Mucho thanks for all the reviews, they are wonderfully encouraging.

Hope this next chapter pleases you as much as the last.

Suds in the bucket

Sandra finished her shower and went into the bedroom, she ran a brush though her wet hair but decided to leave it to dry naturally. Who did she have to impress now anyway. She thought as she looked at her own reflection in the mirror.

"Not bad for someone the wrong side of fifty." She said quietly, she was still trying to pass herself off for forty nine, and until she could no longer get away with it that was the way it was going to stay.

The mouth watering smell coming from down stairs finally found her nostrils and Sandra threw on her jeans and made her way down the stairs.

"Yes I know, ok Catlin I will make sure I do ok, bye." Gerry was speaking down the phone when Sandra arrived obviously to his daughter and he wasn't looking too impressed by the conversation.

"Trouble?" Sandra asked taking a seat at the breakfast bar and watching him over the counter.

"Not really just teenage girl things, she left her supposed favourite top here last week and she needs it for the weekend and can I drop it off?" He said with a slightly exasperated tone, but Sandra knew Gerry loved his children and she was sure he didn't mind the inconvenience, even though he was bound to grip about it. He was just pleased they still needed him for something, even if I was a taxi service.

"Any way dinner is ready would you like to go and take a seat." Gerry said and Sandra didn't need telling twice. Standing up and moving towards the dining table Sandra sat down in her usual seat and observed the bottle of wine already on the table. It was no cheep Chablis either. It was a aged Cabernet Shiraz which was likely to go very well with the lamb.

"Help yourself to the wine I will be right in." Gerry called from the kitchen and Sandra poured them both a glass.

She was eager to forget the events of earlier this evening, although the sight of a naked Gerry had lingered in her mind for sometime. Especially when she was standing naked under the hot spray alone in that steamy bathroom. The scene of the crime, it had taken her several moments to calm herself down before she began her usual shower routine.

'If I was that shaken what about poor Gerry' she thought as he walked in to the dining room with a steaming pot of Lamb casserole.

Gerry has busied himself with the cooking, it somehow always managed to calm his thoughts, and tonight they really did need calming. It wasn't the fact that Sandra had walked in on him naked, ok so it was slightly, but it was the look on her face that he couldn't get out of his mind.

He saw her look linger for far longer than it should have done in regions that were likely to respond to that look. He had seen the flush on her face even after she had been facing the wall for a few minutes, and putting it down to pure embarrassment was not quite cutting it.

It was this that had caused Gerry to almost burn the veg, and to get ratty with Catlin on the phone. As he heard Sandra come back down the stairs all he could think about was what was she would be wearing.

Having seen the simple pale yellow shirt and jeans Gerry did not know weather to be disappointed or relieved. A bathrobe or pyjamas had their appeal, but both could have induced a fatal heart attack as well. No Gerry decided this was much better, even if he was still wondering if she was wearing any underwear, and trying to work it out at the same time she caught him staring.

"Do I have some in my teeth?" She said her voice sounding more upset than angry and Gerry had to collect himself quickly.

"Umm no sorry I was just thinking." He replied, not being able to think of anything more plausible. ' how do you tell your Gov'ner your checking for strap lines' Gerry thought as a small smile came to his lips, covering it up with a sip of wine Gerry continued with his meal.

"Well? What do you think?" He asked her noticing that the silence at the table was becoming awkward, not only that but it was giving him the opportunity to think.

"It's wonderful, but you already knew that." Sandra said and they both knew he had been finishing for a complement but neither said so.

"What about the wine?" He asked knowing that Sandra was not usually a red wine drinker, but this dish required something more robust.

"You know I could grow to like it, I think I should have some more just to be sure." She replied with a grin as Gerry topped her up. Their eyes met across the table and for a brief second the electricity that passed between them was tangible.

Sitting back down quickly Gerry cleared his throat, but before he got chance to say anything Sandra broke in.

"Could we just agree that upstairs didn't happen, I promise never to mention it again, this awkwardness is not good." She said the words that were coming out of her mouth made sense, but neither really believed them to be true.

"I guess so. Does this mean you weren't impressed?" Gerry said and once more the words were out of his mouth before his brain could fully engage.

To his credit though Sandra laughed, her face was slightly red and she wasn't meeting his eyes, but the laugher making her shoulders shake was music to Gerry's ears.

"I suppose I will just have to keep you wondering about that wont I." She said eventually and raised her glass.

"To awkward moments." She said and Gerry had to agree he could toast to that.

Once dinner was finished and they had shared simple conversation about the weather, their new case, which they both agreed was just a dog and pony show, finally getting on to family.

"You know I have always envied your relationship with your family." Sandra said after polishing off her third glass of wine, and while far from drunk, she was feeling a light buzz from the alcohol.

"It is probably the one thing in my life that I did totally right." He said also finishing off his wine and poring the last of the bottle between them.

"Does that include the divorce?" Sandra said but the tone of her voice implied it as a joke and Gerry took it as such.

"Maybe, what can I say. If at first you don't succeed."

Try, try and oh try again." Sandra finished for him as they once again looked across the table at one another, but this time the gaze held.

"Doesn't mean I am ever going to stop looking." Gerry said and Sandra knew he meant it.

"Never to old to walk down the isle." She replied feeling like she should look away but unable to drop his gaze.

"I don't necessarily have to walk, as long as some sexy nurse is pushing me in a wheel chair I could still make it." He said giving her his patient cheeky grin as they both relaxed in to a now more comfortable silence.

"I should do the washing up." Sandra said suddenly getting up from the table and collecting the plates.

"Don't be silly this is my house you are my guest." Gerry said not willing to let her do all the work but knowing that if she had set her mind on it she would do exactly that. Not that there wouldn't be any room for negotiation of course.

"Oh no you cooked, I can wash up." She said as they both brought the dirty dishes though to the kitchen and lined them up on the side nearest the sink.

"How about you wash I will dry?" He said and she immediately smiled at him.

"Deal"

Once the sink was filed and it had just the right amount of bubbles in they went though the washing up with a military precession.

Plate, cup, glass. Gerry dried them and put them in the right cupboards while Sandra spent longer scraping the pans and casserole dish.

As Gerry turned back from putting away the plates he suddenly found himself with a face full of bubbles.

"Sorry couldn't help myself." Sandra said though her giggles as Gerry whipped the suds clear of his eyes and scowled at her.

"Just remember you started it." He said a small evil smile appearing on his face and Sandra's demeanour changed quickly.

"Hey now it was only a joke, Gerry I am warning you." She said backing away from him hands raised palms up. She realised that she had backed away from the sink and her ammunition only when it was too late as the work surface pressed into her back and she was halted in her retreat.

Picking up a hand full of soap suds Gerry was momentarily toying with the idea of shoving them down her shirt, but at the last moment he decided that the face was a safer option, although by how much he did not know.

"Arrgh, Gerry. You just wait." Sandra cried as Gerry planted the suds right on her face and she even managed to inhale some in her cry.

"Like I am scared of you." He said his confidence growing with the fact she had yet to kick him where it counted.

"You better be." She said launching herself away from the side and towards the sink, not bothering to scoop up suds this time she just splashed him with the water.

"Sandra I'm soaked!" Gerry shouted as the soapy water caught him clean in the chest as he watched the blonde narrow her eyes and he could tell she was pondering her options.

Sandra was wondering weather to run for it or take another shot. Deciding she could do some more damage she scooped more water out of the sink but this time missed as Gerry ran towards her and deflected her arm with his own.

Gerry now was a t the sink and new he had her, calling her name made her turn around after she had spun away trying to avoid him colliding with her as he ran towards the sink.

"No!" she said but it was too late as a double hand full of water soaked into her shirt. Looking down at herself for what she already realised to be so. Sandra could clearly see though the wet shirt and Gerry knew it.

"You tosser you did that on purpose." She said folding her arms to cover up the mess as she gazed at Gerry who was smiling on the verge of laughter.

"Turn about is fair play Sandra." Gerry said now having answered the question of the underwear, and having lived though it Gerry was rather pleased with himself.

"I am going to have to have another shower now." Sandra said pouting slightly, knowing that there was nothing she could do anymore and she did start it.

"Fancy some company." Gerry said with a small wink and for a second Sandra didn't know what to say. The urge to say yes and see his reaction was huge, but if that did happen, what then, was she prepared to take that line of conversation passed that.

"You'll be lucky." She finally said turning on her heel and making a quick exit before the urge to yes, over rode her normally logical mind.

'blame it on the drink' she said to herself as she headed back up the stairs. She could Gerry not far behind her obviously on his way to change his shirt as well.

Not wanting to think about that too much Sandra closed the door to her bedroom and stripped of the wet shit. Going straight for the pyjamas not thinking about what Gerry might think, she hesitated at taking off her bra, normally it would be the first thing to come off when getting ready for bed, but today she had been very grateful for having put it back on after her shower.

Making the decision Sandra got redressed and headed back downstairs.

Gerry didn't know quite what had happened, one minute he and Sandra were sharing meal like they had done many times, and suddenly they were having a water fight in his kitchen. Shaking his head and catching sight of the clock, which was telling him it was almost half passed ten Gerry was shocked by just how quickly the evening had gone. Going back down stairs Gerry noted that it was still pretty hot even though the sun had been down for a hour or so now but he was stopped in his tracks by Sandra bent over his kettle making what smelt like herbal tea in her pyjamas.

"Umm would you like some." Sandra said shocked by the waver in her voice as she heard Gerry enter the room but stop in the doorway behind her.

"No thanks you know I think I am going to head on up now, I'll see you in the morning." Gerry replied thinking that getting out of that kitchen right at that moment was the best thing to do, before he did something that he might regret later.

Trying not to feel to hurt by Gerry's reaction, then wondering why she should care at all about what he thought of her Sandra took her tea and headed back for her bed room.

Once inside she closed the door and was surprised at just how hot it was in the room. Not having noticed the heat in here before Sandra threw off the top sheet and decided to lie under only one blanket. Climbing in between the sheets she picked up the book she had been reading and opened it at the page she had last been on.

Ha so hot hot hot, I wonder why, more problems for our favourite couple next time, as ever review and let me know what you think, they always make me smile and it makes me even more determined to update even though I should really be doing some work. Until next time thanks for reading XxX