Please keep reviewing. I want to know if I'm getting it right!

When he woke the following morning, Evelyn was gone from her bed. The covers were still messed up, but she had vanished. Ben got up and checked the bathroom, but there was no sign of her. It was only when he was walking past the window that he saw her standing outside. She didn't appear to be doing anything, just standing. Pulling on his clothes quickly, he opened the door and stepped out to join her.

"Morning," he greeted her.

"Morning," she replied, still staring out over the landscape back towards the city.

"Did you sleep all right?" he asked.

"Someone put me to bed," she replied, turning to look at him, "but they were enough of a gentleman not to remove my clothes." He shrugged, "My mother used to say I looked at though I had slept in my clothes and now she's right."

He laughed, "You want to get some breakfast? We passed a diner on the way here last night."

"Sure," she nodded, "just let me get my bag."

When Ben had squared up with the owner, they got back in the car and drove a few miles back down the road to where the diner stood. It was quiet, with few customers except for a few truckers. Ben ordered a full breakfast, Evelyn just coffee.

"You know you should eat something," he told her. Seeing her now, in the daylight, he could see how painfully thin she was. Her cheeks looked sunken and her eyes had lost their brightness.

"I'm not really hungry," she replied, playing with one of the napkins lying on the table between them.

"Still," he said when the waitress brought back their order, "Can we have another breakfast, please?" he pushed his plate over to her.

"No," she said pushing it back to him. He pushed it back again, "Ben, no!"

"Ok," he said, reclaiming his plate. He watched as she took a small sip of coffee. He was starving and made no apologies for digging in. He felt her eyes on him and looked up, "I'm hungry."

"I'm not saying anything," she said with a small smile.

They lapsed into silence. Ben didn't want to ask her anything, in case his questioning caused her to close up even more. As if reading his mind, Evelyn took a deep breath.

"I went home for a while." Ben stopped chewing and looked at her, "But, let's just say, it didn't last." She looked out of the window, "Then I moved to the city, got myself an apartment…a job…"

"Where?" he asked.

"At a bar. O'Malley's. It's an Irish bar," she added. Ben nodded, "It's…good."

He knew she was lying, but he didn't say anything. "Where's your apartment?"

"West 64th Street."

"What were you doing down in Times Square?"

She looked at him hard, "I don't want to talk about it."

"Fine," he went back to his eggs, even though he was dying to ask her more. He could feel her eyes on him, but he didn't look up.

"What are you doing now anyway?" she asked, "have you got a job?"

"The DA's office."

"Congratulations. You always were Whitworth's favourite. You'll be a great criminal lawyer."

"Thank you."

"Seeing anyone?"

Ben put his fork down and looked at her, "What is this?"

"I'm only asking."

"Well the answer is no," he replied, picking up his fork again and viciously spearing a grilled tomato.

"Shame," Evelyn put her chin on her hand, "You'd be a good boyfriend."

"How did you get my number?" he changed the subject swiftly.

"I called your mother," she confessed, "I told her I was a friend from law school and she gave me your number. You don't mind do you?"

"You had time to do all that before whatever happened to you happened?" he asked in disbelief.

Evelyn's face grew dark again, "I've already said…"

"Fine," he replied again, "sorry I asked. I just thought, maybe, you might like to tell me why I drove all the way into the city to find you and spent the price of a motel room for the night."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Evelyn shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "Did you want my half?" She started groping in her bag and pulled out some crumpled notes. Throwing them down on the table, she stood up quickly, causing Ben's coffee to spill all over his pants. "There you go. Don't say I never pay for anything."

"Evelyn! Evelyn, wait!" Ben called after her, grabbing the money and leaving some of his own on the table. He took off after her as she threw open the door of the diner and hurried down the steps, "Evelyn!" He grabbed her, "Where are you going?"

"Home!" she shouted in his face, "Thank you very much!"

"I don't want your money!" he said, holding it out to her, "here, take it."

"No. I don't owe anybody anything, Ben Stone, and I'm not about to start with you!" She spun around and stormed towards the road.

"Wait!" Ben took off after her, "How are you going to get back?"

"Bus, hitchhike…what do you care?"

"Let me give you a ride."

"Why, so I can owe you for the gas?"

"Evelyn, please!" he grabbed her shoulders and faced her squarely, "let me take you home."

She glared at him, but she stopped protesting, "Ok, fine."

They got back into the car and Ben turned back in the direction of the city. Evelyn sat in the passenger seat, her arms folded across her chest, her gaze fixed out of the window. He stole glances at her profile and had to stop himself thinking unpure thoughts about pulling over in a deserted area. When they reached the city, she gave him monosyllabic directions until they stopped in front of a dilapidated apartment block.

"Thanks," she replied, opening the door.

"Don't get I get invited in?" Ben asked.

Evelyn paused, "Why would you want to come in?"

"So I can see where you live."

She chewed on her lip, as if weighing it up, then nodded, "Ok."

Ben cut the engine and climbed out of the car, making sure he locked it. In this neighbourhood, he wasn't sure if he would come back to find the tyres gone. He followed her in the main door and up three flights of stairs which smelled musty and damp. When they reached the landing, she fished a key out of her bag and unlocked the door. Stepping inside, he saw immediately that while it wasn't the most palatial of apartments, she had done her best to make it homely. There were bright cushions on the dull grey sofa, some pictures on the wall and bright rugs on the carpet.

"Nice" he said.

"Don't lie," she told him, throwing her bag down on the table, "I know it's a dump."

"I never said that," he protested.

Evelyn smiled at him, "You didn't have to. I'm sure it's nothing in comparison to Casa Stone." Ben grinned, "Do you want some coffee?"

"Sure," he replied. He walked over to the window and looked out over the street while she boiled the kettle. Kids were playing in the street below, a car alarm sounded in the distance and there was the sound of shouting coming from a nearby apartment.

"Here," she came up behind him and handed him a mug. Then she stood beside him and looked out, "Not exactly the park view I always dreamed of."

"It's a start."

"Now I know you're lying," she laughed. "I'd love to see your place sometime."

"I'm sure that could be arranged," he replied looking at her. Slowly, he put his cup down on a nearby table and took her in his arms. She didn't resist and he pushed a stray wisp of hair out of her eyes, letting his fingers trace her face gently. He bent and kissed her, his tongue slowly probing inside her mouth, his arms pulling her close to him, feeling her breasts pressing against his chest. He let his hands slide round from her back and covered her breasts, the hardness of her nipples protruding against his palms.

"You're a nice guy, Ben," Evelyn murmured against his mouth.

Ben didn't care about being a nice guy anymore. He wanted her and he wanted her now. In one swift move, he lifted her up off of her feet and started to move in the direction of what he assumed was the bedroom.

"Ben…" she protested weakly, his mouth still on hers, "Ben…don't…"

Ben didn't listen. He kept walking, his mind focused on only one thing.

"Ben…" Evelyn wriggled out of his grip and landed back on her feet. Breathing heavily, she pushed her hair back from her face, "We…I mean, I can't…"

"You were the one who practically begged me to make love to you that night in your room," he protested, unable to believe she was saying no.

"And I'm not allowed to change my mind?" she shot back, "You think I'm some kind of slut?"

"No, of course not!" Ben glared at her.

"The truth is…" she sighed heavily, "I have…I have a boyfriend."

"What?" Ben was stunned.

Evelyn looked at him pleadingly, "Please try and understand. I never meant to lead you on…"

Ben laughed shortly, "Of course you didn't." He lifted his jacket from the couch and stormed towards the door, "Do me a favour, Evelyn. Next time you're in trouble, call someone else!" With that, he left, slamming the door hard behind him. Seething with anger, he ran down the stairs and back outside to the car. He climbed in, gunned the engine and roared away from the kerb, slamming his hand against the steering wheel in frustration as he did so.

Evelyn Sanderson had to be the most infuriating woman he had ever met!