Chapter Two: Apologies and Introductions

Robert Goren had turned to apologize, expecting some sort of snarky retort from the person he had inadvertently smacked in the back while putting his jacket over his chair. It was a hazard of the job, expecting the worst from people, and he was used to the frustrated looks and smart ass remarks his behavior usually elicited. It was especially aggravating and embarrassing for him when his actions were accidental and unplanned. Bobby had always prided himself on being prepared for anything and never being too thrown by the reactions of others. Great, Goren, he thought to himself, you finally get somewhere where you can relax and the first thing you do is piss off someone in a bar. Smile and make nice now…

"Oh… please excuse me," he proffered as his eyes glanced towards his unintended victim.He had already plastered a placating smile on his face before his eyes actually focused on the person he had nearly sent face first into their table. God Almighty…

The waitress had just delivered two steaming open faced rarebit sandwiches and Anna couldn't wait to dig in. She had lunched early due to the monthly staff meeting and was famished by the time her brother had picked her up for their "night on the town." She had managed to get her first forkful half way to her mouth when she was startled by a heavy THUMP to the back of her chair. The fork along with its delectable contents slipped from her hand and landed with a splatter in the napkin on her lap. Damn… that looked really good. From behind her she heard a deep, somewhat exasperated voice offering an apology and turned to give the usual "no harm – no foul" response. With a wan smile she looked into the face of the perpetrator.

Goren's patented observational skills kicked into overdrive, taking in the woman in front of him. Long, deep brown hair that smoothly cascaded into curls just above elegant shoulders; soft, moist lips poised into a half amused, half irked smile; and a pair of large emerald green eyes flecked with cinnamon and gold. His eyes continued downward, lingering for a moment on her long, swan like neck, displayed to perfection by the v – neck of a deep olive green silk sweater. The sweater accentuated his next visual destination – an ample, but not overly sized bosom that was softly rising and falling with every breath. He couldn't see much else due to the cloth covered table in front of her. But he couldn't help staring, mouth slightly open, eyes glazing over, a look of absolute wonder, fascination, and appreciation crossing his face. Now THAT is the kind of woman you want to bump into…

Anna sat stock still, unable to shift her gaze from the man who had knocked her first bite of dinner in her lap. Her mind began to process every aspect of him. His dark hair, sprinkled with grey, was short but had just the right amount of manly curl. He had a full face with soft rounded cheeks and an adorable button nose. His eyes, deep pools of chocolate brown, began to twinkle as they moved over her face, down her neck and across her shoulders. She subdued a sigh as she realized those eyes had come to rest on her breasts. His mouth was slightly agape and she noted with more than passing interest that his bottom lip was deliciously full. She quickly returned her eyes to his and blushed when she realized he wasn't so much staring at her now as much as he was caressing her with his eyes. Ooh my, she stammered to herself, this is going to be interesting…

Alex Eames had seen her partner do and say a lot of things in their six years along side one another. She had seen Bobby angry to the point of near physical violence, when he had a suspect in his crosshairs and was closing in for the kill. She had seen him mentally and physically pained when a victim – and more than one perp – had struck an inner chord in his psyche. Bobby had sniffed, poked, and prodded pieces of physical evidence; he had bent, pointed, and gesticulated to the point of spasm. And although her partner delighted in insinuating himself into other peoples personal space, he never liked to appear clumsy or rude – at least not by accident. So when he had bumped the person behind him, she knew the gentleman in him would offer his usual somewhat stuttered apology. After a minute or so of looking at her menu, Alex glanced up, hoping to hell that he hadn't ran into some ex-con they had put away years before. She had to suppress an amused giggle as she took in the scene unfolding before her. Bobby and the woman he had obviously NOT upset, were looking at each other with equal parts surprise, interest, and flat out lust.

You're staring at her, you dufus… Bobby's mind gently roused him from his stupor. Don't you think it would be more appropriate if you actually spoke to this woman?

"Um, are you all right?" his voice was dry and he croaked out the words.

"Yes, thank you, I think I'll be fine," she managed to answer.

"I… I'm really sorry about your uhm…" he glanced down as she turned fully in her chair to face him. Oh, she's wearing a skirt... "Skirt."

Bobby's mind leapt from reality yet again at the sight of her long, coltish legs. They looked smooth as butter, firm and strong. And she was wearing heels… high sling back heels. My favorite…

She noticed his attention to her legs as she turned herself closer to him. Glad I got them waxed yesterday and that I decided to wear a skirt and heels to dinner. "Oh, um, it's okay; I had my napkin in my lap, so…"

"Hey, Detective Goren, and, well, who else but Detective Eames," Andrew's voice cut off her reply and cut through the electric air that was now hovering like smog over the two tables. "Don't tell me you two are here for the karaoke!"

Bobby's head snapped at the sound of his and his partners names. He was surprised to find the other side of the woman's table occupied by one of their newest recruits, first year lab technician Andrew Haversham. He had been at One PP for about six months and had actually managed to impress both Goren and Eames with his thorough and mercurial style. Oh, shit, I hope she's not his girlfriend… The smile slowly started to fade from his lips at the thought. God, please, don't let this woman be his girlfriend.

"Hey, Drew, what are you doing here?" Alex chimed in, reveling somewhat in her partner's still flummoxed state. "I didn't think they let first years out on Friday nights."

"Well, I had a good excuse," the rookie replied. "A guy's gotta take his sister out when it's her birthday."

Whew, Alex thought, good thing she's his sister, because Bobby might have stroked out if she was anything more. Now let's see if I can get the big ox to do more than sputter at her. "Aw… isn't that sweet, Bobby? Drew here is treating his sister to dinner on her birthday." She deliberately stressed the word "sister" in the hopes it would rouse Bobby from his fantasy filled haze.

"Ah, yea…?" Then the realization of what Alex had said hit him. He turned and gave his partner a huge grin. "YEA, that is really sweet." Bobby turned back and fixed his gaze on Anna.

Anna had pretty much heard everything that had been said, but her mind was having a hard time registering exactly what was happening. Andrew… her brother, knew this guy? No, she corrected herself, Drew works with this guy, at One PP. He was a detective, Detective Goren… that is what she thought she heard Drew call him. The petite blond... Eames…she called him Bobby. Her senses were just beginning to return to normal when she noticed that this "Detective Bobby Goren" had turned back to her and was, once again, caressing her face with his eyes. She was tempted to return his gaze and get lost in him again, but decided that this evening might have a much better ending if she actually introduced herself. And if I wait for Drew to do it, we'll be here 'till Christmas.

"Well, it seems that I am the only stranger here," she said with a smile as she extended her hand first to Eames. "I'm Anna Haversham, Andrew's sister."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Alex Eames. And this is my partner…"

"Goren, Robert Goren," Bobby took her hand in his. "It is a pleasure to meet you."