The dangers of Smoking
Part II
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 38
"So what do you want to do?" Evie glanced up at James as they just sat, having eaten leisurely breakfast at a small café the next morning. The argument of the previous night forgotten through the intervening hours.
He shrugged "Don't know" he considered "Hopefully something that doesn't involve crime"
Evie laughed as they stood and headed for the door back out into the street from the café.
"I know" she looked up at him, appealing "Let's do the tourist thing? We both live here, and I bet you've seen the insides of some places not many people have with work, but have you ever actually just stood back and looked at Oxford?"
"I look at Oxford every day" he said dryly, though he knew he would, he wanted to.
She bumped him with her elbow playfully "Yes, and I bet there's probably been a gruesome murder in visitor attraction, I've been to a few myself. I've seen the city but I don't think I've ever looked. What do you think? Too predictable?"
"No" he smiled and then looked at where they'd stopped "A tour bus?!" he asked in mock disbelief "If you wait here, I'll get the car. I can show you for free, and entertain you with tales of gruesome murders"
"For starters" she was teasing him back and he laughed, slightly groaning as he did "Though there's somewhere we're staying away from – Magdalen"**
"Museums?" James offered "I'm only coming if it's educational"
"Natural History, The Ashmolean, Pitt Rivers...?" she asked "Though not The Bodleian, I may never get you out again"
He gave a low laugh "You missed out History of Science"
She wrinkled her nose "I'm not a total philistine" she grinned "But no, not The History of Science, I know enough about that, spent a lot of hours in there studying"
He gave her a measured look "Where did you study?"
"Nursing at Kings College, London" she replied "And then Pharmacology at Coventry Uni. I used it when I came home and no, I didn't apply to Oxford, before you ask"
"Florence Nightingale school of Nursing and Midwifery" he murmured as the tour bus drew up.
"Ye-es" she frowned at him in askance.
"Fitting" he smiled "But ah, not a tour bus? Please?"
"OK" she frowned at him and he took her hand.
**Pronounced 'Maudlin'
…...
Wandering they were, just wandering. Quite happy in the warm sunshine, pausing to look at the things in Oxford they saw every day but never really took any notice of.
The river and banks were a big draw for everyone, them included. James pulled Evie to a stop near a small hut that sold ice creams, lollies, coffee.
"Not more coffee?" Evie teased lightly "You should have trouble sleeping the amount you drink"
"I used to" he told her quietly as they queued "Still do sometimes"
She smiled "You're usually out like a light" she observed "Unless..." her cheeks turned slightly pink and he chuckled, pulling her closer.
"Unless what?" he teased.
"You just like seeing me blush" she grumbled lightly.
"Yes I do" he confirmed "It's very becoming. But no, I was thinking ice cream, maybe coffee flavoured...or oh, chilli and chocolate..."
"Yuk" Evie wrinkled her nose and then laughed at his expression "Don't pout"
"I'm not pouting!" he returned, laughing "I don't pout!"
"Oh you do!" she laughed back "Like you are now"
James tried to straighten his face and failed, laughing harder as he pulled her towards him "How can you not like chocolate ice cream?!" he asked, in mock outrage.
"Chocolate ice cream I have no problem with, it's the chilli bit..." she replied "It's disgusting. So if you're going to eat one, don't even think about kissing me afterwards"
"Oh that's not fair" he argued.
"See" she pointed at him, eyes alive with amusement "Pouting again"
…...
They sat on the river bank, ice creams finished James had teased Evie by trying to kiss her a few times, laughing as she batted him away with a severe expression before laughing back.
Leaning back onto his elbows he looked up, seeing a tour bus go over the bridge nearby, and rolled onto his front, picking at the grass.
"I wasn't being obtuse" he spoke quietly "By not wanting to go on the tour bus"
Evie shrugged "You have your reasons"
"I do" he confirmed "Bad memory association"
Evie remained quiet and he sat up looking at her with an odd expression.
"Wha-at?" she asked, suspicious.
He laughed "Can I kiss you without being assaulted?"
"Why don't you try?" she challenged with a haughty smile.
He leaned over, and stopped just short of her lips, grinning "I like it when you're feisty"
"I've noticed" she returned.
"Lets go on one of the boats" he suggested, pulling away with a teasing smile at her expression.
"Only if you row" she replied cheekily "James rows, Evie sun bathes, and if I get wet Hathaway, I'll think of a suitable revenge"
"You don't row them" he laughed "They're like a gondolier, someone steers with a big stick"
"Technical" Evie replied with amusement "But same deal, I get wet, you're going to pay for it"
"You won't get wet" he laughed and then whispered something in her ear, laughing.
She shoved at him playfully, with a severe expression, though she laughed too.
"Stop it" she scolded, turning pink.
He laughed louder and stood, pulling her to her feet.
"You just like seeing me blush" she accused again.
"I do" he agreed, pulling her closer "As I said, it's very becoming"
And then for a moment, his expression became serious and he leaned down, brushing his lips over hers gently, this time she didn't resist or push him away.
"Thank you" he said softly.
"What for?"
"For a wonderful day" he said "For just being you"
The blush this time, was pure pleasure as she returned his kiss.