Thank goodness Kate is so good at her job, because I have not been able to focus on work at all today. All I can think about is having to go home and how I can get Kate there without losing her. I feel like she is going to panic on me and run. I am starting to unravel the mystery that is Kate Reed and I don't want to go backwards when we get home. Fortunately, I have paid enough attention today to realize that Kate will not be done settling this case today. I have managed to make a few calls and have a romantic dinner planned for when we wrap up.

I can hardly wait to get back. Watching Kate head back over to me from the police station I can't help but smile. She looks totally frazzled. I jump out of the car to open her door, "rough day"? I laugh.

"You could say that. I am so sorry Ben, but there is no way I can wrap this up today. I need more time" she begs.

Woooo whoooo is the thought going through my head but what comes out of my mouth is; "Kate, why do you always have to make things so complicated? I'll let the client know it's going to be another day, but lets not make this more complicated than it has to be. My client is losing a ton of money every day we drag this out"

"I'm not trying to make things complicated but I can't fix this entire situation until I understand both sides. You know me well enough by now that I am not going to wrap this up until I am satisfied" she sighed with frustration.

"You're right, I do know you well enough to know that. It has been a long day, lets head back and have some dinner and relax" I say. I start driving towards the chalet and get excite about my night alone with Kate.

Kate's phone starts ringing and she scrambles to pull it out of her purse. "Oh it's Justin" she says and looks guiltily at me.

"Go ahead and answer it" I respond casually wishing that he would just go away and stop distracting Kate.

"Hey Justin" Kate says.

Justin seems to be doing most of the talking because Kate sits next to me and looks more and more uncomfortable. As I pull the car up the driveway, Kate hops out as soon as I stop and runs in. I head in behind her and see her still on the phone and disappearing up the stairs.

Suddenly feeling very lonely, I look around and see that my orders for our date night had been handled perfectly. The table was set with flowers, dinner was waiting in the kitchen, and wine was chilling in the bucket. The only thing missing was my date. After waiting another half hour I realize that she's not coming down. I head out to the hot tub and strip down to my boxers and wade in.

As I sit there and unwind, sipping a glass of wine, I wonder what I could have done differently. Why Justin? What pull does he have on her? I can't figure out if Justin is a crutch or if they have something real. Just the thought of the latter makes my stomach drop.

As I am sitting there contemplating where all of this is headed I hear the door open and see Kate head out, wearing shorts and a tank top. She must be trying to kill me. She scurries over and hops in.

"It's freezing out here" she shivers quickly sinking in the hot tub up to her neck. She slinks over and grabs my glass of wine and relaxes back into the seat next to me.

"Is everything ok with Justin?" I ask.

She slams back the glass of wine and looks at me like a deer in headlights. "Yeah everything is fine. He just wanted to know when I was going to get home".

"That's all? It seemed like he had a lot more to say than that. I am not trying to be nosy Kate, but I am not going to play this game with you" I say, trying not to act angry but feeling like I am slipping over the edge.

"You don't understand, Ben. It has only every been Justin for me. There has never been anyone else. A world with someone new is terrifying to me". We both sit in silence staring at each other, both waiting for the other to speak. She breaks the silence first.

"Do you think a person can ever fall in love again, like the first time? The first time you fall in love there is no fear of the end, only excitement for the beginning. Falling in love again requires so much more than that" she sighs.

Hearing those words I know that she wants to try, she just doesn't know how to let go of the past. There is nothing I can do to make this decision for her. I need to know she made the decision herself. I stand up, looking down at Kate, "You just need to be brave Kate". I pull her in to my arms and give her the chance to be brave. After what seems like an eternity and Kate has made no move to close the distance, I release her and head back in to the house. "Let me know when you're ready to be brave, Kate" I say as I walk away.

As I head up to my room, I grab the remaining bottle of wine on the table and take it with me. The wine will be the only way I am going to sleep tonight.