Ramone turned to Brendan and Anne-Marie, “You guys coming for a drink?  Bryony's opened a vintage case of Rioja.”
Anne-Marie grinned at him, “I’m gunna get a shower first.”
Ramone turned to Brendan.
“I’m heading back into town,” Brendan said, “to see Jenna.”
Ramone cocked his head to the side, “Just one drink, Amigo?”
Brendan smiled, “Nah, I want to get back to the apartment.  My routine has been messed up... I didn’t have a shower after work, or anything.”
Anne-Marie scoffed and shook her head, “You and your bloody routine.  You’re worse than someone with OCD.  You know that?  In fact, I think you’ve got OCD – Oddly Cockeyed Disorder.”
Brendan laughed, “Wow.  How long have you been waiting to use that one?”
Anne-Marie sneered, playfully, “Since I met you.”
“I’m... going to leave you to it.” Ramone said, “Later guys.”
Anne-Marie stared at Brendan, biting her bottom lip, gently.
“How’s Jake getting on?” Brendan asked, “Is he improving at all?”
“Honestly... no, not really.  I mean, he’s trying, but it’s hard work.  And by the way, he’s convinced that you hate him.”
“I don’t hate him.  I’m... trying to give him a break.”
“Right.  Let’s face it, you’d have a downer on any guy who Jenna dated.”
“That’s not true!”
“Yes it is.  And you know it.  You’re the most over-protective big-brothers I’ve ever known.”
“Can you blame me?  My soul-mate recently threatened to ‘torture her into hell’, Jake’s parent’s tried to kill her, her ex-boyfriend hit her... I mean, it strikes me that she might need a bit of protecting.”
Anne-Marie’s face softened into a warm smile, “Ok, you may have a point there.”
Brendan looked away, slightly annoyed by her comments.
“He reminds me a bit of you, you know.” Anne-Marie said.
“Who?”
“Jake.  He reminds me of you, when you first arrived... when I trained you... You were hopeless too when I first got my hands on you.”
Brendan narrowed his eyes, “Are you trying to annoy me tonight?”
Anne-Marie’s grin widened, “Maybe.”
Brendan sneered at her, “I’m nothing like Jake.  And besides, when you trained me I was only just discovering my gifts.  Now, I am the master.”
He struggled to restrain a laugh as he spoke the words.
Anne-Marie giggled, “Oh yeah?  Let me just think for a moment... oh, that’s right – you’ve never beaten me on a Fight-night, have you?  In fact, I’m not sure you’ve ever beaten anyone, have you?”
“Yes!  I’ve nailed Pascal several times, and Blitz, and–”
“I’m the master,” Anne-Marie whispered, narrowing her eyes.
Brendan stared at her.  She looked right back into him.
“You’d better watch it,” Brendan said, “I can be quite dangerous when I want to be.”
Anne-Marie made a small movement towards him, “Yeah?  Anytime you fancy another lesson, just say the word.”
A feisty smile danced on her lips.  Her gaze flickered between Brendan’s eyes and his lips.  Desire thickened in the air; they both felt it.
“I’d better go,” Brendan said, “I told Jenna I’d be back before she went to bed.”
Anne-Marie smiled, “Sure, see you later.”
Brendan winked at her, cockily.
She shook her head and turned away.  Brendan watched her climb the first few steps on the staircase, unable to tear his eyes away from the curve of her hips.  She turned round quickly and caught him watching her.  For a moment their eyes locked together, then Brendan turned and headed off.