Chapter 1

This started as part of By Request but then got a bit long and unwieldy. The simply divine CrimeFictionFan suggested I make it a stand alone. You have her to thank. She is simply magnificent and deserves ever so much more than a simple story.

He took a deep breath just before knocking on her door. His nerves had his stomach fluttering. Asking her to go away for the weekend had been a spur of the moment decision. One of those things which seemed like a good idea at the time then had scared him afterwards.

He'd overheard her talking with a friend about the production. Before he knew what he was doing he'd purchased the ticket and asked her.

She'd been kind, had said yes without a moment's hesitation, had even recommended a few things they could do while there. Then she'd said the thing that had made him the most nervous, "Since you took care of the tickets, I'll take care of where we stay."

Now here he was, stood outside her door, nervous yet strangely excited. Raising his arm, he knocked on the door. It opened instantly. She smiled up at him, a mischievous glint lighting her eyes. "You've been standing there so long I was beginning to think you'd changed your mind."

He laughed, "No, I thought I might have forgotten something."

"And what's the conclusion?"

Looking down at her, all bright and happy, "Nothing, I have everything I need." More words ran through his mind but he managed not to say them, "Right here in front of me."

Stepping back, "Good then you can help me with my things."

Sitting in the hallway was a mid-sized bag and a small picnic basket. "What's the basket for?"

"Snacks for the trip."

Lifting both items, he laughed, "It's a two hour drive, Laura. I'm certain we won't need a snack break."

A brilliant smile lit her face as she walked past him to the door. Looking up at him, she raised an eyebrow, "Robbie Lewis, I have known you long enough. We'll get twenty minutes into the drive and you will start looking for some place interesting to stop."

Her smile stunned him, there was something different about it, almost teasing. "But that's different, you're supposed to find new and interesting food on road trips." Holding up the basket, "You've probably only got fruit and vegetables in here."

"There's only one way to find out." She turned and walked out the door.

Grumbling he followed her, "Fair warning, if I don't like what's on offer, I'm stopping somewhere."

Placing her hand on his chest, she looked up at him through her lashes. "Have a little faith, Robbie."

The heat from her hand sent a shock through him. He stared down at her and seriously considered kissing her. It wasn't the first time he'd ever had the thought but this was by far the strongest. Shaking his head, trying to feign a grumpiness he simply didn't feel. "I guess we can always stop if your snacks fail to satisfy."

A small smile tugged at her lips, she rubbed her hand across his chest. "That's the spirit."


Thirty minutes into the drive, Robbie cast an eye to the back seat and the basket. "We're coming up on a good place to stop. Perhaps we should give the basket a try, you know, just in case."

She laughed, "Are you sure? I wouldn't want to deprive you."

His heart beat a bit faster, something in the way she'd said it made him think of other ways he was deprived. He shouldn't be thinking like this. They were friends, nothing more. He shouldn't presume anything. Of course, she hadn't said anything about the hotel arrangements. She'd told him over drinks she'd booked someplace nice but no comment as to whether she booked one room or two.

This thought made his heart beat even faster. Swallowing, he shrugged, "It seems a shame not to give it a try."

Unfastening her safety belt, she turned to reach into the back seat. Her side pressed into his arm, sliding against him. Again his thoughts turned more prurient. He focused on the road, anything not to think about her sliding against him.

She pulled back, basket in hand and he mourned the loss of her touch. Turning the basket so he couldn't see inside, she reached inside pulling out something he couldn't quite see. "A banana?" At his frown, she dropped it into the basket, "An apple, grapes, I think I have a pear."

He groaned, "I knew it, fruits and vegetables."

He didn't see her fighting laughter. In the same tone she'd announced the fruit, "Maltesers, roast chicken crisps, sausage rolls and homemade biscuits."

"Laura Hobson, you do surprise me."

Meeting his gaze, she smiled, "I told you to have a little faith. Now, what do you want?"

Looking away, he tried to control his breathing. Her words had him thinking of everything except food. "Let's start with a sausage roll."