A/N- As always, thank you for the follows and reviews, especially those who leave feedback on every chapter. I'm still amazed anyone reads what i write, let alone seems to enjoy my stories too. Thank you.

Also, going by some reviews I fear this story may not be heading in a direction others would like it to go. As I have said, this story has been two years in the making so it's been set in stone for a while which turn proceedings will take. I hope you stick around for the ride.

And there's some T/M rated action towards the end of this chapter. It's also the longest of the story so hope it's not too heavy going.

Happy Mother's Day to all those Mum's in the UK, and anywhere else too.

Disclaimer- Same as chapters 1-6


7

Right. Today was the day. Anna was sure of that as she paced the sidewalk outside the hostel. Today, she would tell him there was someone waiting for her back home. Their time apart had given her time to think. John would hear, and either back out of whatever was happening between them, or he would do what she wanted. Carry on spending time together until they went their separate ways in a couple of weeks. What Chris didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

Then he appeared, and the confidence Anna had in telling John had disappeared in an instant. The day was yet again glorious, John striding towards her in a burgundy polo shirt, sleeves tight against his biceps. He was wearing beige chino shorts which rested upon his knees and gave her a lovely view of his lower legs. He was wearing a pair of white converse, no socks. And instead of his normal glasses, a pair of sunglasses sat upon his head.

Such a change from Chris's vests and short, tight running shorts in this weather back home.

'Hello,' he said softly, leaning down to press a kiss to Anna's cheek, placing a hand on her elbow as he did so. He lifted his head, looking deeply into her eyes. 'You look beautiful.'

'Thank you,' Anna blushed.

'New outfit?'

He was perceptive, Chris never noticed when she wore something new. Anna had used her credit card to buy a new yellow sleeveless summer dress and some simple white pumps, Melanie had helped her pick it out. She wouldn't tell John Melanie's exact words when she had stepped out of the fitting room, but she had a hunch John might appreciate it.

'Yes, I thought I'd treat myself.'

'Well, yellow definitely suits you.'

Smiling in response, Anna followed his gesture and began to walk in step with John, his hands behind his back, hers clutching onto her handbag in front of her. 'Are you sure about the zoo?'

'Yep,' Anna nodded her head. She looked up at John. 'Does it make me incredibly juvenile?'

John chuckled at her words. 'Not at all, and if you remember it was me who suggested it. At least we can be sure there'll be no heights to contend with.'

'Or clowns,' Anna added, causing John's laughter to continue.

'Thank goodness for that. We need to take the metro.'

'Okay, how much is…'

'And today is my treat,' John continued, holding a hand up before Anna could argue. 'I insist.'

She sighed, exhaling a deep breath. 'Fine. But I'll pay for something before I go home, John Bates.'

The trip on the metro was relatively short, Anna was relieved to find out as the heat was stifling. However, she wasn't sure it was the weather making her feel hot as she witnessed the sun shining on John's slightly tanned biceps. If he caught her staring, he didn't say anything as he offered her kind smile after kind smile.

They spoke about her week, the things she had done and Anna asked John how work was coming along. He confirmed that he should be back home within the month. Anna wasn't sure how she felt about that. Joining the back of the queue once at the zoo, discussion turned to the animals they were looking forward to seeing.

'They've got everything here,' John said excitedly as he searched the zoo's website on his phone. 'Humboldt Penguins, lions, wallabies, tigers.'

'Do they have Lemurs? Lemurs are my favourites.'

After clicking his screen a few times, John began to nod. 'They do indeed.'

'Excellent.'

They explored the area of the zoo home to animals from Australasia first, Anna enamoured by the baby wallabies. John's attempts at an Australian accent also made the exhibit most enjoyable. The African Savannah was home to the majestic lions, Anna impressed with John's knowledge of the King of the Beasts. It was clear which animal John favoured as he spoke about the animals with a great deal of affection. They spent a long time at the penguin exhibit, it's sheer size a sight to behold before breaking for lunch.

Once they had eaten, John and Anna came to the zoo's historic carousel. It was filled with excited children having a go on the vintage ride, John noticing Anna watching closely with a smile.

'I've never been on a carousel.' Anna revealed, laughing as an excited little girl was reunited with her father after the ride had come to a stop, she jumping into his arms.

'What, never?' John raised an eyebrow at Anna. She turned to look at him, shaking her head.

'I was never allowed to go the fair when I was a kid, and my…' she stopped herself, about to mention Chris. 'My friends would think it childish.' Well, Gwen and Mary wouldn't but a certain someone definitely would.

'Come on,' John took her hand, leading her to queue with the enthusiastic riders a quarter their age.

'John?' Anna giggled, 'what are you doing?'

'You're going on the carousel.'

'What? I'm too old.'

'Look at that sign,' John pointed to a sign above one of the painted horses. 'Fun for all the family.'

'Alright, but you're coming on too.'

The colour seemed to drain from John's face. 'Me.'

She nodded her head. 'You.'

'Oh, I don't think so,' John protested, trying to take his hand from Anna's grasp. She gripped tighter. God, she was strong.

'Come on, you're not telling me not only are you scared of clowns, you're also scared of a kiddie's fairground ride?'

A beat of silence passed between them as their gaze locked. Anna's tongue was in her cheek, she was sure she saw John swallow thickly. Was he really scared?

'I'll hold your hand.'

At her suggestion, John's look of fear turned to a gentle grin. He nodded before turning to regard the attendant.

'Four dollars please, all proceeds go to the upkeep of the zoo.'

John handed the man a five dollar bill. 'Keep the change.'

Anna took her time choosing the right horses, John becoming almost impatient before she decided on one with a black mane for him, and a yellow mane for her. Ever the gentleman, he helped Anna onto her chosen filly, before heaving himself onto his own. Keeping her promise, the hand that wasn't gripping tightly to the horses reins was safely within hers.

'You're not really scared, are you?' Anna asked him, a slight teasing lilt to her tone.

John looked straight ahead before replying. 'Let's just say I have a chequered past with fairground rides.'

'Sounds nasty,' Anna replied, trying to hide the grin on her face but failing miserably.

'It was,' John answered indignantly.

'Well don't worry,' Anna leant closer to John, he looking at her with a sideward glance. She squeezed his hand. 'You got me through the space needle. I'll get you through this. I've got you.'

A knowing smile passed between them before the ride began, the old fairground music being pumped through the speakers. The sound of it made John feel queasy, let alone the monotonous movements of the ride, round and round.

However, one look beside him and all his fears evaporated. Her long blonde hair flowing in the breeze behind her, a beautiful, effortless smile upon her lips. Anna looked breathtaking and all of a sudden John forgot where he was. There was nothing manufactured about her joyfulness, she looked the epitome of happiness. That such a simple thing could affect Anna in such a way touched John's heart.

'See, this isn't so bad, is it?' Anna shouted to John, so she could hear him.

'No,' he shook his head. 'It's not so bad after all.'


After a busy day, John suggested they head back into the city. Anna requested they see the bears before they left, a request John couldn't deny. They watched in silence as the two bears rambled around in the late afternoon sun, their wonderful habitat and the company of each other meaning they were quite happy.

'Have you had a good day?' John asked, looking to Anna as she closely observed the bears play fighting over what seemed like a stick.

'The best,' Anna murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. She touched a hand to John's forearm. 'Thank you. For this today and for being such wonderful company.'

John placed his hand over Anna's where it lay upon his arm. 'It was my pleasure.'

They continued to watch in silence, neither moving their hands. It felt natural to be standing together in such a way. Anna couldn't shake that fact and she didn't want to. It felt right to be beside John, to be touching him. His broad, furry arm beneath her fingertips felt heavenly, his strong muscles contorting slightly beneath her touch.

'The bears remind me a bit of you, you know,' Anna said quite suddenly, surprising herself somewhat, let alone John. Feeling his heated gaze upon her, Anna felt her cheeks redden.

'How so?' John accentuated the growl in his voice.

'Well, the other night I had quite the feel of you. You're broad like the bears, and cuddly.'

John choked out a laugh. 'I'm not sure you'd like to cuddle those bears.'

'And I didn't see,' she continued, undeterred by his interruption. 'But I could feel you have a hairy chest beneath.'

'Is that a bad thing?'

She finally met his eyes, seeing how they had darkened upon the way she had lead the conversation. 'Oh no.'

A few moments later they had decided to head back, both hungry for something more sustainable than the zoo's snack shacks had to offer, John not presumptuous enough to suggest they eat dinner together either. As John waited for Anna to freshen up, he had snuck into the gift store. Once he had quickly made his purchase, he came back outside just as Anna emerged from the ladies.

'Ready?' she asked, placing the strap of her bag over her shoulder. She noticed his hands behind his back, and realised she had just seen him exiting the gift store. 'What are you hiding?'

An incredibly soppy grin overtook his lips before John revealed a slightly on the smaller side of medium sized stuffed toy bear. 'For you. As a souvenir of today.'

'Oh John,' Anna tilted her head to the side, he relieved to see she hadn't found his gesture unwelcome. She squeezed one of it's ears between her thumb and forefinger. 'He's lovely.'

Making their way back downtown, Anna had tried to get John's past fairground misdemeanours out of him, but he was displaying the resilience of a war spy. She gave up in the end, instead changing their subject of conversation to that of the animals they'd seen.

'The meerkats were very cute,' Anna remarked, 'and the wallabies. Even your bad Australian accent couldn't ruin seeing them.'

'Hey,' John said, nudging Anna gently. He saw the entrance to the park near Anna's hostel before them. 'Can I walk you back through the park?'

'That would be lovely.'

Once within the park grounds away from the main precinct, John was feeling a little bolder. Reaching down, he took Anna's hand within his grasp as they walked. She wasn't taking it away. He heartbeat quickened, this felt wonderful. To be walking together like this. He didn't know where this flawless creature had come from, but he silently thanked whatever higher power had brought Anna into his life.

'You know, it's funny.' John said to break the comfortable silence between them. 'How one event can turn your world on its head.'

'What do you mean?'

'I know I said no pressure, but I am an honest bloke. I am a lawyer after all.'

'Okay, go on.'

'When you walked into the café a little over two weeks ago and I bought you that tea my world was monotonous. An endless cycle of meetings, video calls and meeting people I wouldn't give two seconds of my time to in the real world.' John stopped, moving to look at Anna. She was still clutching the bear in her free hand. 'Now my life is filled with colour and possibilities. I can't stop thinking about you Anna. I don't want to stop.'

Anna was looking at him, really looking at him and John felt as if time had stopped. He shrugged a little, knowing he had laid out his heart before her. It was now in her hands. It came as a shock to feel her hand on his shoulder, and before John could catch up Anna was pressing her lips to his.

'Come back to mine,' he whispered, resting his forehead against hers. 'For something to eat. I don't want to say goodbye to you. Not yet.'


Anna was so confused. She sat in John's kitchen with him as he searched his cupboards, looking for something to prepare them for dinner. His words in the park, her hand in his, her mind was whirring with thoughts of John and the way he made her feel. How he made her feel unlike anyone ever had done. But to tell him about Chris, after what he had revealed in the park, it would crush him. Anna couldn't do that. Not now. Before she had a chance to ponder further, John was speaking.

'Well, it seems I invited you back on the pretence of cooking dinner, and I have nothing to cook.'

'How about a takeaway?' Anna gestured towards the takeaway menus on the counter. 'I wouldn't say no to a pepperoni pizza.'

'Actually, that sounds like a bloody good idea,' John replied, picking up the menu to the local pizzeria.

She didn't know why, but Anna was suddenly very aware of how their exertions during the day had left her desperate for a shower. The heat was still stifling now as the late afternoon moved into early evening. Perhaps heading back to the hostel for an hour or so would help her not only refresh but put recent events into perspective.

'You know, I could head back to the hostel, have a shower and come back with the pizza. I should only be an hour at the most.'

John looked downhearted at Anna's suggestion as he leant back against the counter. His expression jolted her a little, she couldn't bear to be the person who made him feel disappointed.

'If that's what you want, or you could have a shower here? Save the journey. Then the pizza could be waiting for you when your done.'

Anna looked to the bathroom. That did sound preferable to going back out into the heat. Suddenly, something occurred to her. 'I don't have anything to change into.'

She could tell John was mulling something over in his mind. 'Rose.'

'I'm sorry?'

'My boss' niece, she stayed here briefly before I moved in. She left some things behind. Pyjamas and what have you. I could lay you out something and we could wash your dress quickly then air it out on the balcony. It would dry in no time. You know, unless you wanted to head back.'

Anna was coming to realise she didn't really want that. 'Okay. If it's not too much trouble.'

'Of course it isn't,' John shook his head, walking towards the room next to his, Anna following. 'The room Rose used had an adjoining bathroom. The clothes are in one of the drawers. If you leave your dress on the bed I'll grab it then put it in the washing machine.'

He opened the door, stepping aside before allowing Anna to enter. 'Thank you, John.'

'Don't mention it. I'll order a large pepperoni?'

'Sounds great,' Anna answered with a smile.

The shower had been nothing short of wonderful after such a hot day. Anna came back into the room in a robe she had found, smiling to herself as she noticed the dress she had laid upon the bed was gone, seemingly collected by John. She looked at her phone quickly, a message from Gwen asking how the zoo had been her only notification. Chris hadn't messaged for almost a week after his recent out of character outpouring of emotions. She knew he said it was too expensive and was a stickler with money, but Anna felt annoyed she wasn't worth the cost of a text to ask how she was. Had his message that evening been insincere? It made her feel a little less guilty having spent so much time with John.

Searching through the drawers, she found a little dusty pink vest top and pink checked cotton trousers. They were the least risqué of the outfits on offer, Rose obviously a fan of silk and negligees. Opening the wardrobe above, Anna found a grey hooded light tracksuit top. That would do.

Once dressed, her damp hair tossed loosely into a braid, Anna took a deep breath before stepping out into John's living room. He had his back to her, and Anna could tell he had taken a quick shower as well. His hair was damp, and he had changed into a white cotton t shirt and what looked like a pair of black Manchester United shorts. How such a simple outfit could have such an effect on her, she couldn't fathom.

Closing the door with a light click, the noise caused John to turn around, Anna noticing the pizza box on the counter his broad frame had been hiding.

'Just in time,' John remarked, reaching into the cupboard for two glasses. 'I ordered orangeade and Coke, wasn't sure which you'd prefer. Or I have water.'

'Orange is fine,' Anna replied, stepping a little more into the room. John was barefoot, she noted upon closer inspection. Why wouldn't he be, he had just had a shower and this was his home. She sat at the table. 'How much do I owe?'

'Nothing,' John replied with a shake of a head, placing the box on the table. 'Today was my treat. Remember?'

'No, the zoo was your treat,' Anna corrected him. 'How much was the pizza.'

'I'm not telling you,' John sat opposite her. 'If I don't tell you, you can't pay me.'

'I'll just leave twenty dollars on the counter, shall I?'

'Anna, no.'

She relented at his harsher tone, reaching into the box for a slice of the pizza. 'Alright. But I won't forget this.'

They ate slowly, exchanging meaningless chatter about the best pizza they had ever tasted. However, such conversation didn't seem meaningless to Anna. She was coming to find she wanted to know everything about John. Even the foods he favoured.

'It's still really hot,' Anna remarked as she wiped her brow, looking to the clock in John's kitchen. 'It's gone seven. This is ridiculous.'

Nodding in agreement, John looked outside at the sun setting in the sky. 'It's probably still warm enough to sit out on the balcony. There is a hammock out there.'

'A hammock,' Anna grimaced. 'Is it sturdy?'

'Oh yes, your heights thing,' John remembered from their experience a couple of Sunday's before. 'How about I just open the doors?'

'No, it's okay.' Anna didn't want to be deemed a nuisance, although she knew John would never call her such a thing. 'As long as we stay away from the edge sitting on the balcony sounds lovely.'

'Alright then.'

John picked up the two bottles of soda from the counter, Anna took their glasses in hand before following John to the balcony. The gentle breeze that hit them was a relief. John's apartment had an unrestricted view of the Seattle skyline. The Space Needle glowed in the early evening light, Mount Rainier visible in the distance.

'What a view,' Anna gawped at the sight before her.

'I haven't spent enough time out here.'

'To be fair, this past couple of days have been the first time it hasn't rained at all since I've been here. The Seattle summer must be starting.'

'Indeed.'

They sat then, John allowing Anna to become comfortable before joining her. 'Well I must say, I've never sat on a hammock on a balcony a hundred foot up before.'

'Is it everything you dreamed it would be?' John gently teased, handing Anna her orangeade.

Before she began to speak again, Anna felt John rest his arm behind her on the hammock. Without thinking, she leant her body into his touch. She felt safe. Protected even, putting her fears about their height at ease almost immediately.

'My grandparents used to have a hammock in their back garden,' she remembered, taking a sip of her drink before laughing out loud. 'Me and my sister would fight over who got to sit on Grandpa's knee, it was barely big enough for two so was nowhere near big enough for the three of us. He'd tell us stories about Princesses meeting their Prince Charming, after the prince had fought nobly against a dragon, or a wicked queen of course.'

'Naturally,' John nodded.

'I remember me and my sister were staying with my grandparents for the night, and I had a nightmare. It was hot, much like this and Grandpa came into the room. I must have sweated right through my bed clothes because he suggested sitting outside for a while. The stars were so bright, and we spent most of the night talking about them, he was telling me jokes to help me forget my bad dream. Grandma found us the next morning fast asleep.'

John's voice was soft as he replied. 'Sounds like a wonderful memory.'

'I miss Grandpa terribly,' Anna continued, realising she had never revealed to anyone else what she was about to reveal to John. 'My parents were very career driven, in particular my Dad. My sister and I barely saw him during the week, or the weekends if he was away playing golf. During the summer we spent most of our time with aunts, uncles and our grandparents. I've grown closer to my Mum since we lost Dad and I'm glad for that. Grandpa was more of a Dad to me than him. My father died when I was in my early twenties, and I grieved more for my Grandpa than my own father. Isn't that terrible?'

'I don't think so,' John shook his head. 'Mind you, I didn't have a great relationship with my father, either.' Anna waited patiently to see if John would continue, releasing a shaky breath when he did so. 'My mother was everything to me. She made sure I had the best start in life, nothing was too much. I recognised from an early age something wasn't right. Mum would appear with bruises in odd places, she'd flinch whenever Dad came home.'

'Oh John,' Anna murmured, realising at some point her hand had found it's way to his knee.

'I was twelve when I came home to find Mum cowered in the kitchen, Dad leering over her with his fist pulled back. I was quite strong and broad for my age, the only thing I inherited from my father thank God, and I took him by surprise. I pulled him back and hit him. Waiting for him to retaliate, I braced myself before he turned on his heel and left. He was an old man, much older than my mother and he must have realised I was only going to get stronger.' Anna looked up, John's eyes were watering, his jaw was clenched. She squeezed his knee gently, letting him know she was there. 'We never saw him again. Mum spared telling me about the abuse she had suffered at the hands of that man.'

'How awful. I'm so sorry John.'

'Yeah, well,' John met Anna's eyes, smiling slightly despite the tears in his own. 'We had some our happiest times after that moment. Just me and my Mum.'

'At least you have those times to look back on.'

'Yeah.'

'So, tell me about teenage John Bates,' Anna said, trying to lighten the tone. 'I bet he was a hit with the ladies.'

He chuckled then, Anna pleased with her little victory. 'I wouldn't say that, I was incredibly shy.'

'Really?'

John nodded. 'I didn't have my first kiss until I was fifteen.'

'Really? And what was her name? What was she like?'

Minutes must have turned into hours as John and Anna conversed about their lives growing up in their respective home towns. Anna managed to avoid mentioning Chris, relieved that she managed to keep the conversation on John's formative years. They soon moved on to their interests in music, television and what seemed to be a favourite topic between them, movies.

John asked Anna about her travels, and for the first time she discussed her experiences in depth. How the whole process had made her learn so much about herself and what she wanted from life. Feeling so comfortable in this man's company, Anna had lifted her legs so they rested over John's, and it hadn't felt awkward in the slightest. She sat like this with Mary and Gwen, fair enough they were her best friends but this felt just the same.

They must have drifted for a while because Anna sat up with a start, the noise from the bustling traffic below them had decreased and the midnight sky was ever so slightly beginning to lighten.

She looked at her watch. Half past five in the morning. They had spent the whole night together. John shifted beside her, running a hand over his face before turning to see Anna. His arm was still around her shoulders, her legs still draped over his.

'You alright?' he asked, his voice a little raspy.

'It's half five.'

'We must have fallen asleep for a bit,' John yawned slightly, Anna could feel him stretching his legs beneath hers. He looked gorgeous with sleep filled eyes.

Anna released a yawn of her own before sharing an observation. 'I think we talked all night.'

Smiling, John nodded. 'We must have done.'

'It was wonderful.'

A grin passed over his lips, and Anna felt him move towards her, knowing John's intention was to kiss her. She responded with vigour, tangling her fingers in the hair at the back of his head. Anna heard him inhale deeply, and she knew the kiss they were sharing was affecting him as it was her.

'Shall we move inside?' Anna breathed against his lips.

'No pressure.'

John reiterated his words from the café a few days previously, and Anna knew she didn't want that. Not yet. But in this exact moment it wasn't because of Chris. It was because she didn't want things to move that quickly between them and possibly ruin the relationship they had built so far. But Anna knew she wanted to feel close to John.

She stood, taking her hand in his and leading him back inside through the open doors towards the sofa. Anna's inexperience of other men was the furthest thing from her mind as they sat and resumed their kiss. John made her feel comfortable. She soon realised the pace was all down to her, John allowing her to push his body back against the sofa. He appeared quite happy to rest his hands on her back, roaming them up and down.

Moving a hand down his clothed torso, Anna gasped into the kiss when her fingers came into contact with the hardness at the front of his shorts.

'Anna,' he murmured, breaking their kiss and looking down at her hand where it rested. Lifting his head, he met Anna's eye just as she moved her hand to the top of his shorts before slipping beneath.

'More?'

'You don't have to,' John managed to choke, screwing his eyes shut as Anna's hand reached its target. 'Christ.'

Anna brushed her lips against John's before whispering, her hand squeezing gently, 'let me thank you for yesterday. Properly. Please.'

Holding her gaze, John swallowed thickly before nodding his consent. Anna took the top of his shorts in hand, John lifting his hips to allow her to slide them down. His eyes were drawn to her hand as she took his length in her palm, slowly beginning to move up and down. John bit his lower lip. This wasn't going to take long.

She began to kiss him again as her hand worked, seemingly knowing what she was doing. John could feel his end edging nearer, breaking away from Anna to watch her hand once more.

'Is this alright?'

How she could think it was anything but he couldn't fathom.

'Yes, more than alright,' he rasped, lifting his own hand to take a gentle grasp of her blonde hair. He was close, and the feel of her lips against his once more at such a time tipped him over the edge. 'Oh God, Anna.'

As he reached his climax, John couldn't remember if he had ever come so hard before. He released a heavy groan as Anna pumped him one last time before relinquishing her touch. John had closed his eyes, but peering under heavy lids he realised Anna was retrieving a tissue from the box on the table, making use of it before John regained his senses. His modesty restored, John pulled Anna into his arms.

As they drifted, John's ring tone filled the air, startling them both.

'Bloody hell,' John muttered under his breath, Anna reluctantly moving from his arms. John reached for his phone from the coffee table. It was Robert.

'Bates, is it early over there?'

John sighed, looking behind him at Anna. 'Half six.'

'I need to speak to you and Harold over video phone urgently. Is there any way you can get to the office for eight?'

Screwing his eyes shut, John clenched his jaw. He and Anna had just shared a magical evening, a wonderful morning and now he would have to ask her to leave. He had hoped to not have to go into work until the afternoon. Still, it was the reason he was here after all.

'Yes, of course. I'll call Harold and we'll head straight to the office.'

'Fantastic, talk soon Bates.'

Robert hung up, and John dropped his phone on the table. He looked at Anna over his shoulder. 'I have to go into work. Something's come up and the boss wants to video call myself and my colleague.'

'It's fine,' Anna smiled. 'I understand.'

They dressed separately, John ready before Anna and waiting for her in the living room. It was already warm outside, John placing his suit jacket over the back of the sofa instead of putting it on. He walked to the mirror above the mantelpiece, appraising his appearance. His hair was a mess and he needed to shave. Meeting his eye in his reflection, John couldn't care less nor could he help the smirk that appeared on his lips. Their night together had been wonderful. John had never stayed up all night talking to a woman, not even his ex wife. She was flawless. Anna was flawless.

'Sorry,' Anna said, coming out the room she had changed in. 'You should have gone, I could have locked up.'

'It's alright,' John rose to his feet, 'I still have to call Harold plus I wanted to say goodbye.'

John reached for Anna's hand once she was beside him, leading her to the door. Anna opened it, stepping over the threshold and turning to face John. Her hand was still in his, and keeping the door propped open with his foot, John pulled Anna towards him for a kiss.

''I'll call you once I'm finished,' John promised as he rested his forehead against Anna's.

'Okay,' Anna nodded before stealing another kiss. 'Thank you for yesterday, and last night. It meant a lot to me.'

'And me,' John agreed without missing a beat. 'And this morning…' His voice trailed off as he gestured towards the sofa. Anna released a giggle. 'Amazing..'

'Have a good day.' Anna pressed one more kiss against John's lips before slowly backing away, letting go of John's hand at the last moment. John watched her until she was in the elevator, leaning against the door frame.

Once she was out of sight, John felt a tightening in his chest. It hurt to be apart and he couldn't deny it any longer. He had fallen for Anna.