See Ch1 for disclaimers etc…
"Alexander, how are you?" Maura laughed into the phone. "Mina said you were feeling feisty. She also said you were heading to your boutique today over in the Chestnut Hill Galleria to meet with the Neiman buyers. "Maura tutted into the phone. "Darling you are a horrible, horrible man. I distinctly remember you promising Muffy that we would never mention that night during Fashion Week again. Be nice to her today. But this is not just a social call. I was hoping you might have some time today as a favor."
Maura turned so she was facing Jane as she continued to laugh, breathy and light. Jane shook her head. Maura in society-mode always caught her off guard. Her body language changed, the lines of her shoulders became impeccably squared and her chin lifted just a hair. Her tone altered to carry an edge of cultivated coolness with each word clear and precise. Even her sense of self-assurance was unshakable.
Jane tapped her fingers against the steering wheel as she waited for the light to change. She wondered what it said about her that she found this version of Maura strangely stimulating. On the other hand, she also found the society polished version of Maura unapproachable and a bit daunting. She started to chew her bottom lip as she contemplated the fact that she was about to escort this version of Maura out tonight.
Chattering brightly in Maura's ear Alexander asked after her parents and they discussed the fact that fringe was returning in all the Wolford summer lines. As her conversation dragged on Maura could see Jane slowly working herself into a state of alarm. Baffled, she reached out a hand to thread under dark waves and rub the tense neck, catching Jane's half smile as she let out a long sigh.
"So Alexander what if I were to tell you that I have an Yves Saint Laurent, circa 1966 Le Smoking fantasy that I need your help to make come true?" Maura started to laugh again. "Oh trust me I have the most delightful canvas for you to operate on. Mina would sign her in a minute."
Jane eyebrows shot up. Canvas? Since when was she anybody's canvas? Nevermind the fact that she was apparently playing a role in some French sounding fantasy Maura had. Jane could feel her jaw tense. She was not Maura's toy. She already had a black suit. Maura needed to hang up with good old Alex so Jane could tell her they were going to turn around and head home.
The hand rubbing her neck stopped and the fingers trailed down her neck to lightly scratch along the top of her shoulders, slowly lightening until the touch was feather light and sparked a run of goose bumps down her arm as Maura ended her call.
Maura pulled her hand away and tucked the phone back in her purse. "Well, we're all set. We'll meet Alexander over at the Wolford boutique and he'll have you outfitted."
Jane frowned. "Don't I get an opinion on what I end up wearing?"
"No, not really. That isn't how it works when you pull from a private collection. But if it makes you feel better, when I saw his spring line debut I immediately thought of you. I don't think you're going to complain." Maura relaxed against the car seat, closing her eyes, posture and tone returning to the familiar.
"Maura, what did you mean when you told Alex you had an Yves Saint Laurent fantasy?" Jane was relieved to finally see the signs for the Chestnut Hill Mall come up. Route 9 in Newton was obnoxious to drive through with all the trolley lines and traffic.
One hazel eye cracked open and Maura lazily turned her head to look at Jane. "Hmmm… You'll see. And it is not Alex. His name is Alexander." She shut both eyes again. "Make sure you use the valet when we get there."
"Wait a second, what do you mean I'll see? I'll see what?" Jane frowned at Maura but the other woman remained unperturbed and unresponsive. "And I am not going to use a valet to park a car. We both have legs that work." She flipped the signal to turn into the parking garage.
"Holy crap!" Jane leaned on the horn as a full sized Lincoln SUV almost hit her head-on as she rounded the corner of the parking garage. It was her fourth time trying to find a spot. Furtively she glanced at an undisturbed Maura. She paused for a moment before applying the gas slowly again.
Maura covertly pinched the skin between her index and thumb hard at Jane's outburst as she struggled to contain her laughter. It has been four full turns through the garage and Jane was still searching for a spot rather than just use the valet. Cracking an eye open she could see Jane's rounded shoulders and white knuckles on the steering wheel. Her detective had fortitude, she'd grant her that.
The car's abrupt stop jostled Maura and she opened her eyes and sat up. Finally they could just go shopping.
Sighing, Jane opened the door and got out before the valet attendant could even reach a hand towards the car and watched Maura daintily accept assistance out of the passenger seat.
They walked in silence through the doors and stepped onto the escalator. Halfway up Jane couldn't take it anymore. "Okay just say it and get it over with."
Maura finally let a smile break free. "Say what Jane?"
Jane groaned "Just tell me that I should have used the valet like you told me too."
Stepping off the escalator Maura looked up as Jane stepped off beside her "Oh why would I bother doing that? " She spotted the Wolford boutique and started walking towards it.
Jane stared at her retreating form for a moment, deciding that the skirt Maura had on might become one of her new favorites. She jogged a few steps to catch up. "Well, because, you get to say that you were right and I was the idiot who insisted we could just park on our own. So you get to tell me, that you told me so."
Stopping just under the Wolford sign Maura smirked."Oh but Jane, you are doing a much better job at that all by yourself and I haven't had to say a word." She turned and walked into the store, tuning out low mutterings of "damn it" filtering from behind her. Looking around she finally spotted Alexander by the accessory display.
Jane stood in the entrance and glanced behind her at the open space of the mall. She glanced back in the boutique. The thin, bald man was extremely enthusiastic. His enthusiasm was matched only by the size of his belt buckle. Jane watched him grasp Maura by the shoulders and hold her at arm's length before pointing at her skirt and nodding appreciatively.
Maura was back in society mode and laughed easily as she exchanged kisses. Chewing her lip Jane looked behind her again and estimated that she could be back down that escalator before Maura even noticed she was missing.
Jane turned her head back and found two expectant hazel eyes studying her before they quickly narrowed. Jane took an almost involuntary step backwards. She saw Maura place a hand on Alexander's arm and lean in to murmur something.
In a second Maura's determined stride put her in front of Jane and she paused, locking their eyes together before one firm step brought her into Jane's personal space.
Reaching a hand out Maura discretely grabbed a handful of Jane's sleeve, twisting the fabric a bit so Jane could feel that she was locked in place. "Not so fast there Detective, I thought you wanted to see what an Yves Saint Laurent Le Smoking fantasy looked like?" Maura could feel Jane's breathing accelerate and she smirked. Resolutely she turned around and started walking with Jane in tow. "Now come meet Alexander."
Jane suffered through two rounds of cheek kisses and a third when she met Alexander's assistant Monika who let them into a private room and over to a small raised platform. When the door to the room shut Maura released Jane's sleeve and sat down on a wing chair.
Jane glared as Monika took her elbow and tried to help her onto the platform.
Sighing audibly from her seat, Maura's voice came out dry and clipped. "Just get up on the platform Jane. It's the only way to get accurate measurements."
Jane was about to reply when the door opened and Alexander dashed in holding a thick book and put it on the small table next to Maura. "That is the whole line for the season. "
He turned his attention to Jane, tilting his head before walking up. "May I have your jacket please?" Jane slid it off and Monika snatched it away.
Alexander was walking a slow circle around her as he spoke to Maura. "You promised me a delightful canvas but she is the perfect specimen to pull off the Ottoman jacket and Brighton trousers from this season. Page 13 and page 24. "
Jane shot him a look and was about to inform him she wasn't a specimen of any sort when Maura's voice cut her off from behind her back. "Exquisite isn't she?"
Maura's tone was arrogant and condescending. Jane's mouth opened slightly and her eyes widened in outrage as she spun around before pulling up short and swallowing hard. Maura was sitting there roaming over Jane unreservedly with her eyes.
Frozen in place, Jane didn't even hear what Alexander said in response. She blocked out every other sensation as she stood there challenging Maura's gaze with her hands on her hips. Maura just sat there unruffled with her legs crossed at the knee, staring at Jane with an almost predatory gleam in her eye. As the minutes ticked by Jane finally couldn't stop the embarrassed flush that spread over her and her pulse began to pound.
Suddenly Maura relaxed and uncrossed her legs to stand up. "All set Alexander?"
Confused, heart still pounding, Jane turned to look at Alexander who was standing there staring at his feet chuckling. "Please don't ever change Maura but, yes, I have her measurements." He waved a small piece of paper in the air and Monika took it from him and walked out.
Maura peeked over at Jane who was now standing there with her arms crossed over her chest, indignant. Two very dark eyes scorched Maura and she felt a sense of foreboding twist in her stomach. She shot Alexander a pleading look and he winked at her and left the room.
She walked over to stand in front of Jane and placed a hand on her arm. Jane was looking at the back wall. Maura winced. "Jane."Feeling the tension in the muscles under her hand, Maura took a tiny step closer. "Jane, please?" She kept her voice soft and pleading. "Please, don't be mad at me."
When Jane still didn't move, Maura felt a flood of anxiety. She must have really miscalculated the situation. She wished she knew when too much was too much. Her grip lightened on Jane's arm as apprehension rose to push away her confidence.
Feeling the hand on her arm lighten, Jane flicked her eyes to Maura and groaned internally. Maura's shoulders were slumped and she was staring at her hand on Jane's arm. She sighed. "Maura."
Maura's hazel eyes fluttered up. They were open and bright. A little too bright. Jane tried to hold onto her anger. She looked at Maura's face and catalogued the mixture of remorse, contrition and fear.
Jane felt her ire bleed away at the fear. Resigned she dropped her arms. "Don't look at me like that."
Maura took a few steps back and looked away. Exasperated, Jane reached out and grasped her forearms and pulled her back. "Stop that, I didn't mean don't look at me at all. I meant don't look at me like you're afraid you've done something so horrible I'm going to go throw out every left shoe in your closet."
Maura couldn't help the short laugh as she looked up. "You wouldn't dare!"
Jane was just looking at her with a half smile.
"Okay so maybe you would." Chuckling Maura leaned forward and rested her forehead on Jane's collarbone and relaxed as she felt Jane's arms wrap around her and squeeze.
Jane held Maura for a moment longer before she stepped back. "Alright Dr. Isles let's go find your Frankenstein of fashion and get this show on the road. If I remember right you have a hair appointment to get to."
A/N – this chapter wasn't in the original story sketch I drafted but when Swishla left a review about wondering what they'd be wearing I figured what the heck. Usually I don't want to go into too much detail but hopefully this is still ambiguous enough that everyone is still free to use their imagination. Though Le Smoking (the one with two women ;) ) remains a favorite photo of mine. Anyhow hope you all enjoyed…. Thank Swishla if you did and flame me if you didn't. Reviews are part of the fun of posting while writing this one :)