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As they have promised Den and Caroline were back at Ryan’s house at noon the next day, ready to follow Ryan to Bret’s house. Ryan and the other four had decided to stay at the motel, at least for a night or two. They could stop driving back and forth all the time. So Ryan drove them all in his van, along with their luggage, back to Bret’s house. Den and Caroline followed. Den also had a van. Caroline drove her own car. So that she could pretend it had broken down.
“Was it that big house, about a mile back?” Den asked Ryan as they were both getting out of their vans in the Motel car park.
“Yeah that’s the one. I thought we’d better park here first. You can sort out exactly what you are doing from here, well out of his way.”
“Yeah that sounds good”– Den agreed.
Whilst in the car park with the other five listening in, Den and Caroline sorted out exactly what the plan was.
“Be very careful Caroline”– Ryan warned. “Well be as close to the end of the drive as we can be without him seeing us. So if there’s any sign of trouble just call us, or get out of there as quick as you can, or both.”
“Hey come on it’s me”– Caroline assured him. “You know I’ll look after myself. I got my mace spray in my bag just in case!”
Caroline drove her car to just before the end of Bret’s drive. Ryan and Den stopped their vans a couple of hundred yards behind her.
“I hope she knows what she’s doing”– Lori said as they all looked on as Caroline got out of her car.
“Trust me, looking like that she’ll be fine”– Rachel said.
“Rachel I didn’t realize you had a thing for sexy redheads wearing black skirts and white tops”– Ryan teased. “You’ve kept that quiet.”
“I’m not saying I couldn’t resist her, I’m saying I know he wont be able to resist her”– Rachel said whilst giving Ryan a light hearted disapproving look.
“You’re one of those people who just can’t resist winding people up whenever there is the slightest chance aren’t you?”
“Yes, yes I am. That’s why I have so few friends.”
Caroline walked down the long driveway, nerves increasing the nearer she got to the front door. Got to the large front door, took a deep breath before ringing the door bell. Took only a few seconds for Bret to open the door.
“Hi”– Caroline managed to produce her best smile. “So sorry to bother you.”
“I’m sure whatever it is it’s no bother at all”– Bret interrupted.
‘Wow, sleaze alert already’– Caroline thought. “It’s just that my car has broken down and my phone battery is run down. Just wondering whether it’s at all possible to use your phone.”
“Of course it is. Please come in.” Bret didn’t take his eyes off Caroline whilst he gestured for her to come in. And then he closed the door behind her. “You can use the phone in the kitchen. This way!”
Bret handed the phone to Caroline. “Thanks, I’m just going to give my husband a call. He should be somewhere in this area. He can come and pick me up. Plus he’s pretty good with cars. So he might be able to sort my car out himself.”
The mention of Caroline’s husband had caused Bret’s heart to sink a little. But it didn’t put him off completely. Caroline did indeed call her husband. She told him what had happened and where she was. And she told him that a kind man had let her use his phone. In actual fact all she was telling Den was that she was all right. And everything was going well.
“He isn’t too far away. He should be here within ten minutes”– Caroline told Bret after hanging up. “I’ll go back to my car and wait there. I’ve taken up enough of your time already.”
“Oh please no, wait for him here. I can make you a drink and I’m sure we can find something to chat about.”
“Oh okay, if you really don’t mind.”
“Not at all, I insist. Now what can I get you to drink?”
“Coffee would be great thanks. This is a gorgeous house. It’s huge too. Do you live here on your own?”
“Yes, just me.”
“Sorry to interfere but do you have a security system?”
“Actually no I don’t. Why do you ask?”
“Just with a house as expensive as this you really should have one. Sorry it’s just that my husband and I fit security systems. And whenever I see a house, especially a beautiful one like this, I can’t help but think about security. It’s boring I know.”
“You’re right I really should have one. Could you fit one for me?”
“Oh no, I wasn’t touting for business I promise. I just can’t help thinking about it.”
“No problem. If you can do it, I’d love for you to do it.”
“Really? You sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“All right then! We won’t be able to do it right away because we’re booked up for the next few weeks. But whenever we do it, then we’ll give you a discount for helping me out today.”
“That’s not necessary, seeing you again will be better than any discount.”
‘Sleaze overload’ Caroline thought.
“No it’s my turn to insist. You’ve helped me out so its only fair. Do you mind if I take a look around, to work out what kind of job we are looking at?”
“Be my guest.”
Bret showed Caroline around the whole house, briefly looking around each room. As they got back to the top of the stairs the doorbell went.
“Oh that’ll be Steve”– Caroline said as they started to walk down the stairs. “I’m Melissa by the way, Melissa Gerrard.”
“I’m Bret, Bret Jensen.”
Caroline opened the door and indeed it was Den who had rung the doorbell.
“Hi honey, thanks for coming to get me”– Caroline said and gave her husband a hug.
“No worries, sure it won’t be much wrong with the car. I’ll take a look at it on the way out”– Den replied. “You won’t believe what’s just happened”– he appeared to become uncomfortable and very angry.
“What?” Caroline asked.
“That big job that was supposed to be starting tomorrow, well the women phoned just after you phoned me and cancelled. That would have been a full week job”– Den looked genuinely annoyed. “I told you we should get some cancellation clause put into our contract.”
“Oh, wow, that’s spooky”– Caroline said.
“How is this at all amusing to you?”
“Well honey just calm down. This gentleman is Mr. Jensen. And he wants us to fit his house. You see, everything works out for a reason. Just chill out some more, honey.”
“Oh wow that’s awesome”– Den replied and looked at Bret. “Thanks very much Mr. Jensen. Any chance we can start tomorrow?” He added whilst shaking his hand.
“Without doubt! The sooner the better for me.”
“Oh excellent”– Den said as he broke off the handshake. “I still think we should get that cancellation clause put in”– he turned and said to Caroline.
“If it’ll make you happy. I’ve already had a full look round the house, so I can tell you all about what sort of job we need to do”– Caroline said.
“Sorry Mr. Jensen, we have to get going now, we’ve got some people to meet”– Caroline told Bret. “Thanks once again for your help.”
“No problem at all. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You sure will”– Caroline said.
“Looking forward to it already”– Bret said.
Den and Caroline left the house. They got into Den’s van and drove to Caroline’s car. She lifted up the bonnet and Den pretended to fiddle with one or two things, knowing the car was in sight of some of the windows in Bret’s house. After a minute or two of pretend fixing Caroline started up the engine and they drove back to the motel in their separate vehicles, passing Ryan’s van on the way and waving at him to follow them to the motel.
“Is everything going okay?” Ryan checked if everybody was out into the car park.
“Yeah, it went perfectly”– Den said. “We start work there in the morning.”
“Yes Melissa Gerrard will start work on the house with her husband in the morning”– Caroline added.
“Let me guess”– Ryan said. “Her husband Steve?”
“We are predictable aren’t we”– Den laughed.
“By the way, Steve Gerrard is Liverpool’s star player ”– Ryan informed the four Americans.
“We persuaded him, no question about it. Though I need a shower to clean off all the slime and sleaze”– Caroline said.
“I tried to warn you”– Rachel said with a smile.
“I know, you weren’t exaggerating, were you?”
“Not a bit.”
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