John and Kayleigh's second date was much more of a success, they went shopping where Kayleigh purchased some jeans and a few tops. John dutifully waited for her whilst she tried on a few items and carried her shopping bags from shop to shop and to a nice cafe for a spot of lunch. The odd kiss on the lips was had, as well as hand holding through the streets and even walking with their arms round each other. Both were contented in their larger world outside the car, it was effortless...this was their personal time now, not just Johns.

He had enjoyed the coffee the previous evening and chatting to Steve and Mandy, it was the first time they were a couple in front of others and Mandy was very welcoming considering they had only met once before Friday. John felt that it was a good sign that he eased into Kayleigh's family life. He didn't leave there until 00.40 so didn't get back home until late. He had been offered the sofa but declined as he was picking Kayleigh up at 10 and needed to get changed.

On the drive home from the city centre from their second date John was thinking about work and the Christmas Team, He was relieved that there was no major issue in regards to him and Kayleigh dating as everyone seemed to think they were anyway. John was told by Dave Thompson and Kath Hilton that as long as they kept any physicality's of their relationship outside of work then there would not be any problems, but John was no longer able to directly manage Kayleigh, he could ask her to perform her work tasks as the need arose but she could no longer answer to him in any other aspect, this also meant that John could not have her on the Christmas Team.

John felt bad that by Kayleigh and him entering this relationship had meant it stopped her partaking in something she really wanted too. John offered various scenarios of how she could still be on it, creating a sub team where another manager would be in charge and Kayleigh could answer to them or he could step down as head of the team and be involved on the side-lines. Both ideas were rebuffed by Dave and Kath as it just wasn't feasible to have too many managers focussing on the team and they reminded John this was his chance to be in line for promotion, if he didn't do this and another manager took over he would most likely be over looked again.

John resigned himself to the fact he would have to break Kayleigh's heart and withdraw his invitation for her to be on the Christmas Team.

"Kayleigh, today has been so much fun...I kept my door, I didn't have piss thrown at me, no monkeys came on board, not an ex in sight...oh and you haven't walked out of my car...yet"

Kayleigh laughed "Success John" Kayleigh celebrated... "eh...what do you mean I haven't walked out of your car yet?"

John wriggled awkwardly in his seat "Well there's something about work I've been meaning to tell you which doesn't bode well."

Kayleigh looked concerned "I thought everything was ok John only that you cannot directly manage me...has something changed?"

"No...its just...oh I wish I'd told ya before our dates now and give ya a chance to change your mind about us..."

"Change my mind about us? I'm not going to be changing my mind about us John! Why are you going too?" Kayleigh asked full of doubt.

"No..." he looked at Kayleigh who didn't seem convinced. "NO!" he repeated more defiantly.

"Then what is it?"

"I'm just gonna come out and say it...you can't be on the Christmas Team whilst I'm in charge of it, I tried to make it so you could but no other options were viable."

John looked over at Kayleigh to see her open mouthed and then she burst in to laughter.

"What?! What ya laughin at?"

"Oh John...I figured that already, why do you think I wasn't happy every time you mentioned us being on the Christmas Team,you know, before...well you know...this?"

"Dear God woman! I've been dreading telling ya this! I looked like a right tool in those meetings with Dave and Kath, begging them to let you on team even if I had to step down from it..."

"Hang on" Kayleigh touched Johns arm "You were gonna step down? For me?"

John nodded his head.

"Aw John that's so lovely, but this is your chance I'd never have let you do that."

"Thank you Kayleigh...however, I am really gonna have to start toughening up at work, I bet Dave and Kath have been having a right good laugh about this." John sighs and shakes his head, Kayleigh silently laughs whilst looking out of the passenger window.

"Eh its not funny you know! I thought you'd be gutted. If id known you weren't fussed I wouldn't have made such a song and dance about it to Dave and Kath!"

"Well if you had spoken to me about it Jonathan then you wouldn't have had to do that...why didn't you just tell me?"

"I wish I had now...I just didn't know how you were gonna react and I really wanted to take you out and...oh god...I told ya I'm no good at this sort of thing" John was getting flustered.

"Oh John, you worry too much, who cares what Dave 'Knobhead' Thompson thinks or Kath Hilton, anyway they should know what ya like by now..."

"Oh yeah and what's that? A bloody laughin stock?"

"No John, a good man, and if they don't see that then its their loss not yours, you should be really proud of what you did trying to sort this, shows how kind you are."

John made a humpf noise "You been going to the Jeremy Kyle school of psychology again?" and smiled.

Kayleigh giggled and squeezed his hand.

Driven By You by Brian May came on Forever Fm.

John thought to himself how apt the song was, everything he did now was driven by Kayleigh, well in all honesty for the past few months it had been that way. The irony was not lost on him that technically he was in the drivers seat yet it was Kayleigh who was powering him on...except when she put petrol in the car instead of diesel. John smiled to himself.

"What ya smiling at?" Kayleigh asked

"Just you and all these situations I keep finding myself in."

"Well least your smiling and not crying."

"Mmm." He said jokingly.

"Another thing about you not being on the Christmas Team is that as it gets closer to Christmas I'm gonna be doing a lot more hours, which means I may not always be able to give you a lift." John said very sullenly.

"Oh right" came the reply.

"That's why I was so desperate to have you on the Christmas team with me...we may hardly see each other in the lead up now."

"It'll be alright John" Kayleigh replied too optimistically for Johns liking "like I said before we'll be living together by then" she smiled.

John had the same expression he had a few weeks back. Kayleigh tapped his hand on the steering wheel "I'm joking."

"No you're not, you little bunny boiler" he playfully replied.

"I'll just do some extra shifts and work later too, they always need extra till staff and shop floor cover...I did it last year. I'm sure we'll see plenty of each other...oh and John...you are better at this sort of thing than you think" she smiled sweetly, Johns heart melted.

"Ey do you want to stop and mine for coffee before I take you back to your Mandy's?"

"Yeah I'd like that, be nice to see your house...ohh maybe you can play my song live for me?" Kayleigh claps her hands excitedly.

"Right change of plan I'm taking you home now" he replied mock serious and then laughed as did Kayleigh.

It was 4pm by the time they got to Johns, his house was nice, looked clean and tidy considering he was a single man on his own. Kayleigh just kept seeing more and more of John she liked and just couldn't stop herself planning in her head the future they could have.

Kayleigh had made herself comfortable in the living room waiting for her drink.

"Ere ya" said John as he put the coffees down and sat beside her, he put his arm on the back of the sofa behind Kayleigh but not touching her. He was quite confident being on his own territory, looking and acting relaxed. John put on the Tv with the remote and passed Kayleigh the remote and told her she can put whatever liked on as he went for a sip of his drink. Kayleigh reached for her cup too.

"Thanks...so how long have you lived here then?"

"ooh...dunno...about 6 years I think."

"Is this the house you brought with Charlotte?"

"Yeah" John guiltily replied "once she left we agreed that I would pay her back what she was owed deposit wise and some extra and I got the mortgage on me own, I had been promoted by then so...all fell into place."

It was obvious John was not comfortable having to explain all this and was worried Kayleigh may also feel uncomfortable.

"So how long ago did Charlotte leave?"

"Erm...maybe 2 and a half years ago or there abouts...its wasn't long after we got back from Malta it all kicked off"

"Ah right...so you lived here together for quite a few years then?"

John was becoming more awkward, it was bad enough they bumped into Charlotte last night let alone now spending this evening talking about her.

"Yeah" was all he could muster, he didn't want to ask Kayleigh if it bothered her, he was too scared of the reply.

"Had you ever thought of moving?"

"I had, but I liked the house, it was handy for work...I just redecorated and got new furniture and made it my own" John was relieved he had got that out, least Kayleigh knew he hadn't kept it as a shrine to his time with Charlotte.

"You've done a great job with it...it is lovely."

"Well I do try" John put his cup down and took Kayleigh's from her and then leaned in for a kiss; Kayleigh reciprocated. After a few minutes of kissing John got up to take the cups into the kitchen he turned around as reached the door and asked Kayleigh if she was hungry and fancied getting a takeaway.

"A takeaway? I've already eaten so much what with last night and lunch today...my new Jeans only just got round me today when trying them on!"

"Well its the weekend...you can start your diet Monday can't ya?"

"Are you saying I need to diet John?!" she asked him smiling.

"You are hard work!" they both laughed as Kayleigh got up to hug him. Cups in hand John couldn't return the hug but gave her a kiss on the forehead as he moved away to take the cups to the kitchen.

"Go on then...we never did have that Chinese you asked me round for?"

"Asked you round for?! More like I was backed into a corner!" He hastily left to room to Kayleigh hollering "you cheeky..." John had got to the kitchen so didn't hear what was on the end of that statement.

John brought through some menus and they decided to get it delivered instead of popping out again. By the time the Chinese arrived it was pushing 19.30.

They decided to eat on the coffee table in the living room and John put Avatar on that was showing on E4. They ate their Chinese making comments on the food and the film. After they had eaten Kayleigh took her shoes off and snuggled up to John with her feet on the sofa.

As the credits rolled Kayleigh commented "Well that's 3 hours of my life I wont ever get back."

"What? You didn't enjoy it?"

"No I did not...I told ya I'm more into a romantic comedy." Kayleigh said as she sat up to stretch out. She hadn't moved since she snuggled up to him.

"Well it had romance...and a few jokes..."

"I didn't know what was going on John."

John laughed "I have no words."

"Oh God John...its nearly half past 10!"

"Its not is it?!"

"Mandy will be wondering where I am...I said I wouldn't be late tonight, she likes to know if I'm gonna be late as she leaves the hall light on." Kayleigh walks to her bag to get her phone.

"Well instead of causing any bother...you could...well you could..."

"Could what John?" Kayleigh asks whilst looking at her phone.

"Stay here?" John said sheepishly.

Kayleigh looked up at him in amazement "Well now whose rushing things?" she smirked.

"I didn't mean like that. I mean you could stay in the spare room...but I'm not ruling out anything like that I just thought it would save hassle" John was talking very quickly by this point whilst Kayleigh just looked at him. "It doesn't matter I'll just take you back to your Mandy's."

"Whoa John" Kayleigh put her phone down and walked closer to him "I'd be happy to stop over...as long as we are clear...that you have invited me...I haven't backed you into a corner" and smiled.

"Alright smart arse" he put his arms around her waist and brings her in to him whilst facing each other "I am inviting you to stay over in whatever room you like."

"Mmm let me think about this...ok I will accept...oh but I've got nowt with me though...no toothbrush Pyjamas...hair stuff!"

"Well I have a spare toothbrush...got a t-shirt you can borrow...that's all I can offer."

"That'll do." She smiled and kissed him on the lips...she moved away "I better text our Mandy let her know I wont be home tonight."

As she walked to her phone and started texting John put his hands in his pockets and let out a sigh of joy and happiness and smiled longingly at Kayleigh.

As they tidied away the cutlery and Chinese containers, they had a cup of tea and flicked through the channels on the TV.

"Right" John said as he yawned and stretched "should think about getting some sleep...second late night in a row this."

"God John its nearly midnight...I know, not used to these late nights either, not like I used too..."

There was an awkward silence as Kayleigh still hadn't said where she was happy to sleep and John hadn't pushed the subject, but now there was a real elephant in the room where neither one wanted to say either way through fear of making it even more awkward.

"So..." said John

"So..." replied Kayleigh

Still silence was over them as they both looked awkwardly round the room. John knew he would have to be the one to say something, Kayleigh was being so accepting of his wish to take things slow, he owed it to her to start taking the lead.

"Well lets head up then and I'll get ya that t-shirt and toothbrush..."

"Yeah ok thanks"

After a few seconds John got up while Kayleigh stayed seated.

Still silent as Kayleigh got up and followed John upstairs. "Oh God this is awkward" John thought to himself.

As they got to the top of the stairs John went into a bedroom, Kayleigh stayed on the landing wondering if she should just follow; John then popped his head round the door "come on then...no need to stand on ceremony" Kayleigh followed in trepidation. She entered the room...it was Johns bedroom. He was at his chest of draws looking for what she presumed was the t-shirt he had offered "ere ya...hope this is ok? I'm just gonna go and brush me teeth whilst you get changed and I'll get that toothbrush out for ya." John gave her a smile as he left the room.

Kayleigh stood there looking around the bedroom, it was nicely decorated, walls standard magnolia and a few retro pictures on the wall of guitars and route 66 sign. The room wasn't as tidy as the rest of the house, Johns work uniform thrown on a chair in the corner of the room and trainers just chucked on the floor. She got changed nervously waiting what she should do next...sit on the bed...she had nothing on her legs...'was that appropriate?' she thought. John came bouldering in "I have left toothbrush on side for ya...eh that t-shirt suits ya." He then took his polo shirt and jeans off and got into bed. "Aren't ya gonna brush ya teeth?" John asked very casually, "oh right yeah" Kayleigh started to move "see ya in a minute" said John. Kayleigh smiled back and asked "oh right...erm...am I sleeping in here then?"

John replied "yeah" very nonchalant as if Kayleigh had asked the most stupid question in the world, "only if your happy to, you can have spare room if you prefer? Whatever your comfortable with." Kayleigh who pleasantly surprised replied "no that's fine...see ya in a min" she grinned as she left the room.

John had decided the best way to stop the awkwardness was to carry on like this was a normal situation for them. He knew he couldn't send Kayleigh off to the spare room, unless she had made it clear that is where she would rather be, that would just be cruel. He knew he needed to let go of his fears more as it just was not fair for Kayleigh to keep patiently waiting for his next move in this game of love. He wanted them both to be on an equal playing field, he could not keep her at arms length, he loved her after all.

Kayleigh returned to the room and saw John had his bedside lamp on so she turned off the big light.

"All ok?" he asked

"Yeah fine thanks" as she walked to the window side of the bed.

"Good" John said as he put his phone down on his bedside cabinet. Kayleigh got in under the covers and John rolled on to his side to face her and pulled her in for a cuddle as she was lowering her head on the pillow. She returned the hug and they shared a lingering kiss, as the kiss came to an end they kept in the cuddle and found themselves drifting off to sleep.

"Night night Kayleigh" said John half asleep

"Night night John boy" said Kayleigh in mock American accent in honour of the Waltons. John creased up laughing, he smiled at her and said "you do make me laugh you know?" "I know."They both sighed in contentment and continued to drift off the sleep.