Thank you all for the comments and messages! I wonder is it getting any clearer who this little girl is...?
Hanssen stood at the top of the stairs and listened to the giggles coming from the spare room Alice was staying in. It had been a strange 24 hours. He almost felt as though he had been living someone elses life all day.
He had asked Serena to stay until Alice was settled in bed. Mercifully, perhaps out of pity, the usually smug woman had not teased him too much about his uselessnessin dealing with this situation.
Serena pulled the nightie on over Alice's head and the little girl bounced onto her bed with a laugh.
'Now where's that book you mentioned?' she asked.
'In my bag.' Alice said, pointing to a small pink backpack resting by the bed.
Serena picked it up and opened it, rummaging amongst colouring books, crayons, and some small toy characters. She noticed a blue envelope and pulled it out. She heard Alice gasp suddenly at the sight of it.
'I forgot!' she said.
'Forgot what?' Serena asked, turning the envelope over in her hands and seeing the word 'Forfar' written on it.
'To give forfar his birthday card. Mamma said we would give it to him together but then…' Alice suddenly looked sad.
'Oh well not to worry. I'm sure… he won't mind. You can give it to him when your mummy comes back.' Serena smiled gently at her, putting the card back in the bag and taking out the book. 'Now, hop under the covers there's a good girl.'
As Alice did so, Serena heard the door behind her open and Hanssen appeared.
'Ah, just in time!' Serena said with a grin. She handed him the book. 'Alice is all ready for her bedtime story, aren't you?'
Alice nodded happily.
Hanssen took the book and gave the little girl a smile.
'You can manage from here?' Serena asked him.
'Yes. Thank you Ms Campbell.' Hanssen spoke quietly, with a slightly uncomfortable look. 'For all your help today. If I can return the favour any time…' he trailed off.
'You could explain who…' Serena tilted her head in Alice's direction. '…belongs to!' she said.
'I haven't abducted her if that's what your worried about.' He replied dryly.
Serena rolled her eyes. He really wasn't going to tell her anything. Just then her phone beeped and she took it out of her pocket to look at. She smiled slightly.
'The final details for Chantelle's hen party next week. I'm beginning to regret saying I would go!' she said.
'I find it hard to imagine anything Chantelle Lane has organsied could be so hedonistic as to scare you off!' Hanssen commented, relieved to have a change of subject.
Serena laughed. 'Oh no, hedonism I can cope with! Pink fluffy girlyness on the other hand…' she rolled her eyes. Turning to Alice, she bent down and gave the girl a peck on the cheek. 'Good night sweetheart, sweet dreams.'
'Night Sreena!' Alice replied, wrapping her arms around Serena's neck briefly.
Hanssen felt a sudden and inexplicable lump in his throat and gave short dry cough. 'I'll walk you out.' He left the book beside Alice. 'I won't be long.'
'Make sure you read that to her!' Serena warned.
'I will!' he promised.
'Will you do the voices again?' Alice asked.
Hanssen glanced quickly at Serena, a pink tinge appearing on his cheeks as he nodded his head. 'Yes.' He assured the little girl quietly.
Serena was surprised. She couldn't imagine Henrik Hanssen making funny voices whilst reading a children's book but obviously he had done it before.
'Oh, now I think I'd like to stay and hear that!' Serena said, her eyes twinkling.
'Perhaps some other time - if you've been a good girl!' Hanssen quipped and turned away quickly to leave the room.
Serena followed him out of the room. 'I'm always a good girl.' She purred, the bold glint still in her eyes.
Hanssen paused at the staircase, a mischevious look in his own eyes. 'Come now, Ms Campbell, we know that's not true. In fact, I should be disappointed if it were!'
Once again he didn't wait for her to reply but started down the stairs, avoiding her eyes. Serena gasped at his unexpected playfulness. Was he deliberately flirting with her? She made her way downstairs after him. His haughtiness appeared to have abandoned him by the time she reached him again and he continued to avoid her gaze and stood rigidly by he door as she grabbed her bag.
'Right, well… Have a good weekend then.' She said.
'You too Ms Campbell.' He replied. 'Again, thank you for your assistance.'
'You're welcome. You can buy me a drink sometime in thanks,' she said. She made her way out the door, brushing against him as she did so. 'Or… maybe you can read me that bedtime story sometime.' She had no idea what had made her say that and she was almost as shocked by her statement as he looked. She could feel herself beginning to blush and hurried down the steps. 'Goodnight!' she called over her shoulder and hurried to her car.
'Goodnight.' Hanssen replied hoarsely.