Stevie makes her way to her Ute and a voice calls "Stevie wait up!" She stops and turns back and Marcus is running towards her. "Gee you don't muck about when you decide to go home do you?" She chuckles and replies. "Well I've got a long drive and an early start." He looks at her and says "Stevie Thank you for this evening. I had a really great time."
She smiles at him and says "Yeah it was fun I enjoyed it too." He looks at her and says "Sorry about the competition I sort of just left you to your own devices didn't I?" She laughs and says "Marcus you're a bloke it comes with the territory and any way we weren't on a date or anything. Just two friends having a beer." Marcus likes her a lot she's different to the women he knows. He finds himself wanting to make her laugh just to listen to her and watch her eyes sparkle.
"So you're going home tomorrow?" She says. "Yes unfortunately." He replies. She laughs and says. "I thought you couldn't wait to go?" He smiles at her and says "Yes but that was before I got to spend time with you." She feels her face flush but in the semi darkness he misses it. Stevie laughs and says " Oh Marcus you are smooth." He looks at her and says " Stevie it's not a line."
He moves towards her and places his hand around her waist and gently pulls her into his embrace and kisses her very softly. Initially Stevie is shocked by his move. She didn't see it coming. There's is something so very familiar about his embrace and his lips as her eyes close she imagines it's Alex and begins to respond but pulls back startled by her own reaction. " Marcus I'm sorry but I shouldn't have let you do that!"
Marcus is grinning at her and says . " Wow you have the softest lips." She grins and says " You can stop now, you wont be getting another one, in fact you shouldn't have gotten that one but you took me by surprise." He laughs loudly and then seriously asks "You don't have boyfriend do you?"
She chuckles and says " No I don't." "Husband?" He queries. She shakes her head. "Is it because I'm leaving because believe me you are definitely worth commuting backwards and forwards for." Stevie says "Marcus you're very sweet and under different circumstances..." He doesn't let her finish and says "There's someone else isn't there?" She inhales deeply and replies. "It wouldn't be fair to you if we started something I have to move past him before I move on with my life."
Marcus moves forward and hugs her. Again he surprises her she feels like she could cry when he says "Whoever he is he's an idiot for letting someone like you go." He kisses the top of her head and releases her. She smiles and says. Thank you Marcus but if you're ever in town again I'd love to have a beer with you." He smiles and says "Plus a game of pool." She moves off towards her Ute and yells "You're on."
Back on Kilarney Marcus is sitting having a whiskey when Alex walks in. "So how'd ya go with Stevie? Strike out did ya?" Marcus looks deep in thought and says "Yes and No." Alex looks puzzled and says "Either you did or you didn't." Marcus says "I kissed her."
Alex's heart flips rhythm. "She kissed you!" Alex states. Marcus replies "No I kissed her but she responded just for a moment and I got this glimpse of how it could be. My God what I wouldn't give to have a woman like her. She's smart, funny and breathtaking to look at."
Alex shifts uncomfortably hearing Marcus talk about her hurts. Marcus continues. "She told me she was sorry but I took her by surprise. There's someone else but it's one sided and she didn't think it was fair to let me think there could be anything between us. What sort of an idiot would let her get away? God I hope one day a woman like her loves me that much. Anyway I'm off to bed Goodnight."
Alex sleeps restlessly his dreams are full of Marcus and Stevie he wakes with a deep sadness in his heart that is surrounded by guilt. In the kitchen Marcus is sitting at his laptop with his coffee "Good Morning." Marcus chirps.
Alex rubs his head and says. "Yeah Good morning. What are you doing?" Marcus grins and says "I'm sending Stevie flowers a huge bunch." Alex laughs and says "Give up mate she's not interested." Marcus looks at Alex and says "Just because some dickhead has broken her heart doesn't been I can't help mend it. There sent."
Later in the day Stevie returns to Drover's rubs down her horse, feeds and waters him and is about to walk inside when she sees Alex's Ute pull up. "Hey" She calls. "Hey." He replies as he moves from his car he says "I thought you might like a beer!" He holds up a six pack.
She shakes her head and says "No I don't think I do." He's gutted. "Come on Cowgirl just one." She walks closer to him and says "Alex I can't do this anymore and I can't go back to just being your friend. Not yet anyway."
She walks away from him. Walking into the kitchen Jodie and Regan are having a coffee. Jodie quips "Well someone's made an impression." On the table are a huge bunch of roses. Unheard Alex has followed Stevie inside as he reaches the kitchen door he hears Jodie and Stevie and sees the flowers. Jodie hands Stevie the card and she reads it to herself.
Stevie,
Thought these might help to mend your broken heart.
Marcus.
Stevie drops the card onto the table and moves quickly to her room Jodie spots Alex in the doorway and says "Those beers might come in handy Alex something is very wrong." Alex picks up the card and his heart hurts.