Many apologies for the long wait, have been mega busy. Hope you like, let me know what you think x

Chapter 12

Sara sighed contentedly as they wandered down the strip. Cath was window shopping lazily as they drifted alongside each other. They stopped outside a shop and Cath pointed something out. Sara stepped behind her, unconsciously resting her hands on Cath's hips to peer over her shoulder.

"Catherine?" A voice behind them asked. Cath instantly stepped out of Sara's reach and turned around.

"Hey Lucy," she smiled nervously. The redhead gave Sara a once over, raising an eyebrow at Catherine in question. "Oh, this is my friend Sara. We work together." She explained. Sara smiled in greeting but inside her heart sank. 'Work friends'?

"Nice to meet you." Lucy said. "So, what are you up to? Enjoying the weather?" She asked, gesturing to the drizzle. Cath laughed.

"Just a little shopping."

"Ah, well I won't keep you then, but you owe me a coffee." Lucy grinned, poking Cath playfully as they parted ways. Alone, Cath turned back to Sara to explain.

"She's a dancer. We met ... well, you can guess." She blushed. Sara nodded with a tight smile. They exchanged a brief glance before continuing their shopping. And Sara did notice how Catherine purposefully put more distance between them this time.

x x x x x

Apart from their little interruption earlier, they had had a good day and practically fell into Cath's house in a fit of giggles.

Calming themselves down, Sara took Cath's hands and kissed her softly.

"Let me take you out tomorrow night." She said suddenly. Cath paused, perhaps a moment too long.

"Actually, I was thinking I could make you dinner here." She offered instead. Sara frowned.

"You did that last week." The brunette pointed out.

"I like cooking for you." Cath grinned, kissing her again. She tried to slip her tongue between Sara's teeth but the brunette was not going to give up that easily.

"You do realise we've been together for nearly a month and we haven't been out on a date yet." Sara asked.

"We went on one. Our first date." Cath grinned, moving closer but Sara stepped back.

"What? The date I didn't know was a date? The one where you ran under a car? I meant something a little more romantic." She sent Cath a half-smile. "Come on, one night." She coaxed. Cath opened her mouth to speak but Sara cut her off before she'd even started. "I won't take no for an answer." She placed a quick kiss on her lips. "I'll pick you up at eight." She called over her shoulder, departing with a cheeky grin.

Cath just shook her head, a bemused smile on her lips.

x x x x x

As promised, Sara arrived outside Catherine's house at precisely six minutes to eight. The front door swung open as she raised a hand to knock.

"Wow." Sara whispered, hand still poised mid-air, as she took in Catherine's outfit.

"What? Too much?" Cath asked self-consciously.

"Uh huh." Sara shook her head, mesmerised. She stepped closer, placing her hands on Cath's hips as she leant in for a kiss. Her fingers glided up the silky blue dress, grazing the sides of her breasts, before submerging themselves in Cath's golden curls. The blonde pulled back.

"Hey, watch the hair." She joked. She stepped back and took in Sara's attire. The brunette was wearing black skinny-flared jeans that clung in all the right places, and a dark green fitted shirt. With a grin, Cath tugged her closer and kissed her again. "You know," She murmured between sucking Sara's lip, "we could just stay here. I'm sure we could find something to do." She added teasingly.

"We could." Sara mumbled against her lips, before pulling away. "But then you wouldn't get to show off that gorgeous dress."

x x x x x

By the time they finally made it to the restaurant, Catherine had lost all her earlier lust and suddenly seemed quite shy.

"Are you okay?" Sara asked after they were seated. "You've gone very quiet."

"I'm fine." Cath smiled to emphasise her point. "Really." She promised, reaching a hand across the table. Sara smiled back and took her hands, letting their fingers interlock.

But almost as soon as they did, Cath yanked her hands back, burying them in her lap.

"Can I take your order?" The waiter asked, eyeing them suspiciously. Cath looked down, trying to hide the blush on her cheeks. Sara frowned at her curiously as she gave their orders.

"Cath?" She called when the waited her disappeared. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She tried to lie. And failed, epically.

"You did that earlier too." Sara said quietly. "Pulled away, when that dancer saw us." She explained when Cath frowned in confusion.

"It's just...I"

"It's okay." Sara cut her off. "You're not used to being seen in public dating a woman." Her voice was not accusatory or angry, but Cath could tell she was hurt.

"Sara, it's not that." She lied. "I've never been big on public displays of affection, and we haven't exactly been together long. I'm still getting used to this new side of you." She got the feeling that Sara did not believe a word of that, but the brunette was kind enough not to call her on it. Instead, she smiled.

"Well, pay attention then, because the night is still young." She answered enigmatically.