Brennan frowned, recalling Booth ogling the woman at the gym. While she could certainly acknowledge the fact that Booth was a red-blooded American male that would certainly find the sight of a well proportioned and suitably endowed woman stimulating, she couldn't understand why,exactly, that that thought bothered her so much.
He also didn't correct Pam when she called me a scarecrow.
Her brown furrowing some more, Brennan glanced down at herself. She had never had any complaints from any of the men she had dated. They had all seemed to find her sexually appealing and had responded well to her physique.
'Sweetie, why are you staring at your chest?' Angela asked incredulously. Snapping her head back up, Brennan cleared her throat awkwardly.
'I thought I…dropped something,' Brennan responded hastily. 'Did you need anything?'
Angela's eyes narrowed as she crossed the room, placing a picture of a Civil War soldier on her desk.
'Okay, you have this look on your face. What is it?'
'Nothing Angela,' Brennan said, sighing. 'It's nothing.'
Angela made a sound that clearly showed she didn't believe a word. 'What did Booth do?'
Brennan gaped at her. Sometimes, her best friend's ability to read minds was eerily accurate. Deciding that it was best to seek some reassurance, Brennan spoke.
'Do you find me sexually appealing?'
'Woah!' Booth's voice interrupted. Brennan felt her cheeks begin to darken, much to her disdain. Wasn't he supposed to be at the Hoover Building all day? Wasn't that what he had told her? Glancing towards her friend, Brennan saw Angela raise an eyebrow.
'Of course I do Sweetie,' Angela said definitively.
'Really?' Brennan and Booth asked at the same time. Seeing Booth cast a look, Brennan quickly averted her eyes.
'That would be very…' Booth began, trailing off with a dopey grin.
'Not happening G-Man,' Angela told him, rolling her eyes. 'Now explain.'
Feeling Booth's stare on her, Brennan felt her tongue stick to the roof of her mouth. Finally adopting what she hoped was an expressionless mask, she directed her question at Booth.
'Why did you say I was a scarecrow?'
'Booth said what?' Angela asked.
'I never said that!' Booth exclaimed, eyes widening.
'When you were interviewing Pam,' Brennan pressed. 'She said I was a scarecrow and you failed to correct her.'
'Bones, we were doing an interview for a murder investigation,' Booth said, fiddling with his tie. 'You know that-'
'Well, it wasn't very nice that you agreed with her,' Brennan replied, folding her arms.
'I didn't agree with her,' Booth insisted, turning to Angela who merely smirked at him.
'Silence indicates affirmation,' Brennan retorted. 'And then at the gym you clearly eyeballed that woman, which I found not only rude but very offensive.'
Ignoring the tutting sound Angela was making, Booth stared speechless at his partner.
'Are you being serious?' Seeing the hurt look that Brennan flashed him, and the disapproving glare that Angela was giving him, Booth quickly backtracked. 'Angela, could you give us a minute?'
Cutting her gaze back and forth between them, Angela complied.
'There was no reason to send her out,' Brenna said dully, getting to her feet. 'This conversation is childish. Forget I said anything.'
'Hey.' Booth grasped her wrist as she walked by. 'What's this really about?'
'Nothing,' Brennan responded harshly. Finding Booth staring at her intensely, she expelled a breath.
'I don't know why I'm upset. It was an insignificant comment that I shouldn't have dwelled upon.'
'Look Bones,' Booth started, his eyes focusing on her left ear. 'I don't think you're a scarecrow alright? Any man would be stupid to even think that you resembled a scarecrow. And I apologize for ogling that woman.'
'You don't have to…apologize,' Brennan mumbled, wondering why she had pursued this line of conversation. 'I'm just…'
'Just what Bones?' Booth chided gently, watching as Brennan observed his hold on her wrist. He wondered why he felt glad that she hadn't pulled away yet.
'The only reason men seem to be attracted to me is because of my looks. Once they discover that I work for the Jeffersonian, or that I'm a best-selling author, they seem threatened. Or if they aren't, they leave because I'm emotionally distant.'
Booth studied her face, his heart clenching when he realized that she believed every word she said.
'You're more than just Smurfette Bones,' Booth started, watching as she recalled the day he had presented her with Brainy Smurf. 'Sure, I won't deny that you're nice to look at.'
You're beautiful, Booth told himself as he saw her face grow pink.
But any schmuck that can't see what a…wonderful person you are, both on the outside and on the inside, he doesn't deserve you. And you feel with both your head and your heart Bones,' Booth told her, his hold on her tightening. 'It's their loss and my gain.'
Booth saw her lift her head and found himself looking into a pair of deep, cerulean eyes. He saw something he couldn't quite identify linger around them, and a warmth spread through him.
'I can also sing,' Brennan murmured.
'At least, that's what you say,' Booth joked, letting his hand fall. Another moment passed.
'Thank you Booth.'
Booth watched as she walked out of the room, his eyes trailing down her body, and his cheek still hot from where she had pressed her lips.
You're the only one I want to look at.