Refuse to sway in the slightest.

“Darcie knows me. I’m not the partying sort,” Spencer said as a way of refusal. If things hadn’t been going so well with Danielle, he may have been tempted but he was on a good thing with Dani and didn’t want to jinx it. The hall pass for the two hadn’t even come into it.

“Are you sure?” Ashley still asked, turning to Darcie for help. “How do you tempt him?”

Spencer expected Darcie to feign ignorance of anything the two of them may have done during their times together and he was pleased when she towed the time and kept their previous dalliances a secret. “If I could tempt this man into anything, I would,” Darcie said with an unknowable grimace.

Without Spencer to accompany them, Ashely Black and Cassie Johnston thanked Spence for their dinner and drinks and headed off together. The pair of them were several years younger than Spencer and Darcie, Cassie especially, so they didn’t seem the potential for a dreadful hangover a bottle of vodka might provide.

“How about you? What are you going to do?” Spencer asked Darcie as they were still standing haven’t just stood to wish the two teachers on their way.

“Well, I know a tryst between the sheets isn’t on offer for me either so I better get home to Tony,” Darcie informed him.

“Can I give you a lift?”

“I’ll be fine to walk. The air clears the head better than any number of aspirin the next day. I’ll check in on Amy when I get home for you.”

Spencer didn’t think he’d had that much to drink. More than his usual certainly but he guessed he was better able to process **** than Darcie being larger-bodied and a male. “Thank you,” he said as he opened his arms out to Darcie to give her a goodbye hug.

Darcie stepped into his embrace and raised the send-off with a kiss on the lips. Closed mouth but lingering nonetheless. Spencer should have been astonished by such an act out in public but instead accepted it as how comfortable Darcie and he were together.

Jasmine had seen the lip lock from her place behind the bar when Spencer came over with his credit card to pay with Darcie gone. “That was a very friendly goodbye for a not-a-date date.”

Spencer wanted to protest but Jasmine was more right than she knew. Nothing he could say would change what his old friend might think so Spencer just ignored it. The best way to do that was a quick change of subject. “You used to be a chef, didn’t you?”

It worked as Jasmine was sidetracked by the sudden change of direction. “Still am but no job openings in Avonwick unfortunately. Got to pay the bills somehow. Helps if people leave me big tips.” The last part was a friendly jibe as Jasmine handed across Spencer’s bill at the same time.

Spencer laughed and wrote in a more than generous $200 tip. “I might have something you can help me with given your background.” Spencer had been playing with an idea he had for the school’s canteen since his evening with Loren Chapman that week.

“Whatever you need. I’m free during the day all this coming week if that helps?”

“Let’s make it the following week to be safe,” Spencer suggested. He didn’t want to tempt himself too badly with the truly sexy little Asian stunner before Dani got back. There was some very obvious attraction between the two of them that risked re-igniting now that Jasmine was living in the same town as Spencer.

Jasmine nodded that the week after would be fine. Spencer got his card back from her and tucked it away into his wallet. “Seeya later Jazzy.”

“Later Spencer. I’ll tell Tori you gave her a big, big goodbye.”

Spencer didn’t argue. There was no point. It would just make Jasmine’s teasing worse.

Lighting the fire before he’d gone out had been a magnificent idea. The house was warmed through agreeably when Spencer stepped inside. It was past 11. He had an hour or so to wait until Evelyn arrived. Spencer banked up the fire some more and then headed back outside to brave the cold once again to get the gun from the shed. He was shivering when he came back inside. It felt so much worse going from hot to cold after having warmed himself by the fire before.

If anything could give Spencer the instant heat he needed to warm up inside, it was the moonshine he and John Monaghan had collected beneath the ruined barn. Careful to pour just a nip, Spencer took an exploratory sip and then made himself comfortable in the living room to wait for Evelyn. With Amy away for the night, Spencer was free to play one of his old movies. He settled on an old favourite, The French Connection and curled up in front of the fire.

The movie was a little over halfway finished when Spencer saw the flicker of headlights coming down his driveway towards the house. It was Evelyn in her squad car just as he’d been expecting. Spencer held the front door open to her and Evelyn came inside. She was wearing her deputy’s uniform still, having come straight to Spencer’s instead of going home to change.

“Thank you for looking after this,” Evelyn told Spencer when they were in the kitchen and he had given her the metal box with her firearm in.

Spencer assured her it was no problem but noticed a tiredness to the officer's features he hadn’t seen before. “Everything alright?” he asked cautiously.

“Yes. No,” Evelyn sighed deeply. “It’s Trey and what you saw earlier.”

“Did you want to talk about it?” Spencer asked.

“Got something strong to drink, and I might?” Evelyn ventured.

“As a matter of fact, I do,” Spencer quipped. If anything was strong enough it was the moonshine.

Spencer took out a glass for Evelyn, pouring her a two-finger measure and then adding another finger to his own. He remained quiet and waited for Evelyn to talk.

“You heard what I said to Clay in the bar?” she began.

Spencer nodded he had.

“About not getting too drunk.”

Again he nodded.

“I got a call about an hour ago. He’s been picked up over in Oxford. Not drunk and disorderly per se but… belligerent. He knows a few of the deputies over there, having served with a few of them. They treat him right and give him enough leeway but still end up calling me like I’m his mother to come and get him. It’s just so… so…” Evelyn couldn’t think of the right word for it.

“Co-dependant?” Spencer offered.

“Co-dependant. That’s right. We’ve been divorced for four years for shit's sake. Why can’t he just move on? From everything.”

“I’m guessing with what he’s been through it’s not that easy.”

“Yeah. He’s got complex PTSD but won’t go and get treatment for it.”

“Is there someone from his unit you could talk to? Sorry, I don’t know what his rank was but like a Sgt Major he trusted.”

Evelyn slowly nodded her head to the suggestion. “That’s not such a bad idea Spencer. There might be someone…”

Evelyn didn’t say anything more about her ex-husband so Spencer allowed it to drop. He was glad to see that some of the lines in the strong woman’s face had eased at least.

“Can I get you another?” Spencer offered when Evelyn had drunk what he’d given her earlier.

“No one was enough. That’s powerful stuff.”

Spencer smiled. “I told you so.”

Deep conversation over, Evelyn looked about and saw the television screen where it had been paused in the living room. “What are you watching?”

“It’s The French Connection. Have you seen it?”

“I love that movie!” Evelyn shone at the mention of the classic flick.

“Did you want to watch it? I can put it back to the start,” Spencer offered to go back to the beginning.

“No, that’s fine. I don’t want to spoil where you're up to but I’d watch it from here with you.”

The two of them got comfortable and Spencer restarted the film. It was comfortable and warm in the living room. Evelyn had taken a seat next to Spencer but as the classic movie played, she repositioned herself so that she was bunched up next to him. Spencer had done what seemed natural, lifting his arm and Evelyn cuddled into him, her head across his stomach and chest. For Spencer, it was a joyful experience to watch one of his movies with someone that enjoyed them just as much as he did. Amy would never have watched The French Connection willingly.

As the credits began to roll, Spencer thought that Evelyn might have fallen asleep but knew she was awake when she spoke, “Spencer, can I spend the night. I don’t want to be alone.”

It didn’t seem like a sexual request, just a needing to be closer to another human being. Spencer told Evelyn it was fine and after he switched off the TV and the lights in the main part of the house, they both headed to Spencer's bedroom. Evelyn had been in there before. Spencer watched as the deputy went to the other side of the bed and started to get out of her uniform. Beneath the black law enforcement garb, Evelyn had a white singlet top on with just some simple black sports performance panties. Spencer followed her lead in undressing, getting down to his customary boxers before climbing into bed. Evelyn pulled out the pins that were holding her shining black hair into place and shook it out. The last thing she did before climbing in next to Spencer was reach under her singlet and unhook her bra. The white wide-strapped undergarment added to the neat pile of clothes next to Spencer king size bed.

Just as they had done on the couch, Evelyn moved back against Spencer’s body. His arms enfolded her as they lie chest to back spooning. Evelyn placed her arms over Spencer’s embracing ones. Spencer could feel the softness of Evelyn’s bottom cheeks as she rested up against his groin. No funny business entered either of their minds which were soon empty to sleep entirely.