Chapter 12
Anna was looking forward to an evening with Duke. She was still confused by what had happened between her and Robert. It had been very unexpected but Anna was more surprised about how much she had liked it. Tonight she wanted to refocus on her and Duke, she had to figure out if they really had a chance at a future together.
When she got to the club Duke greeted her happily. She was a little early and he had a little more business to take care of so Anna went and sat at the bar to wait. With a drink in her hand, Anna watched the activity around her. After about ten minutes Duke came over and said he just had to take some papers up to his office then he could join her. He gave her a kiss on the cheek then walked away.
While he was gone two men entered the club, Angel approached them and right away they started arguing with him. Anna couldn't hear what was being said so she just watched. Other people were starting to notice the men as well. One of them grabbed Angel's jacket just as Duke walked over. He got in between Angel and the other two men, said something then he and the two men went outside.
It was about twenty minutes later when Duke came back inside alone. He was straightening his jacket and Anna could tell he was trying to calm himself. "Is everything alright," she asked.
"Yes, let's just go sit down," Duke said then they walked over to their table.
Anna tried starting a conversation after they had ordered but Duke was very distracted. As they ate he added very little to their conversation, Anna knew he was still upset about the altercation with the men that had been there.
"Duke you can talk to me. I know you're upset."
"It's nothing, I just want to enjoy your company."
"You've been distracted since you came back inside."
"Just leave it alone," he snapped. Anna didn't feel that Duke needed to snap at her so she picked up her glass and turned to watch the room. After a few minutes, Duke said, "So now you aren't talking to me?"
Anna turned back to him, "I've been trying to talk to you all evening. You want to sit there and be in a bad mood fine. I'm going to sit here, watch people dance and enjoy the music." She turned away from him thinking if he wants to talk he'll let her know.
Duke didn't say anything for a few minutes then he touched her arm. "Can we go upstairs to talk?"
"Of course," Anna agreed. They got up and walked to the elevator together. Once they were in his apartment she turned to him. "Did you want to talk about what upset you?"
"What? No, I'm fine!" he insisted. "I thought we could talk more freely up here."
"Alright, what do you want to talk about?"
"You seem much too interested in what happened earlier."
"You were upset when you came back inside, I thought talking about it might help take your mind off what had upset you so we could enjoy our evening. Clearly, you weren't listening to me during our meal because I told you all about my day and how the ELQ case is going. I talked about Robin, did you hear any of that?"
"Apparently not." Duke turned away from her.
"Can we try talking now?"
"Why does it matter who those men were?"
"I didn't say anything about that. Why are you so touchy, I just want to talk?"
"I'm tired of your accusations!"
"Excuse me!"
"Two men show up and cause a disturbance, clearly it's mob-related."
"Duke, I never said anything like that."
"You didn't have to!"
"I thought we came up here to talk. Did we come up here just to fight?" Duke didn't respond and he still wouldn't look at her. "Whatever happened outside upset you. You were fine when I first got here. I thought if you talked about it we could enjoy our evening together, that was it."
"You're telling me you aren't curious about those two men. That you aren't thinking about investigating them."
"I saw two men come in and start an argument with Angel, I assumed they were drunk. You stepped in and got them out of your club. Since then you've been in a bad mood."
"Well you better call Scorpio, this could be your next big case. Maybe if you're lucky it will mean an out of town trip for the two of you."
"What has gotten into you?"
"I guess I'm just seeing clearly now. Are my suspected mob ties fun pillow talk?"
"Don't start that again!"
"Oh I see you can go on about my mob ties but I can't talk about your affair with Robert."
"I will not stand here and let you talk to me like this. This is just a waste of time and it's getting us nowhere." Anna turned and walked to the elevator. Duke did nothing to stop her from leaving, he didn't even turn as she left.
When Anna got home she found Robert sitting on the couch, everyone else was already in bed. It had been several days since the kitchen and nothing had happened since. Robert was behaving the same as before, maybe he had put it behind him. Anna needed to vent so she walked over to him and said, "I need to talk and I think I need to drink while I do."
"Yeah OK I'll drink while you talk." He got up and poured them both a drink.
"Why am I doing this Robert?" He handed her drink, "Oh thanks, I don't know what I think is going to change."
Robert was pretty sure this was about Duke, they'd had a date tonight and he could tell it hadn't gone well. "What needs to change?"
"He's always going to keep things from me. I didn't even think the incident tonight was mob-related until he completely lost it." Anna finished her drink so Robert refilled her glass. Then she told him about what had happened tonight from start to finish. "I really just wanted him to talk to me. I never even mentioned the mob he did, then he accused us of having an affair again. Am I just wasting my time?"
"You should trust your gut," Robert told her.
"How can I think about a future with him when all we do is fight? I doubt things he tells me, I just want to trust him. I'm not being unreasonable, am I? I should be able to believe the man I'm with. When you tell me things I know you're telling me the truth."
"You're right I won't lie to you."
"That's how it should be, I deserve that respect. I want to be able to trust what I'm being told."
"I can't get you off my mind."
"Robert, don't start, not now."
"It's the truth, Anna. Why can't we try again?" he asked.
"I'm with Duke, that's why."
"You go on dates once in a while. Think about it, we were so good together," he reached up and touched her cheek.
"Robert, I can't."
"I want to be with you, I know I could make you happy." Then he leaned in and kissed her, "Please just think about it, Duke isn't the only man out there."
She had thought about Robert, a lot more than she usually did. She liked what she was thinking about too. Maybe they could try again or was it just the physical attraction he had woken up inside her? She didn't know what to think anymore. "I should get to bed." He was clouding her thinking, she stood up and he did as well.
"Anna I'm not just playing here, I want another chance to be with you." He moved closer, "You know how I feel and I know you have a lot to think about." Robert took her in his arms and kissed her passionately, Anna didn't pull away, she kissed him back. Still holding her close, "Good night Luv, sweet dreams," then he let her go.
Anna turned to walk away then stopped and looked back at him, "Good night," she smiled and touched her lips as she walked away.
...
Duke knew he had been a complete ass the other night, Carter's men showing up at the club had really surprised him and the little altercation outside had made him so angry. He had taken it out on Anna and that had been wrong.
She never mentioned the mob, he had. Duke knew now she had only wanted to talk, that he was the one that picked the fight. He hadn't seen her since he hadn't even bothered trying to call her. His temper had really made a mess of things this time. He was walking down by the docks trying to figure out how to fix the mess he had made. So far he hadn't thought of anything.
...
Anna and Felicia had gone to Kelly's for lunch and were talking happily until Duke walked in. It had been a few days since Anna had last seen him. Since they had gotten into the fight about the men at his club. "Is he going to cause a scene?" Felicia asked. She knew Anna wasn't happy with Duke at the moment. Anna had been telling her some of what had been happening between them.
"I hope not." At first, Duke went over to the counter and Anna thought he might just leave her alone today.
Duke started to leave after getting a coffee but then he paused and turned toward their table. "Incoming," Felicia said quietly.
"I'm sorry to interrupt. Anna, could I talk to you outside for a moment?"
Anna looked at Felicia then stood up, "Just a few minutes." She followed him outside, "What can I do for you?"
"Anna I owe you an apology. I was a complete ass the other night. I was upset and I took it out on you."
"Oh so now you're ready to talk! All I wanted to do the other night was talk. I knew those men being at the club upset you. I just wanted you to relax so we could enjoy our evening."
"Those men had nothing to do with my mood," Duke insisted, Anna could hear the anger in his voice.
"So you aren't ready to talk then. I'm going back inside."
As she started to walk away Duke grabbed her arm. "I'm not done talking to you!"
"Well, I'm done talking to you! I will not stand here and let you talk down to me."
"The people that come into my club are none of your business. You'd do well to remember that!"
"I can think of one person that won't be coming into your club." Anna pulled her arm free then went inside. Felicia could tell it hadn't gone well as soon as Anna walked back in. "Let's get back to the office."
"Don't you want to make sure Duke has left before we leave?" Felicia asked.
"Even if he's out there I have nothing else to say to him."
They walked out together, Duke was gone so there wasn't another scene. When they got to the office Anna walked straight into hers and closed the door. Felicia shook her head as she sat down at her desk, she didn't like seeing Anna go through all of this. Was all this fighting actually getting them any closer to getting back together? Felicia started going through the mail when Robert came out of his office, "Oh good you're back. Is Anna in her office?"
"She is but she might want to be alone."
It didn't take Robert long to understand, "Duke?"
"Yeah, he was at Kelly's and asked to talk to her. When she came back inside she was very upset. Anna didn't say a thing on the way back here."
"Thanks, Felicia." Robert turned and walked into Anna's office without knocking, Anna was standing looking out her window. Without a word he walked over to her and put his arms around her. For several minutes they stood like that looking out her window not saying anything. Anna had leaned into him more but that was it. When she turned in his arms and put her head and one hand on his chest, the other hand she slid behind him. Robert asked, "Feeling better?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"There's not much to say. I think he wanted to apologize but right away we were right back to the fight from the other night. I wanted no part of it so I left."
"I don't like seeing you this upset Anna."
"I know, at least you know how to make it better."
Robert kissed the top of her head, "I try."
Anna knew they were treading very dangerous waters here. Things were happening between them, things she liked but knew she should stop. Still in his arms, she knew today he was just comforting her but a single kiss would change that. Anna also knew a part of her really wanted to kiss him. "I think we should get back to work," Anna suggested.
"Alright," Robert touched the side of her face and she looked up at him. When their eyes met Robert longed to kiss her. He stroked her cheek with his thumb then smiled, "Hold that thought until later."
She smiled, had he just promised her a goodnight kiss? "Until later." Robert turned and went back into his office. Anna watched him walk away, she was in a much better mood now and she knew it was thanks to Robert.
