I've never read the Elizabeth George books (Tommy as a blond?!) but I am a huge of the BBC series, and I have borrowed the characters to play with just for fun and no profit to myself. I promise to return them unharmed...I hope you enjoy!

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He knew she was there before he saw her. He could feel her in the room, somehow, as though he had a special internal radar just for her, set off by her presence. His eyes scanned the room, searching for her, but he heard her first, the clear crystalline tone of her laugh carrying over the dozens of conversations happening in the crowded restaurant.

Her laughter allowed him to zero in on her location. She was smiling at the man seated across from her, her red-gold hair glowing in the light, head thrown back, throat exposed. Flirtatious, and he had not thought Barbara Havers capable of that behaviour. It made him angry, although he could not for the life of him explain why.

"Tommy, are you feeling all right? You seem...a bit distracted."

Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley focused his eyes back on the beautiful face across from him. She had been a model in her twenties, and she was still stunning now, with classic bone structure and any fine lines that might have appeared since then hidden by the romantic lighting in this expensive restaurant.

"Sorry, Caroline. It's been a rough few days at work. I suppose I'm a bit tired."

"We can go if you like —"

"No, no. I've been wanting to try this place out, and you went to all the trouble of getting reservations." He smiled at his date to emphasize his words, although the expression didn't really reach all the way up to his eyes.

"Yes, I had to call in a few favors. Amazing what a brand new Michelin star can do! Still, it convinced you to accept my invitation. I'll be back in a moment. I need to freshen up." Caroline reached out and squeezed his hand briefly before she stepped away.

He stood politely as she rose, but Tommy's attention snapped back to his sergeant almost immediately. Havers was still smiling, leaning in now, tucking her hair behind her ear. Damn her, she was in actual fact flirting, and it infuriated him. Hot anger burned in his chest, and he knew it was irrational, which only fanned the flame.

He stared at Barbara intently, as though through sheer force of will he could make her notice him. It seemed impossible to him that he could be so aware of her, as if every cell in his body was attuned to her, while she did not even realize he was in the room. His fingers tapped at the table in annoyance, and he drained his glass, not giving the unpeated Bruichladdich single malt even one tenth of the attention it deserved.

Barbara and her companion were apparently finished with their meal, because they rose to leave as Caroline returned from the ladies' room. Tommy resettled his date in her chair, but his eyes were glued to his partner. He gritted his teeth as he watched Havers' date place a hand on the small of her back to guide her out of the restaurant.

The familiarity of the gesture and his own, yes, he had to admit it, jealousy, ruined the evening for him, despite the talents of the hottest young chef in London, and his date's efforts to draw him out. The smoked quail and baby artichokes were exceptional, but his mind was elsewhere, and Caroline was well aware of it.

"I think we'll skip dessert, don't you?" she asked. "And call it an evening?"

He winced at her tone, realizing he had been a terrible dinner companion. "I'm sorry. Things at work...my brain is elsewhere..."

"I suppose the real question is, will your brain be present if we try this again another night?"

Tommy's mouth opened to respond, but nothing came out at first, leaving a long, awkward pause hovering between them. "I just...it's not you..."

Caroline laughed. "Oh, I know it isn't me, darling. I'm attracted to you, and thought we potentially could be a good fit, but there are plenty of other men out there who would be happy to give me their undivided attention." She patted his hand to show there were no hard feelings. "Whoever she is, I hope she feels the same way about you."