It wasn't everyday P.C. Macbeth rescued a stranded lady. Luck was on his side as he drove his weekly patrol through the countryside, and there she was, a beautiful woman with a flat tire in need of assistance.
Now she sleeps just a few steps down the hall from him, and Hamish wondered if he'd gone completely daft to have invited her to stay with him. Esme's place would have suited Belle just fine for the night's stay, but he wanted her near, to not miss a moment to spend with her. He sighed, rubbing heels of his hands over his eyes miserably.
What was the point, really? Come morning, Belle would be on her way to the next destination on her journey and all he'd be is a memory from her travels. Maybe she'd take a picture to remember what he looked like. That was all he'd be to her, a memory and a picture stashed in a photo album.
The disappointing thought didn't deter him from rising early to make breakfast for them both. The shuffle of socked feet caught his attention and Hamish turned with a welcoming smile to see Belle wandering into the kitchen. Her sky blue flannel pajamas with sheep happily hopping over fences amused him more than it should have, the temptation to seek her lithe hips hidden under the fabric with his hands seeping into his thoughts. Hamish shook himself, knowing thoughts like that would somehow get him in trouble. Belle was his guest, not a lover come visit.
"Good morning, Miss Belle" he greeted, flipping the fried eggs and sausage over in the pan. "Sleep well?"
Belle leaned a hip against the counter close to him. "Yes, very well" she replied with a nod and paused for a moment, nibbling her lip. She'd nibbled several times the day before, and Hamish couldn't help but notice the enticing habit. "I felt safer here than I have on my other stops. Being alone in a strange place is quite unnerving."
"Well, where is it safer than staying in the same house as a police officer?" he remarked, grinning proudly.
Belle chuckled and her eyes were far too blue and shining for comfort. He'd have a hard time letting her go today. "As safe as I may be in a house with a police officer, that isn't why I felt safe."
Hamish grabbed a plate as the eggs and sausage sizzled to done. "Oh?"
"We spent most of the day together yesterday." Belle took the full plate as he grabbed for another. "I didn't feel like a stranger in a strange place because I got to know you, even if it was just a little."
Hamish tried his best to keep his lips tightly together. He'd probably embarrass himself if he allowed the giddiness to escape. He was a grown man, for goodness sakes, and an officer of the law! He shouldn't be floating like a schoolboy after a pretty little classmate pecked him on the cheek. He gestured for her to follow to the dining room next to the kitchen where a kettle of hot tea awaited them on the table.
Belle commented on how delicious the food was, and a conversation began on all the interesting foods she'd tasted on her adventure. Belle had yet to try certain staples of Scottish cuisine, making Hamish determined to be with her when she tried all the foods on her list. He could make most of them happen one way or another.
He phoned the town mechanic to checked on her car after breakfast, but he hadn't started work for the day. Hamish told him to get moving, but secretly he hoped the mechanic would suddenly decide to take off the whole day. Belle didn't seem too worried about being stranded a little longer.
"Do you mind company again while you make your rounds?" she asked, hopeful, nibbling her lips again as she glanced away. "I don't want to intrude."
Hamish waved a dismissive hand. "Non-the-sort, Miss Belle. Lochdubh is no' known fer its high crime rate. I won' be chasing any criminals down while on patrol." It was the truth. Lochdubh was a quiet place, if you didn't count the locals little (or sometimes outrageous) schemes.
Hamish nearly jumped out his skin when a hand landed on his shoulder from behind. He knew it wasn't Belle, she'd just left to get dressed. He'd been so caught up thinking about how he'd keep her around for a few more days that he didn't hear TV John show up.
"What the hell, John!" Hamish huffed, taking a drag of his smoke. "Ye coulda warned me!"
"I did" John protested, staring at Hamish as if his friend had transformed into something unnatural. "You didn't hear my footsteps or the door open?"
Hamish frowned, tamping out his smoke. "No, I didn'. Sorry John. Must o' been distracted."
Footsteps paddled from the hallway and Belle appeared a moment later, dressed in a long, brown suede skirt and light blue sweater. Her chestnut locks were swept up in a braid with a few short strands framing her face.
"Oh," John murmured. "I see why."
Belle smiled brightly at John, holding out a hand to him. "Hi, I'm Belle. Are you a friend of Hamish?"
"Oh yes. For a very long time." John accepted her hand, warmly. "They call me TV John. How long have you and Hamish known each other?"
"Just since yesterday," Belle replied without a qualm. "He rescued me from a flat tire and the Scottish wilderness."
"Welcome to Lochduhb, Miss Belle." John threw Hamish a look of contempt, but he ignored it perfectly. Strangers shouldn't be staying at the police station, but when did P.C. MacBeth follow the rules completely?
"We best be on our way. Comma' Wee Jock!" Hamish said gesturing for Belle to walk passed him. She smiled at John again, giving a little wave. Wee Jock ran passed to catch up with her.
Before Hamish could join her, John grabbed his sweater sleeve and whispered, "There's some not right about that girl. I can feel it all around us."
Hamish sighed in frustration. "Comma', John. Belle is as normal as you and me, well at least me, I can' speak fer ye."
"I'm just sayin'."
"I'll let ye know if she turns out ti be a vampire." He trekked out before TV John could protest any further.
Belle was waiting for him on the drive, occupying herself with petting Wee Jock. She planted a kiss to Jock's furry little head, and Hamish couldn't see a single thing wrong with her.