Chapter 3

Eleanor steps through the door of the betting shop, saying a polite thank you to the young Blinder holding the door open for her as he leaves. She pauses in the doorway, glancing around, taking in the hustle and bustle of the shop. There, right at the front, was John, shouting out questions to the boys surrounding him as he scribbles on the black board.

"Alright, love?" Arthur says, wrapping his arm around Eleanor's shoulder, who curls under his arm, accepting his one armed hug.

"I just popped by to see John." Eleanor explains, nodding towards the black board where John was still working, back to the rest of the shop.

"I won't keep you then." Arthur replies, patting her shoulder as she turns to head towards the front of the shop. John turns then to talk to one of the boys behind him, pausing in shock as he spots Eleanor making her way towards him. He frowns, jumping down off the step, quickly making his way towards her, pushing men out of the way as he does.

"What's wrong?" He asks breathlessly as he approaches Eleanor, gently taking by the tops of her arms.

"Nothing!" She assures him, resting her hands on his chest. "I just wanted to see you." John let's out a sigh of relief, dropping his head backwards to look up at the ceiling. He takes her hand in his, pulling her into an empty office, shutting the door behind them. Once inside, John leans against the desk, pulling Eleanor to stand between his legs, her hands coming up to cup his cheeks. "I didn't mean to scare you." She says softly, leaning into his touch, dropping her head to press her lips to his.

"Nah. You're fine, love. You sure everything's ok? Why are you not at the shop?" He replies, resting his hands lightly on her hips.

"I'm on my lunch break." She explains, leaning down to kiss him again, deeper this time. "I feel like I haven't seen you much the past week or so. I miss you."

"Ah, I'm sorry, love." John says, pulling her into his arms. "We've been so busy-"

"I know." Eleanor reassures him, pulling back to look him in the eye. "It's ok. I get it." Eleanor rests her hands lightly on the sides of John's neck, noting how perfectly their bodies fit together as she presses her lips to his, the couple getting lost in a quickly passionate kiss. "Maybe I should stop by the shop more often. On my lunch breaks. We'd get to see each other more-"

"No." John cuts Eleanor off gently, shaking his head once.

"No?" She repeats, brow furrowed as she rubs her thumbs along his jaw.

"Nah. Did you see the way those boys were looking at you out there?" John asks, shaking his head again. "No. No way. No one is allowed to undress you with their eyes. Only me."

"Undress me with their eyes?" Eleanor laughs with a smirk. "They were not doing that."

"They were." John protests, tugging her body flush to his again.

"Honey..."

"No Eleanor. It's not right."

"Oh my goodness." She giggles, covering her face with one hand.

"It's not funny Eleanor." He grunts, turning his head away.

"No. It's not. You're right. Sorry, love." She says, trying to hold in her laughter, failing miserably as she falls forward into John's chest, her giggles shaking her body as he shakes his head, wrapping his arms around her nonetheless.

"John, the way you dragged me in here, all of Small Heath will know I'm your girl." Eleanor says gently, pressing her lips to his again, giving him a reassuring smile.

"Good. That's how I want it." He responds, patting her hips gently. "Come on. Let's get you back to the shop."

"Already?" She whines playfully, tugging on the lapels of his jacket. "I was thinking..." Eleanor trails off, her cheeks blushing a deep red as she absentmindedly brushes the smallest piece of lint off John's jacket.

"You were just thinking what?" John teases, noting her reddened cheeks, gently tilting her head up with a finger under her chin.

"Well, Jessie said she could do without me for a while, I thought we could, ya know...have some alone time?" John smirks as Eleanor ducks her head in embarrassment, gently tilting her head up to his again, pressing their lips together briefly. "But if you're busy here..."

"I'm not busy here. Come on." He grunts, taking her hand to drag her back through the betting shop, to the house and into his childhood bedroom, slamming the door shut behind them.

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John gives Eleanor a sleepy smile as she slides back into bed beside him, resting her head on his shoulder, her hand rubbing circles on his bare chest above his heart.

"Don't you need to get back downstairs?" She asks softly, pressing light kisses to his jaw, smiling as he shakes his head, winding his arm around her waist to pull her body closer to his.

"Nah. The boys will be ok without me for a while." He replies, pressing a lingering kiss to the crown of her head.

"I don't know, John, you looked pretty important up there at the front of the shop." She teases lightly, pushing up on her elbow to drop her head to his, connecting their lips.

"Don't you have to get back to the shop?" John asks, repeating her question as she remains lifted on her elbow, John reaching his hand up to gently brush the hair off her face.

"Not yet. I finished everything I needed to do today, but I'll make sure I'm back in time to help Jessie close up."

"I'll come with you."

"You don't have to, John." She replies, pressing another sweet kiss to his lips.

"I will." He insists, winding his fingers lightly into her hair. "You girls shouldn't be closing up by yourselves. It's not safe. I'll make sure that if I'm not there to help you in the evenings, one of the boys is."

"John-"

"No, Eleanor. You're not changing my mind."

"Jessie can't pay for your help, she doesn't have the money to pay the Peaky Blinders for protection." Eleanor protests, a frown forming on her face.

"It doesn't matter. While you're working with her, there will be a blinder there. And even when you're not, I'm sure we can work something out. Jessie's father was a good man, worked with my dad before the war." John replies, smiling as Eleanor drops her body back down beside his, resting her head on his chest.

"Do you hear from your dad much?" She asks softly, knowing Arthur Snr was a sore topic for the family.

"Not since he came back just after you left."

"How did that go?"

"Took money from Arthur, made him believe he had changed. The usual shit." John scoffs, shaking his head as Eleanor looks up at him sympathetically.

"I'm sorry, John." She says, running her fingers over his cheek as he turns his head, capturing her lips in his again.

"Nah. Don't worry about it, love." He states, tucking his body closer to hers and running the tips of his fingers along her spine. "You got a pretty dress?"

"Huh?" Eleanore mumbles, confused by the new direction of the conversation.

"A pretty dress." John repeats. "For the races."

"For the races?" Eleanor's repeats this time, letting out a laugh. "Why would I need a dress for the races?"

"So I can take you. You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"I'd love that!" She exclaims, eyes wide and twinkling with excitement. "You really mean it?"

"I do! 'Course I do. There's one next week in Worcester. Some of our boys are working it. I need to be there with Arthur and Tommy anyway to oversee it. Figured I'd bring you along, we could sneak off before the race starts..." John trails off, wiggling his eyebrows at Eleanor as she lets out a loud laugh, dropping her head back on to the pillow. "So, what do you say Miss Taylor? Think you can find a dress in time for the races?"

"I think I have just the thing." She replies, pulling John close and resting her forehead against his and reconnecting their lips again.