Alec found he couldn't hold back kissing her properly for any longer so he broke the kiss and pulled the curtains over.
"If I stay, you have to promise you'll go easy on me," he insisted, pushing her hair back.
Rose smiled and went for his shirt buttons. "Then tell me what to do, if needed."
Rose kept her promise after he told her where his pills were and if he didn't recover, to get him to the nearest hospital but as Rose lay on him and they took their time, he recovered without her having to dash to the kitchen to get him some water.
"Wow, are you certain there's something actually wrong with you?"
Alec was trying to recover on his own, his irregular heartbeat not knowing what was actually 'normal' but still managing somehow not to cause him too much discomfort as to interrupt what he thought was impossible, that of just having made love to Rose, who had moved to one side to allow him to in his own time although she was still trying to recover from her own high. He was wishing he could have watched her, the light from the outside filtering through the curtains, bathing her face in the moonlight and swore he was going to call the hospital on Monday and set a rocket under them to get an appointment because once was never going to be enough with her and he wanted to see the look on her face as the waves of pleasure crashed over her.
"I'm fine Rose, don't make a fuss darlin' so come back here."
She moved back and settled on him.
"I think you'd best put your shorts back on mister, just in case."
"I will, when I've finished with you. That was amazing Rose, I never even intended staying but you actually made me want to. You made me feel wanted again."
"Aw, of course you're wanted Alec," she replied, kissing his neck as he moved her hair back and kissed hers.
"Tell that to my ex. I'd best go and get those shorts then."
"There's no hurry, is there?"
After they fooled around again, Rose glanced at the bedside clock/radio and grimaced at the time.
"Yeah, it's really late and we have the morning, don't we?"
"Yes, if you want me to stay?"
"That goes without saying Alec, do ya think I'd throw you out? I'd be worried about you collapsing or something while you're driving home."
"It's not far, we passed it on the way here, just behind the pub. There are two ways in, the satnav brought us back a different way, did you think I was maybe tryin' to get you down some secluded lane?"
"Very funny Alec, I'd just got away from one creep, thanks. I'll go find your shorts then but you're not going anywhere, are you?"
"Was that a question? I get the feeling it was an order."
"Take it how you want but I'd feel better if we both put something on, it could be embarrassing if I have to call for help."
"Yes, I see your point. Like you said, we have the morning. Don't take too long though."
Rose found his shorts and tossed them to him and went to find a silky vest top and some clean underwear then went to clean herself up in the bathroom. She looked in the mirror and smiled to herself. She never thought she would get over James but was she getting over him? Maybe not if she'd just made love to his almost double and she hoped she'd get away with it, she'd just got over her monthly on Friday morning and would have to go to the clinic on Monday lunchtime or it would be too late and she'd have to wait another month.
She didn't know how coming through the void had affected her this time, she had never stayed anywhere long enough to find out before now and she'd been taken by surprise when it had arrived, more or less on time. Maybe being back in her original world had somehow balanced things out?
"Rose, have you got lost?"
She shook her head and pulled on the vest top.
"Nah, you remember what us women are like, don't you Alec?" she called out.
"Yes, they take far too long and leave us poor men wondering why. We should get some sleep and then, I'll make you breakfast in the morning."
"I can make it, you're my guest, for now so take advantage of it," she told him as she came back in.
"Oh, so I won't be a guest from then onwards?"
"Well I hope you'll be more than a guest Alec," she replied, circling her finger on his chest after she climbed back on top of him. "Does it bother you?"
"No, I try not to think about it and I swear Rose, I am calling the hospital on Monday, I've put it off far too long, I'm not going to mess about any more, you deserve better than I have to offer."
"Oh, I never noticed any difference except for me being on top but I don't want you to think I was trying to take that away from you?"
"No, I did not think that but you were trying to spare me the embarrassment if I couldn't finish what we started so don't deny it and I am grateful for that but I want to prove to you there was no need."
"Well until you get seen at the hospital, you have two options."
"So what are they then?" he asked, pushing her onto her back and leaning over her, kissing her through the silky top that felt tight on her and debating whether to just pull the thing up out of his way.
Rose was rather enjoying it but took his hand and together, they pulled the silky top up over her tummy and clasping his hand, put it underneath and put her hand on top until he got the message to go ahead and move his hand where he wanted it.
"Well, let me continue being on top and doing all the moving or we quit while we're ahead."
"No, I don't like the last option, do you?"
He had pulled the top all the way up and was kissing where his hand had been, Rose now ruffling his hair she wanted to cut on Tuesday.
"Nope, I was hoping you wouldn't choose that one but there is just one small detail, just a tiny one."
"There always is."
"Oh, I don't mean anything bad it's just you'll have to take the precautions, until I can get to the clinic."
"Oh, is that all? You mean you don't?"
"I never planned this Alec, I never intended dragging you out late at night and end up in bed with you, it's just I've not had time to go to get my injection yet."
"They do injections?"
"Well they did in London," she lied. Now she'd put her foot in it, maybe they didn't do them here yet or maybe it had been so long for him, he wasn't up to date on such matters.
"Well I seriously doubt anything happened Rose, although it was more than pleasant to say the least so yes, until you get back on something, I'll risk being seen getting something from the mini-market and hope they've not seen me on TV."
"Aw, don't be so shy, you're not gonna hide me are you?"
"No, I don't think I could actually, since I told you to stay where you were and you left anyway."
"I'm useless at doing as I'm told."
"I just bet you are, little Miss Trouble."
"Do ya want to find out just how much trouble I really am?" she teased, trying to get him on his back.
He moved and pulled the silky pale pink top back down, after one last kiss.
"I'll find out, won't I?"
When Claire woke up the next morning, alone, she had a bad hangover but still remembered her friend had called Alec. She reached for her phone and pressed Rose's number. Alec had the misfortune to answer it since Rose was at the other side of the bed, half under him.
"Yes," he answered, hoping it wasn't her mother although they'd not discussed the details of Rose running away from her past.
"Alec, what are you doing answering Rose's phone?"
"What do you want Claire?"
"No, you tell me why you were waiting last night and why you're answering her phone."
"Are you her mother then?"
"Are you in bed with her?"
"Mind your own business Claire but no, she's in the bathroom, I slept in the spare room."
"You're such a liar Alec. Ask Rose if I'm still coming for lunch today."
"After last night? You have the nerve to ask that? I already asked her out for lunch and you are not invited."
"Thanks a lot Alec, for stealing my friend. You just wait."
"I can hardly contain myself Claire, your behaviour towards her last night was dismal, forcing someone onto her so you could take someone home."
"Huh, you have some room to talk about forcing someone Alec."
"You don't know what you are talking about Claire. I expect Rose will call you back later or see you at work."
With that, he hung up as Rose was moving underneath him.
"Who's that?"
"Claire."
"Oh, did you tell her you were with me?"
"Not exactly, did you want me to?"
"Come here first then I'll tell you. Morning lover."
"Good morning to you Miss Trouble."
"Are you really gonna call me that?"
"Oh yes but only when we're on our own. She wanted to know if she was still invited for lunch and you may want to tell her I took your spare room."
"Yeah, like she'll believe that. I don't think I want to see her today, I think we need some time apart."
"Oh, well I'll leave then shall I?"
"What? I didn't mean you Alec."
To prove it, she pulled him towards her and they kissed.
"I was just teasing darlin'. I'll get dressed and start breakfast shall I? Then we can go for a walk and I'm taking you out for lunch. I need to go home before that to get changed."
"Yeah, ok but you also have to call at the mini-market don't forget."
"You won't let me, will you? You can come with me, I'll show you where I live then."
After they cleared the dishes, they walked down the rest of the esplanade and onto the beach, Alec making Rose walk nearest the water and trying not to look. He knew he'd have to tell her, since she didn't appear to know about his last big case. Rose got some stones in her sandals and he held out his arm to steady her while she took them off. She just smiled at him and passed them to him one by one and assumed he was going to carry them for her.
"Yes," he thought, "I've just gone and got myself a girlfriend."
They walked past the boatyard, seeing some smaller boats chained up just below the hut where they believed Danny had been killed but he didn't want to mention the fact to her and as they walked further, they spied some rocks and Alec decided he needed a rest.
"Are you ok Alec?"
"Yes, I just need a rest, I'll be fine. I think we need to talk, don't you?"
He sat her down and put his arm around her, half facing her. He began to tell her about what had happened when the two cousins had gone missing, finding Pippa in the river three days later and how he suspected Claire's husband.
"So, she's innocent in it all then?"
"Well we had no reason to think she knew about it, she claimed at first she was at a friend's house all night and returned the next morning to find him cleaning the whole house and then afterwards she changed it to her coming home early. The girl was in the river too long but they think she was strangled."
"That's horrible Alec, what possible excuse could someone have to strangle a twelve year old girl? That's why it got to you, this new case, that boy, Danny, he was the same age."
"Yes and my daughter was just a bit older at the time and the other older girl is still missing. I thought by protecting Claire, she may tell me more, she may know where Lisa went off to or if someone took her, maybe she went with a boyfriend somewhere. I never gave up Rose, even when he walked free."
"I know you didn't Alec but you can't blame yourself."
"I was in charge, it makes it my fault."
"It's what made you ill and you have to go easy on yourself. Don't go getting your heart fixed just to torture yourself with a similar case."
"I can't let another family down Rose but I'm not doing it for that, I'm doing it now for you because I want more with you Rose, if you'll have me?"
"You'd do it for me?"
"Yes, I never had a reason before, I told myself it was punishment, for failing but now, I'm not going to fail on this case."
"Well, you've not got your ex wife to contend with, have you?"
"Miller is just as bad, trust me but if I have you, that will make all the difference."
He looked around to make sure they were completely alone then pulled her closer, pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear and touching her cheek. Then he kissed it gently as Rose put her hands under his jacket and she looked up at him.
"Maybe you should give her a chance?"
"Just for you Rose, no other reason because until I'm seen at the hospital, you will have to keep me out of trouble."
"You said I couldn't keep myself out of trouble Alec."
"Yes, well now you have a chance to prove yourself to me. Do you want the job?"
"What job's that then?"
He smiled and leaned in to kiss her. "That of maybe being my girlfriend?"
"Oh."
"If it's too soon, then just say, we can just be friends, if that's all you want?"
"No Alec it's just there are things I've not told you, that's all. I told you about the man who left me in Norway, well after that, there was James and we were together for three years but he did something I couldn't forgive him for and we split up. We lived together, we never talked about getting married, mainly because my mother kept bringing up the subject every time we walked through her front door but it didn't seem important to us, we were happy."
"Then why could you not forgive him?"
"It's complicated Alec, it's best left alone."
"Then tell me when you want to, I'm not going anywhere. Come here."
She slid over to sit in his lap and put her arms around his neck and they kissed for what seemed like ages to them.
"I expect you will want me to meet your mother then?" he asked when they'd stopped for breath.
"Ah, that could be a bit awkward, she went off to visit her cousin, in the Peak District, I don't know when she'll be back." It was a bit further than that but it was all she could think of as she looked into his brown eyes.
"Well when she gets back then but you can tell her about me when you call her, can't you?"
"Oh yeah, I can do that, I'm not gonna hide you. Well except from Claire but that might be a bit late now. You really didn't have to tell her you used the spare room, I don't think she'll be fooled."
"Maybe not then, I'll let you tell her."
"Thanks a bunch Alec."
"Come on, let's walk back before the tide cuts us off because I am not climbing up the cliff pathway."
"Yeah, it looks a bit steep. Did you see that hut up there?"
"We think Danny was killed there."
"Oh but I thought he was found on the beach?"
"Yes, someone transported him down there."
"By boat?"
"What makes you think that?"
"Why not? Did you think a car was the only method of transport around here?"
"You may be onto something Rose."
Just then, his phone rang and he fumbled in his pocket after Rose got up. She smiled when he refused to get his glasses out to read the screen.
"Hardy. What? Can't it wait until tomorrow? While you're at it, have someone take a look in the boatyard below the hut, see if there are any missing. Never mind why, just do it and I want that woman at the caravan site brought in again first thing tomorrow morning."
"Trouble?"
"No, just more evidence come to light, I won't bore you with it but maybe they will find a boat missing."
Rose held out her arms to help him up.
"I can get up on my own you know, are you implying I can't?"
"Nope and don't be such a grump or I'll get you a Mr Grumpy t-shirt."
He took her hands and got up, pulling himself towards her.
"I am not a grump, blame those morons in CSU for working Sundays and bothering me."
"They're just doing their jobs Alec. Have you got any suspects?"
"Not exactly, just half the town's male population."
"So not that many then?" she smiled.
"I am not going to bring my work home with me Rose, you'll just have to accept I may have to work late or go out at all hours."
"That's a great way to get yourself a girlfriend Alec."
"You've not said if you want the job or not yet. Does that put you off?" he asked, leaning down for another kiss and putting his hands under her t-shirt, making her shiver.
"Was it meant to?"
He never answered as his now cold hand was directly on her strap, playing his thumb under it.
"Be serious Alec because if that was meant to put me off then tough, it didn't work."
"Good, then it was not meant to put you off, I just wanted to be honest with you."
"Right then, now we've established that then yeah, I want the job."
He lifted her off her feet as her arms were around his neck and they kissed again. He picked up her shoes and took her hand, Rose instinctively walking near the water's edge after he'd told her about the river. Alec could see some flashing lights in the distance and this would be his first test, being seen walking hand in hand with a young blonde along the beach, on a Sunday morning. If that didn't get the department talking, nothing would and they would stop calling him all the names they could come up with though now they might be replaced with implications he was the office Romeo.
As they were passing a row of boats, the CSU's were getting out of their four-wheel drive vehicle and getting out their equipment as the officer in charge, the name escaping Alec's attention approached them, Rose wishing Alec wasn't carrying her sandals.
"Sir, are these the boats you were talking about?"
"Yes, so see if any have been used recently or if any are missing."
"One there, see, a cut chain," Rose pointed behind where Alec was now standing.
Brian Young looked at her, then saw she was bare-footed and wondered what the two of them were even doing up here but it shed a new light on the grumpy new DI, he had a girlfriend, a very observant one.
They left the forensic team to get on with it and walked back to where they could get off the beach, Rose sitting on the step and Alec being a gentleman and holding her sandals as she put her feet into them, then holding out his hand to help her up, Rose stealing a kiss in the process.
"Come back to my place for a while?"
"Let me make sure I've not been given a parking fine first then," he smiled. "We were going to my house, were we not?"
"I can't go out for lunch like this, I want to get changed first."
"You look fine Rose."
She went to kiss his cheek as he checked the car windscreen to see there were no tickets.
"I told you, no traffic wardens at night or on a Sunday. Beside, they wouldn't dare give one to the police, would they?"
"Don't bet on it Rose. Go get changed then, I'll wait."
"Down here?"
"I may distract you if I come up with you."
"I don't mind if you do, what's the rush?"
She pulled him away from the car and around the back, stopping to kiss him before going up the steps.
"I want you to feel at home here Alec."
"I will and the same applies to my place, when you have been there."
Rose went to get changed while Alec busied himself making some tea, setting it on the kitchen table and waiting until she came back in, wearing a blue floral dress. One thing Rose had learned in her time in the other universe was that men liked women to dress up a little whenever they went out although she'd not intended going out that much and never entertained the thought of getting herself another boyfriend, not so soon after her split with James.
"You look great love," Alec complimented her, getting up.
"Thanks Alec. So, where are you taking me?"
"Well, I need to go and change my shirt, then we'll call at the store on the way and we'll drive back to the village we went through last night, we passed a pub, remember? Just where we turned off the road."
Alec drove them the short distance to his cottage, just behind the pub on the harbour and Rose thought it was charming, with a black stove for the heating and the open plan living room with kitchen area at the back.
"Is there a garden?"
"Yes, come and see."
He opened the back door to a stone patio area with a wooden table and four chairs and the well kept garden beyond.
"So you rent this?"
"Aye, it came furnished, it was a holiday let but I got a good deal on it and I get half of it paid, no bills to worry about either."
"You questioned my ability to pay the rent?" she smiled, sitting on one of the chairs Alec pulled out for her.
He sat beside her and took her hand, kissing the back of it.
"I dare say I earn a lot more than you do Rose and besides, you pay more for the view."
"I expect so. When we come back from lunch, we could go for another walk then sit out here and talk for a while?"
"Will you stay here tonight, with me?"
"Don't you like my apartment?"
"I'm not so keen on the view."
"Sorry, you should have told me last night, I could have closed the curtains sooner if I'd known."
"No matter, we can go to your place if you want?"
"Well if you lend me something to sleep in, I'll stay but I'll have to leave early to get ready for work."
"So would I, if I stayed with you. I'll make sure you are not late. I meant it though, I may have to work late some nights."
"Then just come around when you get out, it's only a few minutes away, you can leave your car at the station."
"Aye, I dare say I could, what would they think of me eh?"
"That you got yourself a girlfriend?"