Chapter 3

They stepped outside, James holding the door for Alesha. He put his hand on the small of her back and directed her to the right.

"This way. I am parked a few streets over."

They walk side by side in silence. Alesha held her face to the night sky, wanting to feel the light breeze on her skin. She briefly closed her eyes. She loved these nights, when you can almost smell winter in the cool air.

"Reveling in London's delicate perfume, are you?", asked James, smiling as he glanced at her.

Alesha opened her eyes and chuckled. "Yes... I love these nights. The breeze feels like silk."

James glanced at her again. He loved that about Alesha. This spontaneous, almost childish delight she could feel for some things, while being sarcastic and very blunt most of the time. He missed her and walking like that side by side felt very familiar. He was happy he had come and that the occasion to spend some time alone with her had arisen. He was not sure if it was a good idea, but he couldn't resist.

She did not seem to mind getting a ride home with him. Since his last night at the office, he has been feeling ambivalent. He wished he could go back a month ago and replay how he had said goodbye to Alesha. He had almost kissed her. In fact, only George's call had prevented him from doing so. He was sorry about the call, but relieved at the same time. He really wasn't sure of Alesha's feeling for him.

Oh, he knew she liked him. She even flirted with him sometimes, but nothing serious. To be honest, he had seen her do it with George and Ronnie as well, and he was quite confident there was nothing going on there! He had seen her do it with Matt, also. Which was different. He knew Matt really liked Alesha and would go out with her in a second. He even thought they had a few dates, after Matt had helped her go through her rape trauma. Nothing seemed to have come of it, but Matt was Alesha's age and a definite catch, according to most females around the precinct and the court. Tonight, they had seemed very casual, though. Just friends.

Oh! Well, he was about to give her a lift and would definitely take up her offer to have lunch soon. Maybe now that they were no longer working together, they could become real friends... and maybe more.

James stopped by a black Toyota Prius. Alesha stopped beside him, surprised.

"You forgot where you parked your car?"

"When I left the office, I thought I should make a clean break. Make a few other changes, you know?"

"Are you sure you were not afraid your new students would deem the BMW too bourgeois?", Alesha teased.

"In fact, they have not seen this car either. I ride my bike to university."

Alesha looked at him, narrowing her eyes and laughing. "The great James Steel, pedaling away! I must see this!"

"You know I like cycling, Alesha." James protested mildly, unlocking the car.

"Actually, no" said Alesha. " I did not. What other sporty talents have you been hiding? I know you suck at skating"

James laughed, remembering the time, last year, when Alesha had accompanied Nathan and him on a skating outing. "Well, I do rock climbing in a gym and I bought a kayak last summer. I really like it."

Alesha settled in the passenger seat. She kept quiet, realising that even though they had seen each other almost daily for over four years, there were tons of things she did not know about James. He tended to keep quiet about his private life, preferring to listen to her as she rattled along about pretty much everything that came through her mind. That made her think that there were even less chances that James could be interested in her. He was probably seeing some slim, graceful professional woman who jogged every morning.

For the rest of the ride, they did not talk much. It was not an uncomfortable silence. About 5 minutes away from Alesha's home, James turned to her while waiting at a traffic light.

"Tired?"

"Actually, the fresh air did me good. I feel... jittery. You know? Like when you leave a party wishing you could beam yourself up to bed, but once you get home, you could start spring cleaning?"

"Beam yourself up?" James asked.

"You know... Beam me up, Scotty.", Alesha said matter of factly.

James started laughing... and did not stop. Soon, Alesha joined in. By the time they were parked outside her flat, both their eyes were watering. James stopped the car, undid his seat belt and turned toward Alesha. He was still smiling, but Alesha saw his eyes getting more serious, more pensive.

"God, I miss you, Alesha!"

Alesha squirmed a bit and looked to her lap, pleased but embarassed.

"It was not that good of a joke, you know. In fact, it wasn't a joke, just a way of expressing..." She mumbled.

"I know", said James. "That's what I missed...what I miss".

Alesha glanced up. James was looking at her, somewhat tenderly. She liked him so much. She took a breath and prepared to say thanks and goodnight, changing idea at the last minute.

"Want to come up for a nightcap?"

James nodded, still looking at her. "Yes."