As they sat arm in arm on the journey back, Rose leaned on his shoulder.
"Still going shopping when you get back?" he asked her.
"Yeah, I'll have a wander down the main shopping area, then I'll walk back to my hotel from there. You could look around the shops with me, we could have some lunch?"
"I may take you up on lunch. I noticed there was a museum, care to visit it with me?"
"Yeah, I noticed it. I'd love to look around Alec, thanks. What time do you plan setting off tomorrow?"
Alec wondered why she wanted to know, was she maybe hinting she wanted to go with him? No, she came here to take a job, why would she give it up, especially when there was a rival?
"When my rental car arrives I expect, sometime before ten or I will be charged for another night at the hotel. How was your hotel?"
"A bit posh, I never realized. I wish I'd booked a more basic one now. I won't be there long anyway, I'll be looking for a place to rent. Where are you planning on staying?"
"Wherever I find myself? What you said, about laundry, don't worry about it, I had planned for it."
Rose felt herself blush – he would surely think she was being daft.
"Yeah, sorry, I didn't mean to imply you'd be going around in the same shorts for a week."
"I know that," he smiled as they approached the station. "End of the line. We could go to the museum first or are you hungry?"
"Can't walk around feeling hungry, let's eat first, yeah?" Rose replied as Alec got up when the train arrived at the platform and trying not to lose his balance as it jerked to a stop.
He helped Rose up and she took his hand, Alec opening the door and leading her to the exit. They exited the station and found a café then went to locate the museum. Two hours or so later, Rose wondered about going on a boat ride around the loch but doubted Alec would want to join her. She asked him anyway.
"As much as I enjoy your company, I can't go with you. I don't feel quite as bad about water but going on it for fun? Sorry Rose, maybe I will get over it one day but not yet."
"Well, I thought I'd ask. It's not the same going by yourself. I'll wait until my mum brings my little brother up then?"
"I'm sure they will be better company than I would be. I will take my leave of you then?"
He wasn't sure he wanted to though but then what? It was no good prolonging things, he was leaving and she wasn't. There was a little café just next to the museum so Alec led her inside and ordered a pot of tea and some scones. Rose thought he was delaying on purpose but what did she expect?
"It's been a great day out, thanks Alec."
"You are most welcome. So when do you meet your new team?"
Rose allowed him to pour out the tea, since she never hardly used teapots at home.
"I may go in before the weekend, not that I expect them to be over-friendly. The funny thing is, well the woman who almost got the job, she might be a bit jealous."
"I think you already mentioned that," Alec smiled, about to split a jam and cream scone and remembering someone playing a trick on him when he was younger and putting chili sauce on it instead of jam – it was unpleasant to say the least and his friend thought it was hilarious. He thought that was the sort of thing Ellie Miller would do.
He was using delaying tactics and he knew it, he didn't want her to leave but he knew she would. Should he ask her out again? No, they had met on the train and spent one night, he didn't own her but the extra meetings had been nice – very nice and he shouldn't take advantage – should he?
Rose knew he was delaying her on purpose.
"Well, thanks for the tea and scones. I'd best go walk them off."
"You really don't need to, all that walking around the museum. Rose, may I walk you out?"
Rose paid a visit to the ladies room, Alec waiting outside and wondering if he should say anything or let her just walk away. He'd thought the previous day was going to be the last time he saw her but it hadn't been.
"I will maybe see you before I go?" he asked hopefully.
Rose just wished if he was going to invite her out again, he'd get on with it. It didn't look like he was going to though as he took her to the side of the café.
"Yeah, maybe we'll bump into each other before you go?"
"I have to get a few things from the supermarket before I leave. Rose, it was really nice meeting you. Maybe I could look you up when I come back?"
"Yeah, I'd like that Alec, if you're coming back this way?" Rose replied, trying not to look embarrassed.
"I was debating, did I mention? I have separate return tickets, I can come back this way or return from Glasgow. I think I will see what happens? Rose, if I come back, will you still be here?"
"I guess so?"
"What if you and your new team don't hit it off?" he smiled.
"Ah, then I have two choices. They get on with me or I'll fire them."
"Really?" he asked.
Rose smiled. "Just joking. I'll have to think about it but as agents, they have no choice in the matter, my stepfather will just give them a transfer and replace them. That's if I want to actually stay but I like it here so far. Yeah, if ya come back, I'll probably be here. I should give you my number or did I give it you?"
"No, I gave you mine. It was just in case you wanted to ask me where I was. Maybe I also gave you it so you could ask me if I was coming back?"
"Pass me your phone then?" Rose put her number in and gave him it back. "Hey, I sent you a text last night."
"Ah, so you did. Now you may want me calling you to tell you where I am?" he teased her.
"Aw, I wouldn't mind if ya did sometime? So, it's goodbye then?"
"I guess so? I mean unless?"
Rose knew what he was trying to do – not be the one who walked off first.
"Yeah?"
"Ah, maybe get a drink or get something to eat later? Although I would settle for a drink." He spied a pub across on the corner. "Maybe across there, say eight?"
"Yeah, that would be great. See ya there?"
"Yes, indeed? Bye for now then."
He kissed her cheek, Rose grabbing his arm and kissing him back. They'd not really kissed that much, well except on the way back earlier and now, Alec was delaying all he could to see if he could get another chance but he didn't know how. He had to let her go sooner or later though now, he wasn't sure he wanted to.
He watched her walk off then walked into the mini-market to get some water and a few other things and looked forward to seeing her later. He had thought she'd say no but was glad she'd agreed. He was putting it off and he knew it but he knew not for much longer.
Rose wandered around a few shops but soon lost interest, which wasn't really like her and decided to go back to her hotel and call her stepfather.
"Changed your mind?" Pete asked her.
"What makes ya say that?"
"I know you get tired of things easily. How was your journey? I expect the reason you haven't called before was because you were tired yesterday?"
"Yeah but I had a wander around and I've been out today. I took a ride on the steam train then went to the local museum."
"Alone?" Pete laughed. "Your mother bet me the reason you never called was because you met a tall, dark, handsome Scotsman."
"How did she guess?" Rose laughed.
"What? I was joking Rose," Pete replied. "Well?"
"I met someone on the train Dad. You'll never guess in a million years who it was?"
"A certain detective who reminds you of someone perhaps? Come on Rose, we all tried to tell you. So what was he doing on the night train?"
"Going on a touring holiday and he leaves tomorrow. He took me out last night and we were out earlier. Now he asked me for a drink tonight but that's just it, he leaves in the morning. I came here for a job Dad, it's not fair."
"Did he ask you to go with him?" Pete wanted to know.
"No, he's not asked me but I got his phone number. I think he's trying to drop a few hints but I'm not certain. It's like he wants to go off but he's reluctant to leave. He said I could call him to see where he was, then he got my number and he joked I'd want him telling me where he was. It's like we're both dropping these huge hints and neither of us are taking them."
She heard Pete laughing.
"Well you two are the only ones who can take them Rose. Oh, there's something in the way? Your new job perhaps?"
"I know. I asked for the job, angering Gwen though why she settled in Scotland is beyond me. You know I asked for some time to settle in?"
"Rose, you were the one who said the sooner the better. However, if you need more time?"
"I don't know Dad, he thinks I'm here for my new job, maybe he doesn't want to ask?"
"Rose, take all the time you want. I'll leave Gwen in charge for now, she's going to be your deputy anyway and take my advice, don't let Alec Hardy get away and when you do start, let Gwen think she's still in charge."
"I know her reputation Dad," Rose laughed. "So, you're not mad at me?"
"If it were anyone else, I'd tell you that you asked for the job. Just let me know what you're going to do eh? Call your mother."
"I haven't anything to tell her yet Dad. Just tell her I'm fine and I'll call her later. Thanks."
"We just want you to be happy Rose, you know that and if you've met Alec Hardy, at least you know who he is and I promise not to get Jake to do a search on him."
Rose hoped he was joking.
"So you always do a search on my potential boyfriends? Since when?"
"I'm kidding Rose. Look, I know you haven't had many boyfriends but don't be too hasty eh? How much do you know about him?"
"Not much but, well we sort of stayed together on the way up here. I swear, we both thought it was just gonna be one night, then we bumped into each other yesterday afternoon and I asked him to go with me this morning. I told ya, it's like neither of us want to let the other go but we can't tell each other. Someone has to make the first move."
"Well neither of you know who that is?" Pete joked.
"Yeah, I'll see what happens tonight but I may just cancel. I mean what good's it gonna do? We go out for a drink, then what? If I come out and ask him if I can go with him, he may just walk away. What do I do Dad?"
"Don't go asking me Rose. Do what you think is right love, only you can decide."
"Yeah but he said he was coming back and wanted to see me. If I cancel tonight, he may just end his tour and not come back. That's something I suppose – him wanting to come back. Maybe I should just leave it at that?"
"How long is he going to be away?" Pete wondered.
"No idea but it's gonna be at least a couple of weeks. He may call me to tell me where he is and if I say I'll wait for him? Yeah, I think that's the best thing. I won't cancel tonight, maybe he'll just come out and ask me to go with him."
"Yeah, you never know do you?" Pete agreed. "Don't spoil it eh Rose, at least he says he's coming back."
"I'll have to settle for that then, won't I? Thanks Dad but if he asks me, I'm not gonna say no."
"I know that Rose. I'll call Gwen and tell her there may be a delay in your starting. I can't see her objecting, can you?" Pete laughed.
"I'll let you know what happens," Rose promised.
She went off to get ready for dinner then she fancied a walk into the town since it would still be light at that time. Alec in the meantime was debating what to say to her later. If he came right out and asked her to go, would she tell him to forget coming back?
No, if he went off as planned, she would have got settled and did he want to stay in the town? Maybe it was easier to come back, say goodbye to her unless she was willing to go back with him. It was only one night, he'd let her go off last night and tonight could be no different, could it?
He waited outside the busy pub, glad he'd not taken her there last night for a meal but for a drink it was okay he supposed. Rose walked along the still busy street, right to the end and saw Alec waiting on the corner. He greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.
"Hey, hope I'm not late?" Rose smiled.
"Of course not. Want to go some place else, it seems rather crowded."
"No, it's fine. Maybe we can have a drink and we can go for a walk, by the loch?"
"I can just about walk alongside water," Alec joked.
He was already kicking himself for saying he couldn't take her on a boat ride earlier but he would have suffered and neither of them would have enjoyed it. A few drinks later, they left the pub and walked across the road.
"So, where's your first stop then Alec, have you decided?" Rose asked as they stood by the railings near the boat landing.
"I think I will head towards Fort Augustus, that's on the tip of Loch Ness."
"Aw, my brother wanted me to take a photo of the monster if I saw it. I said it would scare him if I did," Rose laughed as they sat on a bench.
Alec laughed at the thought.
"Are you going to miss your family?" he asked her as he held her hand.
"Yeah but I expect they'll pay me a visit once I get settled. What about you?"
"Divorced with a teenage daughter. Once I go back, she's considering living with me to see how she gets on. I went to see her before I came up here, that was why I took the train from London. She's old enough now to make up her own mind but the damage may have already been done."
"Aw, don't say that, there's plenty of time. I had no dad until my mum met Pete, he made up for it by treating me like his own. When she married him, I was just getting over losing someone, well not losing someone exactly, I travelled with someone and he left me in the last place we visited."
Alec knew now it would be a big mistake to ask her to go with him.
"I'm sorry to hear that Rose. Where was that then?"
Rose thought she may as well stick to nearly the truth and the story she'd told her mother and Pete she'd tell if she met anyone.
"Up in Norway of all places, would you believe? It turns out he only wanted to be my boyfriend. I told him I loved him and he walked away and when we got back to the hotel, he said he'd see me home and that was it, he went to get another room. Seems he wasn't big on commitment."
Rose hated saying that but what could she do? Tell someone he faded away after getting her a message through the void? Mind you, he seemed the sort of person who may go for it, maybe when he came back because he may not want to come back if she told him now.
"Well he did not deserve you then," Alec smiled, kissing the back of her hand. "I should get you a cab back to your hotel. Rose, I know we just met, maybe you're not quite over the fact someone left you and I go away tomorrow but unlike him, I am coming back. Will you wait for me?"
Rose smiled back. "Yeah, I can wait for you coming back. Let's walk back and get a cab but don't come with me Alec, I'll be fine, it's not far."
"If you insist? I would not want you to think I was being rude. May I call you from time to time to tell you where I am?" he asked, getting up and holding his hand out to help her.
"Yeah, I'd like that. Maybe one day, I'll get over the fact I got left in Norway?"
"That would be good," Alec replied as he led her back to the main area. "I'm sure not everyone is like that."
Rose wondered if she could risk giving Alec the chance to prove that. She couldn't bring herself to ask him to take her with him, he may want to be alone anyway to think of his own future.
"So, where did you travel exactly?" he asked her.
"All over but Norway was our last stop. He worked for Torchwood as a researcher and I talked my way into going with him."
"Maybe that was where you went wrong?" Alec wondered. "I mean if you worked together? I made that mistake with my ex."
"Maybe I shouldn't have insisted I went with him and waited?" Rose smiled as they neared a taxi rank opposite the station, mainly so it was easier for Alec to get back to his hotel.
Alec knew there was no chance she would agree to go with him now, even if he had the courage to ask her and time was running out. He led her to the back of the taxi rank and said goodbye.
"So, I will see you upon my return?"
"Yeah, I'll be here, have a safe trip. Alec, have you considered coming back to live up here? Where are you from anyway?"
"Further south, near Glasgow. I don't know about coming back Rose, I've not thought about it. Just one thing before I go. Don't give up on me coming back Rose, I'm not like the man who left you and when I come back, I want to know what happened, okay?"
He leaned down to kiss her and hoped all the cab drivers were otherwise occupied.
"Okay. Bye then, I'll see you when you get back."
He walked her to the cab at the front and opened the back door for her.
"Bye Rose, take care."
He watched the taxi drive away and then double-back on the one-way road system then he made his way back to his hotel. It would have been a mistake to invite her back or go to her hotel but when he got back, what then? Should he apply to the local police, if they actually had a police force in the town? Then he'd never be able to talk Daisy into joining him, she had been undecided about moving to Broadchurch, she'd never entertain a small Scottish town.
Rose had seen him walking off as the cab had doubled-back. She was letting yet another man walk away but she had little choice. He'd never agree to her going with him now, not after what she'd just told him. Maybe she'd made a mistake in telling him, it wasn't likely he'd be going to Norway, was it? Going to her room, she had a decision to make by morning.
Alec got back to his room, wondering if he should send her a text but it would just make things worse. Why had he stopped himself asking her to go with him? She had said maybe she'd get over the fact someone had left her and Norway was not on his itinerary, though maybe the thought put her off. When he came back though, what then?