Morning, hope you guys are all OK and looking forward to the weekend. Not sure I am here given that we're being warned about a heatwave, and I know I've mentioned before that I'm not good in heat. I kind of grind to a halt and I'm not the most active of people to start with. Ah well, it's a good excuse to laze in the shade with a cuppa (or glass of something cool) and a good fic or book.

Chapter 8

It was refreshing for Molly to be out of the hotel and away from Sherlock for a bit. After the events of the morning, she needed some time to herself to try to figure out what she should do next. A small part of her wondered if she shouldn't just carry on with her holiday as planned. She still hadn't cancelled the rest of it...she could just leave tomorrow and let Sherlock work on this murder alone. Knowing him he'd probably just get John to come and help him out.

She felt her heart sink at that thought though. She didn't want to leave him. Even though she was still embarrassed and ashamed about what had just happened she was enjoying spending time with him...just the two of them, away from London. It felt different between them somehow.

Not for the first time she wished she had a friend she could talk to about her feelings. Her London friends were fed up of hearing about her unrequited love for the 'obnoxious Consulting Dickhead' as they liked to refer to him. Mary had been her biggest supporter, often telling her that she thought Sherlock felt more for her than he let on, but she was dead and had been for a year. And her mum still hadn't forgiven her for splitting up with Tom. No, she was alone with this.

She tried to shake it all off as she made her way into the small independent department store in pride of place at the centre of the high street. It didn't take her long to pick up some swimming trunks for Sherlock. She giggled at the idea of getting him a pair of budgie smugglers but in the end just bought him a pair of long shorts in blue and red. She grinned at the idea of seeing him wearing them.

The bulk of her time was then spent trying to find the perfect dress for dancing that evening. She was in the mood to treat herself and she wanted to look good...not just for Sherlock, though there was that, but for herself and her own self confidence.

She found a dark red dress with a lacy fitted bodice and a wide skirt which seemed to accentuate her slim figure. She paired it with some dressy sandals and a clutch bag and even treated herself to a new necklace with matching earrings. She left feeling very happy about her purchases.

After all that work, she decided to make her way back to the hotel and have a snack and a glass of wine in the bar and when she entered, she saw that Sherlock and Chantelle were in there practicing their routines for that evening.

He saw her arrive and smiled in greeting and she felt her stomach swoop as he did. It didn't matter how long she knew him or how close they got as friends she still found him attractive...he still sent butterflies rushing through her stomach and she was still, no matter what, completely in love with him.

After she'd placed her order for a salad, she picked up the glass of wine that the barman had quickly served for her, and she took it over to one of the seats near the dance floor so she could watch Sherlock and Chantelle practicing. There were only a couple of other people in there; an old boy working on a crossword puzzle and a couple of middle-aged women giggling over cocktails and eyeing up Sherlock.

She smiled to herself. She might not be with him romantically, but she had more than any of the other women who eyed him up or made a play for him...she had his friendship. No matter what, she knew he cared for her.

As she sipped on her drink, she also contemplated the fact that she'd even kissed him twice (or more correctly he'd kissed her) in the last two days. If she'd been told that on the first day on her holiday, she would never have believed them. She would even less have believed that she would have orgasmed in his arms during one of those kisses. At that thought she couldn't help but start to laugh a little to herself.

It was just then that Sherlock joined her, throwing himself down on the chair next to her and picking up her wine and taking a swig.

'What's so funny?'

Molly shook her head and called the waiter over to order them more drinks. She suspected Sherlock needed water more than he needed her wine.

'Nothing. I was just remembering something stupid. Anyway, how are the dance routines coming along? Looked good as far as I could see.'

Sherlock shrugged. 'They're OK. I'm nowhere near Harlow's level of dancing so Chantelle is having to adapt them and cover for me quite a bit, but I think they'll be good enough. Better still I've been getting plenty of information out of her.'

He picked up the bottle of water that the barman had just brought over, and he gave her a quick kiss on her cheek. 'Meet me in my room...say about 7pm. I'll have some food sent up and I can tell you everything then. What do you think?'

She nodded her head and smiled. 'Sounds good, I'll see you later then.'

He walked backwards away from her and winked. 'I'll look forward to it Molly.'

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

It was four hours later when Molly knocked on Sherlock's door. She'd had an afternoon nap, read some of her book and then got herself ready for the evening trying to remind herself once again that this wasn't a date...so why did it feel so much like a date?

Sherlock opened the door half naked, just a pair of trousers on as he used a towel to dry his hair.

'Good you're here. Foods just been delivered, help yourself.'

He gestured towards a table that had been set up in the corner of the room with two meals covered by silver plate covers. There were also two glasses, a bottle of wine and a lit candle. She looked at Sherlock questioningly and he smiled in return. 'I'm trying to win you back, remember...what better way than a romantic meal for two. Tuck in, I'll just get dressed and then I'll be with you.'

Molly knew it was a bit naughty, but she couldn't resist sitting in the chair which gave her the best view of Sherlock as he moved around the room chatting away to her as he dressed himself.

A quick glance under the plate covers showed her that they both had sea bass with creamed potatoes and a variety of green vegetables, and it smelt delicious. The wine was equally delicious and expensive, and she poured them both a glass before starting on her meal whilst it was still hot.

'So, as I said Chantelle was very chatty which was good. Apparently, our lost dancer had a few bad habits that might have led him into trouble and his main one was money. He had very expensive tastes and Chantelle's theory is that he's got himself into debt and legged it. Except we know he's dead so maybe he was in debt to the wrong person.'

He slid into the seat opposite her now fully dressed in a black suit with a dark blue shirt and Molly had to be careful not to let him see just how attractive she thought he was in it.

She pointed to her plate with her fork. 'Food's delicious, don't forget to eat.'

He picked up his glass of wine and ignored her.

'On top of money troubles, he was also a bit of a womaniser...always seducing guests, especially the rich ones. She mentioned a woman called Margaret who's the current one. We need to keep an eye out for her, I suppose it would be a plan for me to ask her to dance and try to get some information, but I hope you realise I hate dancing with people I don't know.' He shuddered a little and grimaced in an overly dramatic way.

'How very Mr Darcy of you.' Molly chuckled and he scowled in response before continuing.

'I think there's a son who's not too happy with his mother for the affair or for giving Harlow money. Chantelle says he's not been around the last two nights but if he turns up see if you can get talking to him...you know, flirt with him or something...you're looking attractive enough tonight.'

At this Molly paused in her eating and looked up frowning. 'What's that supposed to mean?'

Sherlock looked at her distractedly. 'Hmm? The new outfit, it's very becoming...classy.'

'So, I looked tarty last night, is that what you're saying?'

He seemed to realise that he'd taken a misstep somewhere and he held his hands up placatingly. 'No, no, that's not what I meant. I told you you looked good yesterday and I meant it. I just meant what I said...you look very beautiful tonight, Molly.'

She looked at him suspiciously for a moment longer but then she gave a slight nod of her head and carried on with her meal. She couldn't help feeling a warm glow at his compliment though.

Sherlock picked at his fish and picked up the narrative again. 'Chantelle did admit to having had a bit of a fling with Harlow when she first arrived, but it didn't last long and neither of them were emotionally invested. I didn't see anything to counteract that...she's a fairly unintelligent girl...what you see is what you get. She did say she wouldn't be surprised if there were others who had either had or were having affairs with Harlow...he kept his cards pretty close to his chest. Anyway, she said she'd be more than happy to tell me more if I wanted to catch up with her after the dance tonight.'

At that Molly snorted. 'I bet she would.'

It was only when Sherlock looked confused that she realised she'd have to spell it out for him.

'She fancies you; it was obvious last night and again this afternoon. She's just angling for some alone time with you after the dance so she can make a move.'

'Make a move?'

She giggled a little. 'Yes, you know...you must know, she'll come on to you, try to get you to sleep with her.'

'Ahh...all these euphemisms for sex, how does anyone ever actually know what's going on?'

He glanced at his watch. 'We'd better get downstairs. The first show dance is in under half an hour. Are you ready?'

Molly wiped her mouth with the napkin and threw it onto her empty plate and then she stood. 'I'm ready.'

It was only as they made their way down in the lift that Sherlock looked at her nervously. 'You...you will step in won't you if anyone gets too hands on. I mean you're supposed to be my fiancée.'

She grinned in response. 'Ex-fiancée but I suppose so if you want me to.'

He nodded. 'I do, I definitely do. Now, go find yourself an old woman to sit with...they always know the gossip in these places, and they love to share it. We might be able to find out something more. The smallest thing might be the key to working out who killed Harlow.'

As the lift doors opened, they made their way out to the dining and ballroom but just before they parted Sherlock caught hold of her hand and brought it up to his lips to kiss it. As he looked up at her through his eyelashes he spoke in a low, sex filled voice. 'Oh, and Molly, don't forget to save me a dance. You really do look gorgeous tonight.'

She watched as he walked away and then glanced around her to see who might have been listening, she was fairly certain that he had done that for someone else's benefit and not her own but there was no one obvious and so she made her way to the bar with that warm glow spreading through her body just that little bit more.

Cheer me up in the coming heatwave and send me a review. It seems so quiet in the Sherlock/Sherlolly world now – let me know that you're still out there xx