11 April, Lake View Cafe, City K

John sat there stunned.? He had thought he had steeled his emotions not to give anything away, but she picked up something.? Damn, what had he done.

"Why do you say that?" John questioned somewhat sceptical that he had given away something.

"John, I am a trained lawyer.? I know how to observe situations and people.? And, being honest you know my boss and therefore should have an idea of my skill base.? Not as much as him and others, but I am still good.? Like you I have undertaken analysis training and making connections between seemingly disconnected pieces of information and actions."

John knew he had been caught out.? She was right, if he had the same pieces of information, he would make the same connections as she had.? He needed to downplay the situation, because he did not want to chase her away before he determined if a relationship was possible.

Taking a deep breath, John responded "If the situation was reversed, I would make the same conclusions."

"In talking about your family, you have drawn out my situation.? Quit stalling, or.."

"Do not say that.? You know threatening me with Matthew will not work.? Yes, he will have words with me because he knows all the embarrassing things from my childhood, but I know his as well, so he does not pressure me too much."

"Why should I expect that you would try an evade answering me.? Be truthful, or I will leave now."

Seeing the seriousness on Bronwyn's face, John realised that he could not stall otherwise he would loose any opportunity.

Slumping his shoulders, John said "I really do not know what to say."

"The truth?? We can go for a walk around the lake, if you do not want to talk here."

"That sounds better, this is a conversation that I really do not what to have sitting here."

After arranging payment of the bill, John carefully placed her jacket on Bronwyn Li, before putting his jacket on and heading outside, wandering away from the café towards a bench about two hundred metres away.

After seeing Bronwyn had sat down, John sat beside her looking he directly in the eyes, but before he could say anything Bronwyn quietly said "We have been dancing around things in there.? We need to be brutally honest here.? John, I have a career that has ruined too many relationsh.i.p.s to count, and I suspect you have had the same thing.? It starts out fine, because we do not have to disclose much about what we do, other than our service.? But the problem becomes when we are taking want to take the relationship further and they must go through security screening.? Either they run the other way, or the screening raises too many flags that the relationship has to be ended."

"Same here.? Every relationship destroyed because that simple fact, or their failed attempts to get me to leave the police and into the family business so they can take what they see as their place in society.? I hate it."

"So, what in the world do you want?? While I have been reassigned here for a while, in part because I am due to my skills refresher training but also because what the Boss and Mrs Rong have to deal with at court, I do not have the time to waste on a relationship where it is not serious.? Friendsh.i.p.s are all wall and good, and if that is what you want, that is easy, but.."

John was stunned, normally he hated direct women like this, but in this case, he had no worries.? The situation was something completely different to normal, and he was being given the opportunity to try and snatch something that in the past always seemed an impossibility.

"Bronwyn, truthfully when I asked you out for dinner it was about asking you did you want to go to the function, simply as a friend as my guest.? Yes, in some respect to act as a shield as of the pressure my parents are placing on me to get married, give my sister's recent marriage but because in briefly meeting you the other day your intrigued me."

"Being intrigued about you was the only reason that I accepted your invitation to dinner.? I knew what I had read about you in your file, but there was something else that I could not put my finger on.? But there is something else that you wanted to say.? If you can be honest with me about that, I will be honest as well."

In the dim light, John realised that there was something that Bronwyn wanted to say but she would not until he put his cards on the table.? Pausing to gather his thoughts John quietly said "All my cards on the table.? While I was waiting for you, I seriously started to question what it was that sparked my invitation.? Was it simply that desire to have someone, yes in part to be a shield, but realised that it was something more."

Bronwyn hearing those words, felt a sense of relief in hearing the struggle in John's voice to indicate what he wanted.? At least this was not a one-way street.? Here was a chance for a relationship to go further, without worries about the things that had always impacted her relationsh.i.p.s.? The truth about her service division and its risks chasing people away.? Here was someone who knew the truth and would be able to deal with it.

"John, that was the same thought I had walking across the room to you. Was there a chance for a relationship, because ultimately the biggest issue faced was removed for both of us.? We do not have to worry about the security screening.? But, saying that I am worried about how both our occupations will impact any relationship development."

Sensing that Bronwyn had hesitancy about a relationship John said "Bronwyn, I do not want you to feel pressured, so if friendship is all we can have, then I will be happy with that."

Hearing that Bronwyn felt relief, what happened would be whatever they were comfortable with, without pressure either way.? "John, it may seem fast, but let us just see where things will go.? What will happen is meant to be.? But as to tomorrow, I would love to accompany you, but I have nothing to wear to such a society event."

"That we can resolve, I will call Lexi, and see if she can sort something out for you."

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