Hours passed, and day turned to night as Cora threw herself into every piece of paperwork she could find. Unable to bear the thoughts of Thomas with Grace that began to flood her brain, she couldn't let her mind wander for even a moment. One by one, every Blinder left the shop, until she found herself alone in the betting parlor with Polly. Finally slamming the record book shut, she looked up to see the woman standing over her.

"Here." Pushing a glass of dark, spicy-smelling rum into her hand, Polly raised her own glass, and took a sip. "Thought you could use it." She said with a tired smirk.

Cora welcomed the sweet burn of the rum in her throat, already eagerly anticipating its numbing effects on her racing mind.

"I take it you know who's staying at the Midland."

"Wasn't too hard to guess." Cora tried to stay as indifferent as possible, though it was hard to mask her obvious frustration. "Do you think she wants him back?"

"Can't say. But I wouldn't put it past her." Polly scoffed.

"But Thomas wouldn't take her back, would he?" She was aware that she sounded way too interested in Tommy's love life, but given that Polly certainly already knew what went on between them, Cora couldn't be bothered to care.

"Who knows." Polly sighed loudly. "What Thomas wants, he gets. I take it you're waiting to find out?"

Cora nodded sheepishly, knowing lying to Polly was futile.

The elder woman got up lazily, grabbed her coat and buttoned it slowly, then tossed something silver onto Cora's desk. "Just lock up before you leave."

Cora let out a sigh as the door slammed shut. Shutting her eyes for a minute, she debated going home. What was she really doing here anyway? She got up from her chair, but instead of leaving, went to grab the bottle of rum Polly had left out. She poured herself another drink, this one more generous than the first.

Glancing at the clock, Cora realized it was already almost ten. Perhaps Tommy wasn't even coming back tonight. Or worse, what if he brought Grace back with him? Already imagining glimpses of them together; Tommy's long fingers running through her hair, his firm forearm wrapping around her back, Cora didn't think she could stand to be sitting here if and when Tommy returned with her.

Just as she had made up her mind to leave, the door burst open. Tommy's familiar lean frame entered, alone, and without its usual rigid, cold composure. He almost stumbled as he removed his coat and cap, tossing them carelessly onto a bench. When he finally turned around to face Cora, she could tell he was quite drunk.

"Cora." His dark eyebrows gathered together in genuine confusion. "What are you still doing here?" He asked, his voice sounding even deeper than its usual low growl.

"I take it you had a nice evening." She replied casually, ignoring his question.

"Is that the way you usually speak to your boss?" He cocked one eyebrow at her, more amused than annoyed. He passed her desk, and went to sit at the end of the table in the center of the room, leaning back in his chair as he poured himself a glass of the rum.

"Only the ones I've slept with."

He let out a short breath, almost a laugh.

For all she knew, Tommy could have been spending the last few hours in bed with Grace at the Midland, and yet she could not deny that she wanted him in this moment, as much as ever. She probably would have felt some shame about this in her past life, but after everything she'd been through, Cora couldn't be bothered to care. All she could think about was the way his stormy eyes darkened as they curiously watched her own, and how she could see the rise and fall of his chest beneath his shirt.

"So why are you still here then, eh? Your boss giving you too much work?" The space between his eyebrows creased gently as he spoke, his head nodding towards the door to his office.

She couldn't help but smile. After all this time, Cora had almost forgotten this side of Tommy. Light, playful, it reminded her of the time he took her to dinner in London, when he listened to her go on about her family. It felt like a lifetime ago now.

"Nothing I can't handle." She replied coyly, getting up out of her chair to take a step toward him. He was standing in between her and the front door, after all.

"Is that so?" He rumbled, also taking a step in her direction.

They were standing about a metre apart now, close enough that she could smell the smoke on him, but not quite yet the whiskey.

"Yes, well, I'd better be heading home, it's getting quite la-"

Thud.

Of-bloody-course her feet found the perfect moment to trip on the uneven floorboards. Cora pitched forward just as Tommy's arms shot forward to catch her. His hands were gripping her forearms so tightly, she was sure they'd leave marks. The thought of which sent her heart into a quickened pace she could feel in her chest as she looked up into his now dark blue eyes.

The air seemed to vanish between them as they both struggled for breath for just a moment, until crashing into each other. He pulled her, almost forcefully, into him, his arms wrapping tightly around her waist and back. Their lips pressed together so hard Cora was sure they would be sore tomorrow, but she only pressed harder into him, gripping the side of his neck, grasping at his shirt.

His hands roamed all over her body, quickly darting from her head, to her waist, to her chest, down her stomach.

"Wait, wait," Cora murmured, pulling away from him just a smidge. "What about Grace?"

A flash of confusion passed over Tommy's face before he quickly regained his cool and collected composure. "What about Grace?" He rumbled curtly.

"Well you were with her, weren't you? Just now, at the Midland."

"Yes, I saw Grace. What does that have to do with this?"

Cora huffed. "Well I'm not exactly one of your paid girls, Tommy, I actually care if the man I'm sleeping with is in love with someone else."

"In love with someone else." He echoed. "As opposed to in love with you?"

Cora took a step back, her arms crossing in front of her body defensively. "Thats not what I said."

"But is it what you meant?" His face was blank again, impossible to read as always.

Cora wasn't stupid enough to let herself get hurt by this man, but somehow she couldn't bring herself to say no. "I don't know what you're asking." She replied, focusing her eyes on a particularly interesting knot of wood on the floor.

She heard him sigh, and suddenly she was in his arms again. "Cora, look at me." He pulled her chin towards him, looking into her eyes as if she was one of his horses; steady and calm. "What happened with Grace, it's done." He shook his head as he spoke. "It's in the past. I promise."

She let out a short puff of breath as she looked up at him. It was exactly a declaration of love, but it was more than she was expecting from him. Much more. And this emboldened her. "So did you fuck her tonight?"

Tommy scoffed. "No." He said coldly. "She betrayed me. She betrayed my family. The only reason I met with her today was to tell her to stay the fuck out of my life."

"Good." Cora couldn't help but feel satisfied for a moment, although she knew his dismissal of Grace had little to nothing to do with her; and everything to do with his hatred for betrayal. You do not fuck with the Peaky Blinders. Duly noted. "But why were you out for so long, if you were just meeting with her to tell her to fuck off?" Doubt began creeping back into her mind.

"I was at the Garrison. Ask Arthur if you don't believe me."

"Right." She felt her shoulders relax again and looked up at him, wanting nothing more than for him to kiss her again.

He brushed a lock of hair gently to the side of her face. "And just for the record, technically, you are one of my "paid girls". I pay to you to work for me company, don't I." He said with a smirk as his hand snaked around her waist, his eyes glinting mischievously.

She smirked. "Whatever you say boss."

Tommy growled ever so slightly before grabbing her again and taking her mouth in his.

..~.