She hadn't really considered whether Luke would be happy to help. Well, of course he had to be, she knew he could never refuse a request from her. At least, that's what she'd always suspected.

He was finishing up in the warehouse at the back of the shop's storeroom, when he saw her waiting for him outside the sliding double doors.

She blew out a halo of cigarette smoke, freeing it to flutter off with the breeze. She looked on as he shouted his goodbyes to the guys in the warehouse, then strode over to her. His slow, confident walk oozing sex appeal. Making her throat tighten and her breathing quicken. Did he have any idea of the effect he had on her?

"What's all this about then? Smoking on a Monday? That's new for you, Sarah."

"You have no idea." Sarah stubbed out the cigarette under her heel. She smoothed back an irritating strand of hair and reached for Luke's hand. He grasped back, strong and secure. "Do you mind walking me to the carpark? I'll give you a lift back to where you left yours."

Luke smiled. "Deal."

They set off together, for a while in a comfortable silence. Sarah broke the spell first.

"I saw Duncan at lunch."

"Oh, yes?" Luke focused on the pavement, making it difficult for her to read him.

"He said we should move in together."

"Really, that's a new one. How did he come up with that idea?" His fingers tightened their grip on her hand.

Sarah didn't know if she was trying to force a reaction out of Luke or get the answer she hoped for. It came as a surprise to her to admit that this was what she really wanted after all. "I've been offered the shop. I think I'm going to have to sell the farm."

"What?" Luke stopped dead in his tracks and pulled Sarah around to face him. "You can't be serious? That farm is your life. It's your future too. Listen, if you need more help, land-wise, money-wise, all you have to do is ask. We're here for you. I'm here for you."

Sarah twisted her feet, rolling on the sides of her boots. What answer did she expect to get? What was it that she wanted him to say, and how would she even recognise it if he did say it? She felt like giving up.

"Just keep walking, Luke."

They continued in peace until they reached her car. The gloomy, concrete multistorey echoed with screeches of voices and tyres. Sarah played with her car keys, unwilling to get in.

Luke sighed and pulled at his beard. Was he that upset by Duncan's proposal? When he did finally talk, she didn't much care for the tone of his voice. It was so unlike him.

"Bastard couldn't wait a second to try and jump in there! Why the hell can't he just leave things the way they are? There's no way I'm going to let him get away with it." He then took a deep breath and spoke in a more rational way. "Obviously I can't tell you what you should do, but I wish you'd think about it carefully."

Sarah threw her cigarette to the ground and crushed it out under the heel of her boot. "Is there really any other option? I mean, come on, can you honestly imagine me setting up the farm again? Do you picture me delivering lambs and collecting eggs for the rest of my days? 'Cause I'm not sure that I can."

That was the problem. She knew he could see her doing exactly that. A far worse realisation hit her that right there and then she could also see herself doing it alongside him.

"You're more capable than you know, Sarah."

Luke's soft, honest tone shot through Sarah's defenses. His dark eyes deepened, intense and unwavering. She shivered under his gaze, feeling like a school girl once again.

"I'm not sure about anything at the moment. I hoped you'd know what to say."

"Didn't I already say it?"

Sarah shrugged, she tried hard to avoid his stare but she couldn't pull away.

"You know what's best for you. Why won't you let yourself listen?"

She swallowed and stabbed the point of the key deeper into her palm.
Not now Laker. Don't you dare.

But some things are way too hard to resist even though they are probably not meant to be.

She moved closer to him. Breathing in his scent, giving in to the heat she'd denied herself for so long. Her eyes locked on his. This was different. So far from the flirty, childish way they had been towards each other before. A strange combination of lust and compassion. He put his hands on her hips, his gaze never shifting, his touch, steady and solid. She knew they'd crossed the line.

"Get in the car." He said gently.

Following his orders, Sarah pulled herself away and got in to start the motor. Luke slipped in beside her.

The drive back to her home became a delightful torture of suspense. She knew what was coming. With no way out of this now, she had no intention to back down.

Parking up at the front of the house, she took a minute to gather herself together, before getting out. Her racing heart suffering sweetly in anticipation. Luke avoided her eyes, his attention focused on the house as he smoothed back his hair, clearing his throat.

At the front door, Sarah fiddled with the front door key, her fingers finding it difficult to get the right angle. Luke came up behind her. His close body and breath on the back of her neck made it even harder to concentrate on the lock. He placed one hand on her thigh and the other brushed away the hair from her throat. She nearly melted as his lips kissed the skin he had revealed there. The key finally jammed into the lock and Sarah flung open the door.

They almost fell through the doorway, she would have laughed about it any other time, but not this evening. They didn't get any further than the staircase. It was everything she'd imagined it would be and so much more.

Afterwards, resting together in a tight embrace, Sarah looked up and kissed him gently.

"I can't believe we just did that."

"Ssshh." Luke set his finger across her lips. "Don't say it."

"Ok, but can you at least get off me so that I can go and get us a beer?"

Luke grinned and pushed himself up.

"Alright, Loopy, that sounds like a good idea. Make it something a bit stronger though ey? I think I deserve it."

Sarah laughed. "I think you mean that we deserve it right?"

Laughing along, he pulled his trousers up and helped Sarah onto her feet. "Okay, okay, can we not analyse this right now, please? Just enjoy the moment?"

Sarah went into the kitchen, fixing her hair back up into a collection on top of her head, dressed only in Luke's red work shirt. He followed her, so she put a bit more sway into her hips in case he happened to be admiring the curve of her body.

As she opened a cupboard door and grabbed hold of a bottle of whisky, the t-shirt rode up, showing her buttocks.

Luke turned her round and kissed her again, his desire obvious.

Ten minutes later, and once more satisfied and breathless, Sarah unscrewed the top of the whisky bottle and took a big swig, her knees like jelly. Who would have known that they would be such a dynamite combination? She didn't have much experience to put this against, but, wow, all the right moves in all the right places!

Luke swept the sweat from his face and beckoned for the bottle to be passed to him. He drank deeply, coughed a little then leaned back on the kitchen counter breathing heavily.
"My God, Saz, what have we been missing?"

Sarah giggled and took back the bottle. She moved her body in close to his and rested her head against his chest. He smelt so good. She didn't want this night to end.

The phone began to ring. Sarah groaned and prised herself away from Luke.
"I swear to God, if it's that bloody pervert again I'm going to rip that bloody phone off the wall, find him and shove it right up his arsehole!"

As she walked away, Luke laughed and slapped her bottom.

Sarah looked at the aftermath of their lovemaking as she picked up the receiver. Clothes strewn everywhere, on the banister, up the stairs. One of her boots had managed to reach the top of the landing. She smiled, then spoke into the handset.

"8356172, Laker residence."

"Ah, you're home then." Duncan.

Sarah's smile faded fast.

"Oh, hi Duncs, what's up?"

She turned her back on the scene of the stairway and held the cord tighter.

"I, I just wondered if you had time to think it over? You know, what we talked about earlier? Would you like me to come over maybe? We could talk some more if you want?"

He sounded unsure of himself, stumbling over his words. Taking a deep breath, Sarah lowered her voice to barely above a whisper.
"I don't think that's a good idea right now. How about if I pop in to see you after work tomorrow? I'm a bit tired you see."

Luke stood in the kitchen doorway watching her. God, he looked good.

"Okay then, Loops, I'll let you get your beauty sleep. Call me if you need anything. Night night."

"Night."

Hanging up the receiver, Sarah caught her reflection in the window. She hardly recognised herself. She shrugged the sensation off and started gathering up the discarded clothing.

Luke came to help.
"Who was that?"

"Guess."

"Oh."

They took the clothes upstairs and threw them over Sarah's bedroom chair. Luke took her by the arm.

"It's not wrong, Sarah."

She didn't want to look round or he would see the tears in her eyes. "Oh God, I know. So why do I feel so guilty, then?"

"You tell me."

She moved away and drew the curtains. Then flicked on the bedside lamp.

"I can't explain it. It just doesn't feel right to be lying to him."

"You didn't lie to him. He doesn't need to know everything. Do you really want to jinx what we've got going, already?" He held her tight and stroked her hair. "I don't want to ruin what we've got going here, do you?"

Sarah ran her hands up his bare arms and caressed his face.
"No. I don't."

He kissed her. Gradually the heat grew between them once more and the kissing became passionate. Sarah angled Luke down onto the bed and straddled over him. She couldn't wait to touch him again, to be under his hands and his control. She shivered as he pushed up her shirt to kiss her body.

The phone rang.

Both of them froze.

"Ignore it, Sarah."

The ringing was incessant.

"I'm sorry, I can't."

She jumped off his lap and went down to answer.

"Hello?"

The line crackled and she could make out the background noise of people talking. A woman's voice spoke in a sharp manner.
"Is this Miss Sarah Laker?"

"Yes?"

"Good evening, Miss Laker, I'm sorry to bother you. I'm Sergeant Fielding, calling you from King's Lynn Constabulary. I have to inform you that a Mrs. Elizabeth Harrison has been involved in an accident. Your contact details were on her person."

"Oh my goodness! Is she... is she okay?"

"I'm afraid not, Miss Laker. Can I ask you what your relationship is to Mrs. Harrison, please?"

"Yes, of course, she's my boss."

Luke came down the stairs and stood close beside her. She passed her eyes over his bare chest and her blood raced again.

"Well, unfortunately, Mrs. Harrison was in a car crash this afternoon and suffered fatal injuries. She died on arrival at Queen Elizabeth hospital earlier this evening. Do you know of any relatives who need informing?"

Like a slap in the face, the news snapped Sarah out of her aroused state. "No. She has none."

"Okay. In that case, we will need you to join us at the hospital mortuary tomorrow morning for the confirmation. Do you need an officer to collect you or do you have someone who can accompany you there?"

Sarah reached for Luke's hand.
"I have someone."

"Very good. They'll be expecting you anytime before 11.30. I'm sorry for your loss. Good evening, Miss Laker."

"Thank you. Goodbye."

Luke took the receiver from Sarah's hand and hung up the phone. He pulled her into a warm embrace.

"Sorry, Loops."

"I can't believe it! She was with me this morning. She told me about the shop. Her family. Oh my God."

"It's okay, it'll be okay. "

They stayed silent for a while. Sarah shivered, this time in shock rather than the excitement of before.

"Do you want me to come with you tomorrow, to the hospital?"

"Please. I don't know if I could take it on my own."

"No probs. You're freezing, let's get you upstairs and into bed."

"I'm not sure if I'm up to that."

Luke smirked and pulled her chin up to face him.

"I didn't mean that, you wally. I meant let's get you warm."

Luke helped Sarah up and into the welcoming comfort of her bed. He sat on top of the duvet and stroked back her hair. His big hands moved delicately. Those deep, brown eyes dragging her in.
"Do you want something to drink?"

Sarah's reply came out vacant and light.
"No thanks. Can you turn out the light please?"

"Do you want me to go?"

Sarah's hand crawled over the duvet and grasped at his arm.

"Don't go. Please. Get in."