Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, just the words.

AN - Thank you for your feedback on the first chapter :) This is a longer chapter. How long would you like them? I never know when it's a good time to stop and start a new chapter. I'm looking forward to more feedback!

Chapter Two

Entering her apartment in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Maura Isles was annoyed.

Annoyed at the ruined sweater she had to walk home in and annoyed at her interaction with an unnamed brunette woman on the sidewalk.

A beautiful, disheveled looking brunette on the sidewalk.

As she walked into her closet, stripping off the now ruined sweater, Maura thought of the productive day she had. She'd finished a piece on the history of modern-day fashion that would be published in the Times and had finished another chapter of her book.

Well, it wasn't a book yet. It was more of a short story at this point, but she was getting there.

The only wrinkle in her day was the awkward encounter she had with the woman on the sidewalk.

Deciding to take a shower, Maura thought back to the encounter and how she could have handled it better. Should she have said more or perhaps not made the comment on walking on the left side of the sidewalk? Didn't everyone know that?

"This is why you don't have any friends, Maura," she mumbled again as she turned on the shower.

Once inside, she started lathering her body with soap and once again thought of the brunette woman. Maura has always known that she's attracted to both men and woman, it's not a secret. So, she had no problem with admiring the brunette and her natural beauty.

When she was done in the shower, she looked at the time and noticed that it was just after 8pm. She grabbed her notebook and started writing again.

Xxxxxx

When Jane finally ran into the bar, she was spotted by her manager immediately.

"Rizzoli! You're late! Again. Why do you look like a wet rat?" Vince Korsak asked.

"Funny story…" Jane started.

"Save it. Go change. Frost has been manning the bar by himself." Korsak waved her off and walked away looking annoyed and a little amused.

Taking that as her quick dismissal, Jane headed for the changing room and put on a spare shirt she had in her locker and pulled her hair into a neat ponytail.

"Hey Frost," she mumbled when she slipped in behind the bar.

"You're lucky it's still quiet, so you haven't missed much," Barry Frost gave her a smirk.

Jane and Barry have known each other since high school and have been friends ever since. Both knew Korsak from their early teen years when they would use fake to get into his establishment.

Korsak has been the proud owner of the Dirty Robber for close to 20 years and prided himself in what the establishment has become.

By day it was a classy burger joint for kids and at night some of New York's finest chose the Dirty Robber to come and unwind.

"So, why do you look like a wet rat?" Frost asked with a teasing smile.

"Jo Friday hid my shoe," Jane started with an eye roll. "Then I decided to run here since it was raining and of course I didn't have an umbrella and I spilled coffee all over an angel."

"A what now?" Frost laughed at the childish way Jane had recounted the story.

"I ran straight into a beautiful woman and spilled her coffee all over her," Jane shrugged her shoulders.

"You're like a bull in a China shop," Frost was still laughing at Jane's tone. "Did you at least help her clean up?" he asked with a wink.

"No. She said something about not running in the rain and being on the wrong side of the road. I was an ass but said sorry," Jane said lifting her hands as if trying to defend herself.

"Typical," was all Frost said before going to serve a customer.

xxxxx

At about 9pm, Maura walked into a bar called the Dirty Robber that was a suggestion when she Googled a place that stocked her favourite wine. Hers had run out and her new order would only be delivered from France next week. The rain had let up, so she decided to venture out.

She scanned the room, deciding to sit at the bar as she had planned on just one glass and spotted the brunette from the sidewalk behind the bar.

What felt like the very same moment, Jane looked up and they made eye contact. Shivers ran down Maura's spine and she instinctively ran her hands down the fresh sweater she was now wearing.

Feeling uncomfortable under the brunette's gaze, Maura decided to slowly make her way toward the bar. When she was close enough, she saw the brunette's mouth move but couldn't make out what she was saying.

When she was close enough, she gently sat down on a bar chair and looked back at the brunette who was staring at her expectantly.

"Hi?" was all Maura could get out.

"No book?" Jane asked again.

"Oh," Maura said lamely. "I left it at home."

"That's good. Wouldn't want me to do more damage," Jane said.

"I didn't know you work here. You apologized and I accepted. Besides how could you possibly do more…" she was cut off by a warm hand on her arm.

"Hey," Maura noted that the brunette voice was softer. "I was kidding."

"Oh. Right." Maura shifted in her seat.

"So, what can I get you?" Jane asked.

"I read that you stock Chateneuf Bordeaux Blanc?" Maura asked hopefully.

"You have quite the taste. We have a bottle in the back, I'll be right back. Don't move," Jane said already walking toward a door to the right of the bar.

While waiting the brunette to return with the wine, Maura checked her makeup in the reflection of the back of the bar and decided she's glad she had put it on before leaving the house. Was the brunette's voice this deep and raspy earlier as well?

"You're in luck," Jane emerged again holding up a bottle of wine. "This is the last bottle," she presented the bottle to the honey blonde as if to inspect it.

After a too close inspection of the label, Maura finally asked "May I please have a glass?"

Jane didn't say anything while she opened the bottle, reached for a glass and poured some wine into. She made sure to slide the glass over to the honey blonde slowly as if to keep her attention.

"Thank you…" Maura trailed off.

"Jane," Maura repeated as if she was testing the name on her tongue.

"You're welcome…"

"Maura."

"Maura."

AN – I know nothing about wine... Shall I continue?