The dangers of Smoking.
The dangers of smoking are widely known, by smokers and non smokers alike. Detective Sergeant James Hathaway knows them, accepts them and lives with them. Except one. No one thought to warn about that one did they?
Chapter 23
"Oh!" Evie stopped, the sudden pressure on his arm made James stop and look at her "Can we go in here? I need a new phone"
"Your brick died?" he teased.
"I liked my brick" she defended lightly "But no, I lost it the other night"
"Lost it?" he looked unsure.
She sighed "It was in my bag...and then it wasn't, must have fallen out when I was paying for drinks or something"
"So you didn't lose your bag?" he asked.
"No" she appeared unconcerned "Just the phone"
"Hmm" he frowned at her "Did you report it?"
"No!" she laughed at the suggestion "It was nearly as old as me, no point"
"And nothing else was missing?" he pressed "Purse? Money? Cards?"
"No-o" she looked at him "I just lost it, nothing was stolen. Take your policeman's hat off"
He looked to the side and laughed, reaching around her and opening the door "After you" he smiled.
Inside, Evie frowned at the dazzling array of technology. She was, at heart, a scientist, and she could manipulate some of the most high powered machines that the hospital had to offer, give her a Blackberry however, and she was lost.
She edged over to the lower end of the scale, the simple models with simple functions. As long as it text and called, she didn't care. James 'hmmm'd' and fiddled with bits and pieces that looked like they belonged on a space station before coming up behind her, reading the information of the phone she was looking at.
"Oh this'll do" she said, looking around for a sales assistant she caught his eye "What?"
His lips twitched and he looked decidedly shifty, as Lewis would say "What?" he countered.
"You want to say something" she turned her head onto one side, smiling "But don't know how"
He mouthed slightly, and then gave a swift half smile "It's a bit basic" he said.
He had been a little taken aback that she'd read him so accurately. He thought of himself as a closed book. He opened up to whom, and when, he felt the need. He was learning that wasn't the case here. He didn't make a choice to be like that, but over the years it had been a coping mechanism. A bit like his 'Saying nothing but taking the piss in his head' expression. Just who he was.
"I like them basic" she grinned.
"It doesn't even take photo's Evie" he replied lightly "Or go on the internet"
"I have a camera" she smiled back "And a laptop"
He gave a small laugh "Well it's cheap" he conceded.
"I don't mind spending money on one that I'm going to use" she told him "But I won't, so what's the point?"
"But...hmmm" he faltered "They're easy when you get to know them, surely you're not technophobic?!"
"No I'm not" she replied "But I don't have the time or the inclination to learn" she smiled at him "I have much better things to do, like watch Shakespeare and have dinner, with you"
He grinned self consciously at the compliment "Have a look...?" he prompted gently "I'll show you how to use it"
"OK" she dropped her shoulders dramatically and rolled her eyes and he laughed.
"It won't bite" he said, pointing out a more technical model "I promise"
...
"I can't believe you made me watch that"
Evie opened her mouth in surprise "I made you?!" she refuted "You wanted to show me that you liked Shakespeare really, with a 'proper' play"
He smirked, she had her hand on his arm, old fashioned, but she liked it.
"I didn't read the synopsis properly" he admitted wryly "I didn't realise it was someone else's interpretation of Hamlet. I thought it was students playing Hamlet, the way Shakespeare intended"
"I don't think even as broad minded as he was" Evie said "Shakespeare intended that"
"No" James said quietly "I don't suppose he did"
They walked a little way further, James looked brooding, thoughtful.
"I'm sorry" he sighed "What an awful afternoon"
"What?" Evie laughed "It hasn't been awful!"
"The play was... well words escape me" he replied flatly "And you obviously thought so too"
"That doesn't mean I had an awful time" she ventured.
He gave her the fake smile again and started walking, he seemed annoyed and Evie had no idea why.
"Are we still friends?" she asked after a few minutes tense silence, scowling as she thought that she probably sounded like a desperate teenager.
He pulled her to a stop, and stepped in front of her, looking intense in the shadows of the gathering evening.
"I had hoped" he replied closing the gap "That all this had been about being more than friends"
"Oh?" the word had a question attached to it.
"Yes" he confirmed "You know, the whole being single together thing?"
"Oh" she said again.
"Are we?" he asked the question, but didn't wait for the answer in words as she blinked at him, he read her answer from her open smile, the smile that he looked for.
Evie couldn't have replied even if she'd had the words, because when he kissed her, he didn't hold back. When he finally pulled away he leant his forehead on hers and grinned at her.
"Say 'Oh'" he warned "And I won't be responsible for my actions"
"I wasn't going to say Oh" she replied "I was going to say that I really hope the rumours aren't true"
His grin widened as he turned away from her, taking her hand and lacing his fingers with hers, starting to walk.
"Which one is doing the rounds now then?" he asked in a light tone "Am I gay again? Or shagging Innocent?"
Evie looked startled, but laughed "I have heard them" she confirmed "But no, not those. The vow of celibacy one"
"Ah" she saw his brow crease slightly "Not so much a rumour"
This time she stopped, staring at him incredulously, all traces of shyness forgotten "You can't kiss me like that and then tell me you're bloody celibate!"
He laughed, his hands linking behind her back to pull her closer, against him.
"Feisty, I like it. Though I wouldn't worry" his smile this time, genuine "I don't think it's going to affect you"
He watched her for a minute "You look worried" he said "I didn't mean tonight"
"James" she said "I know that...your beliefs, are important to you. I don't want to get in the way of that"
"You're not" he told her "Very much the opposite. I once took a vow of celibacy, at the seminary, but it's not binding for life when you er, leave. I just like to...have something other than a skin full and a passing attraction before I sleep with someone. I've sworn off women a couple of times – and people talk. I'd rather take time, enjoy getting to know someone so it means something before taking that step. So yes, I want to but that's not to say that I'm being pushy Evie...I want to but only when and if you're ready"
"And are you? Enjoying it?" she questioned.
"Very much so" he confirmed, and kissed her again.
"I hope..." she added hesitantly, shyness returning, as they broke apart "You were just being a gentleman when you said not tonight"
…...
"Hmmm" Evie murmured, opening her eyes "You're looking very pleased with yourself"
"I am very pleased with myself" he replied "I made love to a beautiful woman, last night, and again, just now"
She smiled self consciously and stroked his face.
"Breakfast?" he asked.
"In a minute" she replied.
"You had me worried a while there" he admitted as she rested her head on his chest "Last night"
"I told you" she said "Nerves. The first time with someone is usually awkward, isn't it?"
"Yes" he nodded "I suppose it is, though funny how those type of nerves affect men and women in completely opposite ways"
She chuckled "Could be ironic"
"True" he agreed.
She pushed herself up on one elbow and regarded him "Though we seem to have overcome that barrier"
"Glad to hear it" he smirked back, making her laugh again "Though I'm afraid that I'm going to have to go soon"
"Work?" she asked.
"I was supposed to work yesterday" he replied, slightly sheepish "Lewis gave me a pass for the day, but today, he's expecting me"
She kissed him lazily before answering "Did you tell him what you were doing?"
"No" he grinned at her "I thought I'd let him continue to play matchmaker for a while, it's fun to watch"
"You're terrible" she laughed.
"I am" he agreed with a grin "I set up your phone by the way, put some numbers in, that sort of thing"
"Thank you, is yours in there?"
"Of course" he tone was softly scornful "How else was I going to get your new number?!"
She looked at him "I wish you didn't have to go to work" she said, unguarded and genuine.
"So do I" he replied, sincerely.
...
A/N Thank you so much for the reviews, I am so pleased that you are taking the time not only to read, but to review too. I hope you continue to enjoy and to let me know if you do :)