Later that same night she found herself dressed and downstairs at the bar. If she was honest with herself, she hoped she would somehow run into Robert. Up at the suite, she suddenly was overcome with the need to see him. She knew he found a room at the hotel, but she knew she couldn't just knock on his door. She wasn't ready for that yet. She also knew she wasn't ready for what she was about to see. In the corner of the bar, she spotted Robert and Alexis laughing and sitting quite closely. She immediately recognized that Robert was laying on the charm and Alexis was eating it up. Suddenly she was instantly overcome with jealousy and it pissed her off. Without giving much thought to her actions, she found herself approaching them. "Hey Luv, didn't expect to see you down here so late." Robert said nonchalantly which pissed her off even more. "Hello Robert, Alexis." She said nodding in her direction. She lied as she stated she just got back from the office and decided to stop in for a quick drink. Robert didn't buy it for a second, since she was wearing jeans and a sweater he was sure she wouldn't wear to the office. He decided not to call her out on it. He knew something was wrong though, by the way she was biting her lip and he suspected it had to do with Lavery again. She looked to him both annoyed and depressed at the same time and he found it unsettling. He also felt the sudden need to find out what had happened. "Look it's getting late and I have some appointments tomorrow. Alexis would you mind a rain check for tonight?" Robert asked as he stood up. He glanced meaningfully at Anna hoping she would catch on to what he was trying to do. She did. "Of course not, I would love that. Good luck tomorrow Robert and thank you for the drinks. Anna it's always nice to see you." Alexis excused herself. She recognized the signs of being dismissed. She immediately sensed Anna's agitation in noticing her having drinks with her ex-husband. She wondered briefly what was going on there. "Is everything Ok, you look rather annoyed?" Robert asked as he placed cash on the table. Anna was flustered so she quickly replied. "I'm not annoyed Robert and you didn't have to end your evening on my account. It looked like you were having a good time. I didn't know you knew Alexis so well." She immediately chastised herself since the comment came out sounding shrewish. He chuckled. "I don't know her well, but she was helpful to me when you threw me in jail last year." He said with a wink. That made her laugh and he was grateful for that. "What's going Anna and don't lie to me. Where's Lavery?" Robert asked not being in the mood to play games. "There's nothing going on Robert. Like I said I just came down here for drink after work, that's all." Anna replied. Robert was not in the mood to play games and he didn't want to press her to explain. He sensed something was going on because of her reaction to seeing him and Alexis together. He recognized that look on her face but as he promised himself the night before he was not going to be the one to make the first move with her. He also ignored her non-response to his Duke question. "Look, I do have to get up early tomorrow, it's going to be a long day so I'm going to head upstairs. Want to share an elevator?" Robert said with a smile. "Yeah sure, I have an early day tomorrow as well." He decided to let it pass, that she came down for a drink and suddenly doesn't want one./p

"They walked side by side to the elevator as Robert talked about his day with Robin. Robin was thrilled that he was staying in town for a while and was just a little more than curious about his current love life. He answered her truthfully that there was nobody special in his life right now and that he was happy just having his family together again. He did sense that she was prying for more information. Anna laughed and said she was always just a little more curious about her parent's love life even as a child. They both recalled all the times when she was young and especially before and during their second marriage how she was either asking about their relationship or interrupting them at the most in opportune times. When they reached Anna's floor, she realized that she didn't want to say goodnight to him yet. She hesitated leaving the elevator as Robert held the door open. Robert sensed an internal struggle going on and waited her out. "Well I guess I'll see you Sunday at Robin's." "Oh yeah that's right, I'm looking forward to it." Robert replied still holding the door open. She struggled with what to say next. "Do you like your suite?" She asked. She felt like a schoolgirl and she wasn't sure why. It was both exciting and infuriating at the same time. She wanted him and she wanted him now but a small part of her held her back. It was the only part of her brain that was thinking rationally at the moment. She prayed he would make the first move, but she noticed uncharacteristically he was also holding back and that pissed her off. "Yeah it's ok, all hotel rooms look the same to me now." The door buzzer began to ring since it was being held open too long. "Well I guess I better go." Anna said. "Yeah." They stared at each other. The small space crackled with electricity it was overwhelming, but neither moved until Robert couldn't take it anymore. He knew what she was doing or at least he hoped he knew. He wished beyond belief that his next move wouldn't be a regrettable one. He worried needlessly as they both reached for each other at the same time. Robert let the elevator door go as he backed her up against the wall of the elevator. Their kisses were almost animalistic as they devoured each other. Anna felt Robert's hand on her ass as he began to lift her right leg to bring himself closer to her. She moaned into his mouth as she felt his hardness pressed up against her center. Anna felt her world spinning on its head as she realized she hasn't felt this alive since they were last together. It was overwhelming she couldn't get enough of him as she tried to pull him closer to her. Robert was equally overwhelmed, as he knew beyond a doubt that he had to have her now. Suddenly the elevator door opened and luckily for them no one was waiting, it was Robert's floor. They instantly broke apart both gasping for air as they both stared at each while the magnitude of what happened was sinking in. Robert released her leg from around his hip as they slowly moved apart. He spoke first. "This is my floor." "Yeah." She replied breathlessly. She didn't want to let him go as she held onto his hand and proceeded to pull him with her out of the elevator. They both smiled at each other as Robert led the way to his room. When they reached his room Robert pulled the card key from his pocket and opened the door. The significance of the moment suddenly dawned on him as he realized what they were about to do. He had to know what this all meant and he had to know that she would not regret what they were about to do. "Anna?" He asked as he turned to her before entering the room. "Hmmm?" She said as she moved closer. Noticing that look on her face, it took everything in him not to just forget everything he was about to say and take her inside and make love to her. "What's going on here? I need to know. What are we doing and what about Duke?" With that Anna was snapped out of her trance as she looked at him with shock. He continued. "Is this going to be a one-time thing or is this something more?" Anna didn't know what to say. Part of her was completely shocked by his questions and the other part of her was angry at him for ruining an incredible moment. She didn't know how to answer any of his questions. "I don't know Robert, I don't know." She replied. It was not the answer he wanted so he pressed on. "I know you're having issues right now with Duke, but is it over?" He asked. "I don't know." Anna replied again. "Anna I need to know. I can't be a consolation prize. You know our history and how I feel about you so you can understand why I need some answers here." Anna was taken back. She didn't know how to respond because she didn't know the answers herself. She knew that she loved Duke, but she also knew that she loved this man beyond reason. She knew that in the last 10 minutes, she had never felt more alive in what seemed like forever and she didn't want to lose that again. She was so confused. "I can't answer all these questions right now Robert because I don't know the answers." He understood. He knew that Anna didn't give herself freely and was never one to throw caution to the wind regarding her heart so he let her off easily leaving the ball in her court. It was one of the hardest thing he ever had to do. He placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed her tenderly before responding. "You know how I feel about you and you can pretty much surmise what I want, but you need to decide what you want. You need to commit yourself one way or the other. I know you, you would never be able to live with yourself if you decided you made a mistake. No matter what happens and what you decide nothing will ever change how I feel about you, ever. When you do decide, you now know where to find me." That broke her heart. She knew that what he was doing was taking every ounce of resolve that he had and Robert was never one to lay his heart open like this. She didn't think it was possible, but at that moment she loved him more than she ever had before. "I don't know what to say, except thank you. Thank you for knowing me so well and stopping me from possibly making a mistake here. When did you become so mature and gallant?" She asked with a small smile. "Well at my age, don't you think it's about time?" He responded. She kissed him tenderly on the lips before saying "I better go back to my room, see you Sunday?" She asked. "You bet. Goodnight Anna." "Goodnight Robert" she said walking down the hall to the elevator. She didn't turn around because she didn't want him to see the tears flowing down her face. She didn't turn around until she heard his door close.