Upstairs, Laura went first into her study and decanted the contents of her bag onto her desk. Then she went into the bedroom and hung up her jacket in the wardrobe before heading into the main bathroom in the house to run a bath. As she entered the bathroom, she saw on the little table beside the bath a selection of her favourite toiletries as well as one particular bath oil that she absolutely loved - a luxuriously scented rose and sandalwood bath essence. She knew Robbie knew how much she loved it but that also she would only buy it from a reputable source where the oils were sustainably procured. He had clearly taken this into account and she was touched just as much by his thought to this fact as much as for something he knew she loved. The blue glass bottles and jars from her favoured shop were in a small recycled cardboard basket filled with dried rose petals and aromatic dried leaves, all tied up with a big cream paper ribbon. Clearly Robbie had shelled out for gift wrapping too, just for her.

She got changed into a towelling robe and turned on the taps and added a generous splash of the bath oil into the running hot water. Within seconds the whole bathroom was scented with the fragrance of rose and sandalwood. Discarding her robe, Laura got into the bath and submerged herself into the sweet-scented water. She stretched out fully into the warmth and felt herself completely relax. Granted these days she didn't suffer from tense shoulders and back from the hours in the lab like she used to but a warm bath was always a welcome indulgence especially when she knew Robbie was preparing a meal for them both.

After a while there was a soft knock on the door. It was Robbie.

"Found everything ok?" He said as he stepped through into the bathroom.

"I did. Thank you, Robbie. What a treat, such a wonderful scent"

He smiled warmly and was clearly pleased with her reaction to his gifts. There was a tea towel slung over his shoulder, clear evidence of his hard work in the kitchen and in his hand he had a glass, a tall flute of pale gold sparkling wine.

"Thought you'd like a glass of bubbly, it's the one we had when we were in Venice, y'know? the one with that nice label" he said as he handed the glass to Laura.

She took a sip of the wine, it was wonderfully well chilled and the glass was sweating with cold. It was indeed as delicious as she remembered it from their honeymoon.

"Where on earth did you manage to get this from?" Laura enquired taking another sip of the chilled prosecco before placing the glass down on the little stripped pine table next to the bath, beside the basket of toiletries.

She hoped she feigned her surprise, knowing full well that he'd bought it earlier on in the deli.

"Ah, well that would be telling" he said, crouching down next to the bath so as to be level with her.

"All sounds very interesting, Robbie" Laura said, her eyes smiling back at him

"Mmm" He said with a slightly smug nod and a smile "Are you enjoying your bath?" he continued, dipping his hand into the scented water.

"I am, very much so" she replied and she felt his hand, under the water gently smooth over her upper arm before he leant forward and kissed her.

"Dinner's ready whenever you are" He said after another kiss, still caressing her arm under the warm scented water.

"I won't keep you waiting long" she said, returning the gaze with a smile

"Robbie?"

"Mmm?"

"Thank you, for the surprise treats"

"My pleasure" He replied "And there's still dinner to come"

Laura nodded, smiling, her eyes full of love and affection, gazing at him and tilting her face towards his as he leant in for another kiss.

Laura murmured softly into the kiss, enjoying it fully and also enjoying the feel of Robbie's caress under the water, tracing a sensual track along her arm, and then her shoulder and collarbone. Robbie's kiss was slow at first but Laura soon felt it become a little more insistent. She responded, and as her kiss met his with equal fervour she felt his hand start to caress her on other parts of her body. She melted into the sensation of the luxurious warmth of the bath and the feel of Robbie's touch as well as his kiss. . .

"Robbie what's that?" she pulled away suddenly

"What's what?"

"I can smell burning and isn't that the-"

"Oh no! It's the bloody ciabatta" Robbie leapt away from the side of the bath, almost knocking over the Prosecco on the small table, his hand dripping with bathwater onto his jeans and the tiled floor of the bathroom.

"And now I've said that - I've ruined the bloody surprise!" he shouted to himself as well as Laura as he got to his feet, his face scowling with irritation

The oven timer that Laura could just hear from down in the kitchen sounded louder as Robbie opened the door as he dashed out of the bathroom. Despite feeling a little sorry for him she couldn't help but chuckle to herself as she heard him clatter down the stairs, swearing as he went at speed into the kitchen to rescue the bread from the oven. She heard the slam of the oven door followed by more swearing which became louder as finally the smoke alarm sounded. Laura laughed to herself again, took a long drink of the Prosecco and after placing the glass back on the little table submerged herself deeper into the bath, still with a smile on her face.