Diamonds In Her Eyes

Chapter Fourteen

Two agonizingly long days would pass before we would bring the information we'd been waiting for. "It's going down tomorrow," she announced during our morning briefing.

"What about the target?" Jack asked as he scribbled down the date on the white board and circled it. Tomorrow. As in Saturday.

"Terry… erm… Ethan…" she shook her head. "Whoever kept mentioning someone named Wagner… at least I thought it was a person," she muttered as she clicked at the keys of her keyboard, bringing something up on the flat screen.

"Wagner's Jewelry Store?" Sue asked, reading the name painted on the front display window of the building. "Is that in the area you thought they'd strike?"

I watched as Tara nodded and I suddenly became mesmerized. Her hair had an extra bounce to it like she'd down something special with it in a way only a girl or a professional hairdresser could. Either way, she took my breath away with just that minor adjustment to her wardrobe.

"It was one of the three on the list, yes." She tapped a few more keys and a map appeared on the monitor. Pressing a few more, red dots were laid over it, marking each of the robbery sites. And as she tapped a few more, they connected.

"Please, tell me that's a coincidence," Myles blurted out as he stared incredulously at the image the connected dots displayed.

"Either it is, or he's toying with us," I commented with a snort. On the screen, a diamond shone like a beacon, pointing directly to the next target which was marked with an X.

"I don't think it's either, honestly," Tara shook her head with a sigh. "He's smart and he knows it…even liked to talk about it… a lot." She rolled her eyes at that. "I have the feeling this is more like his calling card than him egging us on."

"Of course, it could be both."

She nodded with a chuckle. "Yes, okay Myles, it could also be both," she conceded. "Although, I highly doubt it."

There was a chorus of snickers and Jack elbowed Myles in the side, giving him his "she-knows-what-she's-talking-about" look. Harvard just shrugged though his eyes carried that teasing little gleam that we all knew and… well, tolerated.

"I don't suppose you have a time in your handy dandy notebook?" I'd gotten up to get a fresh cup of coffee and now stood over her shoulder. She startled at my sudden close proximity, but she didn't shy away. I liked that she didn't shy away.

"Unfortunately, no. I wasn't able to find that out, yet all of the others had been early in the morning, we can only assume that they'll do the same with their final target." Of course, they wouldn't do it in the middle of the night like most jewel thieves. No, they had to make a grand entrance in the sights of dozens of witnesses. What was with criminals these days?

"Well, boys and girls, you know what this means," Jack clapped his hands and rubbed them together.

"Yup, nothing like a good stakeout to end the work week," Myles griped as he sipped from his coffee.

"Sue and I'll take the first watch… Myles you're on second… Bobby and Tara will round it out. Let us know when the show starts." He waited for us to nod in acknowledgement before he continued. "Lucy, get a hold of SOG and see how fast they can get on scene. I have the feeling we're going to need some extra eyes."

"Already dialing," she commented as she punched in the familiar number and waited for someone to pick up.

I glanced down at Tara again. Her eyes shone with excitement as she looked up at me and there was an eagerness inside of her that I felt inside me as well. "Ready to put this thing to bed?" I asked quietly with a playful wink.

She blushed at the words I'd used, but nodded with a fiery gaze aimed in my direction. "More than you know."

"How're things looking?" I asked Tara as I shoved a forkful of broccoli into my mouth.

She sighed and sipped from her cup of hot chocolate as she tapped away at her keyboard. "Quiet, thankfully." She pushed her seat all the way back and stretched her legs before peering into the takeout carton in my hand. "Anymore chicken left?"

Pausing, my fork still in my mouth, I glanced down sheepishly into the now empty carton. "Sorry, luv."

She rolled her eyes at me with a shake of her head. "You're a bottomless pit."

I shrugged, shooting her my full wattage smile. "What can I say? I'm still a growing boy."

She snorted. "You grow anymore and I'm going to need a ladder to kiss you." I thought I'd heard her wrong for a second, but glancing in her direction, I could see the pink tint of embarrassment beginning to creep up her neck. Apparently, she hadn't realized she'd said that either. Clearing her throat, she sat up a bit straighter in her seat. "Did you at least save me any rice?" She sifted through the numerous cartons sitting between us, but coming up empty on all of them.

"Ah… no. But, I did bring dessert." I could tell she was intrigued when her eyes lit up and practically danced in her seat. I chuckled as I reached behind my seat and produced a small paper bag. She eagerly reached out with it with her left hand. I caught it and brought it to my lips for a tender caress. My thumb ran across her bare ring finger and I looked up at her in question.

"I turned it in for evidence. The necklace too. It's not like I can wear them again after today."

"Maybe I'll just have to get you a replacement one of these days." I grinned as she stared at me in wonder, questions visibly shifting in her mind. I shook my head. "Now's not really the place, luv. But, after this case is over and Terry's behind bars, you and I need to sit down for a serious talk."

"I'd like that," she whispered, tears shining in her eyes. Clearing her throat, she shook her head to rid herself of her glassy vision. "Can I have my dessert now?"

"Close your eyes first." She eyed me skeptically. "Do it or no dessert."

She pouted playfully in my direction. "Fine. But no funny business."

I held up my hands in defense, the paper bag still dangling from my fingers. "I'll be nothing but professional." She seemed to accept that and her eyes swept closed, her arm reaching out again for the bag. I wrapped my fingers around hers and leaned forward. My lips brushed across her in a feather light caress causing her to sigh in contentment. I'd only intended to make it a short, sweet kiss, but yet again the plan changed the moment my lips met hers.

I settled myself over her more securely, my free hand tangling in her still bouncy tangles. Her lips were soft underneath mine and her taste was incredible. So much for being professional…

Tara whimpered as I tried to pull her into my embrace, but was stopped from doing so by the center console. Why couldn't I have a car with a bench seat in the front?

"You said no funny business," she murmured against my lips, but still refrained from pulling away.

"I don't think it's very funny," I responded seriously by slipping my tongue past the defenses of her lips and teeth, robbing her of breath when it brushed against hers.

Placing a hand on my chest, she pulled away. "We're on a case, Bobby."

As if I needed reminding.

Then again, my libido had spiked massively in the few short moments my lips had been upon hers. And while I wanted nothing more to hold her in my arms and make love to her, doing so in the front seat of my car while on assignment was not the proper place to move to our relationship to that level. Just the thought of what repercussions would fall down upon us both felt like a bucket of ice water had just been dumped into my lap. "I guess I lost my head there for a minute, luv. Sorry."

"Don't be," she blushed. "Just… um… save it for a better time, okay?"

My smile was gentle as I ran my thumb across her lower lip. "I'll try… although I think I might have to go on a run to work of some… erm… tension." I felt the heat creep up my neck at my own admission and hers wasn't much better. I followed it down the smoothness of her neck only to be barred from seeing the rest from the button down shirt she was wearing. I couldn't help but wonder just how far down that blush traveled.

I shook my head to erase that thought. It was already warm in the car from the intense kiss we'd just shared and I didn't need to be turning up the temperature even more with thoughts like those. At this point, I didn't think a run was going to fix anything. Although, the snow outside was giving me ideas.

"So, are you going to share or just taunt me with that?"

"Huh?" I stared at her incredulously. I know I'd been thinking a bit off track there, but had she followed? Or was she talking about something else? All I knew was that I was completely lost at that moment.

Giggling, she pointed to the brown paper bag still clutched in my fingers. "Your surprise dessert. What did you think I was talking about?" She gave me a saucy wink which told me she knew exactly what I'd been thinking about.

"Er… right. Yeah. Here." I finally handed it over to her and she tore the bag open eagerly. "I had Shana make it especially for you."

"Oh, Bobby…" I thought she was going to cry the moment she set her eyes on the mini cake in her hand. It was that turtle cake she'd loved at the cake tasting a few days before and there was just enough for two.

Holding out a white plastic fork, I grinned at her. "Shall we?"

She took the offered utensil with a smile. "Lets."

A few hours later, we were still sitting there. Tara was dozing in the seat beside me, her head resting against my shoulder in an awkward angle. It would be stiff later on unless I moved it over to lean against the window. Of course, I just couldn't find the strength to do that. She felt too good wrapped partly around me… and then I couldn't help but wonder what she would feel like…

Argh! I had stop with those kinds of thoughts! Pushing the button on the side console, I lowered the window so I could reach out and grab a handful of snow that had gathered upon my side view mirror. It stung my hand slightly as I held it in my bare palm and I knew it would feel even worse when I stuck my face in it, but that seemed to be the only thing keeping me from rearranging ourselves until she straddled my lap and I finally had free reign to kiss her senseless.

I shivered as I tossed the used snow back out the window and wiped my face off with my sleeve.

"Wassgoinon?" Tara asked as she shifted to look at me. She was still half asleep; her eyes droopy and her words heavily slurred.

"Nothing." I quickly put my window back up.

"Why'd you have the window down?" She sat up in her seat and wiped at her mouth, probably checking for drool. I pretended not to notice.

"Just… getting rid of some snow." It was the only thing I could think of. Luckily, it hadn't let up throughout the night so the excuse would work.

She glanced out through the windshield, silently calculating how much precipitation had accumulated… at least that's what I assumed. "I can't believe it's still coming down." She yawned and stretched which bared the hint of the delectable milky white flesh of her stomach.

I tried not to stare, but it was too hard not to. My hand reached out of its own accord, aching to feel that soft skin under its skin. "Yeah," was all I managed to say before she jumped in her seat.

She squealed loudly and glared at me as she pushed my fingers away. "Your hand is cold!"

"Oh," I looked sheepishly in her direction when she chuckled at my surprised expression. That hadn't exactly been the reaction I'd been looking for. Of course, I shouldn't have reached out with the hand I'd just hand shoved into a pile of snow a few moments before. "Sorry, luv."

She didn't say anymore about it, but she watched me cautiously as if I was about to do it again. And I might have… just not in such a close proximity. Next time I did it, I would make sure I had plenty of room to run away from the fury it would evoke. "Any change?" she asked, successfully changing the subject.

I shook my head. "Not a peep… Look, luv…"

"I'm right, Bobby. I know it." There was so much conviction in her voice as she answered my unasked question. She was very sure of herself. "Besides, it's still early."

"They've already been opened an hour, luv. The other stores were hit within the first forty minutes of being opened." I wasn't arguing with her, just making a point. But, it seemed like she hadn't heard me. Her gaze was focused on something outside of the passenger-side window. "Tara?"

She waved her arm at me in a shushing motion as she wiped the condensation off of her fogged window. I tried to follow her gaze, but there didn't look to be anything out of the norm hanging around outside my car. She seemed to notice something, though. Her eyes instantly went wide and she turned to look at me. "Call Jack. They're here."