Chapter 17

PJ pulled Maggie's head down to his, kissing her passionately as he allowed his hands to wonder across her body. Maggie responded to his touches, having no recollection of how they had ended up on his coach, her small frame resting lightly on top of him, as he pulled her closer. They had been taking their time, reveling in each other's touch, exploring each other in a way they had never previously gotten a chance. Their embrace, however, was interrupted with the shrill sound of the phone.

"No" Maggie moaned as he moved his hand away from her to fumble for the cordless phone. He shot her an apologetic glance as he answered the phone irritably.

"What?" he demanded into the phone line and she could not help but smirk at his obvious irritation. "Why do you need me Harris, I took the late watch last night, while you went back to the hotel, and I was there earlier today. I told you I has taking the night off" he muttered into the phone "I know we have a case, but there is no point both of us being there," he growled.

He was silent as he listened to Harris ramble on the other line, running his other hand through Maggie's hair absent-mindedly. She let out a sigh, as she rested her head on his chest, listening to the one sided conversation.

"No-" he started but bit his lip as Harris continued to talk "So get a uniformed member" he retaliated. Maggie snapped her head up at that suggestion shaking her head vigorously. He eyed her confused, as she mouthed 'I'm on call'

He moved his other hand from her and over the receiver as he hissed, "What do you mean you're on call" he stated, "Nick should be on call"

"He had somewhere to go tonight," she whispered back, meeting his gaze apologetically.

"You volunteered!" he replied, frustration evident.

She gave a small shrug, which was essentially awkward due to her position "He asked last week, how was I suppose to know" she retorted, a small frown tugging at her lips.

He sighed leaning back onto the couch as Maggie moved off him, knowing that their evening was lost, either way one of them had to go into work.

"Yes I'm still here Harris, I'm thinking" he retorted, the other detective getting the brunt of his bad mood. "Fine. I'll see you soon," he snapped, clicking the phone off with more force then necessary.

She took a seat next to him on the couch as he lifted himself up to make room for her, shoulders touching as they sat there in silence, neither wanting to vocalize the end of their night. He let out a frustrated sigh as he rose from the couch, picking up the cordless phone and placing it back on the charger.

"I guess I should get going" Maggie stated giving him a small wary smile as she bent down to pick up her jacket, which had previously been discarded. He gave a resigned nod as he moved back towards her, running his hands up and down her forearms.

"I'll give you a call when I finish work," he stated regretfully but she shook her head "You don't know what time you'll be back and I have the early shift tomorrow," she replied.

He eyed her skeptically "You volunteered to be on call and you took the early shift?" he asked, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Somebody has to do it and Nick said he needed the time off" she replied adamantly and he shook his head pulling her into his embrace, arms wrapping protectively around her.

"You and your bleeding heart" he murmured into her hair and he heard her snort in response "I'm just not as cynical as you" she replied and he let out a small chuckle "Wouldn't want you any other way Mags" he reassured her as he gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.

"I should get going," she repeated, but he refused to break their embrace.

"I don't know about that" he responded as he leaned in for a quick kiss "Irritating Harris" he started as he kissed her again "and keeping you here" he added as he met her for another quick kiss "seem like very good ideas to me" he finished, capturing her mouth against his. She let out a soft moan before breaking the contact.

"So tomorrow?" she asked breathless but he shook his head solemnly. She sighed "Night after?" She offered but again he shook his head "This case is expected to go down sometime in the next few days, we're in the calm before the storm so to speak" he replied.

"Anything I can do to help?" she asked, instinctively having his back.

He nodded "Eventually, but at the moment we're watching and waiting" he replied "Except apparently that's not a task that one man can handle for a few hours" he added bitterly and despite her own frustrations she placed a hand on his shoulder, attempting to calm him. He gave her a small smile in acknowledgement as he glanced at the clock.

"I have to go," he admitted and she nodded in agreement as he tossed his shoes back on and quickly slipped on an ironed dress shirt. "I'll walk you out" he responded as she grabbed her bag and followed him outside.

"Constable Doyle" a voice called out and Maggie whipped around at the sound of her title, to see PJ's older neighbor waving at her from the other side of the fence, motioning her over. She racked her brain trying to remember the old woman's name but she cringed as she came out blank. PJ gave his neighbor a polite wave, as he leaned against the car impatiently.

"Didn't see you there" Maggie responded as she made her way across the garden "Isn't it a bit late out?" she asked.

"Enjoying the last of the day light savings," she responded and Maggie kept her face straight as she responded "Yes but there is no day light its dark"

"Oh the porch light is all I need" she responded lightheartedly and Maggie gave her a polite smile. She could feel PJ bristling behind her, close enough to hear their conversation but far enough not to be involved.

"You've been over a lot lately" she commented and Maggie couldn't hide her surprise at her forwardness "Have I?" she replied innocently and the old woman nodded.

"I like to view the town from my veranda. It's amazing what you can learn. So are you courting my young neighbor?" she asked, obviously wanting to hear the town gossip.

Maggie stood there for a second, stunned at the question before shaking her head. "No" she replied, although not as forcefully as intended. She and PJ had quickly agreed after the first night that it was better to keep their relationship private for the moment and there was no way that was going to happen if she told PJ's nosy neighbor the truth.

"Mags!" PJ called obviously having reached the end of his patience for the night "We have to go" he called.

Maggie shot the old woman one last smile before waving quick goodbye as she headed back over to PJ, who also waved from his spot at the car.

"Your neighbor is watching us," she hissed as she made her way towards her car parked across the road.

"Add it to the list," PJ muttered as he gave her a small wave, suddenly aware of his neighbor's eyes on him.

"I'll see you at work tomorrow" she called and he nodded as he watched her get into her car and drive off. He let out a frustrated growl as he got into his car; he had thought the hard part in their relationship would have been convincing Maggie to take a chance with him. Apparently, he had not factored in his neighbor, Nick, Dash and Detective bloody Harris. He sighed, some days he really hated small country towns.