"This is all I get? Ten minutes once a week? How am I supposed to cope with just a few words?"

He sighed, "I'm sorry. Sorry that I've done this to you. Make this time count that's all we can do." He gave a soft laugh, "I remember the day I set eyes on you...perfect, from top to bottom."

"And I hated you, the man my parents picked for me. Another in a long line of people I had absolutely nothing in common with."

He laughed, harder this time, "but it was that distance, anger, that aloofness that turned me on."

"I never thought it would become this." She sighed.

"I love that sound," he offered. "I could write songs about the little non verbal sounds that you utter. Do you know that?"

She took a moment to respond, "I never had you down as a romantic."

"It's amazing what a forced absence will do to you. They say it makes the heart stronger. I just love the fact that you don't see me as some stuck up suit anymore."

"You're the only 'prospective' beau that my parents brought home who had a backbone."

"Though you confused that for dislike in the beginning." Her chuckle was husky, "fuck, you have no idea what you do to me."

"Oh, I don't know, I think you made that perfectly clear before you left."

"Then I let you down," he was clutching the handset to his ear tightly, "I'll never forgive myself for that...I hate silences. I wish I could see you...shit, are you crying? Don't. Please, you'll kill me. What the fuck am I doing to you?"

"I'm not crying because I'm sad. Not really. I just..." she gulped. "I never thought I'd meet someone like you. Someone who sees ME. I've been what people want me to be all my life. Perfect daughter, perfect student, even that night you walked in - perfect hostess."

"Go on..."

A sigh, "I wanted to hate you because you were like them, perfect, immaculate. My father looked at you the way I have always wanted him to look at me. He never has. Until I was beside you."

"I knew there was a reason why you let me take you out."

She laughed, "the first time was me defeated. They wanted it; it's so long since I felt I had a choice."

"You are twenty five. You need to be more authoritative."

"Hmm, maybe."

"I loved that date. You were all cold and frosty when we had dinner, I knew you didn't like me, but then we sat on the beach watching the waves roll in..."

"And you told me that it was your favourite thing...the sea, the power, the unpredictability."

He chuckled, "wish I could see you now, bet you're smiling. Because that night cheesy as it sounds, I was talking about you...I stopped looking at the almost addictive water and focussed on you, how you grew in front of my eyes, so much hidden strength, so beautiful. I wanted you from that moment, hell I wanted the moment I walked into the house and you stood there, head hung, cheeks flushed...a frown. I wanted to make you smile; I wanted to see you happy. You're the first woman I've not thought about screwing first."

"Cos of my fat arse."

He groaned, "you have a delectable backside, when I lie in bed at night I don't know which I think of more, you're beautiful backside, you're perfect boobs...but none as much as your smile. Your smile makes me hard baby. I don't need anything more."

"Oh..."

"Yep, oh is right. I know that you don't want to think about it, but I may be away for a long time."

"I can't think like that. I'm living my life as though you're just at work."

"This is a murder charge baby, there's no way I'm coming home soon." She gulped. "Please don't cry again."

"But you didn't do it. Are they hurting you?"

"No. I'm keeping my head down, thinking of you, and counting the days until I'm out. We'll be together soon, and I can tell you that the thought of holding you in my arms again...that's the only thing keeping me going."

"What's that noise?"

"Time's up."

"NO! It's too soon...you can't go Danny."

"I love you baby, I'll call next week."

"A week seems like a month."

She exhaled slowly, "I didn't know what time you'd call."

"It's been like a beacon...the seconds counting down to today. Remember our second date?"

"You're trying to distract me from your case, the news."

He laughed, "no. I'm trying to remind you of why I'm getting out, why I love you...why any of this matters. Second date."

She paused, then sighed, "I put you off, for two weeks. Every night I went to sleep thinking I'd done the wrong thing, every morning you'd left me a message."

"I LOVED leaving you those breathy messages talking about why I wanted to see you again."

"They were deliberately husky? I thought that was emotion."

"It was desire, bloody hell woman, I couldn't look at anyone else, I thought I saw you in a million places. You were definitely under my skin. The way you tipped your head to avoid me watching you, the blush, the complete ignorance of how captivating you are."

Her voice was soft, "you flatter me."

"No. Tell me, go on - date two."

"Horse riding. You must've known that I loved it as a kid. I just had no idea that a day in the saddle would render me unable to walk...yet never affect you."

He laughed huskily, "I had to carry you to the car. Though you fought me...as usual."

"But you kissed me...because I couldn't run away quick enough."

"I love to chase you, and I always catch you."

"You didn't that night. I opened my door and ran inside before you could get out of your door."

"That was a tactical move. You thought you'd won the battle, but I was after the war. Date three I got you alone...and I did more than kiss you. Are you blushing?"

Her voice was quiet, "yes. I can't believe I let you touch me, in the street...but dinner, it was amazing, all my favourite things, and your eyes...you made me feel hot, you didn't take your eyes off me."

"Wasn't going to let you run again!"

She sighed, "wish I had, we could have been arrested."

"But we weren't. I have to keep reminding you, it wasn't sliding my hand under your top, touching you through your bra. That wasn't what made me want you, I keep telling you. I wanted you, in my life, in my home...everywhere. I only wish you'd believe that."

"I'm getting there. I wish you were here Danny. You make everything good."

His voice became urgent, "who's hurting you?"

"No one," she replied quickly. "It's just that with you here no one else mattered. Now I've got my parents in my face, I think they've given up on you coming home; they invited someone to dinner the other night. Made me sit next to him. Ian Fitzgerald."
He let out a shout, "he's not a good man baby, I don't have any right to ask, but please, don't go near him. He's sadistic. Anyone else..."

"There's not going to be anyone else darling. And we're going to get you out. I don't care what it takes. This is wrong, you did nothing." She sobbed.

"You're killing me babe. That's the only bonus of these weeks apart...we can store up ideas and thoughts that we will share together. Because when I finally get back to you, we're locking the door and not opening it for a week."

"So it's not all about sex then?"

"Flippant Miss. Stored that into the memory bank. I love talking to you, being with you, I want all day every day...not timed like this. I want to touch you more than fucking anything, I want to hear you moan my name, to see your eyes flutter closed...I want to be everything to you...and I want to help you forget all this."

She gasped, "you paint a vivid picture...shit...it's that sound again."

"Times up beautiful. Till next week, I love you..."

"I lo..."

"Danny? Is that you?"

"Hey babe."

She screamed, "where the hell have you been! Two weeks I waited by the phone, you said you'd call EVERY week! I get ten minutes with you and you weren't here, and I've been alone, I'm scared. God I need you..."

"Sorry, hey don't, please, I love you. I wanted to talk, but I couldn't."

"There's already someone more important?" He laughed, "don't laugh Danny. I am dying here. I never wanted to fall in love with you, but you promised me you'd be here, to fight for me. You're not and I don't know what to do."

"The only reason I laughed is that you know I'm not with anyone else, if I wasn't stuck within these four walls, then I'd still not be interested. You got me. Four dates, that's all I needed to know that we are going to be together forever. My only regret is that I didn't have enough chances to show you. I love you. The last three months have been the best of my life, because you are in them. Which is why there's no chance I could have killed anyone. I've been on cloud nine. I just wish I had an alibi."

"You were running alone. Who could have seen you?"

"I didn't call last week because I gave someone my phone time. But that's because they know people. Look I don't want to get your hopes up baby. But I may have good news soon."

"Really?"

"It's complicated, but it seems that I may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's cost, but someone has come forward with information...it might help. It's all we've got at the moment. If I hadn't showered after my run...if I'd changed route...there are so many regrets. If I get out I'm going to make it up to you. Take you away, somewhere just the two of us where we can live in the sun. Fancy that? A beach, near the sea at least, you all tanned, happy...and pregnant. We've never talked about kids baby, but I want them, I want it all."

She swallowed awkwardly, "babies...beach...."

He chuckled, "I love overwhelming you like this when I get the chance, because it's how I feel all the time."

"You say the right things."

He laughed again, "words baby, they are the only things I have...I spend the week planning how I'm going to make you blush a dozen times in a phone call. I wish I was like old Will Shakespeare and I could woo you with words, instead you have my fumblings. Just hope you realise I'm sincere."

"You make me weak kneed."

"Mmmm, that's a good start. Some days I wish you still hated me. This would be so much easier. Don't cry baby."

"I can't help it, I miss you. Every day. And there's that sound. You have to go."

"Sorry babe. I'm trying to get back to you. I'll speak next week. I promise I won't sell another call time. OK"

She stifled a sob, "I love you Danny."

"Hey babe."

She gasped, "Danny? It's a day early. I wasn't expecting you to call. Are you ok?"

"Perfect now I'm talking to you. Where are you?"

"In bed. Didn't sleep last night."

He growled, "can you do me two things?"

"Always."

"Good. Take off your clothes."

"Everything?"

"Uh-huh."

"Done," she answered breathless.

"Now come downstairs and open this door, I'm freezing out here!"