Chapter 5

…...

Alan stood waiting for a reaction from Denny after admitting his feeling for Shirley. Denny stood up slowly from behind his desk and reached down into his desk drawer and pulled out a weapon and pointed it in Alan's direction.

"Denny, what the hell…"

Denny fired the gun at Alan, causing Alan to be thrown back by the force. He landed on the floor and his instincts set in almost immediately and his eyes went to his shoulder to see the pink paint on his jacket.

"Paint ball Denny, really."

Denny began firing again and again as Alan ducked to avoid the paint. Denny managed to get 3 proper hits at Alan before Shirley, Denise and Brad came rushing in.

"Denny stop for god sake." Shirley yelled out.

"As he turned the gun went off and just missed the side of Shirley's head and it hit the door frame instead.

"Denny put the gun down, jesus." Brad said, walking over and grabbing the gun from his hand.

Denny moved away from Brad and sat down in his seat.

"What the hell is going on in here?" Brad asked.

"Ask him." Denny replied, looking in Alan's direction.

"It's nothing."

"Nothing, you want to steal Shirley form me."

"He wants to what?" Denise said, a hint of laugher.

She saw the look Shirley gave her, informing her to shut up.

"Would you two leave please."

"Yeah sure."

Brad ushered Denise out before Shirley closed the door and drew the blinds.

"Shooting people Denny, really."

"It was only a paint ball."

"That's irrelevant Denny and you know it."

"Did you know…did you know how he felt about you?" He asked, looking over at Alan.

"He…told me earlier."

"And Ivan, why didn't you tell me about what he'd done to you?"

"I didn't tell you Denny because I knew what you'd do to him."

"But you told Alan."

"I didn't tell Alan, he guessed…he found the bruises and I couldn't deny what had happened."

"You should have come to me Shirley, you know how I feel about you."

"I know Denny, I know."

"Denny listen to me please."

"I don't want to hear anything from you…you traitor."

"Denny, I love her."

Shirley's head spun around when she heard him use the L word, shock displayed on her face.

"What did you say?" She asked.

Alan walked closer to her and lay a tender hand on her arm.

"You heard me…I love you."

"I'm out of here." Denny said, heading for the door.

"Denny please don't leave like this." Shirley pleaded.

"I can't handle this right now, I'm sorry Shirley….and as for you, see you in hell."

…

They watched as Denny stormed out of the office in a foul mood.

"Well that went well." Alan stated.

"Oh come on Alan, you knew he wouldn't handle it well and to be honest I don't blame him. Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"What?"

"Your true feelings about me, that you love me."

"I don't know, maybe I was afraid."

"You afraid, I find that hard to believe."

"We all get afraid Shirley."

"Come to my office and we'll get you cleaned up."

Alan nodded and followed Shirley along the corridor, getting looks from his colleagues as he went. Once in Shirley's office, she went over to her desk and grabbed some club soda and a cloth and came back to her couch where Alan was now seated.

"Take off your Jacket."

He did as she asked and she took it from him and began dabbing the wet cloth onto the fabric.

"You shouldn't bother about that Shirley, I can just as easily buy another

one."

They sat in silence for a few minutes as Shirley took some of the excess paint off the jacket.

"Did you mean what you said." She asked softly.

"What, that I love you? yes I mean it. I've shocked you?"

"A little…Alan, you could have any woman you wanted, why me..why a woman older than your usual conquests?"

"First off, you are not a conquest and secondly, you're the most beautiful woman I've ever met."

"Beautiful"

"Very."

"Alan, about Denny?"

"I know, and he may never be on board about you and I but Shirley…I can't put aside the way I feel."

He moved closer to her and threw his jacket to the side and took hold of her hands in his.

"I love you Shirley and I don't want to pretend that this isn't happening or put it on the back burner simply because Denny doesn't approve. I want us to be together."

She smiled softly at him as he suddenly leaned in and kissed her firmly on the lips.

"Do you want to come around to my apartment tonight, I can cook?" She asked.

"Really, you mean it."

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't."

…

Alan arrived at Shirley's just after 7pm. When she opened the door he was standing there with a massive bouquet of flowers and a bottle of red merlot in his hand.

"Alan, right on time."

"You know me, punctuality is my middle name."

"Come on in."

Alan followed Shirley through to her sitting room and handed her the bottle of wine.

"Thank you Alan and these flowers are lovely." She said, taking them and sitting them on the coffee table.

"You deserve them, so what's cooking."

"Lasagne, you do like it don't you."

"Love it, how long do you think it would take?"

"Another hour I should think…why?"

Alan walked over to her and pulled her into his arms, kissing her passionately.

"Dessert first huh." She smirked.

"If you think it's too soon then we don't have too."

"I….I want too."

Alan took hold of her hand as he led her through to her bedroom. She sat down on the edge of the bed as Alan hovered over her, removing her jacket and blouse slowly. She closed her eyes briefly, afraid of the bruises on her neck and arm, her aging body. She felt herself being pulled to her feet as she slowly opened her eyes and Alan ran his hand up her arm in a soothing manner before lifting her chin with his hand.

"You look beautiful Shirley."

She smiled, a hint of tears welling in her eyes and he brought her into his arms and just held her for a time.

…

To Be Continued…