We do not own Eastenders or Ashes to Ashes
Chapter 10
Max took a quick shower and ransacked his closet for his favorite suit. The one he knew he looked best in.
He wanted tonight to go well. He quite liked Alyssa, he realized. She was feisty and fiery and like no one he'd ever met. He had to admit she intimidated him just a bit. She didn't play by the rules he was used to and if he was being honest it put him just a bit out of sorts.
He smiled at himself in the mirror as he smoothed his tie. Oh yes.
He made sure the place was tidied up, checked the wine situation, and stuck a bottle of champagne in the fridge to chill-just in case.
After a last sweeping glance he gave the place a mental seal of approval, spun his keys around his finger and headed off down the street, whistling.
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Alyssa locked the door behind her as she left the flat. She smiled to herself as she wondered what lay in wait besides Max that evening.
She skipped down the steps merrily and pulled her coat further around her shoulders as the breeze hit her.
Alyssa walked slowly in the direction of Fargos, smiling as she went.
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Max went inside the restaurant. He quickly glanced around but so no sign of Alyssa's distinctive shining hair.
He'd arrived first. He was relieved. The maitre'd led him to his table and he settled for water. He'd order wine or something when Alyssa arrived.
He smoothed his tie and lowered his hand to the table, where his fingers began to beat a nervous tattoo on the napkin.
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Alyssa saw Fargos distinctive front and moved towards it casually.
She stepped inside and immediately her palate was alert to all the flavours that were dancing in the air. She inhaled the aromas that surrounded her and moved to the maitre'd and gave Max's name.
She was lead to his table and noticed instantly how very dapper he was looking. She allowed the maitre'd to take her coat as she sat opposite him smiling.
Max felt his breath catch in his throat when he saw the maitre'd leading Alyssa towards him.
"Bloody hell," he breathed softly. He stood up and smoothed his tie as the man pulled Alyssa's chair out and took her coat. He sat when she did.
He smiled what he hoped was a charming smile, but the sight of her in that dress had completely disarmed him.
"You," he began and cleared his throat as his voice nearly skipped an octave. "You look amazing. You are quite possibly the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
Max took a quick drink of water. He hadn't meant to say the last bit aloud.
Alyssa blushed. She hadn't expected him to compliment her quite like that.
"Thank you," she replied as her blush subsided.
She smiled at him, eyeing his suit. He really did look very debonair in it.
She picked up the jug of water and poured herself a glass which she sipped quietly still thrown by his compliment.
Max had no idea what to say. Normally he knew exactly what to say but this woman unsettled him.
He made as if to gesture the waiter over.
"Er, are you ready to order?" he asked her and inside his head he rolled his eyes at himself.
She laughed silently at his obvious awkwardness.
She nodded at him, she had barely glanced at the menu but she knew what she wanted the moment she had arrived.
"Do you know what you want?" she returned smiling at him again.
She bit the inside of her lip to stop the laughter that threatened to slip from her mouth.
He avoided looking at her as he scanned the menu. He could hear the playful tone in her voice and it unnerved him.
"I'll have the steak," he finally replied, looking up at the waiter.
He looked at Alyssa, his composure back in place and smiled.
"And for the lady?" Max said with a slight gesture at Alyssa.
Alyssa inclined her head at his gentlemanly manner.
"Lasagna please," she replied talking to the waiter but looking at Max. She handed over the menu and kept her eyes fixed on Max's face.
Max ordered a bottle of red and then propped his hands in front of him and laced his fingers.
"So," he said, drawing the word out a bit in an effort to give himself time to think of something to say. "How was your mate, Rowan, is that her name?" he finally asked.
Alyssa smiled at the thought of Rowan and her latest triumph. It wasn't her place to spread Rowan's news. She didn't know if Rowan would want her to.
"Shocked, anxious and I think quite excited," she replied mysteriously.
She was not just talking about the café. She picked up a glass of wine and raised it.
"Cheers."
Max wrinkled his forehead at Alyssa's response.
"Well, I guess that means she's fine then?" He shrugged and lifted his glass to hers.
"Cheers."
Alyssa chuckled.
She relaxed at the familiar chink of crystal as their glasses touched.
"So, how long have you owned the car lot?"
"Well, Bradley and I opened it up just a few months ago. After the insurance business went tits up I just couldn't sit around on my hands and do nothing. especially after Tan left with the kids. Bradley was at loose ends so we pooled our resources. I think it's working out so far," he answered, a bit relieved that she had thought of something to say.
"So where does Pat come in?" she asked curiously.
She knew Max had had a meeting with her, but who she was Alyssa had no idea.
"Well, her husband owned the place quite a while back from what I understand and I think they had minicabs then aswell. Then ole Kevin Wickes owned it and ran minicabs. When he died Pat ended up with all the equipment. When Archie Mitchell got hold of the lot I don't think Pat wanted him to have the minicab business."
He paused and took a drink of wine.
"Nobody round here liked that Archie Mitchell anyway. I didn't realize you hadn't met Pat yet. She's usually all about and meeting the new people. She's kind of a busybody to be honest but in a good way. That Peggy Mitchell over at the pub is a mate of hers."
He suddenly chuckled, remembering the time when Pat and Peggy had gotten drunk in the ice cream van.
"For their age they sure get up to some mischief," he commented.
The food arrived and he found himself relaxing a bit more as he related what had happened with Pat and Peggy and the van.
Alyssa tucked into her lasagna. There was so much history in this place that she wasn't aware of. From what she could grasp most of the families had been around for generations. It was obviously a very close community. Alyssa suddenly felt very small and isolated.
"So currently working there is Darren, You, me and Bradley when he gets back?"
Max started in on his steak. His nerves had made him hungry and he made his way through several bites before answering Alyssa's question.
"Bradley's on the run from the police for that Archie Mitchell's murder. He'll only come back in handcuffs or if they find out who really did do the old man in. My Bradley wouldn't hurt a fly. But he ran when they found some circumstantial evidence so they assume he's guilty," he drank down some water and angrily cut into his steak again.
"Now, why don't you tell me more about you? You're my PA and I should know something more about you," he said, trying to lighten the mood a bit.
Alyssa swallowed and nodded at him.
"Go on then, ask me something,"
The playfulness had returned to her voice and the mischievous glint in her eye also put in an appearance.
"Well, where are you from? What brought you to Walford when there are a million other places you could go," he clarified.
"I told you about me," he said, leaning forward on his arm and taking another drink of wine.
Déjà vu thought Alyssa her mind wandering to her previous conversation with Ryan
"Well I'm from the posh side of Birmingham, which explains why I sound like I've stepped straight out of the BBC. And I'm in Walford because I fell for the resident bad boy, my parents disowned me. The relationship went sour and I had to get away," she shrugged.
Max raised his eyebrows. Well, she was certainly short and to the point.
"Well," he said, pushing aside his plate and leaning over to brush a finger against her knuckle, "will you be disappointed to find out I'm not a bad boy?" he asked with a cheeky grin.
She shook her head.
"Definitely not. Not planning on making that mistake again," she answered coolly.
She sipped her wine and took another forkful of lasagne to her lips.
Max smiled at Alyssa's tart answer.
He knew the meal wasn't going to last much longer and they couldn't hang out here all night.
Should he take her to the pub, or go ahead and see if she wanted to go to his place for a drink. He contemplated the wisdom of the situation.
He wanted her. But it was never a good idea to dip your pen in the office ink. He put his hand on his chin and rubbed his mouth with his forefinger, distracted.
Alyssa chewed silently watching his face. Something was bothering him and she was curious as to what was on his mind. She swallowed and looked at him questioningly.
"Something wrong?"
He took a sharp intake of breath, startled at her sudden question.
"No, no not really," he paused and drank off the last of his wine. "My daughter Abi will be here tomorrow morning and she's probably going to stay for a week. She tends to follow me around a bit but I'll make sure she doesn't get in your way at the office," he explained and quickly fished out his wallet when the waiter came over with the bill.
Alyssa smiled at his obvious dilemma. It didn't take a genius to work it out. You just needed to understand the mind of a man. Which she did.
She nodded and placed the knife and fork delicately on her plate, eyes never leaving his face.
"So, what do you fancy now?" he asked as he handed over the money for the bill. "The pub or I've got some nice white wine back at mine," he continued with a shrug.
Alyssa shrugged.
She wanted him to make the decision. She wanted to know what was really going on in his head. Because although she had an inkling she couldn't be sure.
"I don't mind," she replied leaning further towards him.
"Well, then, why don't we go on over to the pub?" he suggested. He had really hoped Alyssa would pick, but when she didn't he figured the pub to be the wiser option. He didn't want her to blow up at him if he'd said they should go back to his. She might think he was trying it on with her. He surely wanted to but that was beside the point. He didn't want her thinking it was all he had on his mind.
Alyssa nodded and pulled her coat back on. She watched the waiter come back with the change and then stood.
She waited for Max and the walked with him out of the posh little restaurant. She noticed that with her heels on she was almost the same height as him but without them she was a fair bit shorter.
As they walked down the street towards the pub, Max took a chance and offered Alyssa his arm.
It seemed the gentlemanly thing to do and he found himself absently wondering how in the world she walked in such high heels. He was glad the pub wasn't far.
She took his arm gratefully.
The place was buzzing when they went inside.
Alyssa let go of his arm once they got inside.
"Go ahead and find a seat, I'll get us some drinks."
The place was insanely busy and she manoeuvred her way through the crowds.
She found some people leaving one of the small booths and she waved at Max to get his attention before sitting down.
Max nodded that he'd seen Alyssa get a table and ordered the drinks. He spotted Pat at the end of the bar talking to Ricky, who finished whatever he'd been saying and sat back down with Bianca. He nodded at his niece and walked over to Pat.
"Howaya Pat?"
"Fine Max, that equipment work out okay for ya?"
"Yea, great. I've got this PA who's a whiz with electronics. Just wanted to say thanks again."
"Well, you're very welcome," she replied and spotted Peggy entering from upstairs. "Gotta go Max, maybe I'll stop over and say hi," she said as she patted his arm and headed off.
Max threaded his way back through the crowd to Alyssa and handed her a glass and sat down.
"White wine spritzer yea?" he asked.
Alyssa smiled at him and took the drink.
She dug in her bag and pulled out her phone. She read an earlier message from Rowan and smiled.
She decided to give Rowan and Chris some more time at the flat before she went home.
"So I'm guessing that's Pat yeah?" she said indicating the woman at the bar.
Max nodded.
"Yea, that's her. She said she might come over and say hi a bit later but it looks like she and Peggy are plotting over there so I wouldn't hold my breath."
He looked around the crowded pub.
"Have you met many people in Walford yet?" he asked as he took a sip of his drink.
Alyssa swallowed the liquid in her mouth and shook her head.
"Just Rowan, who is new aswell, Chris and Alex, also new and then You, Ryan and Darren."
She put her phone back in her bag after texting Rowan that she was in the pub.
"Right, well," he began as he shifted so he could lean a bit closer to her so she could hear him over the noise. "Over there, that's my niece Bianca and her husband Ricky. Over there, on the darts is Minty and Phil and Shirley. There's Masood and Zainab and I think you already met their son Syed and his wife Amira didn't you?"
He continued to point people out to her as they moved by, hoping he wasn't boring her too much.
She listened intently, memorising faces and family connections.
She could feel his breath on her face and was suddenly seized with a desire to kiss him.
She controlled herself by breathing out slowly but could not prevent her breathing from being shaky.
Max finished pointing out Dot, who happened to be his stepmother having married his father a number of years ago.
He stopped talking and was suddenly aware that Alyssa's face was very close to his. He found it thrilling and then he noticed she was breathing oddly.
He leaned back a bit. "Are you all right? Do you want a glass of water?"
She shook her head.
This guy didn't have a clue.
"I'm fine," she replied.
Her face was still fairly close to his and her eyes darted to his lips for less than a moment.
Max's forehead furrowed in confusion. What had he done now? He'd clearly annoyed her somehow. But the pub was noisy and crowded and over-warm.
He blinked and his eyes widened a bit when he saw the direction of her gaze. Did he see that wrong just then? Did she want him to kiss her?
He wasn't sure about doing that in the crowded pub. He cleared his throat.
"Do you want another drink?" he finally managed to say.
Alyssa nodded.
She leaned back to let him pass and sighed once he had gone.
The guy didn't have a clue.
Max's mind spun as he walked back to the bar with the empty glasses. He set them down and stood there a moment, considering.
It could the biggest mistake he'd ever made. He smoothed his tie and stared at the empty glasses and realized he didn't care. He gave Roxy a quick wave and turned and walked back to Alyssa and picked up her coat and held it out for her.
"Come on, let's go get some air," he suggested.
Alyssa stood startled.
She took her coat off him and looked at him curiously.
She followed him out of the bar.
The smiled crept back onto her face as she walked behind him.
Max shrugged slightly when Alyssa took the coat and looped it over her arm rather than allowing him to put it on her. On second thought, it was probably best if he didn't touch her just yet. He led her out of the bar and strolled slowly along.
He swiped at his nose with his thumb and forefinger and smoothed his tie. He offered her his arm again, keeping her outrageous shoes in mind.
Uncertain yet if he should walk her home or ask her to his place he headed in a direction that could easily lead to either. As they neared the darkened community center close to the playground he'd had enough. He stopped and took hold of her arms. He gently stood her against the building and then kissed her.
Alyssa leaned back against the wall and kissed him back.
Her arms snaked out of his grasp and ended up around his neck pulling him into her.
She smiled through the kiss.
Max nearly lost himself in her response. But tried to maintain some modicum of control.
He broke off the kiss briefly and looked at her, searching her eyes.
Her eyes were dark with lust and she leaned back against the wall at his studying gaze.
She kept her arms relaxed on his shoulders.
She parted her lips again.
Max smoothed his tie. He really wasn't crazy about PDA, all his previous sneaking around had put him in the habit of avoiding it.
"Yours or mine?" he choked out.
Alyssa thought about Rowan and Chris.
She didn't want to disturb them.
"Yours," she exclaimed confidently.
"Right," he said shortly. He took her arm turned in the direction of his house. He practically leapt up the stairs to unlock the door. He went inside and then held the door open for her.
She walked past him and looked around his house.
Clean and tidy for a man living alone.
She took off her coat and hung it over the banister on the stairs.
He closed the door and watched her hang her coat.
"Now, there's just one thing. I'd rather it be different but it's not like I could plan this. You can't stay the night. Abi will be here first thing. But," he said, his voice lowering as he neared her. "I can make the time we do have well worth it."
He suddenly scooped her up into fireman's carry and headed up the stairs
Alyssa nodded. Being found by his daughter was not a good plan.
She accepted the fireman's lift and squeezed his bum as he carried her up the stairs.
Max patted Alyssa's bottom in response and carried her into his bedroom and dropped her on the bed. He dropped down beside her and wrapped her in his arms and kissed her again. This time, with no prying eyes watching, he let himself enjoy it.
He moved his hands into her hair and held her tight against him.
Alyssa slipped her tongue into his mouth and kicked off her shoes.
She smiled as she heard them land randomly on the floor.
She brought her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through what little hair he had.
Max ran his hand up her body and kicked off his own shoes while skilfully unzipping her dress and sliding it off. She had wonderfully soft skin.
Alyssa pulled his jacket off and wriggled out of her dress.
She pulled him back down to her and reached for his trousers.
Max knew the direction she was going but was faster. With one movement he had his belt undone and off, his trousers following.
He leaned over her, half covering her body with his and gazed into her eyes. And then he kissed her again, his hands tracing her skin as his lips followed. He swung his foot and knocked the lamp off the bedside table, making it go out.
And then he took advantage of the darkness...
Max felt unbelievably relaxed as he held Alyssa to him. She'd been quite something. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head, breathing in the smell of her hair.
He looked at the clock, it was quite late.
"It's gone 2am," he muttered. He looked at her. "I don't want you to go but I should get some sleep in before Abs gets here and I have to go to work. So do you in fact," he joked. "I don't think your boss will appreciate you being late."
Alyssa leaned against him and smiled at him.
She sighed and climbed out of his grasp.
She gathered her clothes and dressed herself slowly.
Max admired the view of watching Alyssa get dressed.
"Goodnight, Mr Branning," she said cheekily.
Alyssa closed Max's front door behind her and twirled as she made her way down the steps.
She headed for home, wondering what Rowan was up to.
He listened to her footsteps down the stairs and the closing of the door behind her, and wondered once again if he wasn't making a mistake.
He reached over and set the alarm and fell asleep, the smell of Alyssa's perfume on the sheets.
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Rowan found herself telling Chris things she hadn't told people before. Part of it was that she trusted him for reasons she still couldn't completely explain, the other was that he'd seen, and she couldn't bring herself to lie when he'd asked.
It started when she'd asked Chris to fix the door of the wardrobe in her room. The latch kept sticking and it was driving her crazy.
While he was sorting out the door using the small tool kit she'd provided, she tended a call of nature. She came back in the room to find Chris seated on the bed and reading her Book. He had looked up at her confused and had asked her what it was all about.
So she had sat down next to him and explained the basic points of her beliefs and paged through it with him and answered his questions. Her fingers had strayed to the bracelet as they turned the pages and he asked her about that as well. She explained it had belonged to her mother. It was all she had left besides this Book and the recipes.
Her fingers traced the amazingly detailed drawings of herbs and trees and plants her mother had done, admitting that she was poor indeed at drawing and had always admired her mother's skill.
When she'd finished, he gazed at her a minute. Rowan felt the slightest of fears that he was going to get up and walk out the door. Instead, he put his hand on her cheek and told her she was amazing. She blushed and then spent several minutes kissing him as a thank you for his compliment.
Chris stood up after they'd finished kissing.
"I'm sorry but I really should go. DI Drake getting me out of the station to ask me about the Guv and then not forcing me to go with her, I'm a bit behind. Marsden is already well put out by the fact that Alex went there and threw her weight around so I'm likely in for it and better get an early start."
"That sounds just fine," Rowan answered as she stood up and wrapped her arms around Chris' waist. He kissed her nose and smiled down at her.
"I'm going to work through lunch but I'll come straight over to the Caf when I'm done all right?"
"I'll cook you something special," she promised.
"You spoil me."
"Not yet, but I'm working on it."
"I'll have some more of that cake and all," he said, his tone full of greed.
"I'll have something new for you to try."
She kissed him again and walked him to the door.
After he'd gone, she sat down and wrote in her journal. Talking to Chris had brought back some painful memories and she decided to write them down to get them out of her head.
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Alyssa stumbled up the steps as quietly as she could.
She unlocked the door, walked into the house and listened.
She could hear Rowan's soft breathing coming from the lounge.
She walked in and found Rowan passed out on the sofa. Alyssa smiled and took Rowan's shoes off; she placed a pillow under her head and got a blanket of Rowan's bed to place over her.
Only then did Alyssa spot the little book Rowan was holding loosely in her hand.
Alyssa took it, intending to put it on the table but curiosity seized her and she read the page that Rowan's finger was marking…
Today I finally shared one of my worst memories ever: the day of Momma and Daddy's funeral. I was devastated when they died but not half as much as losing my sister soon after. Lilias-my sister who hates me. Who thinks I'm going to burn in hell. Momma and Daddy were good, honest, hard working, well respected people in our town. He worked the farm and Momma taught at the school. They taught me and Lily the Old Ways, the ways they believed in.The oneness of all living things, respecting the spirits of the world around us, Mother Earth and Father Sky and how to live in and shape the world for the better, through love and hard work and understanding. We were the Wise and we walked the Old Path.Lily never cottoned on to it. That girl could be frightful mean when she set her mind to it. One night, as we all danced in the fields to celebrate the Harvest and the fruitful year we had had, Momma, Daddy, me and the other folk who believed as we did-our coven-Lily packed up and left. She'd been stepping out with a local boy, a Church boy and he'd turned her head in more ways than one. She changed her name to Lillian and we ceased to exist for her. She had no more use for us.
Until Momma and Daddy died, and she came to the funeral, full of her hate and her petty-minded Dogma, and the righteousness of her Lord and God. Shame she seemed to forget her God was supposed to be a god of love too but she always did like to twist things to her own liking, did Lily. She spewed forth her hate like a fountain spews forth water. She said Momma and Daddy deserved to die for worshipping the devil (never mind we didn't follow Christian mythology and so didn't believe in the Christian devil) and for their evil and sinful ways. I stood there like a deer in headlights, never having heard such poison in all my young life. Then she started in on me. She said things to me I can never get out of my head but nevertheless can never repeat to another living soul, much less write them down. But they killed me. You should never say such things to your kin, your blood, your family. I ran. It was the only thing at the ignorant age of 17 I could do. We had no other family. And she made it clear she intended to take the house. She was 21 and newly married, likely she could. I went home and packed up everything that meant anything to me: The Book, my clothes and things, our only photo album, Momma's recipe book and her bracelet. She would have wanted me to have it. I cleaned out the house kitty, walked out the door and never looked back.I went to the lawyers the next day after staying with one of the Kin who was kind enough to take me in. We all quietly celebrated Momma and Daddy's journey to the Summerland late into the night. The lawyer told me how much Momma and Daddy had left me in the will, most of the money. The only thing they had chosen to leave Lily the house and a quarter acre of the land. The rest of the land they left to a Wilderness reclaiming group and a sum of money to help turn it into a place that all could share. I did not begrudge the sum, in fact, I asked the lawyer to please allocate a small portion of the money they had left me into some good banking for the Wilderness group to use. The rest I used to go to school up north. I'd always dreamed of getting out of our small Virginia town and now I had. Just not the way I'd expected. I made myself a new person. I carefully trained away all trace of hick from the hills from my accent. I told no one my beliefs; I kept them to myself and tried to forgive my sister. Harm None, that's what is was about after all. I studied hard that first year. I also met Brian. Oh, and ain't that a whole 'nother can of worms. I'll deal with that later. Blessed be. X
Alyssa closed the book and placed it on the floor by Rowan's hand, shut. She had intruded into a part of Rowan's life that she had no business being in and she felt bad.
Rowan's life had not been pretty so far. Alyssa wanted to hug her but didn't want to disturb her sleep.
She contemplated what she had read. She wanted to know more but didn't know how Rowan would react.
She would wait for Rowan to tell her in her own time unless the guilt consumed her.
"Lyss?" Rowan said softly. "I'm awake."
She swung herself up into a sitting position. She picked up her journal and put it on the table, then stood up.
"I was hoping you would read that," she began, "not the whole book obviously but what I wrote this evening. Chris and I talked for hours tonight. He saw something when I asked him to fix that stupid latch on the wardrobe door and started asking questions. It brought up a lot of old memories."
Rowan sighed and began twisting her bracelet. "There are some things I just can't say. I've not exactly given anyone the chance to get close enough to trust. You and Chris are the first. I knew after I told Chris that I should tell you but it was still so raw. So I wrote it down. I was actually going to copy it from the book onto a letter for you but I feel asleep before I could."
Rowan looked at her friend and hoped she hadn't misjudged her. She twisted the bracelet and hoped for acceptance.
Alyssa moved to sit with Rowan on the sofa.
She wrapped her arms around her friend without hesitation and rested her head on Rowan's shoulder.
She held Rowan and waited for her to talk.
She felt mildly better that Rowan had intended for her to read it, but she still felt intrusive.
"I'm sorry," Rowan apologized, her eyes welling up. "I know you wouldn't normally intrude like that. I couldn't even be sure you would read that one page, but I knew you wouldn't read more than that."
She pulled away from Alyssa a bit and sniffed and wiped her eyes.
"You, umm," Rowan's eyes danced around the room, afraid to meet Alyssa's. She studied her fingers a moment and then stroked her bracelet.
She then looked up into Alyssa's face. "You're like the sister I never got to have."
There, now she could only wait.
That was it!
Alyssa gasped at Rowan's confession. She felt herself welling up.
"Rowan!" she exclaimed.
She had no idea how to react. She hadn't expected Rowan to confide something like that to her.
Rather than using more words Alyssa threw her arms around Rowan again and pulled her into a hug again.
Rowan choked out a loud sob and hugged Alyssa back tightly.
She never could have imagined that coming to Walford would bring her to people she could care about, that she could trust.
She found herself glad now that she had bought the Cafe. She was intending to stay, with a family of her own choosing.
After a few minutes of racking sobs, Rowan calmed down and leaned away from Alyssa, thankful that though she might look a fright, she rarely wore enough makeup to exhibit panda eyes.
She sniffed, cocked her head at Alyssa curiously and pulled a tissue out of the box on the table and wiped her nose. She sniffed again. That was definitely Max's cologne.
Unable to help herself, Rowan gasped out loud. "You shagged your boss!" and then clapped her hand over her mouth, worried she's said too much, her eyes wide with shock but snapping with mirth.
Alyssa burst into giggles she shook with laughter at Rowan's outburst.
She nodded her head in response. She clutched her stomach as it hurt from her laughter.
She rolled onto her side and wiped a tear from her eye as it made its way down her cheek.
"How did you know?" she spluttered through her giggles.
Rowan took Alyssa's arm and held it up to her friend's nose.
"His cologne is all over you," she giggled, "so he must have been too."
Rowan grinned and blushed. "I have to confess," she began uncertainly. She cleared her throat. "Today, when Chris and I met up for lunch, well," she paused again, her cheeks flaming. "We didn't really get around to the whole food thing," she smiled a cheesy smile and made a silly face.
Alyssa smiled at Rowan.
"I did wonder what you were going to get up to. Though I did have an inkling. It's the way he looks at you Ro, he's smitten."
"I'm in deep smit myself. We had such a nice evening; I don't think there was a moment's silence most of the night. We just talked about stuff, all sorts of stuff. I bounced a few ideas off him about the Cafe. Just a few minor changes, nothing horrifying. Just to put my own stamp on the place," Rowan went on. She hunted around for the paper she'd written them on.
Alyssa sniffed at herself. "Do I really smell like him?"
Rowan cracked up at Alyssa's question. "Yes, maybe I can just smell it better cause I don't wear perfume. It makes me break out in hives."
She stretched and yawned.
"I think, it is time we hit the hay, we both have big early days tomorrow." She grinned knowingly at Alyssa.
Alyssa took the paper and glanced down at the changes Rowan wanted to make. She nodded as she went down the list.
She cracked up at Rowan's final comment and the meaning behind it.
She nodded at her and stretched too.
"Sleep tight Rowan," she smiled at her friend and retreated to the sanctity of her room.
"Blessed be," Rowan called after Alyssa before flopping onto her own bed and quickly into sleep.
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Rowan woke up again just a couple of hours later. She hurriedly grabbed a shower, careful to go easy on the hot water, and got ready for the day.
She pulled on a tight, long sleeved pale grey top and pulled a darker grey, loose sleeveless top stylishly embroidered with flowers over it. She pulled on her most comfortable pair of jeans and her boots. The coffee was done brewing by the time she was done and she fixed Alyssa a cup to her liking and put it on the small hall table outside Alyssa's door. She rapped twice smartly.
"Coffee at 6 am," she announced and went back into the kitchen to quickly prepare some breakfast. She paged through her mother's recipe book and made some notes. She quickly buttered the toast and then went back to the hallway. "How do you want your eggs?" she asked.
Alyssa mumbled incoherently at Rowan's question and dragged herself out of bed so that she landed in a heap next to her bed.
She stood and stumbled to the door. She opened it and grabbed the coffee. Gulping almost half the cup down, burning her throat as she did so, she moved into the kitchen where Rowan was cooking.
"Morning," she croaked. She gulped back the rest of the coffee and placed the mug in the sink.
"Scrambled," she replied in answer to Rowan's question. She collapsed into the kitchen chair and watched her flat mate sleepily.
Rowan hid a smirk from her friend. Her insomnia had forced her to be a morning person, she couldn't help it. She turned from the stove as she expertly cracked eggs one handed into the pan and added a dash of cream.
"As you can see, I'm all done with the facilities. I did not hog the hot water if you want to shower while the eggs cook."
She snagged another slice of toast as it popped up and rapidly buttered it. She placed the plate of toast on the table and set about cooking the eggs.
Alyssa watched her friend expertly making her breakfast. Again, she realised.
She stood and went to get a shower; she paused at the door.
"Thanks Rowan."
Rowan gave Alyssa an odd look.
"Thanks for what?" she wanted to know but heard the water and knew she'd have to wait for her answer.
Alyssa returned to the kitchen 34 minutes later, fully dressed and ready to go.
She was wearing a pair of leggings, long blue jumper top and navy blazer with the sleeves partially folded.
She went to the kettle.
"Cuppa?" she offered holding up a mug.
Rowan nodded at Alyssa's offer and pointed at the coffee maker, the pot still half full of proper coffee. She grinned and put the plates on the table.
"Soup's on," she announced.
Alyssa smiled and switched to the coffee maker. She emptied he contents into two mugs and padded to the table with them in her hands. She placed one in front of Rowan and sat with hers in front of her plate. She grabbed some toast and started on her eggs.
"Delicious," she congratulated after her first mouthful.
"Thanks," Rowan replied. She was glad Alyssa enjoyed her cooking. It was one of the few outlets Rowan allowed herself and it helped keep her from smoking.
Rowan ate methodically through her breakfast and then drained her coffee.
"I'll be at the Cafe all day. Now, I've made you a sandwich for lunch. It's that chicken I told you about. It's on a nice ciabatta with a bit of lettuce and tomato and Muenster cheese and a special dill herb sauce. No butter. I have never understood that," she muttered.
"There's one for you and one for Max and one for that other kid, what's his name..." Rowan paused, "Darren. I expect reviews."
Rowan slung her bag across her shoulder, picked up the carriers with that mornings baking. This time she'd done hand-held fruit pies: apple, cherry, and blueberry. They were easy enough to do all in one go.
"Oh, and there are some pie things there too," she added and hustled out the door. "Bye!"
Rowan was gone before Alyssa could thank her. She was left sitting at the table, half a plate of eggs left, stunned.
She chuckled at Rowan after she had gone.
She finished her breakfast and took her plate and mug to he sink. She still had time to kill so she set about doing the washing up.
She rinsed the last few bubbles from her hands and placed the mugs back on the rack.
Alyssa checked the clock, 7:50.
She grabbed her bag and the sandwiches Rowan had made and headed out of the door.
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Ronnie groaned and opened her eyes as the bright sunlight flooded in. She looked around the room, her perspective was all wrong! She realized she was lying on the floor and she ached, but it was a good ache. She sighed and thanked her stars she wasn't hungover.
She spared a glance at Ray, her bit of rough from the night before. He was clung to her like a limpet. She sniffed. He might not be so amazing in the looks department but she could not deny the man had possessed some impressive equipment and a brilliant knowledge in the use thereof. She had expected him to be rough with her, a part of her begged for it, but he'd also possessed an unbelievable gentleness and she blessed the thick walls of her flat that hopefully kept the neighbors from hearing her screams.
Well, she had asked for it she recalled.
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Peggy stumped down the stairs and looked over the pub. It was still a mess. Her head was pounding. She vaguely remembered Pat and a bottle of vodka. She rubbed her head and hoped her memory would return and hoped she hadn't done anything embarrassing. Herself, alcohol and Pat was a recipe for disaster!
She picked up Roxy's phone where she'd left it on the bar and pecked out a text to Ronnie. They were going to need some help to get this place in shape.
She stumped back upstairs to wake Roxy. They would need to get a move on or they'd be opening late
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Ronnie heard her phone beeping at her, informing her of a text message. She groaned again. Probably Roxy wondering where the hell she was.
"Ray," she said, giving him a gentle shake with her hand. "Ray, wake up, come on."
Ray grunted and rolled over.
It wasn't time to wake up yet. He sleepily opened his eyes and looked around the unfamiliar surroundings.
He smiled as he remembered last night. He had pulled alright.
No rubbing of the tache when he informed the office of his 'exercises'.
He registered that it was her voice that had woken him along with the blinding sunlight streaming through the window.
He sat up and looked at her.
Her hair was still disheveled from their antics and her body the way he had left it when he had finally fallen asleep.
Why did she have to be so shag worthy?
He wanted to do her again right there right now!
Ronnie raised an eyebrow at Ray; in his present state it wasn't difficult to follow the direction of his thoughts. She was tempted but she had made a promise to her sister to help out at the Vic and she was not about to go back on it. Not when they were finally mending things.
"I have to get to work," she said. She was aware of her present state of undress as well but she hoped if she acted like it was nothing, he might follow her lead.
"And as much as I am tempted for a repeat performance, I can't let my sister down," she explained. She took his face in her hands and kissed him.
"I think I can say without a doubt last night was one of the best," she kissed him again.
"I've written my number down," she said, indicating a piece of paper on the coffee table. "I think I would be quite agreeable to doing this again sometime," she smiled and stood up. "I need a shower. Help yourself to a cup of tea if you like."
Still smiling, she paced slowly across the room and towards the shower she desperately craved.
Ray groaned at the pain in his head but smirked at Ronnie's words.
He stood clumsily and grabbed his trousers. He shoved one leg in, hopped as he tried to regain his balance then did the same with his other leg. He grabbed her number and stuffed it into his pocket.
Ray stretched and let his mind wander to Ronnie in the shower. He felt his erection and put a stop to those thoughts immediately. That was the last thing he needed this morning.
Ray stumbled into the kitchen and fished around in cupboards for tea bags and spoons.
After 10 minutes he was sat at her kitchen table with a steaming mug of tea clutched between his hands. Trying not to let his mind wander.
Ronnie walked into the kitchen, freshly showered and dressed. She looked at Ray and felt a rush of sympathy. She placed two paracetamol on the table next to him.
"There's plenty of hot water left if you want to grab a shower," she offered. "Clean towels on the shelf."
She fixed herself a cup of tea and sat down.
Ray nodded his thanks and threw the pills down his gullet, following them with the rest of his tea.
He shuddered. He hated medication of any sort. Even though he knew that it helped.
He placed his mug in the sink and took her up on the offer of a shower.
He still felt sleepy and boiling hot water should do the trick and wake him up.
Ronnie was unable to help herself and admired his backside as he walked down the hall. She smiled and picked up her phone.
The text was from Peggy. She snorted a laugh and wondered how long it had taken Aunty Peg to type the text. She fired off a quick response that she would be there within a half hour or a bit more and then sat and finished her tea and allowed herself a slight disappointment that there was no time to join the man in the shower.
Ray came back into the kitchen, permed hair wet and tache damp.
"Well, I'll errrrrrr be off then," he mumbled.
He bent and pecked her on the cheek.
Immediately feeling like a poof, he turned and walked towards the door.
"I'll see you round then?" he half asked as he reached for the door handle.
Ronnie stood up and walked to him.
"Why don't you walk me to work, and if you're hungry there is a very excellent café nearby where you can get some breakfast. You did expend rather a lot of energy last night," she finished with a grin and patted his bum.
She grabbed him and kissed him soundly and then opened the door.
Ray grinned and followed her out of her flat.
He didn't know where she worked. He decided he would follow and find out. As for breakfast he may not have time. The last thing he needed was a bollocking off the Guv for being late. Mind you with Drake being back his mood might improve.
He wrapped his arm around her waist as they walked, pulling her into him.
Ronnie stiffened ever so slightly but didn't make him move his arm. It was hopefully still early enough that everyone on the Square wasn't getting an eyeful. She really didn't care for people always being in her business.
She walked up to the Vic.
"Well, this is where I'm at today," she said. "The Cafe is just there. I'll say thank you for last night but I don't want to give fodder to the gossips so no kiss goodbye," she explained, with a smile to keep the sting from her words.
Ronnie's phone rang and she hurriedly pulled it out of her pocket. Alex.
"Hi, how are you? Great. Yes, of course I will. Don't forget about lunch yea? Bye." she flipped the phone shut and looked at Ray.
"That was Alex; they'll meet you at the Cafe there."
Ray nodded at her words.
"See you around."
He strolled off in the direction of the café. Ronnie's words had shocked him but then clearly she was an independent woman. He shouldn't be surprised really.
She worked in a pub. This woman was fantastic!
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Gene woke up the next morning, his head felt like it was in a vice and his mouth tasted like something had crawled in it and died, not to mention dry as a sidewalk in high summer. He grunted and coughed and sat up in bed. He leaned, elbows on knees and face in hands. He scrubbed his face and breathed deep.
He turned and looked at Bolly. She was adorable when she slept, and she was still real. And he felt like himself again, only better. He padded into the kitchen and switched the kettle on then took a very hot shower.
He felt like a new man.
Alex felt the heat next to her vanish and the weight of Gene disappear from the bed.
She sighed and rolled onto her side, screwing up her eyes at the specks of light that managed to find the gap in the curtains. She hid her face in the pillow.
She heard the kettle switch on and it starting to boil. The shower started in the room next door.
She stayed in bed. She knew he would have to return to get dressed. She would get up then. Perhaps.
Gene finally got out of the shower, all traces of his "sickness" washed away. He went into the kitchen and banged together two cups of tea and carried them into the bedroom. He noticed Alex was awake. He put her cup on the bedside table and set about getting dressed in a brisk businesslike fashion.
"Get up Bolly," Gene ordered as he shrugged on a jacket. "We have one of my team to rescue from one of the most inept DCI's around. Let's go."
He drained his tea and went into the bathroom for a quick shave then made another cup of tea and waited.
Alex groaned. She didn't want to get up. She buried her face further into the pillow, inhaling the traces of Gene that lingered there.
She rolled out of the bed and took a gulp of tea. She padded to the bathroom. Gene was shaving but she needed a shower.
"Get out Gene, I need a shower," she ordered.
She leaned against the door frame, arms folded and head tilted to one side, watching him.
Gene carefully finished and wiped his face. He looked at her standing there, still not wearing a stitch!
He stood in front of her and put his hand on her neck and then slid it slowly down her bare front. He gave her a quick kiss and then stepped out of the bathroom, giving her a light smack on the backside as he did so.
Alex shut the door with her foot and stepped into the shower.
She emerged 10 minutes later wrapped in a fluffy white towel. It smelt of him. She had borrowed his tooth brush and toothpaste to clean her teeth and remove the awful morning taste that lingered there.
She made her way back to the bedroom where she knew her clothes lay strewn all over the floor.
Gene heard her rummaging around in the bedroom and went to see what was going on. He saw she was looking for clothes and went and opened his wardrobe.
"Bolly," he said, "you left some stuff behind and Luigi gave it to me for safekeeping."
He stepped aside and gestured at the two or three tops and some jeans and a pair of dressy slacks that were hanging there.
Alex smiled. So that's where her favorite top had got to!
She kissed him briefly on the cheek and pulled on the jeans and one of the tops. She dug in her bag and found some makeup. She applied it carefully.
"Don't suppose you've got a hair dryer?" she asked casually.
It didn't matter if she left it wet, it looked okay when it dried naturally, she would just be paranoid about it.
She turned to him and kissed him properly then awaited a reply. He kissed her back and snatched up the keys to the Quattro.
Gene jokingly puffed air at her hair.
"No, what do I need with some poxy hair-dryer. Get your act together woman and let's go and call that mate of yours and tell her to have Raymondo meet us at that Cafe you mentioned."
Alex flattened her hair in annoyance but followed him out of the house.
She whipped out her phone and dialed Ronnie's number as she sat in the Quattro.
"Ronnie? Hey it's Alex! Yeah, good thanks. Can you get Ray to meet us at the Café? Thanks."
She ended the call and leaned back into her seat.
She watched Gene's face as he drove. He was absorbed in what he was doing and she smiled at the expression on his face.
Gene grinned and launched the Quattro down the street, headed for Walford.
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Rowan practically ran to the Cafe in her exuberance. She opened the door and went inside and set about quickly and efficiently getting ready for the day. She rearranged the cake and brownies still left and added the pies with little notes on toothpicks to say what was what.
She threw two batches of buttermilk biscuits in the oven and set about making sausage gravy and prepping scrambled eggs for fast cooking. She then made short work of organizing the work area to her liking.
She went around the counter and flipped the sign to "Open" and then pulled out the specials board and began to write, sipping on a fresh cup of coffee as she did so.
Chris arrived at the Cafe a short while later. Rowan leaned on the counter and gazed at him as he groused about the day he had to look forward to with Marsden. Rowan gave him a cup of tea and set about making him breakfast after he agreed, a bit reluctantly, to try her new breakfast special.
He really didn't understand biscuits for breakfast. She showed them to him and broke one open still warm from the oven. She spread some butter on it and handed it to him as she explained it weren't that sort of biscuit.
He wolfed it down and heartily approved and Rowan leaned over to kiss some butter from the side of his mouth.
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Max had been ready that morning for Abi's arrival. He'd made her a quick breakfast and then allowed that she could come to the car lot for a bit that morning. He did explain though that it might not be a bad idea to see if she could visit her friends, like Jordan, for most of the day so he could work.
Abi sat at his desk and idly surfed the internet while Max checked his messages, and waited for Alyssa to arrive.
Alyssa strolled through the open door to the car lot after informing Darren that Rowan had made him lunch.
"Morning," she said brightly as she sat down at her desk.
She switched her computer on and moved her chair backwards to grab some files.
She placed them in front of her and then directed her attention towards Abi.
"You must be Abi, I'm Alyssa," she smiled at the young teenager.
Max smiled good morning at Alyssa as she walked in the office. He placed a Starbucks in front of her and had Abi move to what had been Bradley's' desk so that he could work. This time he'd made Darren come in early and go fetch Alyssa her drink.
"Hi," Abi said to the woman shortly and with the slightest hint of rudeness.
She looked at her father. "Jordan says he'll meet me in the park in an hour. His mum is going to take us somewhere a bit later he said."
"All right," Max agreed and carefully did not look in Alyssa's direction.
Alyssa smiled at the Starbucks and mimicked her actions from the previous day by opening the lid and whipping her forefinger around the rim and licking the froth from it, her eyes fixed on her monitor.
She smiled in amusement at Abi's response.
She opened Max's diary on her computer and checked his 'agenda' for the day. No meetings until that evening.
"Max, we need to decide if and when you want to hold interviews for taxi drivers," she pointed out turning to face him.
"Yea," he agreed in response to Alyssa's suggestion and he stood up and handed her a piece of paper.
"Here, put this bloke down for tomorrow at 2:30. Thanks. Oh and," he stopped at the door and turned around. "Either Pat or Ricky is going to stop by today and give you a crash course in how to use that thing," he gestured at the dispatch equipment.
Then he went outside for his first fag of the day.