"So, what would you like for dinner. Room Service or we could order in from somewhere?" Paul played host as I stood on the balcony coming to terms with the day's events.

"Maybe I should go" I walked back off the balcony, Paul being Paul was smiling happily. His body language showing his happy feelings and mine only seemed to be showing my worry "I could come back tomorrow. Stella might want to talk to you about all this"

I was struggling to understand how the girls seemed so nonchalant when my whole life has been laid bare showing that I had played with two hearts at the same time.

"If Stel had an issue she would have made it known. My daughter isn't backwards in coming forwards Abbs. Stop worrying, com' on pick dinner with me. Please" Paul guided me gently to the sofa and flopped down arms and legs in all directions, making me smile "Remember .. I was such a greedy bugger with the couch"

"That you were" I laid my head back, closing my eyes. The day, the night before, was catching up with me, maybe a quick cat nap to revive my senses.

"Oh no you don't -I'm hungry"

"You were always hungry. It wasn't George it was you, and John, he loved those orange ..., what were they, cake things, and choc oliver's sooo much"

"Jaffa cakes. Remember the afternoon he bet he could eat the whole pack of oliver's and ten jaffa cakes in one sitting?" Paul sat up laughing at the memory, looking down upon my half closed eyes, the way he watched was as though I would turn to smoke and disappear. I reached out and touched his jaw lightly, then recalled the results of Johns bet.

"He'd only just finished a slap-up bacon and egg breakfast....oh boy, I made him clean the toilet after he threw it all back up, disgusting mess it was" Dropping my eyes to my hand I spun the wedding ring on my finger Hailey had been on and on at me to put it away in my jewellery box, maybe I should have. "Chinese"

"I beg your pardon" Paul put on his posh voice and grabbed for my hand to look at the ring.

I stood and put distance between us. "Dinner- Chinese, there's a good one a k or so from here, they'll deliver.... For you"

We ate in agreeable silence after that, an occasional recollection of us or the boy's escapades, but mainly quiet reflection and scattered smiles laced the meal, washed down with a glass or two of wine.

Paul always touching my hand, my cheek, my hair, it was scary and home all rolled into one. Catching me watching him as he finished his glass of water he would take my hand and just hold, the feelings of knowing someone so well returning, feelings that we had quelled all those years ago, hovering, wanting desperately to break free, and just be.

"Where will the girls be?" I pondered as I cleaned up the containers for the bin, Paul patted his stomach and slunk off to the couch to recover from his over indulgence.

"Who knows... they're not here that's the main thing"

"I want to talk with Stella, get to know her" I smirked and went forward to the connecting door.

"Don't you dare Miss Grant" Paul was psychic, he never even turned his head maybe I was just easy to read, still.

"I haven't been called that in forever. I'll just poke my nose in and make sure they've eaten"

"Don't. Just lock it" Paul tossed "And come over here. We will have time with them at breakfast"

"But I'm sleeping in their -" I started speaking but Paul jumped off the couch, reached my side in milliseconds and his hand flew up to cover my mouth.

"Sleepover love" The doe eyed boy was back and I bit my lip, the years on his face fell away, he was and still is, gorgeous and I... I was suddenly a  twenty year old again.

Yet still I fought,  I am a mother after all.

"That's not casting a good light to the girls now is it" I reasoned as he grasped my fingers, entwining them with his.

"You just told them you were a lover of the Beatles, well 'alf of em. OuCH! Hey!!" Paul held up his injured fingers "This 'ere hand is worth big bickies, huny" Paul laughed as I rolled my eyes "Anyway I wasn't implying sleepover sex ya know. Were you?"

He pinched my cheek and I blushed a deep red all over.

Hours passed as we watched a movie on television commenting and conversing in the ad breaks on everything from George's Hamilton Island hideaway to Paul's odd way of organising his sock drawer.

"I say it's easy peasy to pick what you want, quickly" he argued.

"I say wear what's on top" I teased, remembering his odd pennant of a habit in London at the house. "I might grab a shower, ok"

"Mmmm yeah sure luv, need me to scrub your back?" Paul flirted as I found my bag. I poked my tongue out on my short walk into the massive ensuite. As I went to shut the door he still teased me "So not a no then"

"No!..............." I thought about what I had answered, adding "I mean, No! I don't need you for back scrubbing duties!"

"Suit your- "Paul pouted then grinned as I cut him off, shutting the door then leaning against the timber as I took a breath. The room was ginormous, the shower built for two. I blushed at the thought.

I now blush nonstop so it seemed. Because of Paul's flirting. I was quaking in my boots.

As the water slid over me I assessed my situation. Single, I was widowed. He was too and, as far as I know, not seeing anybody. Was I up for his insinuations? He flirted lightly but the re-emerging pull between us was palpable.

Shutting off the water I stepped out and up to the full-length mirror. It mocked me to analyse, teasing me to go over my features.

Years of farm work kept me trim, tanned and healthy. Jogging had replaced farm labouring in Melbourne, it was all I could do in the big smoke. Truth told I was probably a kilo or two lighter than I was at twenty.

No grey hair yet thank goodness and a slight smattering of laugh lines at the edges my eyes. Hailey made sure I treated myself, knowing I wouldn't bother if she didn't pester; Horrible waxing, newly discovered manicures and massage to keep me sane and viewable in the general public- Hails words not mine.

"Hurry up Abbs, I need a leak" The ever Princely McCharmly bellowed through the door.

"Oh so now we are that familiar again" Quickly dressing in my best pj's I opened the door for the busting Beatle.

"Ta luv, bladders not like it used to be"

"Too much information, Paul"

"Sorry pet, I'll 'ave a shower too yeah" Paul shut the door heavily, the toilet was beckoning.

What do I do, sprawl on the bed?

Have I read too much into all this today? He did say.... sleepover.

Do I want to sprawl on the bed?

Guilt nipped at my heels but I pushed it away- five years of loneliness, and more than five years of missing that touch only a man can give. My darling Steve was so ill for so long before he passed away.

Now I'm bloody horny, geez settle petal.

I sat woodenly at the table after I switched the main lighting off. The room was still alight but not blindingly so.

I was still sat stock still as Paul scooted out of the bathroom in only his towel, he too scrubbed up well for our age. We mirrored in leanness, hair colour and wrinkles, sorry laugh lines, hehe- that's a better description. The towel hung low and I couldn't turn, nor look, away; he slipped back into the bathroom. Too quickly for me to swipe the soft white cloth off him in a moment of lust filled madness.

"Abby! Abbs!" Paul was talking but I was staring into space thinking of wrinkles and loose skin, lord I'm lost here.

"What, sorry. Off with the fairies"

"I could see that. Are you ok, luv? You can go home if you really want to" Paul wore his blue and white striped pj pants and a white t shirt now, ducking down on his hunches to check on me.

I touched his freshly shaved cheek, feeling his, still, baby soft skin and he leaned into my touch, a simple act but such a turn on. Aftershave was in the air but not overpowering like some men wear it, just enough to smell nice.

On his knees at my feet, now I felt as skittish as an unbroken filly. I felt like running but he was too quick and now smoothed my hair, finding my neck and gliding his fingers along my jaw. A kiss occurred and I held his eyes, we were both as flustered as each other, which ironically made me feel much more at ease.

Standing up I held a hand out, instigating the movement to the other room.

My hand was empty still, even after wiggling my eyebrows comically and finally, in exasperation, I tilted my head in question.

Paul was frozen there, on his knees, as I walked off to his bedroom.

From one passing moment of being skittish I now felt empowered to have rendered him mute, on his knees, for little ole me. I smiled a secret little smile as I found the pillows.

The lights dimmed easily, a newfangled gadget with a turn of the circular pad it made the room shadowy, intimate and inviting.

Paul caught up to me as I turned down the bedding, the old Abigail was back, I was being quite methodical setting the top sheet just so and moving the throw pillows onto an ottoman by the window.

Kneeling on the bed I found the centre throw pillow and tossed it at him.. smiling, happy to be here. To be in his presence again.

Suddenly everything fell into place- Paul and me, no fences, no restraints. No other invite was required as he fell on the bed reaching for me.

A/N: ???sexy scene or not????

oh bugger it.....sexy scene in next chapter don't go there if you don't want to go there!

Thanks for Reading By the Way. You. Are. awesome!