandy and then went to shower and shave. He was looking forward to taking Sarah out tonight, but was not sure how he felt about meeting her family. He had always managed to avoid this part of any relationship process. On the plus side though - at least he would not be able to get any ideas - or urges he could not control.

He dressed and left his flat at seven thirty. Walking down the main road, he could see a line of taxis.

He hopped into the first one and read off the address on the piece of paper. Then sat back and relaxed whilst the driver took him to Sarah.

The house the car pulled up at looked small, and a little shabby although nicely kept.

Sam frowned up at it. He just could not imagine Sarah and her siblings growing up in this shoebox.

Tiny alarm bells began to ring in Sam's head as he walked down the path and knocked at the door.

Sarah answered wearing a dark blue satin dress that swirled around her knees, and was cut dangerously low in the bodice. She looked absolutely stunning.

She smiled at him, and her eyes lit up at the sight of him; and he felt his good intentions crumbling fast.

"Hello Sarah, the taxi is waiting - if you're ready?"

She blinked and the smile faded into uncertainty.

"Yes, I just need my jacket and bag – if you'd like to come in for a moment?"

"I'll wait by the car for you." And he scurried off like a petty criminal.

She did not keep him waiting; and Sam heard the taxi driver give a low whistle as she walked towards the car.

Sam opened the door for her, and climbed in after her. Slamming the car door closed he told the driver the name of the restaurant and turned to Sarah as the car pulled away from the kerb.

"Whose house was that?" he demanded.

She looked surprised at his aggressive tone but answered calmly enough.

"That house was my home." she leaned forward and emphasised the words "MY HOME."

"I thought that you stilled lived at home - with your parents."

"I never said that!" she protested.

"You never denied it when I assumed that earlier either."

She sighed. "Does it matter?" she asked.

"Damn it I thought we would be chaperoned by your over protective family!"

"I think that you're over reacting Sam."

"That's all I ever seem to do around you Sarah, with one little look you have me feeling like a love sick teenager."

He ran his fingers through his hair and sat back with a sigh of exasperation.

Sarah itched to take his hands in hers, and tell him she felt the same way; but she held back. 

Things were happening so fast that her head was beginning to spin.

He turned to face her again and smiled. "Let's just go and have some dinner and try and have a good time; shall we?" he asked. 

She smiled at him with more than a little relief on her expressive face. "I'd like that."

The taxi came to a halt at the kerb, and after receiving his fee, left them standing on the pavement. Sam had not bothered tipping the man very generously, not after seeing the way that the driver had been eyeing Sarah through his wing mirror.

They entered the restaurant, and were escorted to their table; where they were handed menus, and were asked what they would like to drink. 

Their drinks arrived, and then they were left in peace to study their menus.

After making their choices and placing their order, they were again left to chat for a while.

Sam was on his best behaviour, his talk was light and amusing; but his eyes whenever they rested on her were full of promise... and danger. Sarah could feel the butterflies in her stomach and the excitement building inside of her.

Afterwards she could not remember what she had eaten or what they had talked about. She could only remember Sam's burning eyes; and the way his look and touch made her feel.

At the end of the evening, Sam paid the bill and walked Sarah outside. A taxi pulled up next to them and they climbed inside.

"Where to?" the driver asked. 

Sarah leaned forward and gave her address and the taxi pulled away.

"Would you like to come in for coffee?" she asked hesitantly.

Sam looked down at her. Her eyes were bright and she was a little breathless.

She was nervous but he also knew that she was excited – by him.

"I don't think that would be a good idea tonight," he told her sharply.

A few minutes later, the car pulled up outside her home, and Sarah climbed out of the car.

"Wait here. I won't be a minute," Sam told the driver as he followed Sarah out of the car. He slammed the car door closed and led Sarah to her front door.

She did not know what had changed, but Sam had gone from being a lighthearted companion, with the promise of becoming, something more... and now he seemed impatient and irritable - as if eager to be gone from her.

Her hands were shaking as she fumbled through her bag, looking for her keys. At last, she found them and pulled them out with a tiny sob of relief.

With a little curse of pent up frustration, Sam pulled her close and put his mouth over hers. The kiss was brutal, and her lips were being crushed; but all she could do was to hang on to him.

He pulled away abruptly. "WHEN I do enter your house Sarah it will NOT be for coffee."

He took her keys from her and unlocked her door.

"Now go inside and lock your damned door - before I change my mind and we BOTH do something we'll regret."

"Goodnight Sam." Sarah whispered through her tears, as she ran into her home and slammed the door too behind her, letting the catch fall into place.

She leaned against it and listened to the slam of the taxi door and then the car pulled away.

Only after she was sure she could not hear it any more did she move. 

She climbed up her stairs and headed for bed, she felt totally drained and all she wanted to do was curl up in her bed and dream about Sam, the way she had been doing for the last few weeks.

She undressed in a daze and slipped her nightgown over her head, and then she crawled under her covers.

She barely knew the man but she knew that she was falling in love with him.

It had probably been love at first sight and she had been too dense to spot it.

Her instincts told her that he was a good man. Her heart told her that he would be a loving partner. Her body though, her body was jut screaming at her. 'What are you doing you fool? What are you waiting for?' Yes, her body knew that Sam would be everything that a lover should be!

When Sam let himself into his flat, he made straight for the shower pulling off his clothes as he went. 

The cold water blasting over him was agony, but he deserved nothing less!

The thoughts he had about Sarah, the lust that raged through him every time he was around her. Well, he was almost out of control. He had never felt like this about ANY woman and he had dated some seriously gorgeous women in his time. None of them had ever got to him, the way that Sarah did, and he was just not sure how to deal with it... or with her.



A Train Ride to - Love Ch 03



Chapter Three

(A woman of the world) 

When Sarah reached the bottom of her stairs early the next morning, it was to find a plain white envelope lying on her front door mat. Hand written and with no postage stamp, she knew immediately who it was from.

She turned it over in her shaking hands, as her heart sank right down into her shoes, and then stared at it helplessly for a full five minutes or more, before becoming impatient with herself.

"For heaven's sake get a grip!" she muttered before gripping the envelope firmly, she then gave an exasperated sigh; and tore it open with a vicious hand and took out the single sheet of paper.

'Sarah, have been called back to London suddenly;

Forgot to get your phone number so here's mine...

Call me as soon as you get back on Monday.

Yours

Sam'

It was hastily written and barely legible but Sarah hugged it to her.

He was hers!!

It sent a thrill straight through her - right down to her toes, which then dragged her heart right back up with it!

She danced through to the kitchen and put the kettle on to boil, feeling that the world just could not get any better.

She spent the morning tidying her little home, and washing and ironing her clothes.

The afternoon seemed very long in front of her and she kept playing with Sam's letter.

He had said to call when she returned to London, but she was so very tempted to pick up the phone now. In the end, she grabbed her coat and went to visit with her mum.

It was Saturday afternoon, her dad was at the local pub and her mum's home was filled with women and children. It was chaos! Her sisters had descended en masse and of course, the silence that fell when she entered the room told her she had been the topic of conversation.

All eyes fell on her, all accompanied with knowing little smirks, and mischievous twinkling eyes!

"Hello you all; what's happening?" Sarah asked brightly.

There was a burst of chattering and general hello's and Sarah made her way to the arm of a nearby chair. 

There never had been enough seats when they were all at home! Sarah and other younger siblings had pretty much been raised on the floor.

Jenny the next youngest and closest to Sarah as they had grown, was sitting in the chair that Sarah settled on, and she nudged Sarah gently.

"So come on then, tell us who he is."

Silence descended again and all eyes turned in her direction.

She took a deep breath let out a sigh, blushed prettily and then grinned.

"His name is Sam -- and he is gorgeous!" she stated dreamily.

Laughter and exasperation followed that little girly display.

"And?" was the general chorus.

Sarah laughed "I've met him twice; the first time was a few weeks ago..."

"I told you something was going on with her!" shouted Jenny triumphantly.

"And the second time was yesterday..." She paused. "And then of course there was last night, so I suppose that would be three meetings." She finished thoughtfully.

"Oops! Yesterday it was a hot date and today it's a meeting. That doesn't sound too good." Someone observed.

"So which one was it little sis?" asked Jenny. "A hot date or a meeting?"

"Oh..." she paused again. "I'd say -- definitely, a hot date." she said in a rush.

"Oh? How hot?"

Sarah blushed and laughed again, this time a little awkwardly. "Not THAT hot!" she said with a hint of regret.

The conversation drifted on to other topics then; as was usually the case when they all got together.

Everyone had so much to talk about, that one person could only be the centre of attention for a brief time. It was a great system for being able to talk about your life, without feeling as if your privacy had been totally trashed.

The afternoon sped by and come teatime there was the sound of the front door opening. Her dad walked into the room and there was a general chorus of; "hi's" and "hellos!"

"Haven't you lot got homes to go to?"

Her dad's grumpy response was one that they had all heard many times before. They all knew that their dad loved them, but having raised eight children to the best of their ability and sent them out into the world; he now felt that they had done their bit, and that he and his wife should now have their home to themselves.

The general protests were good-natured, but everyone rose from their seats obediently and started gathering coats, bags and children; all the while; plotting and planning, and chattering away to each other about recent happenings in their lives and jobs.

It was a slow process out of the house and onto the street but, once there, things rapidly broke up and soon there was only Sarah and her mum stood at the garden gate.

"So you like this young man of yours then?" her mum gently asked.

"Oh mum! I think that he's the one!"

"Mmmm..." was her mum's only comment, which was pretty much all that Sarah expected; or wanted at this point. Her mum would never interfere or pass judgement on her daughters... she would just sit back and watch -- and see all.

"Well I'd better go and see about some dinner for me and your dad."

Sarah reached over and kissed her mum on the cheek affectionately.

"I'm heading back to London first thing in the morning so I won't see you until next week."

"Ok love; you look after yourself."

"Bye mum."

It was Saturday night and Sam had had a rotten day. That phone call early this morning... calling him back to London had been totally unnecessary; and he was still feeling annoyed about it. The director of the company who had retained his firm; whilst they were merging with a rival company, had had an attack of the nerves yesterday; and had suddenly started 'what if-ing' at every other breath. Sam's junior assistant had tried to deal with things as much as possible but Mr Gibbs - the nervous director - had finally insisted on calling in Sam; so that Sam could PERSONALLY soothe that man's nerves.

He got back to his flat feeling tired and irritable. He should have been spending this evening with Sarah. So that they could get to know each other better... so that he could...

The phone began to ring and he swore viciously and snatched up the receiver.

"Reynolds!" he snapped.

There was a pause and then; "Sam - is that you?" A timid little voice hesitantly asked.

Sam felt his spirits soar.

"Sarah! Sarah I am so glad that you phoned!" Sam could not have kept the delight out of his voice even if he had thought to try.

"Sam!" The warmth in her voice, just about melted him.

"I know you said to call you when I got back to London but... well..." she hesitated. "I just wanted to say hello!" She finished lamely.

Sam punched the air and let out a silent; "Yessss!"

"No problems babe." He told her easily. "I'd just got in after a rotten afternoon, and just hearing your voice has made my evening.

"Oh!" That little catch in her voice caused Sam's legs to buckle. He dropped to the sofa, his imagination going into overdrive.

"So what have you been doing with yourself?" he tried to reign in his over active libido - and get a grip.

"I spent the afternoon with my mum and sisters..." Sarah told him and he could hear the smile in her voice.

"What all of them?" he laughed.

"All of them." She confirmed, and he could picture her nodding her head in affirmation.

He was silent for a moment and then; "So, was there much to talk about?" he asked warily.

"Oh..." she murmured lightly; "we all had our two minutes of air time."

"And what was your two minutes about?"

She hesitated and then gave a small nervous laugh.

"I made the mistake yesterday of telling my mum I had a hot date."

"Oh?"

"Yep!" she told him, "They wanted to know all about you."

"And?"

"Well... I don't know that much about you; so I couldn't tell them much; could I?"

"Is that what you told them?" he felt gutted that he had warranted such little discussion.

"No!" she protested. Then she gave another little laugh; "I told them that you are gorgeous and that our hot date was indeed a hot date - which was what they mostly wanted to know."

Another air punch and another silent; "Yesssss!"

"Really?" his voice dropped a notch, became deeper, more seductive.

"Then what did you say?"

"Well, by then my two minutes seemed to be up and the conversation moved on to babies, and work problems; and how to get red wine stains out of a yellow blouse."

"Oh!" he felt embarrassed for a moment and then let out a rueful laugh. "Well I guess it's nice to know that I'm right up there with the babies and red wine stains."

"What can I tell you?" she asked flippantly.

"Well..." he said he voice dropping again, "you could tell me; that you miss me."

"I do."

"You could tell me..." he paused, "that you want me," he finished huskily.

Silence for a moment.

"I do." Quietly stated, no heat no passion; but such intensity.

The heat flooded through Sam. "God Sarah!" he growled out. "Lady! You turn me on so very badly!" he finished with a groan of despair.

"Oh! Sam!" She gave a gasp of... was that passion? Lust even? He could hear it in her voice!

"I want to get into my car and drive down to you... I want to get to you... I want to hold you..." he paused; "I want to touch you... to kiss you. I want to kiss you all over - to know every inch of you. I want to make you cry out your pleasure to me. I can make you do that Sarah... Do you believe me?"

"Yes..." A shaky little word, "Yes Sam; I do!"

Sam rose from the sofa, his body hard and full of purpose.

"Two hours Sarah! Two hours and I could be with you. Shall I? Shall I come to you, tonight?"

The silence went on for too long.

"No." he finally said it half to himself. "You're not ready for me yet; are you honey?"

He sighed and dropped to the sofa again running his hand through his hair as he did so.

"It's alright darling," he soothed. "I know I'm moving too fast for you."

A tiny sob was his only response and Sam felt like a real heel; felt like he had been putting pressure on her, even from a distance.

"Sarah?"

Silence followed and Sam let out another sigh of regret and remorse.

"Talk to me Sarah -- please!"

"Oh Sam! I don't know what to say or do. I've never felt like this before about anyone... I'm just so confused!"

"I know Sarah, I know you're only young... and haven't had much experience."

She gave a little laugh. "Try none!" she said solemnly.

Sam frowned and stood up again. "What are you trying to tell me Sarah?"

"I did tell you. I've never felt like this before about ANY man." she sighed then said; "You know the old saying sweet sixteen and never been kissed?"

"Yes?"

"Well, in my case it was sweet twenty four and never been kissed..." she paused, "well, not much... not until I met you that is," she finished ruefully.

Sam was stunned.

"But... but, you're so very beautiful! What are the men thinking off, in your neck of the woods?"

Her laugh was more natural this time. "You keep saying that; and I'm not you know. Besides just because a man may want to kiss me, does not mean that he automatically gets to. I get a say in it too you know." she argued.

Sam thought back to the kisses he had shared with Sarah. "I don't remember you getting much say in the kissing with me," he challenged, a little guiltily.

She laughed. "I'm not a little victim Sam; I like to think that had I really not wanted you to touch me; then I could have stopped you."

He remembered how tiny she was, and how he had towered over her.

"Oh? How exactly?"

"Oh I don't know. Maybe a swift hard kick somewhere, the shins perhaps... maybe a little higher if you were very persistent..." she went on thoughtfully. "And I have a very piercing scream if the situation warrants it. It can be quite painful on the ear you know."

Sam sat down and laughed.

"My tough little Sarah..." he said breathlessly, "who would have thought it?"

Sam felt the tension drain from him, along with any lingering lustful urges towards Sarah.

"So what now?" she asked softly.

"I think we need to take things nice and slowly Sarah. I want to see more of you but I don't want to rush you into anything. What would you say to... a movie on Monday night?"

"I'd like that!"

They sat chatting for a little while and Sarah gave Sam her mobile number, along with her address in London. Sam arranged to call for her at six thirty on Monday evening.

The call ended an hour later and their goodnight was full of unspoken promises.

Sarah hung up the phone in a dreamy fashion; and sat staring into space.

She hugged her arms around herself imagining it was Sam holding her.

She let out a huge yawn and glanced at her clock. Nine o'clock, it was still so early and yet, all she wanted to do was to go to her bed and pretend Sam was with her.

She locked up her little home and climbed her stairs. Her bedroom with its pink flowered wallpaper and deep rose curtains, carpet and bedding suddenly seemed very little girly to her.

It was time she grew up! She thought. She owned her own home (well almost) she ran her own business (well, with her friend) and she was dating a man like Sam Reynolds (well, sort of).

Yes, she was definitely a woman of this world!

She undressed and crawled into bed. She dragged her spare pillow down the bed and cuddled up to it.

"Oh Sam!" she whispered sleepily. "You came all this way just to be with me!"

Sarah snuggled down the bed and drifted off to sleep - to dream some wickedly erotic dreams, all of which involved Sam.



A Train Ride to - Love Ch 04



Chapter Four

(Lots of talk, and not all of it constructive!) 

Sarah arrived back in London just after lunchtime on Sunday. She left waterloo station and found Maggie waiting outside the main entrance for her. She looked Sarah over with a little frown.

"Hello love what are you doing, coming back so early?" she leaned over, gave Sarah a hug, and then draped her arm through the crook of Sarah's as she led her away. "Don't tell me you've come back because of that meeting tomorrow."

Sarah stopped dead in her tracks. "Oh Lord!" she gasped. "I'd forgotten all about that."

"Oh yes you would forget about the one contract that could really get us off the ground," joked Maggie.

Sarah looked at her friend and with a tiny shake of her head, sighed as they started to walk again.

"I was feeling restless and so thought I'd come back and take a look at that new software that we're going to be using. I swear I totally forgot about that meeting!"

They hopped onto the bus to get them to their tiny self-contained flat, and as they sat down, Sarah looked at Maggie properly for the first time. Her friend looked pale and unhappy. "Mag's when I phoned to tell you I was coming back today I didn't expect to find you waiting for me..." She hesitated. "It's not that I don't appreciate it... but why were you there?"

Maggie sighed and then gave a tight smile. "Oh the usual you know. Brad and me date... Brad and me make love... Brad and me fight... Me and Brad break up." She grimaced and then looked away quickly.

Sarah hugged her friend to her. "Mag's! What happened? He seemed so right for you. You two always look so happy together."

Maggie's lip trembled and she sniffed back a tear. "Just not meant to be; that's all." She dismissed it with a shrug of her shoulders and snuggled close to her friend. "I'm not sure why you did come back early, but I am so very glad that you did Sarah!"

They went back to their little flat - a very gloomy pair of girls; about the same height although Maggie was 5 3" to Sarah's 5 2". Maggie was dark haired and dark eyed against Sarah's blond and blue eyes they were almost opposites in appearance but they thought and felt very much the same way. They had met in their first year at college, had shared a room together and become thick and fast friends. 

They had taken several courses together and found the support of the other invaluable. The decision to go into business together had seemed the obvious choice for the winning dynamics of their friendship. Together they could not go wrong. Together they would go on to rule the world!

The late lunch they prepared was pretty basic, since neither of them seemed to be in the mood to cook much... or even eat that much.

Sarah sat at her small desk with her laptop.

"Ok then..." she said with confidence, "what time is this meeting and where is it exactly?"

Maggie sat down next to her with a business card in her hand.

"Mr Robert Conrad of 'RCR & Matins and Associates'," she said peering at the white embossed card. "They are down off Hertford Road by the looks of it -- around Edmonton? He said about ten o'clock. Apparently, they do legal stuff for some of the larger companies. They've been having problems with their computer systems and have had enough of the people who currently support them - I.T. wise."

"How many computers are they running? Do we know what they are? How old are they? What software are they using? If they're a legal company I'd imagine that they'd be running some pretty specialist stuff?" Sarah was reeling of questions without really expecting any answers from Maggie who pulled out some notes.

"Let's see...," she said squinting down at her hastily written notes, "from my brief chat with Mr Robert Conrad last week... I managed to discover that they are running ten computers. They have four laptops and a very dilapidated networking system that likes to cut out if too many people are on at once. He didn't know what the computers all are, and he couldn't tell me when exactly they were purchased... but he did promise to have all this information available for us tomorrow and... 'hoped that we would be interested in tendering a quote for the renewal and rejuvenation of their computers and network'." She paused and looked up at Sarah waiting for a response of some kind.

"Ten computers, four laptops, and an old network," she said thoughtfully. "It would be a nice little job, but I can't see it having any major impact on us if we do get it?"

"Yes but Sarah!" Maggie sat forward enthusiastically. "They want on-going support after that, and if they are happy with us they WILL recommend us to other companies!" She tapped Sarah's hand lightly to emphasise the point. "Think about the contacts these people must have. They have been around - not just for years, but generations. I read somewhere that this Mr Conrad is a fifth generation Conrad, his father and grandfather; and great and great great grandfather before him, were head of the firm. Apparently, though the father and grandfather both retired, they like to come in and consult on a regular basis and keep their hand in as much as possible... I wonder if it's the retired folks who make up the associates bit?" Maggie mused to herself.

"So the R C bit is Robert Conrad. Do you think?"

"Could be," Maggie shrugged her shoulders and frowned slightly. "I didn't get around to who was what on the card," she admitted. "That came attached to the letter confirming our appointment, just a couple of days ago."

"Oh well, we'll find out more tomorrow, I suppose," Sarah said, losing interest in it for the moment. She looked across at Maggie. "Did he tell you how he'd heard about us?"

Maggie nodded her head. "You know that company we dealt with at the beginning of the year the publishing company -- Gibbs was the name I think." 

Sarah nodded. "Yes they were running some really old computers and were wondering why they couldn't get any current software to run on them." Sarah remembered. "We sold them a couple of new pc's got them up and running and never heard any more from them." 

"Well apparently they may not have been in contact but they did keep us on file for when things go wrong. Mr Gibbs was very impressed with our 'professionalism and speed of service'." Maggie smirked a little. "Mr Robert Conrad had never heard Mr Gibbs quite so animated in his referral of any other company." 

"Well, I suppose it always nice to leave a satisfied client..." Sarah laughed, "even if we're not aware of it ourselves."

The rest of Sunday passed quietly for the two girls as they pottered around their tiny flat.

By teatime, Maggie had had enough and decided to go out with an old friend who had decided to look her up.

"Are you sure you don't want to come too?" Maggie asked Sarah for the third time, later that evening.

"Yes Mag's, I'm sure that I do not want to spend the evening as an uncomfortable third, while Pete stares adoringly at you." Sarah laughed.

"Pete!" Maggie snorted, "He's harmless enough... I've known him for years, since we were this high!" she held her hand flat at her knee. She laughed suddenly. "Pete wouldn't know what to do with me if he did get me!" 

She draped a silk scarf around her neck and picked up her handbag just as they heard a car pull up. 

"See you later love!" Maggie called as she dashed from the room.

Sarah strolled over to the window just as Maggie came out of the downstairs door. Pete was just climbing out of his car and she saw Maggie stop for a moment before going towards him more slowly.

"Oh my!" Sarah whispered. "Pete, how you've grown!" Sarah grinned to herself and moved away from the window discreetly.

She wandered aimlessly around the flat for a while, before sitting down and switching on the television. She hopped through the channels with her remote control; but could not find anything that might interest her.

Her mobile started to ring and she picked it up without looking to see who it was.

"Hello this is Sarah." She answered absently.

"Well hello there sexy lady," came a very familiar drawl. 

Sarah's heart missed several beats and then started up at such a rate that she thought she was going to have a coronary.

"Sam!" She managed at last.

"The one and only!" That sexy voice, should have been made illegal!

"So what's happening with you?" she asked, desperately trying to get a grip.

"Not much at the moment," he told her lightly. "I've spent the day with my parents." He laughed a little. "I don't know who was more surprised, me or them."

"Did you have a good time? Don't you see them very much? WHY don't you see them?"

Sarah stopped because Sam was laughing at her.

"Babes...," he told her, "when you ask someone a question, it's usually a good idea to let them answer one, before you start firing more of them - like bullets."

"Sorry!" Sarah blushed.

"Yes I had a good time -- a really good time actually." he amended. "I think it just became a really bad habit to drop in on them when I was on my way somewhere else. Five minutes and that was my obligation fulfilled."

"So what changed today?" she questioned.

"I don't really know," he sighed and she could picture his fingers running through his dark wavy hair; his brown eyes narrowing as he thought about what he was saying. 

"I just know that it's been a really, REALLY long time since I actually sat down and talked to my parents..." He paused for a moment. "And do you know something sweet, sweet Sarah, I actually really liked them as people!" He sounded quite shocked at the thought. "I never appreciated how dry my mum's sense of humour is!" 

"That's parents for you." Sarah told him. "One minute they are mummy and daddy and then you turn around and suddenly they're people -- just like everyone else!" she said. "I personally think that it's MOST unreasonable of them!"

Sam laughed good-naturedly. "Mock me if you will - woman!" he growled, "but I shall have my revenge upon thy winsome young body!"

"Are you drunk?"

He gave another laugh. "No my darling," he declared extravagantly; "I think that I'm just high on life at the moment."

"Oh."

"I want to hold you." His tone changed rapidly, and Sarah struggled to keep up with him.

"Oh!" This was beginning to get ridiculous! Here she was, a grown woman, and yet he managed - every single time, to reduce her to something sounding dangerously like a chicken laying eggs!!!

"I want to kiss you... and touch you... I want to see you. I want you naked before me. There for my pleasure, at my demand." His voice dropped to a whisper and Sarah's whole body trembled at the intimacy he was creating. "I want to drive down to Derbyshire and have you waiting for me. Waiting as I just described."

"I'm back in London."

Silence followed by a strangled "What? When? How? - Why!?"

"Babes," she mimicked. "When you ask someone a question, it's usually a good idea to let them answer one; before you start firing more of them like bullets."

There was a startled silence, and then Sam burst out laughing.

"Bitch!" he told her.

"Sam!" Sarah gasped out her outrage at such an insult.

He laughed again.

"Ok... I'll behave."

"Good!" she could not help but feel a twinge of disappointment.

"Is everything still okay for tomorrow night?" 

"Yes of course. Why wouldn't it be?" she questioned with a frown.

He gave a sigh. "I don't know, I just feel a bit out of control with you, and it's a feeling that I've not had for a VERY long time!"

"Well a little humility is good for the soul - don't you know?" Sarah shrugged indifferently. 

There was the sound of muttering at the other end of the line.

"What was that? Did you say something?" she demanded. "Come on spit it out. If you've got something to say - then just say it!"

There was a choking sound at the other end. "You sounded just like one of my old teachers just then!"

"Yes and I'll bet that you didn't talk to her the way you talk to me." Sarah accused primly.

"That's the thing Sarah. I've never talked to any woman the way I find myself talking to you!" There was a pause. "For some reason you just seem to bring out the worst in me."

"Oh brilliant!" she retorted archly; "so what you're trying to say is, that I'm corrupting you?"

"Babe's I'd just love for you to corrupt me."

"You're muttering again!"

"And that's what I'm talking about! I just can't seem to help myself. One minute a normal conversation the next minute the gutter!" She could hear the confusion in his voice and smothered a giggle.

"Are you laughing?" Outraged tones were oozing down the line.

"As if I would!" she sniffed naughtily.

Sam was silent for a moment, and then he started to talk... To tell her about the things that he would one day like to do to her. Sarah's face went pink, then it reddened; then her hand held to burning cheeks she finally managed to get a word in.

"Sam! If you don't stop right this minute, I am going to hang up this phone and never EVER talk to you again!!"

He laughed and once he started, he just could not seem to stop. Sarah listened; stunned for a moment and then found herself joining in.

For a long time, all that could be heard; were two people laughing - almost hysterically.

Finally, there was silence and Sam said, "That's what unfulfilled lust can do to a man Sarah! It can send him right over the edge!"

"I know..." softly spoken. "I just haven't known you long enough Sam. I'm not ready to have that kind of a relationship with you." Her voice was full of regret and he felt a bit of a louse, as if he had been putting pressure on her.

"I know sweetheart... I know," he soothed. "I'm just fooling around with you, venting a bit, don't take any notice of me; I'm just a great big jerk." 

"You are not! Don't you dare say things like that about yourself!" Sam grinned at the outrage in her voice. He had not scared her off with his stupid schoolboy talk.

The conversation reverted to topics that were more neutral; and they spent the next half an hour covering all sorts of things. Sam was surprised at Sarah's intelligence, and obstinacy when her opinion was challenged. It was a long time since he had had such a stimulating conversation with a female... especially one he was so attracted to.

He had always thought that the women he bedded did not need conversation; just a little sweet talk, and appropriate admiration and flattery... And the odd gift didn't hurt either... Properly presented of course!

He grinned to himself. The idea of giving Sarah a gift thrilled him; but he suspected she would see it for what it was, and probably hit him with it!

Their goodnight was sweet and full of promise as usual; and Sam hung up his phone with a body just aching for Sarah's touch. He gave a resigned sigh and went for another painfully cold shower, which seemed to be part of his life at the moment.

Sarah drifted off to bed in a haze of dreaminess and longing. She crawled into her bed and fell quickly asleep to dream of Sam and some of the suggestions that he had made to her earlier.



A Train Ride to - Love Ch 05



Sarah and Maggie entered the firm of solicitors at dead on ten o'clock, and Maggie marched over to the receptionist's desk and handed over a business card.

"Hi there..." She smiled at the young woman behind the desk in a friendly fashion. "'SCraMBle Computers' - Sarah Chester, and Margaret Belling... we're here to see Mr Conrad; we've a meeting booked for ten o'clock."

The receptionist looked down at her appointment book. "Ah yes... the computer people." She looked up at them both, and then stood up and indicated to a waiting area. "Please, Miss Chester, Miss Belling, if you'd like to take a seat, I'll just tell Mr Conrad that you've arrived."

They both sat down and the receptionist went and knocked on a door and went inside.

A few moments later, she came back to them with a friendly smile.

"If you would just follow me this way please; Mr Conrad is ready to see you now."

The girls entered a large room with huge windows letting in lots of natural light, and Mr Robert Conrad was sitting behind a big, square, wooden desk with a computer sat on it. He stood up to greet them as they walked across the room. A short round, middle-aged man, with a grey balding head, rosy red cheeks and very shrewd looking pale blue eyes.

He held out a hand which each girl shook firmly in turn.

"SCraMBle Computers? Miss Chester and Miss Belling... who is who?" he peered at them in turn.

"I'm Margaret Belling," Maggie pointed to herself. "I believe we spoke on the phone last week. You were good enough to send me one of your business cards along with confirmation of this appointment." She indicated Sarah. "This is Sarah Chester my business partner, and extremely knowledgeable colleague. What Sarah doesn't know about computers isn't worth knowing," Maggie added confidently.

Robert Conrad looked at Sarah with a little doubt. "Is that so?" he asked, "I must say you both seem very young, and I have to admit that I did not realise that you were both, well... female," he finished awkwardly.

"Mr Gibbs didn't seem to think that either of those facts lessened the value of our assistance, with his problems earlier this year," Maggie told Mr Conrad firmly.

"That's true. He was very generous with his praise of you," Mr Conrad admitted, he smiled at them suddenly. "Oh well we shall just have to wait and see... won't we?"

He sat forward at his desk, and shuffled a few papers around before drawing out three identical looking sheets of paper with lists of information on them. He handed one each to the young women and kept a third one for himself.

"Before we begin can I offer either of you any refreshments? Tea? Coffee?" he asked politely.

They both nodded their heads gratefully and requested coffee; and Mr Conrad pressed an intercom button on his telephone. "Could you bring in three coffees Mrs Brown, mine as usual, and our two guests with milk and no sugar for both of them." 

A detached voice said something that neither of the girls could understand.

"Thank you," Mr Conrad said after a moment and took his hand of the button.

While they waited – presumably for the refreshments, he sat talking casually with Maggie; and Sarah took the opportunity to study the paper in her hand.

It was a list of computers with corresponding numbers and names allocated to them. There was a brief technological description next to each computer, listed as followed:

Computer no  User   Password Computer description

001      R Conrad  XXXXX Desktop P4 with 40GB HD and 512 DDR

002     S Reynolds  XXXXX Desktop P4 with 40GB HD and 512 DDR

003      B Roberts  XXXXX Desktop P4 with 40GB HD and 512 DDR

004       R Brown  XXXXX Desktop P4 with 40GB HD and 512 DDR

005       Server  XXXXX Tower ML150 G2 80GB SATA 1 Gig DDR

The list went on and Sarah scanned down the description column trying to get a feel for the setup of this organisation. The first few computers were all the same - bar one, which was the server; indicating that they were all PROBABLY purchased at the same time. The four laptops were also identical in specification, so again they would PROBABLY, have been purchased at the same time or most certainly close together. There were six computers of better specification with bigger hard drives, more memory; she figured that these had been purchased within the last five years. She glanced at Mr Conrad's monitor on his desk to see that it was an old 15" CRT monitor.

Maggie finished diverting Mr Conrad and glanced across at Sarah.

"So what do you think?" she asked.

The receptionist came in with a tray of refreshments and Sarah had a moment to gather her thoughts; whilst the drinks were handed out. She thanked the receptionist politely and sat nursing her cup as that woman left the room. She took a sip of her coffee and then looked at the other two people.

"Well I would guess that four computers were all purchased at around the same time probably when you first went on a network another half a dozen were gradually purchased... maybe as you're staff increased..." She glanced at Mr Conrad who nodded. "I would guess that your server and your network are no longer anywhere near good enough for your requirements; which is why you're having so many problems. If all of your monitors are CRT's like the one in this room and on reception," she pointed at the one on Mr Conrad's desk; "then they are not very adequate for any length of time - for the user. And the power they need is harder on your energy budget than if you were to invest in TFT's..." She stopped talking as Mr Conrad began to vigorously nod his head.

"Yes, yes that is exactly what I thought," he told them. "I've been saying for a while now that the whole thing needs a complete overhaul." He paused nodding to himself again and looking at the two girls with respect. "So then, just off the tops of your heads – what would your recommendations be?"

Maggie leaned forward and started firing off suggestions and Mr Conrad sat forward responding in a surprisingly knowledgeable fashion.

Sarah sat quietly listening again; and scanned down the list of user names. The second one caught her eye and her heart skipped a beat.

There was a rap on the door and Sam walked in - tall, smart, and even a little arrogant looking.

"Hi there Robert sorry I'm late... what's the verdict?" he looked at the two girls who had turned at his entrance and stopped dead in his tracks.

"Sam!" Mr Conrad exclaimed. "Good of you to join us. These young women are Miss Sarah Chester and Miss Margaret Belling from 'SCraMBle Computers.'"

Maggie stood up and held out her hand politely. Sam took it in his and looked down at her. "Samuel Reynolds," he told her politely, "Miss?" he lifted his brow as if in enquiry.

"Margaret Belling," she informed him cheerfully. "And this is Sarah - my associate."

Sam moved past Maggie to shake Sarah's hand as she rose from her chair. His movement put his back to the other two people and hid Sarah from view.

"Miss - Chester I believe?" he said solemnly whilst his dark eyes twinkled naughtily at her.

"How do you do Mr Reynolds." Sarah responded woodenly, and her cheeks pinked prettily.

He held her hand for a moment longer than he needed to, before he let it go and stepped back again.

Sam looked again at Mr Conrad. "Well?"

"Well... it's just what I was telling you the other day. This young lady," he pointed at Sarah, "hit the nail right on the head. Just from looking at mine and Mrs Browns computers she was able to sum up our entire system and almost all of its potential problems."

Sam looked across at Sarah with his brow raised in query. "Oh, don't you think you need to look at a little bit more of our setup before you commit to anything?"

Sarah flushed a little; as Mr Conrad began to protest. "But Sam, she was dead on right in her assessment."

"Never the less I think it would be appropriate for these people to get a complete look at our systems rather than a glance at one or two. Why don't you take Miss Belling to go over the server; and I'll shut down my computer so that Miss Chester can have a good look at its workings - if that is what she needs to do."

He scooped Sarah up and led her from the room before any one could argue with him.

"I'm in a meeting for the next ten minutes Mrs Brown... and not to be disturbed. Thank you."

He still had Sarah by her arm as he marched her through his office door, and closed it firmly behind him... and then leaned against it as if he thought she might try to escape.

Sarah stepped back nervously and licked her lips.

"Hello again Sarah... we just keep on bumping into each other; don't we?" he said softly.

"How are you Sam? The world does seem to be shrinking on us; doesn't it?"

He stepped forward and she jumped back. He frowned at her.

"I said that I'd shut down my computer so that you can look at it," he told her, as he moved past her and over to his desk.

"That won't be necessary Mr Reynolds... if you could just come out of any programmes that you may have left running... I can get the computer to tell me everything that I need to know," she told him politely.

The log on message was on the screen and Sarah turned her back to him while Sam keyed in his password.

"Okay," he said a few moments later. "You can come and do your stuff now..." he paused. "There is a lot of sensitive information to be got at from here; you know?" he observed.

"That's alright," Sarah soothed, "you can just watch over my shoulder to make sure that I don't access anything that I'm not supposed to."

"Fair enough." Sam nodded as he stepped back so that Sarah could sit at his desk.

She went for the computer's settings, and the computer bought up all sorts of interesting information about the hardware and programmes; but Sam could clearly see that there was nothing, which could be - 'potentially compromising', that she was looking at.

"Am I okay to print of this page?" she turned her head and looked up at Sam as he leaned over her, his fingers hooked on to the back of the swivel chair looking at the monitor screen.

"Yes that looks fine to me. Send it to that printer in the corner." He indicated a printer sitting looking a little forlorn on a small desk in the corner of the room.

Sarah did this, and then sat back looking around her curiously. Sam's office was not as large as Mr Conrad's office, but it was big enough; and again, it was light and airy due to the massive windows behind her.

His desk was the same as the big wooden one in Mr Conrad's room, but there was no clutter on Sam's, he had several letter trays some with files in and some that sat empty. There were shelves of books on the sidewall; big heavy volumes, that must have cost a fortune to purchase. There were several framed certificates of law alongside the bookshelves and opposite them were two small expensive looking paintings. 'This was the office of a successful man', she thought to herself and she glanced back at Sam.

He was watching her with dark eyes, and as their eyes met, a gleam entered his; which caused her to remember some of the things he had said last night, and she blushed and averted her eyes demurely.

Sam stared at Sarah's bent head, and seeing that blush moments before caused him to recall last night's ramblings as well. The colour came and went in his cheeks and his body responded in the same way that it always seemed to around Sarah.

She was wearing a smart looking suit this morning with a tight little skirt, which stopped just below her knees. Her blouse was pale pink and the matching suit jacket was slightly over large. The suit was a dull grey colour, and her hair was scraped ruthlessly back - obviously to try to give her a sexless, efficient kind of look; and he thought suddenly, to try to make her look a little older.

He thought he had never seen a woman look so sexy, as she did at that moment.

He glanced down at her feet, and there that image she seemed to be striving to achieve was shattered. Tiny impossibly high-heeled dark blue stilettos were covering those tiny toes of hers. The heat flooded through him and he closed his eyes and strove for control.

He thought of the work; which always seemed to be threatening to overtake him, and the meetings lined up over the next few days. His world calmed, and his body calmed; and order was restored.

Sarah stood up and walked over to the printer, leaving a seductive waft of her perfume; and chaos reigned supreme!

As she took the paper from the printer, she became aware of the stillness of the man behind her. She looked back at him.

Sam was still hunched slightly over his chair as if he were still reading off the computer screen, but his eyes were tightly closed and the colour came and went in his cheeks.

"Sam? Sam are you ok? Are you ill? Shall I call for an ambulance? Sam are you in pain?!" her voice rose slightly in panic, as she rushed back to him and laid one hand on his back, and the other flat on his chest as she tried to straighten him up.

"Sam for god's sake... Talk to me!" she begged.

It was the final straw. He could not help himself; he could not stop himself...

Thought went out of his head, and need came in. He let out an anguished groan as he reached for her and pulled her tight against his body.

Sarah let out a startled squeal, just as his mouth came down and crushed hers.

His tongue invaded her mouth pushing and probing, searching out those soft vulnerable parts, that made her groan ecstatically at him.

Her hands went round his neck and Sarah reached up and pulled herself closer still to Sam, her hands went into his hair and tugged to bring his head down to harden the contact of their mouths.

Sam growled hungrily, as he sat back on the edge of his desk; and pulled Sarah towards him; not once letting his mouth leave hers. His hand pressed on her bottom so that her groin was rubbing against the hardness of him, as he widened the stance of his legs to gather her in. He felt her tense slightly, as she became aware of the erection, which she seemed to be so delightfully moving against... 

Sam lightened his kiss, and began sucking on her bottom lip. His hand drifted up to cup her breast lightly, and she moaned and sagged against him. His fingers found the buttons on her blouse and he slowly began to unfasten them.

Sarah was lost... lost to the world around her. All she wanted was for this man to keep doing the things he was now doing to her.



There was suddenly a loud buzzing noise, and they both froze.

Sam swore viciously. Putting Sarah away from him, he swept his fingers through the mess his hair had become and after taking a quick controlling breath, answered the phone.

"Reynolds!" he snapped and waited for a response. "Yes Mrs Brown, Miss Chester is just checking my computer for a suspected computer virus, and I need to monitor her while she does this. Tell Mr Conrad we will be with them presently."

He replaced the receiver, and turned to look at a trembling Sarah, her hand up to her mouth, she looked liked a child trying not to cry.

"I could say that I'm sorry again, but I would guess that you are getting a little bit fed up of hearing that from me; aren't you?" He put his hands behind his back and moved away from Sarah, and the temptation she represented.

She stood there for a few moments, almost overwhelmed by the ache, which throbbed deep inside of her. After long painful moments, it finally seemed to ease a little, and she lowered her hand and fought desperately to pull herself together. As her arm came down, her blouse came apart, revealing the lacy, white bra that cupped her breast.

Sam sucked in a breath and turned away.

"I think you need to straighten your clothes a bit," He told her over his shoulder gruffly.

He could see her moving even with his back to her. A little bit of her arm here, her shoulder there, he could imagine her hands going over her clothes, fastening this and straightening that.

He squeezed his eyes tightly shut and put meetings and work in his mind.

"How do I look? Will I do?" Sarah asked uncertainly.

Sam turned and looked at her. "You look like you've just been kissed!" he snapped at her in frustration.

Her eyes filled with tears and she spread her hands out to the sides helplessly.

"Well how do I stop from looking like that?" she asked a little desperately.

Sam sighed and walked over to her. "Just sit there at my computer and check it for virus's; like I told them you were doing."

She held the computer mouse in a shaking hand and started to point and click and then she briefly typed in something before sitting back in his chair.

"You have a more than adequate virus checker on your system. What makes you think you might have a virus?" she asked curiously, as she felt her rational mind kick in; and the stress caused by the emotional turmoil began to dissipate.

Sam shrugged his shoulders. "I thought that since I had an expert in here; that I might as well make sure," he told her wryly.

Just as the checker was finishing its job; Sam's office door was flung open, and Mr Conrad walked in, with Maggie right behind him.

"How's it going Sam? I've got that meeting in five minutes and so I need to leave these young ladies with you. You can finish up with them can't you?" He nodded his head in a satisfied manner and walked out again closing the door behind him.

"Everything alright in here Sarah?" Maggie frowned as if picking up, on some of the happenings moments earlier.

Sarah smiled up at her friend and said, "Yes everything's fine here. We thought that there might have been a problem, but everything came up okay."

She stood up and moved around the desk to stand next to her friend.

"I'll let you have your computer back now Mr Reynolds; thank you for your time."

"Have you seen enough?" he was looking at Maggie now. "Do you have enough information about our needs, to be able to properly tender a quote?" 

Maggie nodded her head. "Oh yes, Mr Conrad seems to be very knowledgeable about the setup here; and was able to give me very detailed information."

"Good." Sam nodded his head and glanced at his watch. "How long do you think you will need to come up with this quote?" He stood up and moved purposefully towards the door.

"Oh... no more than a few days I should think." Maggie told him confidently. "A week at the most."

"Excellent." He led them back to the reception area and spoke to that lady, sat at her desk.

"Mrs Brown could you book another appointment with these ladies for the middle of next week. Make sure that both Mr Conrad and I are available for it. Put it as "referral of computers, network and security." he said with a wave of his hand.

He turned back to the silent women and shook each of their hands in turn.

"Until next week then... it was a pleasure." He nodded his head at them in a dismissive way and the turned and went back into his office closing the door with a quiet thud.



Maggie turned to the woman on reception, and grinned at her engagingly.

"It looks like fun working here," she said mischievously.

The receptionist raised her eyebrows in slight exasperation.

"Honestly," she said, "you have absolutely no idea what it's been like recently... things going wrong all the time; and the computer specialists that we've got at the moment are... well let's just say, that we've not been very impressed with the service that we've been getting lately."

She looked at her appointment book and then to Maggie. "What do you say to next Tuesday about ten o'clock again?"

Maggie pulled out her diary and opened it up.

"Yes, that will be fine we're both available then." She got out her pen and scribbled in her diary; and then returned both to her shoulder bag.

"We'll send you a letter of confirmation in a day or so." Mrs Brown promised




A Train Ride to - Love Ch 05



After thanking the nice lady politely, Maggie and Sarah left the offices of 'RCR & Matins and Associates'.



It was a bright day outside, and Sarah let out a huge sigh of relief as she felt the tension leave her, and her shoulders sagged.

"Look there's café over there," Maggie pointed. "Let's go and grab an early lunch; and you can tell me what you and the lovely Mr Reynolds were up to in that nice office of his!"

Maggie took hold of Sarah's arm, and marched her firmly over the road.



Sam leaned against his door and took several deep breathes. This thing, whatever it was, that was happening between him and Sarah was going way to fast... He desperately needed to get a grip before he could trust himself to see her again.

He prowled around his office, picking a book off the shelves and flicking through it. He would dump it down and move on to another. His agitation was getting worse, instead of better! He sat at his desk and pulled one of the folders from his in-tray.

The paperwork inside related to a meeting he had this afternoon and he had left it on his desk for the purpose of reading through it at this time; so that he would know what he was talking about when he met with the client.

There was a single sheet of paper on the top of the file; with the typed up notes he had made the week before; when the client had first been in contact. After looking at the paper for several minutes, without reading a single word, he slammed the folder shut and sat back in his chair.

He snatched up his telephone and dialled Sarah's mobile phone, and sat impatiently drumming his fingers on his desk.

A moment later, he heard her phone ringing in his ear and waited for her to talk to him.

It cut straight to the answering service, and he swore softly as he listened to the spiel of; 'please leave a message after the tone'.

"Sarah. It's Sam I'll see you tonight," he told her abruptly and slammed the phone down again.



Maggie went to get the food, while Sarah claimed a table for the two of them. As she sat down, her mobile started to beep at her, and she knew who it was - without even looking. She had only switched the thing back on a moment ago... as they had left Sam's office.

She looked at it, and it told her that the number was unknown. Hardly anyone knew her mobile number; and most certainly, she knew everyone who did have the number. She let it go to the answering service and dropped it back into her shoulder bag.



Maggie walked over carrying a tray with plates of food and cups of coffee on it.

She dumped it down on the table and sat down opposite Sarah - who reached for a plate of sandwiches, and took a bite that she did not want.

"So come on then... tell all." Maggie said through a mouth full of food.

"There's nothing to tell." Sarah mumbled evasively not quite meeting Maggie's eye.

Maggie laughed. "Oh! Come on!" she exclaimed. "I have NEVER seen you look so flustered around ANY guy before. You usually smile nicely; and then totally ignore them. And that dishy Mr Reynolds – well, cool and calm he absolutely was NOT!" She caught Sarah's eye and grinned as Sarah blushed guiltily.

She sat up in her chair; and looked straight across at Maggie defiantly.

"I'll tell you what..." she snapped crossly, "I'll tell you about my time with Mr Reynolds – if..." she said as Maggie's grin widened. "IF..." she repeated with her hand held up. "You tell me about your date with Pete last night; and why you didn't come home until well after midnight."

Maggie's grin faded and her eyes slid away evasively.

"Nothing to tell," she mumbled taking another bite from her sandwich and slouching down in her chair. 

"Exactly!" Sarah exclaimed. "See, you don't want to tell me all you're guilty little secrets - do you?"

Maggie mumbled through her sandwich, swallowed and sat up straight again. "But you do admit that there is SOMETHING to tell?"

Sarah blushed again, and then retaliated.

"And you? Have you got something you need to get off your chest?" she challenged.

"Okay, okay I give in." Maggie held her hand up in surrender. "We've both got things we're not ready to talk about."

Sarah pulled out her phone and listened to her voice mail.

"A hint would be nice though." Maggie persisted as Sarah put her phone away a moment later.

She grinned at Maggie naughtily.

"Okay..." she said. "I've got a date with him tonight... and it's not our first date it's our second – but I did NOT know that he worked at that firm, and he had no idea that it was me coming in today, to assess their computer network."

Her grin widened as Maggie gulped on her hot coffee, and began to choke.

Sarah moved around and began to; unrepentantly thump her friend on the back.

"See what curiosity did to the cat," she murmured to Maggie as her coughing gradually subsided.

"Enough!" Maggie finally managed to gasp as Sarah continued to cheerfully, slap her on the back.

"So..." Sarah asked after a moment's silence. She moved back to her own seat and finished her lunch. "What about you and Pete? How did that go?"

Maggie sighed and looked at Sarah clearly feeling a little confused.

"Why is it?" she asked Sarah crossly. "Why is it that people have to go and change on you?"

Sarah patted her friends hand sympathetically.

"It's called growing up." Sarah philosophised. "Everyone has to grow up eventually. Nothing can stay the same for ever."

"Yes... but, did he have to grow up THAT much?" It was not a question - more of a complaint.

"Pete?"

"Pete!"

"Do you want to talk about it?" Sarah asked hesitantly.

Maggie looked at her friend for a long moment, and then her eyes slid away guiltily.

"Not much to tell really." She shrugged. "He came, he saw, he conquered - he dropped me off and left."

Sarah felt shocked. Her friend had only broken up with her previous boyfriend the morning before. Surely, she hadn't fallen straight into bed with Pete.

"Mags..." Sarah hesitated unsure what to say.

Maggie looked up and realised what she had led her friend to believe.

"Oh no!" she gasped. "No we didn't sleep together! No, it was nothing like that! It was just a few kisses – before he put a stop to it and bought me home." She trailed off looking down at her cup.

"But you wanted things to go further?" Sarah asked gently.

"No.... Yes, - maybe." Maggie looked up at her friend; clearly bewildered by the feelings she seemed to be developing for her childhood friend. "I don't know Sarah. This is Pete for crying out loud! Pete, who followed me through school... who was always hanging around? You know... PETE!" She held her hands out palms up - as if to emphasise the bewildering point.

"Are you going to see him again?"

"No." Maggie seemed sure about this. "He's off to America for six months... leaving in the morning. He said he just wanted to look me up before he went." Maggie's voice held a hint of regret and she let out a sigh.

Come on babes let's go and do some work." Sarah cajoled.

Maggie nodded and gave Sarah a tight little smile. "Okay," she sighed.

They both stood and left the café arm in arm.