Hello Guys! It's been a while since last summer, but I'm back. As you know I lost my laptop with my story back in time, and I didn't have time to write it again, but I finally found some time to write again all the scene so here we are...Hope I'll still have people reading me :) Maybe you should read again the first chapters to remember ;) just an advice!

Happy holidays everyone and thanks for reading this little story! xoxo

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When Lanie opened the door of her apartment that night, the first thing she noticed was the delicious smell emanating from her kitchen. It was late, almost 8:30pm.

"Hola, Chica" welcomed this voice she loved so much, but she hated to admit it.

Lanie couldn't stop staring at what was happening in her kitchen, surprised to see Javier Esposito… cooking. Well, she knew he was a good cook. But she wasn't expecting that domestic (and adorable) picture at all.

With an irresistible smile, Javi walked towards her, while she still remained silent.

"What is…that?" she stammered.

"That, is called dinner." He grinned, just before kissing her on the cheek. He let his mouth on her soft chocolate skin for a few seconds, before let her go to catch her gaze.

"I know it's dinner…I just don't get…why."

Javier shrugged.

"Well, you couldn't made it for lunch, so…"

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I had an unexpected case, and…"

Javier didn't let her finish and gently put his index finger on her soft lips.

"It's okay, you don't owe me any explanation….but I missed you."

Lanie couldn't help but smile tenderly, as she watched him getting back in the kitchen.

"So, how was your day?" He asked her, grabbing a bottle of a good French red wine on the counter.

"Okay, I guess…" she sighed as she took her jacket off. She also put her bag on the first chair she could find, and walked to the kitchen.

" Perlmutter 's still grumpy?"

"Why would he change?"

He laughed.

"Poor you."

"I like him that way."

"I knew you were weird…" He smiled and winked at her, as he gave her a glass, full of wine.

Lanie couldn't help but take a closer look at the bottle on the counter, after she accepted the glass.

"wow..that's an expensive wine….Javi, you didn't have to do that."

He arched an eyebrow as he sipped his own glass.

"Doin' what?"

She eyed him with an evocative look as she put her own glass back on the counter near to them.

"All this. The dinner, the expensive wine…It's not my birthday or something special."

He shook is head and put down his glass as well.

" Actually, it is."

"…and what it is?"

"I lost my job."

She eyed him again.

"Very funny."

"Let me finish! I lost my job…And you were there for me. So…I really wanted to thank you for last night. I know I could have taken you out for dinner, but…I wanted a more intimate place…So I can do this…" he finished, stepping closer. Then he leaned down and she could feel his warm breath on her ear. She couldn't help and close her eyes a few seconds, enjoying every single second of the feeling of his nose against her ear, and then of his mouth against her neck, and her shoulder.

That was enough for her, and one uncontrollable smile was now on her lips.

"Well I thought you already thanked me for last night with all the things you…did..to me…" she awkwardly stammered. After this suggestive comment, her cheeks would have turned a blushing pink if she had been a white -skinned woman….Thanks God, she wasn't.

Lanie could feel him laughing on her neck, and all her body shivered as she felt his teeth on her skin.

"Oh, really? And…what was your favorite part?" he purred, planting a new kiss on her neck as he started playing with her hair with one hand.

She opened her eyes and rolled.

"Oh, like you don't know…"

He laughed again and then, let go of her neck to look at her in the eyes.

" Yeah… Now that you mention it, I remember your approval was pretty loud when I started to…"

She hit his arm.

"Don't you ever say it."

"Or?"

"I'll smack you."

"I love when you smack me."

She sighed and rolled again.

"You're a lost cause, you know that?"

"Pretty much." He agreed, smiling and almost proud to know he could make her being so nervous, and getting even more adorable than she already was.

"Good to know I still drive you crazy, by the way…"

She raised an eyebrow as a mocking laugh escaped her mouth .

"Oh you don't."

"Yes, I do…"

"I swear you don't."

"Mm." he sighed. "So…If I kiss you right now, you won't feel anything, right?"

She vigorously shook her head.

"Nope. But I will let you do it…because I'm too kind."

"Good girl…" he whispered with a playful smile as he leaned down to kiss her. She smiled too against his lips and let him deepen the kiss as she rose on her tip toes to press even more her body against his, while she encircled his neck with her arms.

Then she was the one pushing her tongue in his mouth and moaned when she met his.

A few seconds of wet kisses later, he was the one breaking the kiss, panting.

"And then you say I don't drive you crazy…" he laughed.

"You just made me dinner. It's the least I could do to thank you."

"Good point. "

He touched her cheek again and started playing with her long dark hair.

"Seriously, Lanie…thank you for being here."

"Oh you thank me for being in my own house now?" she joked making him rolling his eyes again.

"You know what I mean."

"And I already told you, you don't have to thank me for anything. I was glad to help you."

"You do more than that." He whispered as he stroked the hair just above her forehead. This adorable move and the look he had in his eyes reminded of what Ryan told her. That he still loved her. And with the way he had to look at her, it actually seemed to be true.

"Shall we eat now? I'm starving."

" Yup. Almost done."

Looking again at the counter, her smile widened.

"Oh, you made your special pasta?"

"Eggplant, tomatoe, and chicken with curry…Your favourite."

"Then I don't regret I let you kiss me."

He laughed and pulled out his phone from his jeans pocket. Quickly looking at the screen of his phone, he frowned.

"What" Lanie after taking a sip of her wine.

"Got a missed call…from the precinct."

Lanie's eyes widened.

"Oh."

"Yeah, it's weird…"

Javier put his phone on his ear and start listening to his voicemail.

Lanie looked at him doing it, and couldn't help but think again about the talk she had with Gates earlier. The moment where she clearly made a fool of herself. And sh didn't talk to him about it. Now, Lanie felt like she was hiding something too big. And now, she was afraid Javier will have some troubles with the captain because of her...but at the moment, she kinda felt scared to tell him all the truth. And maybe, it wasn't even related to what happened today between her and Gates...so she remained silent.

When the message was over, Javier silently put his phone in his pocket again, without looking at her. He seemed a bit worried, and mostly surprised.

"…So?" Lanie finally asked, a little scared but way too curious.

"Gates wants to talk to me tomorrow."

"Really? Why?!"

She tried to sound surprised.

He shrugged.

"She didn't say." He answered, a little distracted. He waited a few seconds and looked at her again, seeing her distracted as well.

"You okay?" he frowned after a few seconds. She smiled a little.

"Yeah…I'm just…surprised by her call." She stammered. Javier smiled as he pulled her close.

"Don't worry about me. I'm sure it's nothing." He whispered just before his lips touched hers for a soft kiss.

Then he pulled away and walked towards the cabinet where he knew the plates where, and Lanie kept staring at him, a little bit more nervous that he was.

Next and most likely final chapter coming soon :) Happy holidays again! xoxo