"Are ya going somewhere?" she asked Rose.
"Yeah, got a date tonight. I bumped into someone in the card shop and he asked me out."
"Crikey, what's wrong with you, going out on a date?"
"It's not unheard of Mum. At least he's somebody, you know I've never really been out since James left. You'll never guess who it is?"
"Well it's not your favourite actor, since he got married. You were all broke up about that. Go on then."
"Alec Hardy, that detective from that case of those two girls and before ya say anything, it was just one paper that went after him."
"I never said anything. Are ya sure ya wanna be seen with him though?"
"Geez Mum. Yes, why not? It's just a date. He really did bump into me in the card shop, we went for coffee afterwards. We couldn't decide who was to blame as we both went around the corner of the display stand at the same time, it was funny really. Anyway, nothing may come of it, I'm not expecting it."
"Don't say that Rose, ya never know. James let ya down but ya could have gone with him."
"I didn't want to go back there Mum, never mind, he's gone now. Actually, I suppose Alec looks a bit like him."
"Well don't tell him that," her mother laughed.
Just after seven fifteen, Rose was getting in the taxi as Alec was making his way to the restaurant, a bit nervous since he'd never been on any dates since he broke up with Tess. He thought he'd really got lucky literally bumping into Rose Tyler in the card shop, what were the chances of that happening, especially to him.
It would probably only be one date anyway, someone like her wouldn't stay with him that long. He pulled into the car park and watched out for any cabs arriving from the doorway, since it was quite cold. Rose's cab pulled into the car park and Alec spotted her, going to help her out.
He'd made a booking and they went inside, the place being quite busy, with people at larger tables, having Christmas gatherings he supposed. The head waiter though recognised Rose and went to attend to their booking himself.
"Miss Tyler, welcome to our establishment. I do not see your name here," he said to her.
"That's because it's in my name," Alec told him, not surprised they'd be making a fuss of her and he wasn't sure he liked it. "The booking is in the name of Hardy."
"Ah, yes," the head waiter glanced at the list, a few people waiting behind them. "This way please. See to the other customers," he turned to the man he'd taken over from.
Alec was already feeling left out of it. Was this what it was like to go on a date with her? He wasn't sure about it. Was it only one date though? She was in the news all the time, did he want to be back in the papers again especially if it were to be about him being her latest fling?
The head waiter left them with a menu and told them someone would be with them shortly, Alec seeing him going off towards where all the waiters were.
"Sorry about that," Rose apologised. "I think I came here once with my parents, just didn't recognise the name of the place."
"Don't worry about it," Alec tried to assure her.
Rose could see it was bothering him though but said nothing. It showed as they were made a fuss of. They talked over their meals, Rose telling him how they'd moved from their home in London and her father opening offices here.
"Don't ask me why he chose this place," Rose smiled over dessert, her favourite. "What brought you here then?"
"I met my ex wife and moved here, there was nothing to keep me where I came from. I put in for a transfer but with what happened, I am somewhat limited until someone will take me on. I took the blame for what happened, the lost evidence."
"Wow, why would you do that, if it wasn't your fault?"
"It was my responsibility and the fact I did not want to let our daughter know her mother was meeting someone at the time. I then found out she already knew and told the chief. I was cleared but no-one else knows. Still, I don't want to move too far away."
"Yeah, I can imagine. So you see your daughter then?"
"Yes, as often as I can. Rose, please don't take this the wrong way. I know you are quite famous and people go out of their way to please you but I noticed you do not always welcome the attention."
"Yeah, I seem to be bad at not drawing attention to myself. Trust me, I wish I was just normal and no-one knew who I was. Please don't tell your daughter you had a date with me."
So it was just one date and she was worried word would get around. Well, if that was the case, he intended making it worthwhile.
"She is not interested in what I do, I won't be telling her. She probably follows everything you do though, being a teenager."
"Not if she's like my brother, he spends all his time sending stupid text messages to his mates, you should hear his message tone, it's never ending. I don't know how many times we've told him to turn it off, it's not like he leaves his phone."
"I can imagine. Would you like any coffee?" he offered as the waiter approached.
"Yeah, okay, it'll be cold outside when we leave."
"I should see you home," he smiled as the dishes were cleared. "May we have two coffees?" he asked the waiter.
"Make that two lattes," Rose corrected him.
The waiter nodded and went off.
"Sorry but if ya ask for coffee, you get that thick black stuff in a tiny cup, trust me, I've had experience."
"Then you have taught me something. Rose, may I take you home?"
"Yeah, if ya want but maybe we can go to your place first? If I invite you in, my mum will be asking questions. I've not been out on a proper date for ages."
Alec couldn't remember if she'd already mentioned that or not.
"I'm not one for going out really," he replied as their drinks arrived, in large glass cups.
Did that mean Rose was always right in such things? Maybe she'd learned the hard way.
She excused herself to the ladies room as Alec went to settle the bill and he didn't think he'd get a discount for being with Rose. He also picked up a red rose that had its stem wrapped in silver foil.
"Aw, thanks Alec," Rose greeted him as he held it out when she rejoined him.
They went to his car, Alec having to warm up the car to be able to see through the windscreen. He drove back to his apartment and wondered how long she would be staying, since it was still early.
"We could have gone somewhere for another drink," Alec told her as they went in the entryway.
"You were driving. I guessed you had your car with you, you only had one glass of wine, then the coffee."
"I have to be careful, being in the police. I suppose I'm never really off duty."
That was the problem Tess had with him anyway and why she went elsewhere. He wouldn't have minded so much if she'd gone for someone much younger and fitter but she went for the opposite.
"Well, you're off duty now," Rose giggled as they went upstairs.
"Yes Ma'am," Alec replied with a smile as he opened the door.
"So, do ya have anything to drink?"
"Ah, I may have half a bottle of wine somewhere, you are welcome to have some."
"Never mind, I don't want to drink on my own. What about if ya didn't have to take me home tonight?"
"Well, I may be persuaded then? If you want to stay?"
"Yeah, I'd love to stay Alec. I told ya, I don't go out that often. So, you were saying about the wine?"
Before either of them knew it, they were laid on the sofa kissing, Alec finding he wasn't out of practice unfastening a bra with one hand and Rose letting his other hand wander.
"Mmm, this is nice Alec but maybe we should take this to the bedroom?" she suggested a while later.
"Really? Well, you did say you were staying. Need some help?" he smiled as she tried to hold her bra and dress in place.
"Can I borrow a t-shirt?" she asked as he opened the bedroom door.
"Sure, if you need one? Rose, I have to ask. Do you take precautions?"
Rose giggled, Alec hoping it was because she'd had two glasses of wine to his half a glass, then he was only being sociable.
"Yeah, even though everything about me in the news is made up. I'm not with a different bloke every night Alec. I've not had a proper boyfriend since James left to go back to London. He thought his career was more important than me when my dad promoted him. He could have done the job from here but he was the hands on type."
"Sorry. I was only asking in case you wanted me to take responsibility, I mean if you, you know?"
Rose let out another giggle.
"Blimey, I thought I was bad enough. Yes Alec, I want to have sex with you. There, now ya know. I don't make a habit of telling a bloke that, even when they get as far as taking me back to their place. Most of the time, I end up getting a cab back if they get a bit pushy."
"You have to fight them off then?" Alec smiled as he stood watching her trying to cover her cleavage.
"Half of them only want to brag to their mates."
"Well, I don't have many friends so you are safe from that."
"Good. I can trust you though, being in the police. Save the t-shirt for later, I don't like to sleep with nothing on. Talking about blokes wanting to tell their mates, I don't give them much to talk about, except they got me back to their place."
Alec wondered what she was trying to tell him.
"So, they don't succeed in getting you into bed?"
"Nope and I mean that. James was the only one, he left, nearly two years ago. Bet ya wondering why I lasted so long?"
"You will tell me if you want to. Ah, do you maybe need the bathroom, to get undressed?" he offered, going to get the t-shirt.
She went off and he got himself down to his shorts, sitting on the edge of the bed. His doctor had told him to go easy, since going into the river to get the young girl out hadn't done him any good but that was months ago now and despite check-ups, nothing had transpired over a scare his heart may have been affected.
Still, he'd never done anything strenuous since but now, he was about to try, since Tess had gone off him ages before she'd said she was leaving him. He remembered his manners as Rose came back in and went off to the bathroom, Rose getting into the bed.
"So, you are staying the night?" he asked as he kissed his way across her upper half when he got back.
"Yeah, I think I can trust ya Alec, you're not like men I usually meet when I'm out with friends. Did I tell ya there was a charity event coming up? Trust me, I'll be fending them off all night, then mum's party, goodness knows who she'll invite, including reps."
"So, nothing fancy then?" he asked, hoping she would do to him what he'd just done to her, well after they got around to actually having sex.
"The charity event's at a posh hotel, need I say more? At least the Christmas Eve party at home's less formal. Mmm, Alec. want to swap places?"
He hoped that was only so she could kiss her way across his chest. He needn't have worried as Rose got the hint he wanted to get down to the more serious stuff. As they moved together, he found she was willing to do everything he wanted, unlike Tess had been towards the end, where it had been what she wanted but Rose seemed to actually want to move with him.
As he came away from her, Rose was giggling, which he took as a good sign that she had enjoyed it as much as he had.
He moved to lay on his back, Rose turning onto her side.
"Was I okay?" she asked, running her finger down him.
Alec thought she had to be joking.
"You were amazing Rose, to say you are out of practice. Come and lie on me."
They enjoyed more sensations as Rose moved on him, resulting in a repeat, which Alec found just as good with her on top. He thought he could go for more than that but she would be gone in the morning and although he knew who she was, she would go back to her life and forget him.
Rose went to clean herself up, putting the t-shirt on and her underwear then laid by his side.
"So, there will be plenty of men at this charity event?" he asked her.
"I expect so. Never mind that anyway, I'm only going to appease my mother, I hate those things. She'll be reminding me every day about it. That's the life I lead Alec."
Was she trying to warn him off? He'd not been happy earlier. He supposed that was a hint why she never dated anyone or why she only spent one night with a man. She moved to try to look at him in the dim light. Alec wondered what she expected him to say.
"Well, you were just being yourself tonight. Apart from the waiters, no-one else bothered while we were out."
"I don't exactly get mobbed everywhere I go Alec. I just normally attract the wrong kind of attention."
"By that you mean all the wrong men?" Alec wondered.
"Usually. I don't always bump into the right kind of man, you were an exception."
Alec supposed that was a compliment but didn't mean to say she wanted to see him again.
They kissed again and Rose fell asleep on him though Alec lay awake for a while. He wanted to see her again but by the sound of it, one night was all she wanted. It was best to let her decide before she went home in the morning. He may bump into her again and she may change her mind, it had just been a nice accident bumping into her. As they woke up, Rose greeted him after letting him have his arm back.
"Hi, sorry about your arm."
"No problem. Good morning Rose. How about a kiss in return for me making you breakfast?"
Rose thought that was the least she could do. It had been nice, he'd been very good last night, not pushy and she had wanted the same as him and she could easily go for more but he didn't seem comfortable with who she was. James had been a bit of a show-off, always keen to pose for photos when the local paper was desperate for a story to boost sales and covered an event they attended.
She was surprised Alec had not seen them together in the papers though or maybe he didn't read the gossip column, he had probably left that to his then wife. She was glad she didn't use social media under her own name, she had another to message her friends though she didn't spend all day updating her profile or doing silly videos.
The kissing turned into Rose losing her underwear and her getting revenge by putting her hands down the back of his shorts as she moved on him.
"Rose, I can take them off if you wish?"
"You were the one to leave them on," Rose laughed. "Alec, swap places and just take them off."
"If that's what you want? Rose, I hope you are not disappointed."
"I won't be, if last night was anything to go by. Just because your wife went off you doesn't mean you won't find someone else Alec."
He wondered why she'd said that instead of he may have found someone. No, Rose Tyler was in a league of her own and she would take some catching though it seemed the man who had didn't know what he given up. Maybe she wasn't over who she had said was called James. Maybe she didn't trust anyone now?
He soon forgot all about it as he sank himself into her, Rose making contented noises and pulling on him, her legs wrapped around him at one point until he let out his own noises as he came away from her, seeing a smile on her face. That would be the last time he'd see it unless he was really lucky. At least he would have something to remember.
"That was better than last night Alec."
"Was it? Well maybe it was because you'd not been drinking my wine? You have a beautiful smile Rose, smile some more for me?"
He leaned down to start kissing her upper half, paying close attention and trying to glance up as he kissed across her tummy then he stopped to see her reaction. Rose was ruffling his hair then put one arm around his neck and indicated for him to go lower. She did make a noise as he hit the spot.
"Geez Alec, do that again," she burst out laughing with excitement.
Alec wondered how long she had been waiting for that as he continued and hoping she wouldn't push him away if he went further. She didn't, she just ruffled his hair and pulled him where she wanted him until she got a little too excited and realised, still giggling quietly to herself. He moved back to kiss her breasts then rested on his hands over her, Rose's arms around his back
"That was so good. Well, I guess it's back to the real world then?"
"I guess so, Miss Vitex. I will go get breakfast for you then?"
"Thanks. I do get my own at home, despite having staff. Mum doesn't like to think of them as servants, she spends most of the day distracting them by talking with them. Dad says she should stop paying them if they do nothing. So, are ya gonna creep out of bed and not let me see ya?"
"You want to watch me get dressed?" he had to ask.
Even Tess had decided to do something else instead of watching him and that was when they'd first met, then nothing had changed. Rose however seemed determined she was going to make him show off to her. She sat up after putting the t-shirt back on and propped herself on the pillow as he slowly got out of bed.
"Cute ass," Rose teased him as he stood up.
Alec wasn't quite ready to turn around, he was not one for showing off, maybe that was where he'd gone wrong with Tess?
"Rose, you do not want me to turn around."
"Aw, why not? You needn't be shy, I experienced you twice. You should live a little."
Alec was going to say she'd been warned but as he went to the drawer to get some clean shorts, he stood sideways as he put one leg into his shorts then the other, taking his time pulling them up. He saw Rose watching as he stood up straight. He assumed she wanted to watch him put his shirt on so he went to the wardrobe and got his blue one out.
"Alec, let me button your shirt for you?" she offered.
Who was he to refuse her offer? As she fastened the buttons, Alec very aware she was only wearing his t-shirt, she reached up for a kiss. Letting go after admiring his slightly hairy chest, she decided to let him do the rest on his own as she went for her dress.
"Alec, can ya help with the zip?" she asked him, thinking it had all been a little one sided.
He tried not to seem disappointed she'd managed her bra strap on her own. He went off to start making some breakfast as Rose went to the bathroom. He thought it a shame this would not last once she left but was she as disappointed as he was that they could never make anything out of it except it was just one night?
She joined him just in time and they sat at the table, eating silently but smiling at each other occasionally.
"I should take you home," he offered as they cleared up.
"Nah, I can get a cab, we have an account with one of the companies, since mum always spends up when she goes shopping and they don't take cards. Besides, if you see me home, my mum will be out if she sees me getting out of a strange car, you'll get asked loads of questions. You should have seen her when I first took James home with me."
Alec wondered if she was just trying to save him from the embarrassment or she didn't want her mother comparing him to her ex. He watched her use the 'App' on her phone and thinking he should get Daisy to teach him how to use them, since he was baffled by them.
"Alec, what's the address?" she asked as she stopped.
"Beechwood court," he replied, wondering if she would remember once she left.
She went back to what she was doing, sticking her tongue out of the side of her mouth then smiling as she finished what she was doing and him thinking it would have been faster just to call them. Maybe he wouldn't bother with the 'Apps' after all then?
He helped her with her coat then picked up his mobile and his keys, opening the door first then walked her downstairs. They stood in the doorway, since it was raining, arms around each other.
"Thanks for a lovely time," Rose told him after they kissed again.
"My pleasure. Take care Rose."
"Yeah, you too. Looks like my cab's here."
Not bothering about getting wet, he walked her outside and opened the cab door.
"Bye Rose, it was really nice," he whispered so the driver wouldn't hear.
"Yeah it was. Bye Alec and for the record, you're definitely a ten."
With that, she got in the back of the cab before he could say anything.
He stood for a while, wondering if he would ever see her again or she would avoid him. Rose turned slightly in the seat to see him standing there getting wet.
"Going home Miss Tyler?" the driver asked as he glanced through the mirror.
"Yeah thanks. Have ya just started work then?"
"No, you're my last job, then I can go home."
As they made their way across town to Rose's house just on the outskirts and what everyone called 'The Mansion' she wished she was just an ordinary woman who didn't have a wealthy father and a mother who didn't like to show off. Then she might have stood a chance with someone who could easily replace James Smith but with who she was, Alec Hardy would never get used to it, no matter how she tried.