There had been a shortage of staff at the hospital, and I had had to go in almost right after Theo had left my house this morning.

It was 6 PM and this was the first break I had gotten since midday. I was currently stuffing my face with a panini and coffee, all while attempting to send an apology text to Theo.

To: Theo: I'm so sorry, I'll be a little late!

A minute later, he replied.

From: Theo: How late?

To: Theo: I had to come help out at the hospital, they needed more staff... I'll be at yours at around 8, I still need to go change at my place.

From: Theo: Alright, that's fine. I'll send Albert to pick you up.

To: Theo: (:

__

I was knackered by the time I arrived back home.

Tim hadn't questioned why I had declined lunch today, most likely thinking it was because I had needed to be called to work on such short notice. In reality it was because of Theo.

Tim had asked me when I was free to go to lunch though, but I hadn't given him an answer. My feelings and thoughts were confusing me to a point where I didn't want to make any longterm plans. All I wanted was to just enjoy tonight with Theo, forget all the cons and focus on the pros.

I took a shower and after it, put on a casual dinner type black dress. It wasn't skin tight but still extenuated my curves, ending just above my knee.

I slipped on black heels after adding a bit of makeup and curling the tips of my hair. I grabbed a small purse before leaving my house through the front door a few minutes to 8.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," I rushed down to the sidewalk, by which Albert was waiting by a new sleek black range rover.

He gave me a kind smile, "don't be. Mr Black told me about your hectic schedules at the hospital, it's completely understandable."

I sighed with a small laugh and a shake of my head. He opened the back door for me and after thanking him, I got in.

The drive to Theo's was filled with comfortable conversation with Albert. He was a very interesting persona; so incredibly polite and smart.

"Hope to see you soon, Scarlett," he gave me another one of his smiles. He had opened the back door for me and helped me climb down in my heels.

"Thank you, you too," my heart was beating faster at the realisation of us now being at the gated front of Theo's home. The previous and first time I had been here, I had been a complete hungover mess.

I stood there for a moment, listening to the gate open while Alfred drove off. I eased my nerves with a few deep breaths before beginning to head over to the front door.

His house was incredibly modern, so different to mine. This was another thing where we didn't fit. If we, potentially, were to ever get together and maybe even more in together, we'd most likely never find a house which we'd both like. I liked my small and cozy home even if it couldn't be controlled with a small remote or anything as modern as that.

I found myself ringing the doorbell, surprisingly nervous. What would even come of tonight? Why was I here, really?

"Hey!" As soon as I saw Theo - dressed very nicely in a perfectly fitted white dress shirt, tucked into black dress trousers which hugged his legs deliciously - and heard his voice, my nerves seemed to vanish into thin air.

"Wow. You look incredible," he hugged me. I hugged back and smiled.

"Thank you, so do you."

"Come in, I've managed to make dinner without burning the house down," he grinned happily, clearly excited. It was almost adorable, if only his masculinity and in–control-ness wasn't having my core clenching and mind blanking.

"Sounds... interesting," I let out a laugh, following him inside.

As soon as he had closed the front door behind me, I barely had properly turned around to face him when his lips were suddenly on mine.

His hand landed on my waist, tugging my front against his. The surprise caused a small sound to leave my lips muffled by his, as well as my hands moving to steady myself on his chest. Hold still, my heart...

"Hi," he spoke more gently now, smiling against my lips.

"Hey," I replied, almost completely breathlessly which made us both chuckle.

"I hope you like lasagna," he pulled back after placing a small kiss onto the side of my lips, adding a mischievous wink.

__

"You don't like it," he was shaking his head, watching me finish my first bite of the homemade lasagna.

I laughed gently, before glancing down at my lap, "I do like it, Theo. I didn't know you could cook so well."

I didn't have the heart to tell him that a small piece of the pasta sheet in my slice of lasagna was undercooked. It had been a little hard to swallow down, but the rest of it was absolutely delicious. The way he had used spices just perfectly, adding incredible taste, was baffling to me. Was there anything this man couldn't do?

"I rarely cook. It's my grandma's recipe, she was half-Italian. You don't think there's too much basil?"

I gave him a shake of my head, lips decorated with a smile, "no, this is delicious, honey. Stop being such a perfectionist."

"Sure. Tell me more about why you want to be a nurse?" He was slowly eating his slice of lasagna while I added a bit more salad onto my plate. We both had half a glass of the most delicious Sangiovese wine.

He had set his dining room with very dim lighting, a candle set between our plates. At the long glass table, he was sitting right at the end at the host's place, and I was sitting next to him at the guest of honour's place.

"I've already told you, Theo, I want to help people," I told him, again not wanting to go further into the reason why.

"Yes," he nodded, "I like to think most people want to help others. What made you take it so far, if that makes sense?"

I felt like the more I opened up to him, the more there was to lose when this would be over. Only a couple within the people I kept closest to me knew about my past, and all common sense went against telling Theo.

"What made you want to be a legendary football player?" I decided to change the subject, knowing it would be enough to distract him, especially since I had just fed his ego.

I gave him a smile when he shrugged, an almost smug grin pulling at his lips for a moment.

"I just do what I love, Tinker Bell. Fame isn't what it's made out to be, it gets in the way a lot," he shrugged. I knew he was talking about his fame getting in the way of anything more happening between him and me.

Just watching him eating made me feel hot. Add to that him in a dress shirt and suit trousers, and I was having trouble even processing my thoughts.

"It must take a toll on you, I can't even imagine," I replied with. Even though we weren't touching this all still felt so intimate... and I loved it.

"It does. Which is why it's always a blessing to find escapes from it. For some it's alcohol or drugs, I know people who use sex and overworking. Healthier options would be painting, and whatnot..."

"What's yours? You don't seem like the painter-type," I smiled at the thought, glancing momentarily down at my mouthwateringly delicious lasagna.

He chuckled, "I don't paint, you're right. Friends are a big part of it for me, friends who aren't football players or famous in any way. And then there's you."

"I don't think I, or anyone else, can really be an escape from fame and attention," I reasoned.

"It's more like a momentary break. I've learnt to live with it, but it can still kick me in the backside every now and then."

I knew talking about what we were or what we could be wasn't good, but I was keen on knowing what he thought about it or wanted to happen.

"Do you feel like you'd have more chances in certain areas of life if you weren't who you are?" I tried to phrase my question in a way that he'd maybe be able to read between the lines.

His dark eyes studied mine for a moment, before they flashed with understanding, "like with you? Honestly? I still like to think I have a chance, even with all this that's going on. Maybe if I wasn't who I am, you wouldn't be so scared."

"I'm scared of publicity and being thrust into a world of people who need drugs or alcohol to escape it."

"I know, love," he gave me a small smile, almost apologetic, "I just—"

"Theo, I care about you," I decided to just tell him, "you're incredible. I knew if you weren't a football player, you wouldn't be you, and I really like you. And now I'm not making sense anymore..."

I shook my head at myself with a quiet laugh, his eyes still intently on me, listening carefully and watching every move I made.

"No, I get you. It's just a nice change to hear how you feel about me, you're so closed up and hard to understand normally," he gave me a side smile, casual and calm yet with a deeper meaning.

I couldn't turn back now, I was in too deep. And I think he knew it too.

His phone rang and he apologised a few times, telling me he had to answer after glancing at the caller ID.

Theo stepped out of the dining room to answer the call, and whatever the minute long conversation consisted of, I had no idea.