Unfinished Business    part 5  B

Livvy

Headers in Part 1

Rating: R

~~~~~~~

When Bobby arrives back at the beach house, he discovers a towel clad Lindsay leaving the bathroom and admonishes himself for having taken so long to get back home to her. Another chance of a lifetime has just slipped from his grasp as he's missed out on a hot shower with her slick soapy body against his. It isn't very often that he gets her into a shower that is so comfortably big enough for two, and this one... well, this has that ledge thing too, which he is sure they will make good use of if only he can catch her in there. He's determined that before their vacation is over he will have had her in there, he just has to, he'll never forgive himself if he doesn't.

Lindsay smiles at him as she towels the excess water from her hair, "I was starting to wonder if I should have laid out some bread crumbs to guide you home with," she teases, "I had visions of you lost out there."

Bobby shrugs and says, "I momentarily considered running away and joining the circus, but why run when you can find it at home.'

Lindsay rolls her eyes and throws the extra towel at him before moving to gather her clothing for the night. Seeing the dress that she chooses, Bobby inaudibly groans, knowing that he is going to end up having a cold shower unless he can convince Lindsay to forego dinner and return to bed with him. That dress is pure torture, the color highlights the natural lustre of her skin, giving her a delicious I've-just-been-loved sheen and the neckline, well it's at the no man can see and survive level - dipping low between her breasts, making it impossible for his eyes to stay away. He knows that at least ten times tonight he's going to receive a kick in the shins and a raised eyebrow because, staring at her chest, he will be lost in lascivious dreams. She only wears clothes like that to torture him, he's sure of it, because behind her stern glare is always pure delight.

Bobby is just about to suggest that Lindsay put the dress away and spend the night covered by his body instead, when her next action confirms that his wish is futile.

"You know, Bobby," Lindsay says, turning to face him again, "One of us is smelling good enough to leave the house..."

Bobby's eyebrows raise, waiting for the punch line.

Lindsay smiles, then says, "And then there is you."

"One of these days I'll take offense," Bobby pouts but gets no sympathy.

"That's nice," she deadpans, returning her attention to her task, "And will there be a shower involved too?"

"I'm going, I'm going, I'm going," he groans and noisily trudges away, once Lindsay has her mind set on something he'd be wasting time and breath suggesting an alternative. Apparently Lindsay is hungry, and it isn't the same hunger that he's consumed with... although, food sounds good. So, they'll eat and then he'll bring her back here and show her a few tricks of his own. The rate that they are going his body will be worn out by the time this vacation is over but, honestly, he doesn't have a problem with that, he certainly isn't going to suggest that they slow down.

Having watched Bobby's dramatic exit, Lindsay smiles as she hurries to get ready for dinner, eager to get him dressed, fed and back home to bed. Early to bed, early to rise, she thinks and giggles before quickly looking to the door to ensure that she hasn't been heard. The sea air is obviously messing with her mind because it has become decidedly one tracked since they've been here; not that Bobby is complaining, no he's strutting around mighty proud of himself, loving seeing 'his woman' in lust. And, God, she is too, totally and thoroughly on the verge of jumping him every second of the day. Once dressed, Lindsay chooses an Italian restaurant, deciding that with the energy they have been expanding, and her plans for later, pasta is advisable as to keep up the pace, they'll need to start carbo-loading.

Having made their reservations, Lindsay walks out onto the deck and then a little way along the sand, feeling the need to distance herself from Bobby before she loses the willpower to leave the house. When Bobby comes down onto the sand to find her, she knows that her decision to flee had been right as he is looking too incredible to resist. He smiles at her and she sees in his face the same struggle that she is fighting.

"C'mon," he says and tilts his head towards the car.

Lindsay nods, quickly reenters the house to grab her purse, then joins him in the car.

"Mc Donald's drive through?" Bobby asks as he reverses out of the driveway.

"Sounds good," Lindsay laughs, "But I've made reservations elsewhere."

Bobby groans and accuses her of being cruel as he drives towards the city center. Unfortunately, Lindsay's Italian restaurant seems to be as elusive as The Poet because, after driving for twenty minutes, they still haven't found it. To make matters worse, the map of Schneider Bay that they'd so helpfully been given appears to have gone on a holiday of its own. Bobby insists that he left it in the car and the fact that it isn't there is not his fault, while Lindsay claims that she's never touched the damn thing so he better not be laying the blame on her. Their stalemate only intensifies when Bobby refuses to stop and ask for directions, claiming that by the time they did, they would have found it anyway if they'd just kept driving. Lindsay is about to remind him that they have been working on that theory for over ten minutes, with no sign of success, when Bobby suddenly swerves the car, pulls up and parks.

He looks at Lindsay's surprised face, says, "Look there's ~a~ restaurant, I'm hungry, let's go in."

Looking out of her window, Lindsay thinks about it for a moment and then concludes, why not. Sure, this place looks a little different from one that they'd normally go to, apart from the fact that it has cafe in its name you wouldn't know it was a restaurant from the outside; it looks a little dark and dingy and she isn't overly confident about it but decides that it's a vacation, what better time is there to take a risk and believe in fate.

"Okay," she says to Bobby and smiles at the look of relief that crosses his face. She brushes her hand along his arm and they lean in close to exchange a soft kiss, a reminder that they love one another and it doesn't matter where they are or what they do as long as it is together. She can tell, by Bobby's exuberant manner as they approach the door that, even if the Kiosha Cafe's specialty is cockroach stew, Bobby will be proclaiming it the best meal that he has ever eaten to compensate for having gotten them lost.

Bobby opens the door, waits for Lindsay to step inside before following her in. As Lindsay had taken one step in and then, stunned by the room, stopped dead-in-her-tracks, Bobby almost slams into her as he steps inside. Lindsay moves again, after a none-too-subtle nudge from Bobby, and, as they approach the counter, she whispers as she looks around, "This is like a dream."

Bobby whose eye has been caught by the sensually clothed waitress leans forward and, whispering against Lindsay's ear, leers, "I wouldn't mind hearing about this dream sometime." Picturing Lindsay that way has definitely put a dream in mind, he doesn't know what they are wearing, a sari, a sarong, something like that, he thinks, Lindsay would know but would she appreciate his interest, one look at her face though and he knows he's been caught out. "I... uh... it would look good on you," he stammers out as his arms enclose her body, unconsciously his eyes close as he loses himself in thoughts of her in clothes that barely cover a thing.

Lindsay giggles, imagining herself dressed that way. Remembering Bobby's reaction to her in a bikini, the way his hot breath now tickles against her neck, and the hand that under the camouflage of his body is running suggestively over her, has her quickly falling into a dream of her and Bobby and... She gives him a playful push, separating them for the sake of decency, and feeling the need to speak, to get them talking about something other than their wayward thoughts, she says, "I didn't mean an 'actual' dream, Bobby, I just meant that this is surreal."

Bobby nods as he looks around, instead of tables and chairs there are cushions, lots and lots of cushions. He can hear a soft rhythmic music coming from somewhere, it's hypnotic, a beat that is almost impossible to stop his body moving to. The room is filled with alcoves, giving it an intimate feel, the walls are covered in tapestries, while tribal idols are strewn on every surface and although the color scheme is very bright, what he'd normally consider gaudy, here it feels just right. The room calls to you, come in, stay a while, get comfy, have fun... and he wants to, he wants to sink into the atmosphere and most of all he wants to sink into it with Lindsay.

Looking at her face, Bobby sees excitement exuding from every pore. He knows that should he suggest they leave, she'd take his hand, tug on it a little and plead with him to stay in such an adorable way that he'd be unable to deny her wish. But, luckily for both of them, he has no intention of leaving, no, more than anything, he wants to stay; he wants to experience this new world with her, he wants to explore it, believing, for some unknown reason, that in its depths is a discovery waiting to be made.

As Lindsay looks around the room, she can't help but see it with an artists eye. If she had any talent for abstract, and wanted to draw the mood of today, it would look exactly like this room - vibrant, sensual, playful and alive. Everything about it enchants her, it's so soft, so comforting, she imagines curling up on those cushions with Bobby in her arms and feeding him with her fingers - imagines them, even in a crowded restaurant, feeling all alone, as if the world is made up of only them.

Cushions, finger-food, Bobby Donnell?

Lindsay sighs and looks over at Bobby, expecting to see him ready to concede that they should ask for directions and get out of there but he smiles at her and his intense eyes sparkle with intrigue and delight.

"Do you want to stay?" she asks, not sure which is the most unbelievable, the restaurant or Bobby wanting to be there.

"Yeah," he replies, enthusiastically, "I do."

"Ooh," she sighs in relief, but out of habit asks, "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," he promises her, drawing her back into his embrace. He kisses her forehead then, to confirm his intent, turns to the counter and says, "Table for two, please?"

As they are being led to their table, their eyes take in everything around them, from the ambience of the room to the exotic creations that the other patrons are being served. The plates appear to contain works of art more than something that could be considered edible at least it is nothing that is recognizable to them as food. Once seated, Bobby and Lindsay peruse the menu silently until Bobby looks up and says, "I don't think I've heard of anything on here."

Lindsay hears nervousness in his voice and is herself feeling a little anxious about what they have gotten themselves into, she continues scanning the menu hoping for something familiar to appear..

"Should we be scared that they don't have descriptions, only names?" Bobby asks.

When she looks up at Bobby's face, she can't help grinning, she can almost see the little boy in him asking, 'Am I gonna like it?' Sometimes he can be such a big baby, she smiles at him and says, "Think of it as fate, Bobby, so far it's all perfect, so why wouldn't the food be too?"

"So, what are you having?" he asks, challenging her to back up her confidence with actions.

"I wouldn't have a clue," she laughs, "I was going to copy you."

They are laughing at Bobby's suggestion that they order PB&J sandwiches when the waitress arrives to take their order. Sensing their hesitancy, by their faces, she asks, "First time here?"

Bobby and Lindsay nod, both staring at the menu, suddenly feeling under pressure to decide which unknown is the one that they are willing to risk choosing. Lindsay can feel the tension coming off of Bobby and watches as his thumb taps nervously on the table. Realising that this is pointless, they are never going to make a decision on their own, she turns to the waitress and says, "Can you recommend something?"

"Well the house banquet is made up of ten courses, giving you smaller portions and a larger variety, so it's a good way to discover what your favorite will be," she tells them, smiling at their nervousness.

"Is that part of the banquet?" Bobby asks, indicating a table nearby where the food looks bizarre but, by the expressions on the faces of those eating it, it is pure decadence. Receiving an affirmative answer, Bobby turns to Lindsay, when she nods he turns back to the waitress and says, "Sounds great, we'll have two."

When they are again alone, Lindsay smiles at him and says, "Another restaurant, another twenty questions."

"No distractions this time," Bobby warns and Lindsay gives him a little, 'yes sir' salute before looking around the room. "So, c'mon, fire away," he tells her when, after a few minutes, no questions have been forthcoming.

"Um, okay, getting to know you stuff, right?" Lindsay grimaces as she thinks about what to ask, then grins, "Ooh, I know, favorite color? After all you can't have a successful relationship without knowing that detail."

Bobby grins at her and says, "Hot pink."

Lindsay laughs, asking, "Really?"

"Yeah, yours?"

"Beige," she tells him, trying to outdo him on the ridiculous scale.

"Mmm nice," Bobby hums waggling his eyebrows suggestively, "I'm getting hot just thinking about it."

They grin at one another until Lindsay says, "Bobby, this won't work if we're just going to lie."

"Hey, can you prove that my favorite color isn't hot pink?" he challenges, smirking smugly at her.

"Um, no, I guess not," she concedes before her eyes light up with an idea, "Ooh, but you never wear it."

"And you're always in beige," he retorts.

Lindsay smirks in response and Bobby says, with a remorseful shrug, "Hot pink is my favorite, I'd wear it more but my complexion doesn't do it justice." When Lindsay rolls her eyes, he leans forward and says, "It looks great on you though, I get very hot when you wear pink."

Lindsay shakes her head at him, "You're hopeless," she whines, while brimming with pleasure.

"Well, ask me a real question, Lindsay, come on, I won't bite..." Bobby leers and waggles his eyebrows at her, "Unless you ask me to."

"Fine..." Lindsay says and shoots Bobby a look that suggests she may just do so later.

Bobby begins to wish that he'd packed his vampire teeth and, as his mind starts filling in the details of what may occur later, his eyes become seriously intent on scanning every inch of Lindsay to decide where his first bite should be.

'Great, Bobby, how am I supposed to think with you doing that?' Lindsay wonders. When Bobby's expectant eyes raise to hers, she stumbles out the query, "If you were told to... to ask me one question, um... what would it be?"

"Hey, that's cheating."

"Gee, where would I have learnt to cheat from, Bobby?" she contends.

Bobby grins at her, it isn't his fault that she insists games should be played by the rules whereas he prefers to throw out the instructions and make it up as you go along, playing by the rules doesn't exasperate Lindsay, it doesn't get her flustered and make the game more fun. There's no fun unless Lindsay gets so frustrated that she throws the board in disgust then attacks him. Expecting her to poke her tongue out at him, Bobby is surprised to see the smile fade from Lindsay's face, "What is it?" he asks becoming concerned.

"I just thought of one," Lindsay says, her teasing comment having triggered the memory of a similar question asked during a far more troubled time.

"A question?" Bobby asks nervously, wondering what could have stolen her smile.

"Yeah," she says and reaches out to take his hand.

"You going to ask it?" Bobby says warily, half of him hoping that she isn't as her manner is starting to scare him.

Nodding, Lindsay says, "Bobby, after the... um, the... you know, when I requested a partnership, would you really have fired me if Eugene hadn't stopped you?"

Bobby opens his mouth on an outright denial, then closes it before voicing any such claim, knowing that he'd promised her total honesty, he pauses to consider the question. "I think I like blue best," he eventually says.

Lindsay smiles at him, "So do I," she says, "Especially on you."

Instantly relaxed by the reemergence of Lindsay's smile, Bobby offers her one in return and, giving her hand a gentle squeeze, says, "I also think that you and Eugene talk too much."

"No," Lindsay replies, "He never said anything to me, Bobby."

"Then what makes you think that he'd stopped me?"

"It's just... I saw you two in your office and... You'd been so angry at me since I'd made the request, then that day you'd threatened to fire me... Bobby it had been over a week and you were still so... I watched the two of you talking that night. I know you, Bobby, I know your mannerisms and expressions and... I could see that you were trying to talk him into agreeing with you... I could see you not wanting to hear what he was saying. I watched you, I didn't know who was going to give in... and I was so afraid that you would talk him into it."

Bobby nods, remembering having tried to with both Bec and Eugene, although he doesn't think that he was anywhere near as adamant as Lindsay remembers it. "I honestly don't know, Lindsay. I doubt that I could have fired you, I think that I wanted to believe it was a good idea because I liked the sound of it, I was seething and it felt good to say it, but... as to going beyond shouting and threatening to actually firing you? No, I wouldn't have, even if everyone had agreed with the idea, I don't think that I could have. I was angry but..."

"Did you hate me...?"

"No, Lindsay, no. I told you yesterday that that could never happen."

"But..."

"But nothing! I was hurt and I resented being told that I wasn't good enough..."

Her remorse is obvious the moment she speaks, "Bobby..."

"No, Lindsay, don't apologize, you were right, I wasn't running the business well, I was letting everyone down. I think that's what stung the most, that I'd been so blind to it, that I should have seen what I was doing. It was easier to take my anger out on you than to accept that I'd caused this problem. I was lashing out, that's all, I could never have gone through with it."

"I could have handled it better, I shouldn't have..."

"We both could have, Linds." Bobby squeezes her hand again, his eyes promising her that any animosity that had been felt then is certainly gone now. "Would you... if I had fired you, would you have sued?"

"I don't know," Lindsay sighs, "I didn't want to leave, Bobby, and suing, well, that would have guaranteed I could never return. You said you'd fire me so I said I'd sue you, it was just angry words. It wasn't until that night that I wondered if maybe for you it wasn't just words and you were angry enough to see it through... but, I guess, I hoped that if you did try and fire me, I'd be able to talk you out of it... that there wasn't anything that we couldn't talk through once we'd blown off steam."

"Hypothetically though, if I'd been a bigger idiot than usual and had fired you, what then?"

Lindsay grins at his wording but then sobers as she answers the question, "I didn't want it to be over, Bobby, so, no, even then I couldn't have sued you... Professionally, maybe it would have been the thing to do, but... personally, I loved you, I would have been disappointed, and hurt, but I loved you... I couldn't have done it to you. I think that I would have just walked away... and hoped..."

"That I'd come to my senses and want you back."

"Yeah."

Bobby nods and they both look at one another somberly, remembering a time when they could barely talk to one another without anger interceding, a time of pain and misunderstanding that they are so grateful has passed. They hardly even notice when the waitress appears with their first course until she clears her throat, needing them to move their hands so that she can lay their dishes down. They turn and smile at her, dropping their hands and offering their thanks. When she is gone again they hardly look at the food, as they apprehensively look at each other, feeling the immense weight that their mood has suddenly taken on.

Bobby reaches again for Lindsay's hand, when they are joined, his thumb rubs over the back of her hand as he says, "The thing that Eugene was saying, that I was trying not to hear..." he pauses and Lindsay nods, eagerly, wanting him to continue. "He told me that I couldn't fire you because I was in love with you."

"What?" Lindsay whispers, barely containing a grin, "Eugene said that?"

"Yeah, he said something like, 'Everyone here loves Lindsay, and so do you, maybe more than you know.'"

"My God," Lindsay says, she'd always suspected that Eugene had argued in terms of the business, that he had convinced Bobby that it would be a bad decision professionally to fire her, to hear now that he'd seen the emotions that Bobby had been trying so hard to deny and had called him on them surprises her. Business wise she'd been sure that Bobby may have let her go, success had never been his main goal, she'd been surprised when he'd given in and now, knowing the argument that had been used against him, believing that he may have relented because he couldn't bear to lose her, that as angry as he was he'd been unable to deny he loved her, she's speechless.

"But, see, the thing is, he was wrong," Bobby says, squeezing her hand gently, "I did know that I loved you, I just wasn't sure that I wanted to. I had too good a sulk going to want to see things too clearly." When Lindsay smiles, Bobby asks, "What?"

"You may pout and rage at first but, in the end, you always do the right thing."

"You mean what you want?"

"Yeah," Lindsay grins, "See, you know I'm always right, admit it."

"I admit nothing!" Bobby declares.

They smile at one another, pleased to have the weight again off of their shoulders. Bobby looks down to the bowl in front of him, seeing soup that looks like something that should be served up during Halloween, he asks, nervously, "Who's going first?"

Lindsay laughs and picks up her spoon, with an air of bravery that she isn't quite feeling she lowers it to the bowl then takes a mouthful of the weird concoction. Knowing that Bobby is watching her and gauging her reaction, she opens her eyes in a startled manner and enjoys the terror that crosses his face. Swallowing, she then laughs and says, "It's delicious, Bobby, try it."

Being a good boy, Bobby does what he is told, admittedly only after Lindsay takes another mouthful and he sees obvious pleasure rush over her face. He's not sure if her little hum was deliberate but it sure had been enticing. With his first taste he discovers that Lindsay had spoken the truth; as strange as it looks it tastes like heaven. "I wonder what it is," he asks, now ravenously consuming it.

Lindsay grins and replies, "Maybe it's best not to know."

"Yeah, maybe," he agrees, enjoying it enough not to care.

Lindsay smiles as she watches him eat, he looks so comfortable, curled up on cushions enjoying his soup, sprawled a little over the table as he chats to her. It's reminiscent of lazy nights of toast and soup in front of the fire, something that they haven't done in a long time... Well, it doesn't help that their apartment doesn't have a fireplace, but, even so, they've been so busy of late that all the little relationship moments that she used to treasure have virtually disappeared. She sighs, knowing that they need to stop allowing work to consume them and take the time to regain their lives. This vacation is a good start, but they need to continue making time for one another when they return home. She won't let their relationship fall victim to their workaholic tendencies.

All her relationships of the past faltered because she had never placed anyone above her goals, she suspects that the same may be true of Bobby. It's different, now, though, this time she does place her relationship above her ambitions and the thought that old habits may jeopardize it frightens her. Wondering how many women Bobby has lost through his dedication to work, Lindsay says, "I have another question."

"Oh, God," Bobby playfully groans.

"You say that now, just wait until you hear it," Lindsay teases.

Bobby leans back against the cushions, takes a deep exaggerated breath, then says, "Okay, let me have it."

Lindsay blushes as her mind fills in a scenario totally inappropriate for their present situation, Bobby chuckles at her, having received the exact reaction he'd hoped for. Sitting virtually on the floor to eat their meal, it is hard not to forget that they aren't just lounging at home and Bobby finds it increasingly difficult to resist dragging Lindsay across the table and into his arms. If she doesn't stop looking at him like that he'll have to spend the rest of the night sitting on his hands with his lap filled with a cushion instead of her warm luscious body.

Having managed to corral her wayward thoughts, Lindsay finds the composure to say, "Remember when Hiller assigned me to Kingston and we went in there trying to get out of it."

"Yeah," Bobby says, sitting up again, having no clue where she is going with this but the name Kingston makes him instantly nervous; it brings back too many memories. That he now knows Michael Kingston had had nothing to do with Lindsay's stabbing doesn't stop him associating his name with that horrific time.

"You, um... you tried to use the excuse that you and Helen had slept together..."

Bobby nods and grins, remembering what happened next, he's fairly sure that he knows what is coming, "And?" he says, not planning on making it easy on her, there is a look about Lindsay when she's blushing and not quite able to meet his eye that Bobby finds irresistible and he knows that any second now that expression will be the one that he gets to see. Lindsay sighs and looks down, Bobby's grin broadens as he mentally pats himself on the back for a job well done.

When Lindsay looks up again she is smiling too, as she knows how much Bobby is enjoying this moment. "And," she says, giggling a little, "Hiller said something like, if she had to excuse you every time that you'd slept with the opposition... I don't remember the rest, I was too busy resisting the urge to attack her."

Bobby laughs, he loves that she'll jump tables to defend his honor; any day that he gets a glimpse of the tigress inside of Lindsay is a perfect day in his estimation and fuels many a fevered dream. He wonders why it is that Lindsay gets indignant when he turns possessive but when she turns alpha-female he just gets turned on. "No one insults my man," he teases, finding Lindsay's knee under the table he gives it a little squeeze.

"Exactly," she replies smiling, she knows full well how much Bobby delights in her territorial side. Moving forward, she leans her elbows on the table and her face becomes serious, "See the thing is, in the time that I've known you, I don't know... maybe I was blind but, apart from Helen, I never knew you to date... I heard courthouse gossip, of course, but I never took it too seriously..."

"You heard gossip, about me?" Bobby asks intrigued, why would anyone talk about him.

"I heard a lot of interesting things about you, Bobby, but I didn't put much stock in them because I thought that I knew you..."

"You do," he assures her, getting concerned about just what she may have heard, hoping that she's just pulling his leg.

"So does Hiller... She made the accusation to your face and you didn't dispute it."

"Lindsay, she only said it because we're friends... well, sort of... she wasn't being serious, she was just responding to my flimsy attempt at a reason... You didn't believe her did you?"

"Not really... it's just"

"You didn't like the insinuation."

"Yeah."

"Her claim was vastly exaggerated, Lindsay, sure, I've dated some lawyers... I was young once and, uh..."

"Horny?"

Bobby laughs, "No, well, yeah, but lets stick to young and... uh..." when he sees Lindsay laugh, he just shrugs and grinning says, "Anyway, I spent a lot of time at the courthouse when I first started out, so naturally the women that I'd meet and mix with were other lawyers, so, yeah, I've dated a few lawyers... it's inevitable, I guess... But, the way I was when you started at the firm, that's the way I'd been for a few years at least, the busier work became the less I bothered with the whole business of dating. Even before then I'd stopped dating lawyers because it never took too many dates to realize that, unless we talked about work, we had nothing to talk about. I never had time to meet anyone else, I wasn't interested in lawyers so I didn't date, period... that was my life, so any gossip you were hearing, was just that, gossip..."

"What about Helen?"

"What about her?" Bobby asks even more afraid now, as this could lead into best-left-unsaid territory.

"You dated her, she's a lawyer, so how many other exceptions to the rule were there?"

Seeing only a tease in Lindsay's eyes, Bobby offers her one in return, "Yeah, but we never talked so Helen doesn't count."

"Bobby!" Lindsay says shaking her head at him.

"You asked."

"Yeah... well... I..."

"You're cute, you know," Bobby says grinning at her flustered face, knowing that Lindsay finds it far easier to be adult about the situation when she's able to convince herself that Bobby and Helen had only ever played scrabble together. He knows that he shouldn't tease her, if he were the one in her situation there is no way that he could handle it as well as she does, even so, it's gratifying to see a spark of jealousy coming from her; caveman Bobby likes that very much.

"Shut up, Bobby," Lindsay says exasperated.

Bobby realizes that he must have been smiling too much but he can't help it, he's happy. Leaning forward, he taunts, "Make me."

Lindsay grins, if he was sitting closer she'd have a perfect way to shut him up, unfortunately the damn table is in the way so instead of kissing him, she'll confuse him, "What about me?" she asks.

"Huh...?" Bobby says, not following her train of thought, "What do you mean?"

"I'm a lawyer, or didn't you notice that?"

"I did, I noticed, but I was already in love so I decided that I'd just have to learn to live with it."

"You're a real poet, Bobby," she moans.

He smiles, acting as if her comment had been intended as the greatest of compliments, he shrugs and says, "I try."

Enjoying Silly Bobby, Lindsay smiles in return, but as she thinks about the few serious things that he has said, she says, "We do talk about work a lot, Bobby."

Reaching out for her hand, he gives it a gentle squeeze and promises, "Yeah, but, the difference is that we don't have to. I can talk about anything with you, Lindsay... sure, work plays a big part in our lives but it isn't all that we are. Look at us now, I mean, how many cases have we discussed in the last few days?"

"Just two mental ones," she sighs.

"Yeah," he chuckles, "You know what, I could spend the rest of my life just talking to you and not run out of something to say."

Lindsay smiles appreciatively, even though she doesn't believe him for a second; Bobby, no matter what he says, is not now and never will be Mr. Talkative.

"Hey, tell me some of the gossip?" Bobby says trying to coax Lindsay into talking again.

"You'd like that wouldn't you?" she replies.

Bobby grins, more interested in Lindsay's reaction to the comments than any actual gossip.

"No, it was more speculation, a who do you think he is dating now kinda thing, they'd ask do you think he's free and then comment about what they would do to you if you were, typical girl talk. It was bathroom banter, I'd hear names suggested, sometimes I'd know them, sometimes not. It would be someone knew someone who had seen you with someone. They'd never say anything if they saw me first, but sometimes I'd overhear things..."

"Ever hear your name?"

"No."

"Shows what they knew then doesn't it?"

Lindsay smiles, then rises to move closer to Bobby, deciding to share his side of the table rather than sitting ~all~ the way over on the opposite side. "Helen was the worst of them, she was always asking if there was any truth to the rumour about you and whoever the latest was..." Lindsay looks at him, "You do know that she was on the prowl for a long time don't you?"

"That's understandable," Bobby winks making Lindsay grin.

"I should have warned her that you weren't worth the effort."

"Yeah, you should have," he agrees, placing his arm around her and drawing her close.

They sit in silence for a while, both wondering what would have happened, and where would they be now, if their secret had been discovered way back then. They had each been so intent on pretending not to want more than their arrangement allowed that they had failed to notice that each was as dissatisfied as the other. In guarding their hearts, they'd only caused themselves pain as they'd fought the disappointment of loving someone who they'd mistakenly believed didn't love them back. They wonder, now, had their secret romance been revealed would it have forced them to open up sooner or would it have caused a panic that split them further apart, delaying their reunion or worse, separating them forever.

"We were too good," Bobby says.

Lindsay turns to him, "What do you mean?"

"At keeping the secret... I kept thinking that people had to know, how could they not?"

"I wished that they did."

"Really?" Bobby asks surprised; Lindsay had always been the most adamant at sticking to their precautions. Although he had understood her reasons, her zealousness had often troubled him, it had fueled his doubts that she'd ever want more, he had believed that she was hesitant to be associated with him because deep-down she was embarrassed about them.

Lindsay nods and smiles, "I'd see the way women looked at you and I hated it, I wanted to be able to tell them to back off because you were mine, I wanted them to know it, I wanted that claim... I'd listen to gossip and it would hurt, the thought of you with any of those women, the thought that one of them could be who you wanted..."

"Lindsay, you are..." Bobby begins to say, when she drops her eyes from his, he caresses her chin as he raises her face back up. "You've always been the one that I want."

She smiles and kisses his thumb as it traces over her lips, "I wanted so much to believe that then, but... it was never my name, no one believed we... it was always someone else you'd been seen smiling and flirting with, leaning in close to talk to, or watching..."

"Didn't you say that Helen used to ask about the rumours she'd heard?"

"Yes, all the time."

"And she asked you a number of times if there was anything between us before she ever let on that she was interested in me, right?"

"Yeah."

"So, maybe she heard your name mentioned but she didn't tell you that she'd heard rumours about you because she knows that you don't like being talked about and she just didn't want to upset you."

"Maybe," Lindsay says, surprised at how much she actually hopes that it is true. She's also a little annoyed at herself that, even now, she's so desperate for the validation of strangers, so what if no one ever picks up on what they have between them, it doesn't negate the fact that it is there. It doesn't change the fact that when they are alone together they enter a different world - a phenomenal world of sensual bliss, intense friendship and the simple joy of being together. They don't need to be overt about how they feel, they don't need to make a show for all the world to see because what they have doesn't belong to others, it belongs to them. It's sacred and private, so what does it matter what other's think.

"It doesn't matter anyway," Bobby says, voicing Lindsay's thought.

"I know," she softly replies.

Not hearing resolve in her voice, Bobby says, "What I mean is, it's a thing of the past because everyone knows that we are together now."

Lindsay shakes her head and smiles at the perplexed expression that her actions causes on Bobby's face. "There's still talk, Bobby," she tells him before kissing the surprised 'O' of his lips. She's amused that he's oblivious to this, he's so unassuming about the effect that he has on people and it's one of the many reasons that she loves him so much.

When, after a moment of silence, an astonished Bobby asks, "About me?" Lindsay laughs loudly.

"Yes, Bobby," she tells him, "About you."

"Lindsay... I... you know, I... what do they say?"

Framing his face with her hands, she repeats his words from earlier in the night, "You are cute."

Bobby shrugs smugly, knowing that it will make Lindsay smile. She cuddles in a little closer as she continues to speak.

"I guess it's more talk of you than about you these days, which I can totally understand. For example, a couple of months ago I heard a particular female DA bemoaning the fact that she'd used up a years supply of favours to get our firm assigned to a case she had, she'd checked and you had nothing on your court docket for a month and she'd hoped you'd be the one taking the case, only Jimmy did."

Bobby grins at the pleased look on Lindsay's face and asks, "Who was it?"

"I'm not telling," she replies with a grin.

"Oh, come on."

Ignoring him, she says, "She was annoyed that Helen gets most of the cases against us, she kept saying that it's ridiculous because it isn't like she ever beats us and that the fact you two had a failed relationship shows that she doesn't distract you, she thinks they should try a different female... her, she was certain that she had the attributes to keep your mind off of the case, she said something like there isn't a ring on your finger yet so until there is she's not giving up on trying to get you."

"Are you serious?"

"Totally."

"I'll have to start loitering in the women's bathrooms," Bobby says, "I can't keep missing out on all this."

"Well that will certainly do wonders for your reputation," Lindsay teases.

"When I'm widely known as a pervert, will you still love me?"

"Yes."

"Well all right then," he says as if all deterrents have been overcome and a course of action decided upon.

"After all," she grins, "I still loved you when I was the only one who knew."

Bobby laughs, then leers, "You know what I'm really in the mood to do?"

Putting on her sternest face, Lindsay says, "Bobby, behave yourself."

He's silent for a moment, pouting until he realises that it's futile, changing tactics, he says, "So, come on, tell me who it was?"

Lindsay shakes her head, "No."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want you even giving her a second look."

Though Lindsay smiles at him, he sees something in her eyes that troubles him, "Linds, you do know that I'm not interested that way, that the only... uh... attributes that distract me are yours, right? That I'm..."

Lindsay strokes his arm and nods, "Yes, Bobby, I do. I just mean, I... if you know who it is then the next time you see her you'll look, not out of any interest in her but because you know what she's thinking," Lindsay laughs a little and then says, "Knowing you, the thought that she's on the prowl will make you nervous, you'll be looking at her, acting tongue-tied, your ears will go red and she's going to believe that she's got you, she'll start chasing you and I'd rather not have that happen."

"Lindsay, I..."

"I know that you aren't interested, but it's her interest that I don't want to encourage. And think about it, what if you do have a case against her, are you telling me that knowing this won't unsettle you. Professionally and personally, Bobby, you're better off not knowing."

"Okay, fine, but you do realize I'm going to be nervous every time I have a court appointed case against a female DA now, don't you?"

"You do realize that I'm never going to let you have a court appointed case against a female DA, don't you?"

Bobby laughs, knowing that Lindsay has no way of backing up that claim. Still keen to get the information from her, he tries another tactic, "Except Helen?"

"Except Helen."

"Or Jean? Jean's still safe isn't she?"

"Yes Jean is safe, you can work with her."

"Was it Stacey?"

"No."

"Diana?"

Lindsay pushes him away, "Don't start with me, Bobby," she warns as she laughs.

"Simple questions," he says, with a shrug.

Deciding that he's looking too cocky, Lindsay says, "So are these the names of the women you had hoped it was."

"What? No, no, I... I didn't hope, I don't hope, I..." seeing her grin rise, Bobby groans, "Hey, that wasn't nice."

"I couldn't resist," she laughs.

"So, I'm breaking hearts all over town, am I?" Bobby says, knowing the look that that comment will earn him.

"No, just confusing people," Lindsay enigmatically replies.

"Excuse me?"

"You know what I hear the most these days?" Lindsay asks.

Bobby knows that she is eager to say it and says, "No, what?"

"Women asking why you'd be with me."

"Lindsay..." Bobby begins, concerned.

"No, Bobby," she says, rubbing his arm, calming him, "It's okay, it's a natural curiosity, I mean, I ask it too whenever I see couples, don't you ever wonder what people see in one another?"

Bobby isn't certain whether she is really as comfortable with this as she is suggesting or if she's just putting on a good show, "You don't let them get to you, do you?" he asks.

"No, Bobby, we're together, what do I care what they think, besides, you know the rule."

"What rule?"

"The only opinion that I'm allowed to care about is yours."

Bobby laughs loudly, remembering having jokingly ordered that of her after she'd allowed a harsh comment from an adversary to get to her. "So, you actually follow that rule?" he says.

"Umm... no," she laughs, "Honestly, though, Bobby, it doesn't bother me, I mean, I've asked myself that too."

"Lindsay?"

"Haven't you?"

"Haven't I what?" Bobby asks, not sure that he's following the conversation. When they talk about work, he's right there with her every step of the way but when she turns into a woman and not a lawyer she always ends up leaving him floundering, suddenly it's as if they don't speak the same language. He loves it, it's a challenge but, boy, can she confuse him.

"Haven't you ever asked yourself what I see in you? What it is about you that makes me love you so much?"

"Stunning good looks, body to die for, brilliance, charm, wit..."

"Oh, who are we describing?" Lindsay giggles as Bobby pulls her closer into his arms.

"Two for one deal," he says kissing her cheek, "I think that description covers both of us."

"You're so modest," she teases.

"Oh," he says intrigued, "That isn't how you see me?" he asks but Lindsay refuses to answer with anything but a mysterious smile.

They cuddle quietly for a while until curiosity gets the better of Bobby and he says, "So, come on, give me some names, who have I been linked to?"

"You're not going to let this go, are you?" Lindsay sighs.

"Could you?" Bobby asks, "Admit it, if you knew that things had been said about you, you'd want to know what they were."

Lindsay sits up straighter and nods that he has a point, she's silent as she tries to remember a specific name to mention, she wants one that will amuse him and tries to think of the most 'out there' of the few names that she has heard.

Bobby, who has been deep in thought as he waits for her asks, "Did they ever mention Ally McBeal?"

"No, why?" Lindsay's eyes widen as she asks, "Did you two?"

"No, but it's the only name, since I've known you, that there would have been any truth to the rumour."

When Lindsay stares at Bobby in disbelief, he becomes uncomfortable and says, "What?"

"You and Ally McBeal?" she says as if it's the most unbelievable thing that she has ever heard.

"No, well... no, we did kiss though, and I kinda, for a bit, thought that maybe... I might... that there could be something... but, ah... I already had you and I already had Helen and I didn't know where I stood with either of you two, so, well, throwing someone new into the mix would not have been smart. I told her that I had things to sort out before I could even consider something happening between us. "

Looking at Lindsay, Bobby sees her smile fade as she turns from him. "What?" he asks and when she shakes her head that it's nothing, he turns her face back to him and asks, "What did I say? Are you angry I kissed Ally?"

"No, no... um, it's nothing."

"Lindsay tell me."

Lindsay closes her eyes a little as she sighs, taking a deep breath she opens them again and says, "You've always said that you were... ready to end it with Helen, that it was over before you broke up but now you're saying that months later you were still thinking that..."

"Linds, I wasn't wanting a relationship with her if that's what's worrying you."

"Then what Bobby, what did you mean by you still had Helen? Was it over or not?"

"It was over... but... see, she kept saying it was dead, and for me it was but... I needed to be sure that it really was over for her, that she wasn't just saying it before I could..."

"You find it that hard to believe that someone could want to break up with you?" Lindsay asks with a tinge of amusement.

"Lindsay you told me we were over, you told me to move on, you even went out and found someone for me to move on with, then, just as I've grown used to the fact that you don't want me, as I've made a commitment to someone you turn around and... and you say you'll miss me and make love to me, you offer me everything that I want but I'm no longer in a position to take... forgive me if I was hesitant to believe someone after that."

"Bobby, I..."

"Forget it."

"No, I don't want to... I shouldn't have teased, I know it was a confusing time..."

"I just felt obligated to wait and see what Helen wanted, that's all... I knew what I wanted and that was you, but if I moved on too fast I risked ruining the friendship that you have with her and I knew how important that was to you... I didn't want to be with her but I didn't know if she was ready for me to be with you, or if you were... I had to do it right for everyone but I didn't have a clue what right was."

"Bobby," she says softly, he looks across at her and she smiles as her hand raises to caress his cheek, "Obviously you did, because here we are... and Helen, well she's probably going out of her mind at home not knowing where we are or how to bug us..."

Bobby nods, knowing how difficult this week must be for Helen, he doesn't know how she'll survive without talking to Lindsay every chance that she gets, he must admit that he's enjoying not having their nights interrupted by her long phone calls. "Yeah, maybe I should have ruined that friendship," Bobby says drawing Lindsay closer.

Her elbow digs a little harder than necessary into his rib but she snuggles in close as his lips find her neck. "So you kissed Ally McBeal, did you?" Lindsay says. She feels Bobby pull away a little and looks at his face as he sheepishly nods, Lindsay can't help laughing as she drawls, "Now it all makes sense."

Bobby looks at her in confusion and asks, "What does?"

"You taking on that heart swapping case, you never believed that you had a chance of winning it, if you did you never would have taken it, it was suicide for the janitor guy no matter how nicely you argued that it wasn't. The money wasn't that good for the amount of time wasted, add to that you had to split it with another firm... I can't believe you, Bobby, you took on the case just so you could see Ally McBeal again." Lindsay can't stop grinning, loving having caught Bobby out. Bobby is now the one with a deeper pink hue to his skin and eyes that can't quite stay with hers. The more embarrassed he is the more Lindsay enjoys it.

Eventually he looks at her and says, "You could at least try and appear jealous."

Lindsay sidles up against him, slipping her arm around his back she nuzzles in and says, "Why? You're all mine now."

"That I am," he promises, deciding that a little bit of discomfort is a small price to pay for Lindsay's glorious smile.

"So, Bobby, what was it about her? Why'd you go to so much trouble to see her again? Was she that good a kisser?"

"You are jealous," Bobby says, hopefully.

"No, sorry, just curious. I mean, Ally McBeal? What were you thinking?"

Bobby just shrugs.

"I saw the way that she looked at you," Lindsay says, "You do know that you could have just shown up at her office and had her eating out of your hand, don't you? Why the ruse of a case?"

"Well, see..." he sighs, "It was more a curiosity, I didn't know if I did want her 'eating out of my hand,' so a case... well, that gave me a cover, it gave me time to decide what I wanted... I kinda wanted her to see the real me too, away from criminal law. I just thought I owed her a second chance."

"What do you mean? What happened?"

"Well, we'd butted heads continually on the Hanson case, at first I found her annoying and... I guess, our strategies disgusted her and she didn't hold back letting me know that... we really didn't like one another at times, but then, when she learned that Dr Peters was actually guilty she came to tell me and to make sure I was okay... She didn't need to do that but she did... It felt like she took the time to see me then, she stopped thinking of me as just the lawyer who'd been disgusting her. I was grateful for that... and, I thought I owed her the same, I owed her the opportunity to be seen for who she is and not just the annoyance who had been pressing all my buttons."

Lindsay nods, remembering having found a very subdued Bobby and Ally at the courthouse, knowing that Bobby had been devastated as he'd felt responsible for the suicide of Dr Peters, "That night... was that... when you kissed her?"

Bobby shakes his head and looks down at the table, "No it was while working on the heart swap case, she was leaving for the night, I went to open the door for her and she just kinda kissed me."

Lindsay leans in a little closer, sliding the hem of her dress up higher, she looks at Bobby and asks, "So, what was the attraction, the uninterrupted sight of legs?"

Bobby lowers his mouth to her ear, tracing his fingers along her thigh, he whispers, "It was the thought of these legs that had me turning her down."

"Smooth talker," she whispers leaning in to his touch with a sigh.

Bobby kisses her neck as he promises that it isn't just talk, Lindsay's eyes close involuntarily in response to the sensations that he's creating with his warm mouth and super soft caresses. Remembering where they are, she eventually coaxes herself to put an end to his attentions. They share mutual groans of disappointment as Bobby takes his hand away.

Smiling at one another they begin eating their second course, neither quiet remembers it being served and Lindsay blushes at the thought of having been seen behaving so lasciviously in public.

"You're a bad influence on me," Bobby whispers, then laughs when Lindsay digs her elbow into his ribs, warning him to stay away. If he believed that she meant it he'd be devastated, thankfully, though, the thought never crosses his mind.

"So, did you kiss her back?" she asks.

"No just her lips."

Lindsay rolls her eyes at him before threatening to do him bodily damage with her fork if he doesn't answer sensibly.

"I might have, I don't remember," Bobby says, "And if I did remember, I'd plead the fifth."

"Liar."

"Okay, so she kissed me then I kissed her."

"That's two kisses, you said one kiss."

"One time, there was only about a second between then, so, you know, it's almost one kiss..."

"Nice try, Bobby, but you're not talking your way out of this one."

"Kiss me."

"What?"

"I'll show you what it was like, just lean in and kiss me, softly, a little tentatively."

"Bobby?"

"Do you want to know what it was like or not?"

"Not really."

"C'mon, I'll show you that there is nothing to be jealous about."

"I'm not jealous."

"So you say, but kiss me anyway."

"Fine," Lindsay groans as she leans in and softly brushes her lips against his.

Bobby barely responds until Lindsay begins to pull away, when their lips part he draws her back to him and their kiss becomes hungry. Deeper and deeper they kiss, all cognizance of the world around them fades as they become immersed completely in each other. When the urge to allow hands to become just as active arises they know that they have to tear themselves apart and reluctantly do so.

"Did you kiss her like that?" Lindsay breathlessly asks as her forehead rest against his.

"Kiss who?" Bobby says, staring into her eyes as his fingers caress her flushed face.

"Good answer." Lindsay grins and sits up straighter, pulling away from him.

Bobby smiles and they turn their attentions back to their meal, "It was nothing like that, Linds," he says after a while, "As first kisses go it was good but... compared to another first kiss..." he shakes his head, "From our first kiss Linds, I knew that I wanted to be with you, that I loved you... with Ally it was just a kiss, the emotion wasn't there."

"Oh," Lindsay says, looking down at the table. She'd been in love with Bobby before they ever kissed and had always hoped that he'd been in love before then too. In their typical backwards style, they'd even had sex before they'd kissed. As she'd been in love, she had always considered she'd been making love with Bobby, it hurts a little to think that for a time it may have just been sex for him.

"God, our first kiss was terrifying," Bobby says, lost in memory and not noticing the change in Lindsay's mood. "Not the actual kiss, that was incredible, but afterwards when I realized what I had done..." he looks at her, smiling as he remembers working late at night over Chinese takeout and bantering over who'd tidy up. "I hadn't meant to kiss you... I guess because I had been wanting to for so long that it just happened, I just forgot to hold back... it felt so right but, afterwards, I was thinking that you're going to kill me, that I'd just ruined the best thing that had ever happened to me. I was ready to dive head first into the trash with the takeout containers, until you spoke."

Lindsay grins, much happier with that thought. That had been a sweet little chaste kiss that occurred months before they'd moved their relationship up a level, it was a kiss that had never again been mentioned and that she'd always thought had meant more to her than he'd intended. She'd believed that she'd taken a simple friendly goodnight gesture completely out of proportion, she's glad to know the emotion she'd sensed had been there. "Oh that one," she says, "That was a sweet kiss."

"Yeah that was our first kiss," Bobby says, his face showing curiosity about what she'd been thinking.

"Well, technically you kissed me but I didn't kiss you, I thought you meant the first that we both participated in... you know, after we'd already..."

"God no, Linds, honestly, I was tripping over my feet to please you from day one..."

"Yeah, right," she says dubiously.

"I gave up smoking for you, didn't I?"

"You gave it up for yourself, Bobby," Lindsay says and when he shakes his head at her, she says, "Well, you should have."

"Yeah, I know," he concedes, "but I didn't, not until I had incentive."

"What incentive?"

He leans in close and kisses her cheek, "Your smile."

Lindsay can't help smiling at him, and takes his hand as she asks, "Bobby, did you really only give it up for me?"

"I would have done anything for you."

Lindsay smiles and sighs, "So many missed opportunities." Bobby shrugs asking for elaboration and she teases, "All the things that I could have asked for but didn't."

"Ask me later, I'll say yes," he whispers into her ear as his arm snakes around her body and tickles her side.

Lindsay giggles as she leans into him, she's about to respond when the music that has been playing softly in the background becomes a little louder and catches her attention, "Oooh," she whispers seeing a dancer enter the room, she's thankful that she's already changed sides and is sitting with Bobby or she wouldn't have a clear view of the action. Looking at Bobby now, Lindsay sees the intrigue in his eyes and smiles at his sudden restlessness. Poor Bobby, he left the house expecting a sedate meal and the next thing that he knows is that he's in some bizarre restaurant being questioned about past dalliances while a scantily dressed woman demonstrates a native dance right in front of him. Lindsay wouldn't be surprised if she never manages to get Bobby to take her out for dinner again.

They eat and watch the dancer in silence until Lindsay says, "She's good."

Bobby leans in and says, "I wouldn't know, I'm not looking."

"Yeah, that's why your tongues hanging out and your eyes are bulging," Lindsay teases.

"Better my eyes than..." Bobby leers suggestively at her, Lindsay groans and looks at the dancer again only to suddenly stop smiling and look back at Bobby in horror. He turns from watching her face to see what has upset her and sees the waitresses coaxing two patrons up to join in the dance.

"Bobby," Lindsay whispers, sharply, "If they start coming this way, I want you to kiss me, like you mean it."

"Lindsay?" Bobby laughs, ready to ask her when does he ever kiss her like he doesn't mean it but she interrupts before he can continue.

"Just do it!" she orders, thinking how could he object to kissing her in public after what they did earlier. "Kiss me so thoroughly that they'd be too embarrassed to interrupt."

Bobby grasps her face, suctions his mouth to hers and kisses her insistently until he feels the tension leaving her body. Pulling away, he whispers against her lips, "Like that? Or do I need more practice?"

"Hmm?" Lindsay hums, wondering what it is that he is talking about.

"Was that kiss up to standard?" Bobby asks and Lindsay is suddenly reminded of exactly where they are and what they were doing.

"It was pretty good," she grins.

"So, I don't need more practice?" he says with a tinge of disappointment.

"Oh, no, practice is always a good idea," Lindsay assures him and leans towards him for another kiss.

As they slowly draw away from one another, Bobby whispers, "You'd look great in that costume,"

"Just because you talked me into a bikini, doesn't mean you can talk me into anything," Lindsay laughs.

"It was worth a try, though," Bobby shrugs pulling her into his arms as they lean back into the cushions to watch the dancing.

"You know, it looks easy," Lindsay says having seen the two patrons survive the dance.

"So you wouldn't mind...?"

"Me? No, never, Bobby I'm warning you..."

"I'll kiss you, I'll kiss you," he laughs, placing his hand over his heart, he swears, "I promise."

"Good," she giggles, appreciating the ridiculousness of the situation.

With the dancing now over, their next course is served and Bobby and Lindsay soon get lost in enjoying their meal. Conversation is limited as they eat, it is mainly focussed on comments about the food until Lindsay looks at Bobby quizzically and asks, "Hey, Bobby, does Bec know that you've kissed Ally?"

"Um, yeah, I told her."

"I thought so." she nods thoughtfully, then grins, "Bobby, is there anything that you haven't told Bec?"

"Um..."

"You confess to her more than to your priest."

Bobby laughs, then asks, "Does that bother you?"

"Only in that it's a little disconcerting knowing that Bec probably knows more about what's going on in our relationship than I do."

"She doesn't, Linds."

"You talk to her more than me..."

"I do not, and you know we're just friends..."

"I'm not worried about Bec, Bobby," Lindsay laughs, "I know that she's too smart to get involved with someone like you."

"What's that say about you?" he challenges.

"That sometimes the craziest decisions can be the best ones of your life."

"Somewhere in that I might have been complimented," Bobby says with a deep-in-thought look on his face.

"Maybe," Lindsay concedes coyly making Bobby grin broadly.

After a long silence, he says, "At the risk of bringing Ally back into the conversation, why'd you ask about Bec knowing?"

"From now on when Bec acts strangely around someone I'm going to assume you've kissed them"

"What? Why?" Bobby asks again, in surprise.

"She said something about her once, Helen came into the office and she'd just had a run in with Ally over something, she was ranting, I wasn't really listening..."

Bobby laughs picturing Lindsay's yes-I'm-listening-intently face, he's witnessed it a number of times during a Helen rant, unfortunately he hasn't perfected one of his own as he always ends up getting swatted and told to pay attention.

"Anyway, Helen was complaining about Ally... Oh, I wouldn't tell Helen that you've kissed Ally if I were you, you'd never hear the end of it."

"Why thanks for that advice, and here I was planning on ringing her up and saying, 'Hey guess what...' Ow," Bobby rubs his chest after Lindsay's little jab silences him. "So, anyway," he says when his pout doesn't earn him sympathy, "What's this got to do with Bec?"

"Well, Bec heard Helen complaining and as she went past my desk she mumbled something about Ally, I don't remember what she called her exactly but it wasn't complimentary, I remember wondering what Ally had done to upset Bec."

"Bec always gets mad when I kiss someone..."

"Except me."

"Yeah, except you, I think that she always knew how I felt about you and got pissed that I wasn't doing anything about it."

"You know with Bec and Eugene working so hard to get us together, why did it ever take us so long?"

"One of us is stubborn."

"And the other's a mule."

"Funny."

Lindsay smiles slyly at him until she hears the music start up again, signaling that the dancer is back. "Oh, no," she says and slides closer to Bobby who happily places his arm around her shoulders, drawing her into his protective arms.

"I've dreamt about you doing that," he whispers into her ear, making Lindsay giggle.

"Oh, really?"

"Well not exactly that dance, more your typical grass-skirt hula-dancing deserted-island dream."

"Hmm, interesting," she hums.

"Actually it isn't really a deserted island, more you and I living on some remote island."

"Bobby, you're insane, you wouldn't last five minutes on an island."

"Sure I would, I'd go off and fish during the day with the men, and you'd stay back and do whatever it is women do while the men fish, then, when we get back the women will cook what we caught, we'll have a big party, you'll do your dance and I'll get so turned on that I'll pick you up and carry you back to our hut and show you just what your moves have done to me."

"I think we may get thrown off that island, Bobby."

"It isn't Survivor, Lindsay," he quips.

Lindsay laughs, keeping to herself the opinion that Bobby would be the first one voted off on Survivor, even loving him, he isn't always easy to live with. "So, is Survivor where this island fantasy comes from?" she asks.

"God no, I've had this one for years."

"Really?"

"Yeah, amongst others."

"Tell me your favorite one."

"I'm in the office..."

"Now there's a surprise. Do I ravish you on your desk?"

"No that's reality this is a fantasy."

"I've never..." Lindsay begins but Bobby pulls the neck of his shirt down displaying a small scar on the back of his neck where his letter opener had decided to lodge at an inopportune time. "Oh," Lindsay grins, "That's right." She leans in and kisses it better, then whispers into his ear, "So tell me what happens?"

"It's late at night and you walk in the door, you sort of hover near the doorway as we exchange the usual greetings, then you duck your head a little and I ask, 'What's wrong?' You shake your head and then when you look up again you ask me to do you a favour. I get up from my desk and start to walk over to you, you move closer to the couch and when I reach your side you kinda push me down so that I'm sitting on it and then you look at me, your eyes asking for permission and I nod, too in awe to say a word. You kneel down in front of me and start undressing me and..." Bobby pauses and starts to look around.

"I get the picture," Lindsay whispers, she gets it so clearly that she's actually feeling a little lost in it at the moment, she certainly doesn't need clarification, she doubts that she'd survive clarification. "Did you have this one a lot?" she asks.

"Yeah," Bobby grins.

"Was it always the same?"

"Little things would change,"

"Like what?"

"What you were wearing."

"Really?" she giggles

"Yeah, sometimes you'd have no clothes on."

Lindsay laughs out loud and Bobby joins in softly. When she calms a little, she grins at him and says, "So, what, I just come into your office, naked, and ask you to do me a favour?"

"Don't make me regret telling you this," he warns but his eyes dance with mischief.

Lindsay looks into his eyes, smoothes her hand over his cheek then leans up to softly kiss him. Gaining confidence from his lips, she pulls away and begins talking. "I'd be sitting on the couch, alone in my apartment, and I'd hear someone come to the door. I'd know it was you and I'd know that I couldn't let you in, that we shouldn't be doing this. I wouldn't answer, I'd sit there hoping that you'd go away but then I'd hear a key in the lock and the door would start to open... As you come through the door I stand up and start backing away, telling you that you shouldn't be here but you say that you should, that this is right, that I should have let you in and you keep advancing on me... We end up in the bedroom and I'm left with nowhere to run, you take hold of me and kiss me and tell me that we belong together, that you'll never let me go, that you won't let me deny it anymore... You're there and you are all that I want and I stop fighting it... You've been waiting for me to and the moment that I do, you..." Lindsay sighs and looks across at Bobby nervously.

He smiles and draws her against him. They sit in silence for a moment, watching the dancing come to an end, but their minds are filled with other scenes. After a while Bobby turns to Lindsay and says, "See, you like me being bossy, don't deny it."

"No," she laughs, "Not in reality, but... it's my dream, so, even though you are being a pain-in-the-ass bossy-boots I'm the one in control because I'm the one imagining it."

"Yeah, yeah."

"I am."

"No you're not, I'm in charge, I said so and I'm the boss."

"Bobby, shut up," Lindsay says exasperated. He looks at her smugly and she begins to glare at him but then suddenly she laughs, her hand covers her mouth as she shakes her head.

"What?" Bobby asks knowing that something is going on in that amazing mind of hers.

"I know that I'm going to regret telling you this," Lindsay says.

"But you are going to tell me?" Bobby asks hopefully.

"Yeah," she grins, running her fingers over his lips, concentrating on them and not his inquisitive eyes as she isn't sure she can say this if he's watching her. "I... uh..." she begins, then sighs and drops her fingers from his mouth. "Okay, when you'd really annoy me..."

"Like now?" Bobby interrupts.

Lindsay laughs and looks up at him, "Now is coming real close to it," she says and suddenly she has the confidence to say this to his face, "When we'd had one of those days where we'd clashed constantly and I'd go home feeling incensed by you. I'd sit at home stewing over the day, I'd be seething, I'd need to talk to someone but... you were the one that I'd normally talk to and that fact would make me even angrier. So no matter how much I'd want to strangle you and forget about you, I'd spend the whole time thinking about you and... dammit, wanting you."

Bobby smiles broadly and Lindsay groans, "See, I knew that I shouldn't tell you this."

"You can't stop now," he says sobering up a little, afraid that she'll stop.

Lindsay grins, now that she's started she has no intention of stopping but she keeps silent long enough for Bobby to start to worry.

"Linds?" he pleads and she nods.

"I'd want you, Bobby, I just wouldn't want to hear your voice. I... uh..." nervousness takes hold again and she buries her head in her hands.

Running his hand over her back, Bobby encourages, "Go on."

The timbre of his voice draws Lindsay's face back up, she sees in Bobby's eyes the feral look that normally signifies he's come up with a new and elaborate stunt that will win them the unwinnable case. Lindsay loves that look, it had been that passion that had first drawn her to him and, now, to see it there because of her floors her. Mesmerized by him, she talks freely, "I'd imagine I'd go to your apartment, it would be late, two or three o'clock in the morning and you'd be asleep, I'd sneak into your room, would stand their watching you at first knowing that, no matter how much I might want to, I couldn't leave now. You'd be on your back and I'd climb onto the bed and over you, I'd pin your hands with mine and you'd wake with a start. You'd open your mouth to speak, but I couldn't let you, so I'd kiss you forcefully. You wouldn't stop me, instead you'd give in to it and I'd pull up and say, 'One word and I'll leave.' You'd nod then lift your head, silently calling for me and we'd kiss again. I'd let go of your hands and you'd reach for me, you never spoke.... not a word, your full attention would be on actions not words."

"You like that?"

"Ooh yeah."

"I can do that," he says, nodding eagerly.

Lindsay laughs, "No you can't."

"Yes I can."

"Bobby, you're very vocal when we..."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"What do I say?"

"Well," she grins, "It isn't always easy to tell."

"You're too into it?" he asks, curiously.

"There is that," she says, "And the fact that you rarely use English."

"It's poetry, Linds, caveman style."

Lindsay laughs loudly at Bobby, enjoying seeing him so at ease, so playful. This is what she had wanted, after the tears of the previous days, she'd wanted laughter and fun, wanted to see Bobby relaxed and happy, knowing that once they return to Boston they have a busy couple of months ahead of them and it may be a while before they again get to truly relax. Bobby's next nonsensical comment is thwarted as the waitress places a large pitcher on the table. Bobby looks at Lindsay with eyebrows raised and she smiles as she reaches out and pours drinks for both of them. Clinking their glasses together, they offer a toast to themselves and drink.

"Mmmm," Lindsay purrs after her first mouthful of the fruity, sweet and potent liquid, "You'd better be driving tonight, Bobby," she says, "Because this might have me under the table."

"I'm jealous," Bobby grins and enjoys the flush that rises in her cheeks, hoping it's from him and not just the alcohol.

"This is good," Lindsay says taking another sip.

"The carrying you home part of my fantasy just may come true."

"You never know your luck in a big city."

"What about a small seaside town?"

"You feeling lucky, Bobby?"

"Let's see, you, me, vacation... hmmm, yeah I'd say I'm feeling lucky."

"Me too," Lindsay says smiling at him.

Bobby returns her smile, he doesn't know if it is because of where they are or what they have been through in the past few days but he feels different, as if he is seeing everything in a way that he has never seen it before, and what he sees most clearly, is that what he'd told Lindsay is God's honest truth - he has exactly what he wants in life, he has her and he is happy. He lets out a deep breath of stunned realisation, that's what this sensation is - true happiness.

Lindsay looks at him curiously and he nuzzles against her ear, humming contentedly, he whispers, "You make me so happy."

He feels her arms enclose him until they are so close that she is practically sitting in his lap. She tilts her face up to his and her eyes are moist with tears but, for a change, they don't concern him, he knows that tonight they are good tears. Their faces hover so close that their breaths wash over each other, noses brush against cheeks as they enjoy the feel of the other being so close.

Bobby remembers sitting in another restaurant on Saturday night and experiencing the exquisite torture of keeping an arms distance from her, of stifling his desire to consume her but failing as lust had overcome him. Tonight he loves Lindsay just as dearly but with that love comes contentment and the desire not for action but to just be. To be here, to be with her, to be her Bobby, the man that she loves, who makes her laugh, makes her smile, makes her so happy that her world changes because of it. He wants to be for her what she is for him.

Bobby chases Lindsay's laughter, telling stories and jokes, playing the fool until, breathless, she begs him to stop, but he can't stop because he has too much elation inside desperate to come out. He begins to play a game with her, she picks a patron and he tells her their life story; he alternates between making her laugh, catering to her romantic cravings and shocking her with audacity. She comes alive with each tale that he tells, immersed in that universe she questions him, spurring him to make each scenario more elaborate, intriguing and ingenious, reminding him that with her input, his life is fuller and so much more exciting.

Courses come and go and though the food is tantalizing their taste-buds it is their minds that are celebrating tonight.

Lindsay delights in this newly discovered side of Bobby, she had never known that this man had existed inside of him. Although he has always been playful with her, has always enjoyed a joke as much as anyone else, tonight it is more than that. Tonight he is letting her see the true him and he isn't the man that she thought she had known. She sees for the first time the true toll that his life has taken from him, the control under which he so strictly operates and sees too the pure joy at relinquishing it now, that arises through letting himself be himself.

As the alcoholic buzz wears off of her she begins to feel a little melancholy and wonders what it would take for Bobby to always feel this free. She knows that she too can be a sombre and controlled person and wonders would they be better with people who could entice their playfulness out of them more often. She wonders are they really right for one another. Right or not, she wants no other, but, once a question arises, Lindsay finds it difficult to let it go until it has been answered.

Turning to Bobby, she says, "Bobby, do you ever wonder, what if you and Ally had...?"

"Of course not!" he immediately responds, surprised to have this topic return after over an hours reprieve.

"But she..."

"Are you... does this... Lindsay, you say that you aren't jealous, but..."

"I wasn't, but now... yeah, I think that I am a little bit."

"Well, don't be, it was nothing, a couple of kisses... and a dance..."

"You went dancing?"

"No... um, in the office, she uh... she wanted to dance, so we danced."

Lindsay laughs, "You and Ally, God, Bobby, she is so not your type."

"Oh, really, so what's my type?"

"You don't have a type, Bobby, you have a fiancée, that precludes a type."

"Is that so?"

"It had better be."

"Afraid not, I have a type, it's just a very exclusive type, one of a kind in fact."

"That's funny, me too."

"Old and crotchety but brilliant in bed?"

"Yeah, that's my type," she laughs, "And suddenly I don't want you to describe your type."

Bobby decides to show her through his actions instead of his words that she is his everything. Lindsay relaxes into his embrace, loving the openness of his features and the adoration in his eyes. As comfortable as she is in her heart about his love, she can't quite let the their topic of conversation go, it's too new and peculiar a subject.

"Bobby, what was it about Ally that attracted you? No matter how hard I try I just can't picture you with her."

"That's because I never have nor ever will be with her." Bobby sighs, wishing that he had never mentioned the name, seeing now that total honesty only gets you into trouble. "Linds, there is ~nothing~ about her," he whines, "I haven't even thought of her in years. The only reason I said anything was that we would have been seen together because of the cases that we worked together, so when I tried to think about who you might have heard about she was the only person I could think of."

"Bobby, I know that, I'm just curious, you said that at one time you'd been interested, I want to know you and this is something about you that I would never have imagined. No offense, Bobby, but she is strange," she grins as he chuckles "I'm curious about why you were interested in her even for that minuscule amount of time?"

"Okay, but don't take this the wrong way."

"I won't."

"The partnership thing..."

"You were angry..."

"No, see I knew you'd think that. When I met Ally, I wasn't angry but... I guess, I was lonely, in a way, see we used to all be really close, the firm was like a family in some ways, but after the partnership... at first we kinda lost that, there was a lot of bickering and mistrust, no one was happy..." When Lindsay looks away, he draws her face back and says, "Hey, the partnership was the right thing to do, you know I believe that, I'm just saying that at first it caused a lot of problems, we both know, Linds, that that was my doing..."

"Bobby..."

"It's okay, we resolved it, I mean we kinda pulled together again after Jimmy was shot, things started to improve from there and now everything's back to normal, it's just that for a while there it had been so strained..."

"Yeah," Lindsay sighs, remembering the tension that had hung over everyone at that time.

"When I met Ally, God that firm was insane but at the same time they seemed so together. I missed... I missed the camaraderie that we used to have and they seemed to have it. She condemned me for judging them, called me jaded and said that I needed to hold onto what was left of my innocence, she challenged me about where I was headed in life and she was right, I was stagnant. She wasn't going to let herself become her job and I know that I tend to do that... she said that at the end of the day they all go downstairs and dance... and they did, I watched... no matter what happened during the day, at the end of it they came out as friends, I envied them that and I wanted it for us..." When he sees Lindsay smile, he shrugs and laughing says, "Okay, maybe not the dancing, but the togetherness."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Lindsay says.

"So, I guess the attraction was that she seemed to have the things that I wanted, she seemed content with who she was, happy even, she knew what she wanted out of life, hadn't got there yet but knew where she was going... and, I thought that, maybe, with her I'd know where I was going too... That was the attraction, I liked the road that she seemed to be on, her outlook, if not her ways... Mind you, the chances are if I'd gotten to know her better I would have discovered that she was just as lost as everyone else, she was a curiosity, that's all, an opposites attract thing. It was good having someone to work late at nights with again, I'd missed us doing that, it felt good thinking that maybe I didn't have to be alone."

Lindsay nods but doesn't reply, which only makes Bobby nervous.

"Lindsay, I have what I was looking for then, we are a group again, a family, and you... I have you. After the kiss I couldn't pretend anymore, I liked Ally but that was all it would ever be, I told her I needed time and I had things to sort out, but the truth was someone else had my heart... I just didn't know if she wanted it."

"She did."

"Thank God!" He smiles at her as he takes her hand, "I chose you a long time ago, Lindsay, and I've never regretted it, I will never regret it. I don't ever wonder what could have been because I have exactly what I want. It took us so long to get here that I know for sure I'm now where I want to be."

"You scare me when you talk like that," Lindsay whispers.

"Why, because you don't feel the same?" Bobby asks, pulling away a little.

"No!" she assures him, encouraging him back, "No, because I do and if you feel the same way I do, then... we are going to make it, aren't we, Bobby?"

"Yeah, we are," he agrees, overwhelmed by hearing her express those words, hearing her show a confidence in them that he has always doubted she has. He holds her close as he takes this declaration in.

"I want to tell you how I feel, Bobby, but..."

"The words are hard."

"Yeah, and I just have to hope that you know."

"I do now."

"I wish..."

"What?"

"That I'd never given you cause to doubt it."

"Yeah but then it wouldn't have felt so incredible when you wiped the doubts away."

"You mean that it feels better having worked for it?"

"Yeah"

"I suppose."

"You know how much I like to work at things."

"Oh, so that's why you are a pain in the ass to live with, you just want to turn everything into hard work."

Bobby nods and grins, glad to see Lindsay smiling again. When the music starts up, Lindsay's teasing smile turns into a laugh; what amuses her the most is Bobby's attempt to appear nonchalant about it. He puts in such an effort to appear as though he isn't looking that he draws more attention to himself than if he'd just watched. She wonders why he's bothering to pretend that he isn't interested. Is it merely that they've been talking about women from his past and he is afraid that she may be feeling insecure? She isn't, the gossip she's heard has always intrigued her more than concerned her. Tonight she had just felt like finding out how much of it was gossip and how much was reality.

She shouldn't have been surprised that Bobby had no knowledge of the attention he garners, he's always been so focussed on his own goals that he is oblivious of what washes up in his wake. Poor guy, she thinks, knowing how he feels about unwanted attention, how unsettled he is at the thought that someone is making a move on him, oh sure, he tries to act blasé about it, but she knows that it gets to him a little. Remembering that the next time he goes to the courthouse it will be for the Harmon trial, she smiles, thinking that thankfully she will be by his side. She pictures him hiding behind her, seeking her protection from his adoring masses.

Bobby leans in to find out what it is that is so funny but she shrugs him off saying that it is nothing. Although unsatisfied with her answer, he nods and looks to his glass which is suddenly the most interesting thing in the room, picking it up, he takes a drink then lowers it again, running his fingers over its moist surface.

Lindsay looks from him to the dance floor in time to see that it has again become audience participation time. Suddenly she wants to join in, she quickly looks at Bobby, who is still moping over her nondisclosure, 'You big baby,' she thinks as she looks back towards the dancer. She nods when she sees the waitress approaching her thinking that it won't quite be Bobby's hula fantasy but it should put a smile on his face anyway. She slowly begins to rise to join the dance.

Bobby senses that Lindsay has become restless beside him and, remembering what is going on, is reminded that he is supposed to be paying vigilant attention and protecting her from inclusion and the subsequent embarrassment. Looking up he sees the waitress approaching them, 'Oh shit!' he thinks and turns, ready to grab Lindsay and make it impossible for them to take her away from him, only Lindsay isn't looking at him. No, she's standing up, apparently willing to follow the waitress out to the dance floor.

Bobby is sure that his mouth is hanging open unattractively, and wonders if the jolt to his system is because of his jaw hitting the floor or the sudden rush of testosterone that has been unleashed at the thought of what Lindsay is about to do. She looks over her shoulder at him as she walks away and the smile that she offers him is the most beautiful sight that he has ever seen. Mind you, he thinks that with every smile of hers that he sees, he's yet to develop any immunity to them. Lindsay giggles a little and Bobby knows that it must be in reaction to the flabbergasted expression on his face as he wonders what happened to 'Kiss me like you mean it,' and 'No way am I getting up there.'

Secretly, Bobby had wanted her to dance, he has always loved watching her move and, well, honestly, the dance is a wet dream come true, the only thing that it had so far been missing was the right body performing the moves. Suddenly he's nervous thinking that he may not survive this. His saving grace should be that at least Lindsay will be fully dressed during it, for if she had been wearing that skimpy costume too, then he'd most likely find himself at the mercy of the California legal system and from past experience that is not something he's eager to have happen. He knows her body though, so her being fully clothed may not be enough of a protection for him as he can, after all, fill in all of the phenomenally gorgeous details. Oooh boy, he could be in some trouble now.

Bobby watches as Lindsay listens intently to the instructions as they are given, she nods her head a number of times and he can read impatience to just get on with it in her gesture. He laughs to himself but his adorably feisty woman obviously hears him do so because she shoots him a look. He smiles and she pulls a face at him before turning back and nodding at the instructor one more time. Bobby leans back in the cushions, stretching his legs out, eager to witness what he is sure will be an incredible show.

Finally the music begins and the dancing resumes. The dancer takes center stage with Lindsay to her right and a far more nervous patron to her left. Bobby watches as their hands begin to weave in front of them, drawing the attention of all in the room. Bobby's eyes are captivated by one dancer only and hers never leave his pleasure filled face as she completes the beginning of the routine. The dance intensifies as hips become involved and small steps are taken while they do a 360° turn. Bobby's attention is momentarily diverted to the other patron who is so intently watching the instructor that she misses a step and almost gets stood on. His eyes return quickly to Lindsay who watches him as she again faces forwards.

"Love you," Bobby mouths to her and her smile blossoms as she drops her head a little coyly; her hair partially covers her face as she looks up at him from delighted eyes.

He realises now why she had been so impatient with the instructions, she had the dance perfected before she'd ever attempted a step. That's my Lindsay, he thinks, and berates himself for assuming that he had held her attention all night until he wonders if maybe she has done this before. He grins when she shakes her head and wonders is she a mind reader or is he just that transparent. He can't help it, his eyes have to drop from her eyes to witness the mouthwatering enticing way that her body is moving. God it should be illegal to be that seductive, it can't be right that you can have such an impact on another person by merely moving your body.

He imagines those moves, not all the way across the room but close enough to touch, to feel, not just her skin but her presence too, to hear her breath and feel it against him, to smell her, not just her skin and her hair, the scents that she presents to the outside world but her arousal, for he knows that it would be there, lingering in the air between them. He knows it because he can see that it is there in her eyes, the look that says 'this is for you but it is thrilling me to do it.'

"Me too, baby, me too," he promises her.

He loves seeing her so free and his hands itch to feel her undulations against him. He'd thought that his dreams of her had been good but they are nothing when compared to this. She has to do this again, in private, where he can truly appreciate it. Lindsay nods and Bobby laughs loudly, not caring who else is in the room because for him there is only her. His mind reading, hip-swivelling, sensually delicious, lust-inspiring Lindsay. He's going to make her quit the firm and take up dancing full time, except then he doesn't get to work with her, dammit, decisions, decisions, the things that she does to him.

Too soon the dance is over and when it is announced that that had been the final demonstration of the night and the floor is now open Bobby knows that he is in deep deep trouble. Lindsay walks towards him with a predatory I'm-not-taking-no-for-an-answer look in her eye. Bobby grins, the things that she can make him do. Luckily for her he needs her in his arms more than he needs to refuse to dance.

He loves dancing with her, always has, if there is music and she's in the vicinity they invariably end up together, stealing a dance, a kiss, an excuse to slow down and enjoy the moment, a chance to savour each other. This dance will be different, he can see it in her eyes that this is as much about claiming him as it is about moving rhythmically together. Whether it is the tribal beat bringing out her more primitive instincts or her wish to show him the desire that resides permanently inside, this dance holds a greater meaning than any they have engaged in before.

Bobby rises and allows her to lead him the few steps to the dance floor, thankfully there are already others there and his bravado isn't lost through nervousness. Lindsay's arms drape around his neck while his hands find her hips, she moves against him, guiding him into the rhythm of the music. He whispers praise and love to her, making her laugh and smile with pride and pleasure. He wants to kiss her but is sure that, should he, he wouldn't be able to stop. Instead he looks deeply into her eyes, allowing his body and his whispered words to convey the love that he feels. He knows that she is doing the same, and he feels her love, he feels it so strongly that his feet no longer seem to touch the floor. Their love propels them as they move together to the music.

Though others come and go the dance floor remains theirs. The freedom to dance this way is too good to give up. When limbs finally scream for a reprise they return to their table and make short work of the platter of exotic fruits that they find there. Hours after entering the restaurant, with bellies now full and hearts bursting with joy, they slowly make their way out of the door wondering how they can pack up this place and take it back to Boston with them.

Instead of opening the car door for her, Bobby leans against it and draws her into his arms. "I know what I am getting you for Christmas," he says.

Lindsay laughs, "What? Dance lessons?"

"Like you need them," Bobby replies as his hands run over the body that had so enflamed him.

"I give up then, what?" she asks.

"Actually, I'm tossing up between plane tickets and a grass skirt."

"I already have a grass skirt."

Bobby stands up straight, which forces Lindsay to take a step backwards. "Don't tell me that there is a grass-skirt in the apartment and I've never seen it," he says in horror.

Lindsay laughs, "No, it's at my parents... I mean Mom's, it wasn't something that I foresaw needing again." Seeing the delight on Bobby's face, she giggles and warns, "I'm not even sure that I'd still fit into it."

His delight drops a little as he says, "Another childhood treasure?"

"Hardly," Lindsay laughs, "Helen and I went to a costume party back when we were at Harvard."

Bobby smiles then winces, "Were you dating someone at the time?"

"I was and he was very impressed."

Bobby groans and leans back against the car in distress.

"Come here," Lindsay says and he steps forward, wrapping his arms around her. "Let me tell you a secret," she says and Bobby grins at her suddenly husky voice. "Helen was dating too," Lindsay says and Bobby feels a rush of disappointment, not caring to hear a story about Helen. "But," Lindsay sighs, "They argued so I ended up leaving the party early with her. So, while I may not be, you could say that my skirt is a virgin."

Bobby laughs, once again delighted with the idea of witnessing her in it and then removing it from her, thankful that he alone will have ever had that pleasure. He knows that Lindsay has seen right through him and kisses her indulgent smile. "Suddenly I can't wait to get home," he says.

"To Boston or the beach house?" Lindsay asks.

"Both," Bobby replies.

"Me too," she replies, then steps from his grasp and says, "C'mon, take me home."

"With pleasure," he replies but neither makes a move towards the car, instead they smile at one another before slowly leaning forward until their bodies press together again. Embracing her, Bobby whispers, "I don't want this night to end."

"Neither do I," she replies, closing her eyes and breathing him in.

"You move first," Bobby says.

Giggling, Lindsay pulls out of his arms, walks to the car door and waits for him to unlock it. Bobby kisses her as he does so then hurries to his side of the car; now that they have parted he is eager to get them home

~~~~~~~

As Bobby parks the car in their driveway Lindsay closes her eyes; during the drive home she had realized exactly how tired she is and is finding it hard now to muster the energy to climb out of the car. Hearing Bobby's door open then close she sighs and opens her eyes, she smiles at him through the window before turning and opening her door. Bobby reaches her side before she's finished climbing out, as he closes the door for her she leans back against the car. They stand there staring at one another, their faces still portraying the joy of the night.

Bobby takes her hand and leans in close as he says, "I had fun tonight."

Lindsay hums, "Me too." When she sees Bobby's eyes roaming appreciatively over her, she knows what he's remembering and, suddenly feeling shy, she shakes her head wondering what had made her behave that way. She rests her forehead against his chest and moans, "I can't believe that I danced."

"You were incredible," he assures her as his hands stroke over her head and back. "You were the best there."

Lindsay laughs and leans back in his embrace so that she can raise her face to his, "You're not just saying that because you are biased, are you?" she asks.

Bobby shakes his head, he moves his hand from her back to sign a cross over his heart, then raises it to softly glide over her face. "Although I was fully prepared to kiss you to prevent it happening, I'm glad that I didn't have to... Lindsay, you... uh... My God!"

Their eyes meet and hold and it is difficult to know who makes the first move to join their lips, softly they kiss, hands slowly roaming over their bodies until, finding a place to stay, they hold on as lips and tongues caress.

"Beautiful," Bobby whispers and Lindsay hums an agreement.

They stand just holding one another until Bobby softly says, "If we stay out here much longer one of us is going to start snoring." Lindsay smiles at him and, taking his hand, they walk towards the house. As he opens the door, Bobby leans in and whispers against her ear, "Will you dance for me, if I ask nicely?"

She drapes her arms around his neck and kisses him softly, before pulling away and saying, "Ask nicely and you'll see." When the door opens, she releases her hold on him and, walking past him, bewitches him with her smile.

Bobby quickly toes the door shut and follows her down the hallway, their speed picking up as their destination gets closer, Lindsay's laughter ringing in his ears has Bobby's lecherous innuendoes getting wilder and wilder.

"If that's the way you ask nicely, Bobby," Lindsay says, "Then I can't wait to hear you be naughty."

"I'll let you do more than just hear it," Bobby says lurching towards her.

Lindsay jumps out of his way and they collapse onto the bed, quickly finding each other and returning to practicing the fine art of kissing. "Mmm you taste good," she says as her lips whisper against his, before returning for another taste of his sweet mouth and the fruity tang that remains in it from their meal.

Their world shrinks until it's only them, tangled limbs and eager lips, endless kisses and whispered endearments. Lindsay feels more drunk and lightheaded from Bobby then she did from the powerful cocktail that she had been served during dinner. Her blood burns, not with alcohol but with love, her limbs become ungainly and her hands shake as she tries to undress him, the task is made even more difficult by the fact that their bodies are pressed so firmly against one another that she has no room for manoeuvring. She gives up when she has achieved little more than snaking her hand up the back of Bobby's shirt. Her hand splays there, feeling his shoulder-blades move as his body rocks against hers. Her other hand roams, chasing sensation, gathering as much of him as she can and always restlessly seeking more.

Their kisses continue, slow and unhurried until exhaustion begins to win out. Bobby rolls to his side, drawing Lindsay with him. They pause, laying on their sides and staring adoringly at each other. Smiles appear and fade and appear again as eyes explore with as much passion as lips had. Slowly they shuffle closer together, hands reaching and entwining; Bobby draws their joined fingers to his lips and whispers his love. Lindsay smiles and guides him onto his back, before kissing his chin, his lips, his nose, his eyes. He closes his eyes as her lips travel over him, then struggles to reopen them when he feels her lay back beside him. They lay in silence and Lindsay watches Bobby fight to prevent his eyes from closing again. Kissing him had been wonderful, making love would be doubly so but, right now, what she finds most enticing is falling asleep in his arms. She can tell by his increasingly long blinks and his relaxed features that he too has drawn the same conclusion.

Leaning over, Lindsay kisses Bobby softly before whispering, "Be right back."

His hand trails along her arm as she rises. Once standing, she pauses to look at him, he props up on his elbows and asks, "You gonna dance for me?"

Bobby's husky sleep-starved voice almost buckles Lindsay's knees, she shakes her head slightly and says, "Later." She returns his smile and momentarily considers climbing back into bed with him and falling asleep right now; deciding that a little effort now will result in a more comfortable sleep, she tears herself away and walks to the bathroom. When she exits, ready for bed, Bobby's still fully dressed but sound asleep. Lindsay climbs onto the bed and trickles her fingers over his skin, enjoying his sleepy attempt to swat the annoyance away. She smiles when she sees cognizance return and lays her head on his shoulder whispering into his ear, "You're overdressed."

Bobby mutters and groans a little until he realises that she won't let up until he's gotten changed. He rises on unsteady legs and Lindsay lays back and watches him shuffle away.

Her eyes struggle to stay open for his return but fail, instead they open sharply when he flings himself back into bed. Laughing she rolls into his embrace. Draped along his side, she rests her chin on his shoulder as she looks into his eyes.

"Is it still What Bobby Wants Day?" he asks.

Lindsay nods, although Monday is officially over, she's in no hurry to end her pact, Bobby's perfect day has been wonderful for her too.

"I just want you," Bobby says as he reaches for the hem of her gown. Lindsay rises enough to allow him to draw it up and off of her, and then, skin to skin, she lays her head against his chest and allows the soothing caress of his hands over her skin to lull her into sleep, knowing that he won't be far behind.







    To be continued

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