'Hi Beth, it's James. I was just wondering if you wanted to go for a drink or a meal tonight?' James finally plucked up the courage to text Beth a couple of days later, after deciding to get to know the younger woman a bit better. He didn't have to wait long for Beth's reply.

'A meal sounds good, I'm fed up of living off ready meals. Where and what time?'

'Text me your address and I'll pick you up at 7' James text back and was glad to see that she did. He was unsure on whether this was a date or not but he knew which he was rather it was.

"Hello James." Beth greeted him as she opened the door, she was wearing a bit of eyeliner and lipstick this time and a short summer dress that showed just how long her legs were. "Are you going to tell me where we're going now?"

"No, it's a surprise." James told her and smiled as she linked her arm with his.

"I don't like surprises." Beth commented.

"Do you like anything?" James laughed.

"We'll see, there's this guy that might be heading in the right direction but we'll see."

"We're here." James told her as he stopped in front of a posh restaurant.

"Wow, I've never been here before."

"You've only been in Oxford a couple of months, plus it's not somewhere most people go when on a student loan."

"Well I am on a student loan, so why are we here?" Beth asked, her face showing James how anxious she was.

"Don't worry." James told her gently. "I invited you, it's my treat."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I am, now sit down." James told her as he pulled out a chair for her to sit down.

Conversation started on James' work, meaning Beth now knew all about what James did and his friends there, while James had learnt about Beth's few months in Oxford.

"Just out of interest James, how old are you?" Beth asked curiously.

"32, does that put you off?"

"How do you even know I was on?" Beth laughed.

"I'm a detective remember." They were both laughing now, "I would ask you how old you are but my mother always told me that it was rude to ask a woman's age."

"You have a wise mother then. I just turned 19 a couple of months ago, in September."

"Well then happy belated birthday."

"Thank you."

The rest of the meal had been filled with the pair trying to get to know each other better, but now she'd finished their meal and had paid. They stood in front of the restaurant while they did up their coats and while Beth put on her gloves and scarf.

"Well then, thank you for tonight James. Good night."

"Beth, it's pitch black out here. Let me walk you home."

"James it's freezing out here and you said you didn't live too far from here. There's no point in you getting hypothermia to walk me home." Beth pointed out.

"I want to make sure you get home safely, so come on and no arguing."

"Would you like to come in? I have hot chocolate." Beth told him.

"What's with all the cases laying around?" James asked as he saw a lot of suitcases lying behind Beth.

"Christmas break starts now so we're all going home tomorrow."

"Oh, how long for?" James asked, trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice.

"3 weeks."

"Oh, well I better be getting back home."

"Why? Have you got a wife waiting for you, that you haven't told me about?" Beth half joked.

"No of course I don't, I just don't want to get in your way and keep you up if you have a day of travelling tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll text you and maybe we can meet up when I'm back?"

"Okay."

"Until then here's something to remember me by." Beth said as she reached up and kissed him. "Bye James."

"Bye Beth."