He'd hit the Alphen trail earlier than usual that morning so he could fit in 2 laps of the 5km route. He needed to clear his head. Ally's observation had been so accurate. He did like Mrs Thornton. But their conversation hadn't got past their losses. It didn't seem to be the time nor the place to talk more. Mrs Thornton- had she remarried? Could he ask to see her some other time? Would that evenbeappropriate?

She woke early. Craving the endorphins from a run. She pulled on her tank top, running shorts and sneakers and drove the short distance to the Alphen Trail, setting out do a quick 5km. As her feet pounded the trail rhythmically, she reflected on her conversation with Nathan last night at the Meet and Greet and the questions Rosemary had after they'd left:

So, he's Ally's uncle. He adopted her after his sister passed away. Elizabeth had restated for Rosie.

That's actually beautiful Beth. He must have been quite young when you think about it. A young single guy, taking on a little girl, that wasn't his? That's dedication.

It's made him even MORE desirable Rosie. That he would change his life's direction, I think it says a lot about his character don't you think? Elizabeth thought how different this was to Lucas, who wasn't really interested in fostering a relationship with LJ and they had dated for a year.

Did he tell you who Rebecca is?

No, we didn't get that far. I told him about Jack though.

You did? You don't always share that so quickly with people.

I know. I guess I just felt safe to tell him. Because at least he understands.

Did you make plan to keep talking?

He's my student's DAD Rosie, I can't make plans to see him again! Aren't there guidelines and rules about this? What about Rebecca? Who is she?

She was so lost in reliving the conversation, watching where her feet were landing that she didn't notice the man running towards her. "Morning 'Lizbeth" and it was far too late for her to do anything about it. Nathan. As if she'd conjured him up just by thinking of him! Nathan. Oh. God. Shirtless Nathan, his top tucked into the waistband of his shorts. His chest. His magnificent chest and abs, just there, in the open, for her to see. His hair flopping on his forehead. She wanted to dive into the bushes on the side of the trail to hide the instant blush on her face. His physique was even better than she'd imagined when she pictured him with no shirt on the night they met.

What were the chances that they'd both be running, on the same trail, at the same time? Like an invisible string pulling them together. Say something Elizabeth, you're gaping. Did he notice? She couldn't think if she'd even looked at his face yet. Shit.

Puffing out a breath, hands on her hips "oh, hi Nathan, I didn't expect to see anyone here". On a running trail, really? What did you expect to see Elizabeth, she gave herself an invisible forehead slap.

"I love this trail, it's one of my favourites. I'm just finishing my second lap" he smiled, not even really sounding that puffed out she noticed.

"Second lap, oohhh ok, show off haha. I'm just starting out this morning. Just a quick 5k before school"

"That's a pity my timing wasn't better. We could have run together" he was tempted to run another lap just to be with her, but looked at his watch and realised there wouldn't be enough time. "Maybe some other time?"

"Would Rebecca be ok with that?" she blurted out before she could even think it through. Surely no woman would be able to think straight with his bare chest in front of her.

"Rebecca?" he asked, a bit perplexed.

Oh my God, did she really just ask that? It was certainly beyond the scope of a parent / teacher conversation. "Sorry. Um, yeesss. Rebecca. I really didn't mean to look the other night" she couldn't say when we were interrupted with our tongues in each other's mouth "I-I just saw her name on the screen…you said I love you to her".

Well. It was out there now. She couldn't take it back. What in the world possessed her to just blurt that out? How cringeworthy would their classroom interactions be now? Why did she even care? They'd just kissed Rosemary had said. But it wasn't just a kiss, she knew. She liked him. The butterflies started then.

"The other night. Outside?" he thought back, remembering the moment, of her, wrapped in his arms, his heart quickening in response "I said I love you?"

"Yep, I tried not to listen, we were just, you know, standing pretty close to each other"

"Got it. You thought I'd be kissing you like that, and telling someone else I loved them?"

"Honestly, I didn't know what to think. You just bolted out of there, in the middle of, you know, us, that…" she trailed off.

"Right. Just so you know, I am not that kind of guy 'Lizbeth"

"Sorry" she held her breath, still waiting for his answer.

"I love Rebecca. Absolutely. I needed to leave straight away, because it was urgent. I'm sorry I didn't get to explain it to you." Why did it feel like time, and the explanation was going so slow?

"Rebecca is my mother Elizabeth". She let out her breath in relief. His mother. Oh, thank God. She wasn't kissing a man with a wife or a partner. She was kissing an available man. A distractingly good-looking, available man.

"Can I ask you a question now?" She nodded in response, noticing her mouth was dry even though she'd not run very far.

"You're still Mrs Thornton? Did you get remarried?". Nathan could confidently interrogate suspects, but this kind of personal conversation, he had no idea where his boldness was coming from, but he needed to know if he could keep like-liking (as Ally would say) this beautiful woman.

"I can see why that may be a little confusing." She realised she'd never been asked to explain this before. "I kept my married name only professionally. But I haven't remarried. Just so you know, I'm not that type of girl to kiss someone, while in a relationship with someone else"

"That's good news" he smiled down at her, and they both laughed a little in instant shyness. "So, would you like to run with me some time" he asked her again.

"Yes… No."

He raised an eyebrow questioning "What does that mean?"

"I mean, yes, I do want to run with you, but also… no because I don't know if it's a good idea" she clarified. She wanted to. She definitely wanted to kiss him again. Even now.

"Right. Um ok." Did she not feel the same invisible string that seemed to be pulling her toward him? He had felt sure there was something there.

"Sorry Nathan, I-I just don't know if we should. The other night was…well, I mean… You're Ally's dad. She's in my class. My son is just about to arrive from Hamilton…there seems to be a few reasons why we shouldn't?"

"Ok. Yeah. I…it's ok. I get it. Makes sense I, I guess… Well, I better not keep you any longer. I'll see you around?"

"Yeah. I'll see you" and she slowly turned to resume her run, somehow feeling even more confused about him than she had when she started. As she continued running along the trail, she pushed herself harder than she had in a long time, puffing herself out, trying to rid herself of how she was feeling after saying no – part confused, part relieved, part sad? Is that what it was? Yes. She realised she felt a bit sad she. Because she hadn't felt this way about someone since she first started seeing Jack. She felt sad that they couldn't take this further.

Nathan made it back to his car and sat in the driver's seat for a few minutes, reflecting on the conversation he'd just had with Elizabeth. He had felt a flicker of hope as they'd cleared up the whole Rebecca / Mrs Thornton thing. A flicker of hope even in himself at being confident enough to invite her to run with him. He wasn't brave enough to ask her on a date, but he thought a run could be a way to ease into it. And yet, she'd still declined. He sighed. Disheartened. Was he really that bad at this stuff?

xxxxxxxxxx

Sitting together in the lunchroom, Elizabeth relayed to Rosemary what had transpired that morning when she'd literally run into Nathan.

"I don't understand why you said no. It's just a run together. He wasn't inviting you straight into his bed. Although, if he did, you should seriously consider that" she winked at Elizabeth as she fanned herself like she did that night in the bar.

"Rosie! If I don't know that a run is appropriate, that surely isn't" rolling her eyes at her friend, although, given their kiss, she had certainly wondered what it would be like, and now having seen him with no shirt on, she realised she could imagine it even more graphically. It made her heart race with a pit of fire in her belly.

"You're both adults. You could you know. Just tell him, no strings attached. A friend with benefits might help you settle in to Hope Valley" she teased her more.

It was like speaking to Julie, Elizabeth realised, shaking her head. Part of her wished she could be that carefree, but she wasn't 21 anymore, and she had Little Jack to consider.

The bell to return to class sounded then. "Oh, saved by the bell" Elizabeth winked at her friend.

"We need to work on your jokes Beth" she chuckled at her friend as they made to return to their classes.