N: update! It's a slow go, but i had to figure out where i wanted to take this one. I think i have an idea. It's rizzles, but might be some angst and a little bit of a slow burn. We shall see! I have to think on it a little more. But read on and enjoy!

Maura

The rain did very little to improve my mood. The day had gone longer than I would've liked and my interview had gone terrible. I had flown to Seattle with the impression I was their sole choice, only to meet three other candidates. One had been a Chief Medical Examiner in Pittsburgh and the other an Assistant Medical examiner from Houston. I had high hopes, but after conversing with the other two, I knew I wouldn't get this job. My lack of experience in a higher position would cast a shadow of doubt over me. Never mind the fact my social skills, or lack of, were making it difficult for me to make a connection. My etiquette lessons always guiding me instead of normal human reaction. A fault that a few of my coworkers pointed out as a reason that I wasn't well received in the labs. I was brilliant, but awkward.

I left the interview dreading the next few days and having to stay in the city. I wanted to go home and sit with a nice bottle of wine and debate my next move. But instead, I was sitting in a trendy café, sipping on a latte. I'd try one more time. I had submitted applications for Boston, Detroit and Miami. If those three failed like the twenty others, I'd seriously take my mother up on her offer to move to Paris and take a break. Reevaluate my career and life.

I poked at the scone in front of me, tearing off small chunks and piling them up. I didn't want to go to this conference. It was a favor for my boss, to go in her place, and now I regretted it. And the rain was adding to my gloomy mood.

The only highlight of this trip was meeting the brunette detective. Jane.

I sighed softly. Jane was stunning and I couldn't stop thinking about her. There was something about her that had sunk deep into my psyche and I'd find myself idly thinking about her as the day went on. I silently cursed my hesitance in asking her for her phone number or taking her up on the offer for coffee. I should've done it. I chuckled, should've could've, as Jesse the lab tech would say in her thick New York accent. She was always giving me advice and pushing me to be a little more bold and shed my proper persona.

I sipped the last of my latte and grabbed my bag. I had a few more hours until the start of the conference. I thought about going to a few of the tourist sites and find a souvenir for Jesse. I pulled my phone out and turned it on. A handful of emails and texts filled the screen. Most of the messages were from work, reports I had to sign off on and requests for more tests on evidence. I opened the texts and spotted one from an unknown number.

You need almond milk. Don't forget!

I frowned, staring at the texts. I did need almond milk. I had made a note the other day to pick some up when I was home. I glanced at the unknown number, unable to connect the area code to anyone I knew. Everyone I worked with either had a New York or New Jersey area code. I went to delete the message, but my instinct begged otherwise. The Jesse's voice came into my head. "Sometimes you gotta be spontaneous, Maura. As long as it's not burning the world down, take the chances as they come. You never know what could come of it!" She would then slip into the story of how she met her husband at a pizza shop, and she took the chance to make fun of his New York Mets hat. They just celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary.

I sighed. "Not like I have anyone or anything to risk." I sucked in a slow breath and sent a reply.

I do need almond milk. Thank you for the reminder. By the way, who is this?

It took a moment for a reply to pop up.

I'll give you a clue. I used you as a pillow earlier.

I couldn't hold back the grin.

Hello Jane.

I paused then typed out another message.

How did you get my phone number? You left in a hurry before I could give it to you.

Do you always use your business cards as bookmarks? By the way, thank you for the book. I read a few chapters waiting for my room to be ready.

I shook my head. I'd grabbed the business card from my purse to use as a temporary bookmark. Then I finished the book and forgot about it. I went to send another message when my phone lit up, Jane's number flashing at me as an unknown caller. I licked my lips in nervousness and answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Hello Dr. Maura Isles of the New York Police Department. You know, New York is the arch nemesis of Boston? If I had known, I don't think I would have used you as a pillow."

I heard the humor in Jane's raspy voice. "I'm originally from San Francisco. New York is just where I work." I leaned forward in my seat. My heart pounding. "So technically no harm no foul, as you say."

Jane laughed at the joke. "Nice to see you were paying attention, and yeah, you're in the clear." She cleared her throat. "Um, so I was wondering if you were still in town and had a few minutes. Maybe we could go get that almond milk?"

I let out a slow breath, picking at the scone once more. "Yes, I'm still in Seattle. Even though I'd rather be on a flight home." I sighed, the weight of my failed interview settling around my shoulders.

"That sigh, it sounds like things aren't going well. Look, I'm downtown looking for somewhere to grab food. Would you like to join me? I don't have anywhere to be for at least four hours. What do you say?"

I thought for a moment. I never did anything random, spontaneous. Especially with a stranger. I bit my bottom lip before speaking. "I'm sitting at a café on 4th and Newberry. It's a few blocks around the corner from the convention center."

"Oh perfect! I'm rounding the corner now. Is the café called Mermaids and Beans?"

I felt my smiled fade. What was I doing? Jane was a stranger! A beautiful stranger, but still a stranger. I swallowed hard. "Yes." The bell hanging over the door jingled and I swung around to spot Jane walking in. She looked around until her eyes locked on mine. She grinned and tucked her phone away, taking long strides right towards me.

"Hey you." She slid into the seat across from me. Shaking out the little bit of rain from her hair. She was stunning with her wild hair curling around her shoulders. I wondered what it would feel like to run my fingers through it. I shook my head, relax Maura. It's been a long time, but don't latch onto the first attractive and kind person to fall in your lap. It only leads to trouble.

"Hello." I busied myself with putting my phone away, desperate to get my hands to stop trembling. What was I doing? Jane Rizzoli was causing me to lose all of my sensibilities and deep down, I was okay with it.

XXXX

Jane

Maura was nervous. It rolled off of her in waves and swam around me. I reached over, tapping her forearm. "Hey, don't be nervous. I'm a cop. You're safe. I just wanted to buy you a cup of coffee as a thank you for being so kind on the flight."

Maura gave me a weak smile, but didn't flinch away from my touch. "I'm not worried about my safety. The moment I saw you, I knew you'd do anything to keep me safe. I mean others safe. You have a protective nature about you, and I saw it immediately." She waved her hand. "I apologize. I ramble when I'm nervous. And I'm nervous, well I'm just very nervous. I rarely engage with people I'm unfamiliar with."

I laughed. Nervous Maura was adorable. I shrugged, trying to reel in my building attraction for her. "I slept on you for six hours. I think that makes us friends now, at least in my book." I waited until Maura met my eyes with a smile. I waved a waiter over. "Don't be nervous, Maura. I'm not the president. Just a homicide detective in an unfamiliar city. I promise it won't turn into Sleepless in Seattle." I smirked, even as I wished I was embarking on a Sleepless in Seattle type adventure. Maura was even more beautiful than when I last saw her on the airplane. Maybe Sleepless in Seattle wasn't the best reference to use, it got my thoughts racing in the wrong direction.

Maura titled her head to the left. "Sleepless in Seattle? Do you suffer from insomnia? I have a few tips to alleviate sleeplessness."

I shook my head, chuckling. "It's a movie, Maur. A rom com. Two people meet as strangers and fall in love. There's kids, laughs, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. It's one of my favorite movies."

Maura blushed and tipped her head down. "I don't watch many popular movies. I prefer documentaries and historical mini series."

"But you read pulpy spy novels. You're an interesting woman, Dr. Isles." I leaned back, quickly ordering a large coffee with a cheese Danish and a refill for Maura. "Oh, how did your interview go? I'm sorry I left you at the airport. That call looked important."

She sighed, meeting my eyes. God, her eyes. Her eyes were incredible. They were hazel but the gloomy weather made them a shimmery copper green. I had swallow down the little gasp threatening to come out. I always had a thing for eyes, and hers were definitely my thing. But there was a sad look in them, and for some reason I wanted to find out why this gorgeous woman was sad and right whatever wrongs that had been done.

"The novels are a guilty pleasure. Most of my reading material is medical or science related. My mind sometimes needs the break." She pushed away the plate with a mutilated blueberry scone on it. "The interview went poorly and I'm stuck in the city for a few more days. I was bamboozled into attending this law enforcement conference by my boss. I'd much rather fly home and wait for the next set of interviews I have lined up."

I felt my heart drop into my stomach and flip with excitement. "Is it the conference taking place across the street? LEO Con?"

Maura nodded politely. "Yes?"

I grinned, leaning closer. "That's why I'm here. I was also bamboozled by my Lieutenant and sent her to try and get a grant for our department. They figure the reputation I have could push the grant our way if I made a personal appearance. What do you say we go together and be con buddies? I don't know anyone out here, and maybe I can help you forget about feeling stuck." I wanted to spend more time with her and make her smile. I'd caught a glimpse of her smile on the plane, and it was incredible. Now sitting in front of her again, I craved to see it again. I held up my hands. "I won't hold you to anything. If I bore you, annoy you, you can ditch me at the concession stand and never look back." I noticed Maura glance at the top of my hands, focusing on the scars. Normally I'd tuck them away, shove them in my pockets, but the way she looked at them made me feel like I wouldn't be asked for the story of how I got them. Maura was too polite to push and be snoopy. I laid them on the table in front of me. "By the way. Bamboozled? You're quite the thesaurus. I haven't heard that word used outside of the old cartoons I watched as kid."

Maura lingered on my hands before her gaze moved to my eyes. "It's an appropriate descriptor for my predicament." She let out a huff, obviously thinking over my offer. "Yes. Let's be con buddies. I think it's time to take more chances and make new friends."

I squinted at her. "Stick with me and I'll give you that and so much more." I tried to swallow the words back down as they came out. Dammit Jane, don't flirt with her. Don't be that creepy stranger.

But then Maura looked at me and her hazel eyes turned a shade darker as she smiled. "I think that's an offer I wouldn't dare refuse." She bit her bottom lip as the waiter came back to set my coffee and her refill down, leaving the bill in the middle.

The sight alone of Maura Isles biting her bottom lip had me sweating. I grabbed the bill, digging in my wallet for money. I needed the temporary distraction to settle down. "I got this, Maura. I promised I'd buy you a coffee."

"Of course, Jane. But I'm buying you dinner."

I glanced at Maura, a grin on her face as she sipped from her mug. I gave her a look, sifting through what to say next. I had to be careful. I didn't want to flirt too hard. Maura was special, I knew it from the second she offered a polite hello on the plane. She was worth more than stupid lines and my swagger. Never mind the fact she made my palms sweat like I was back in the confessional on Sunday as a teenager.

I stood, tucking my wallet away. "It's a deal. Let's head over and do the meet and greet. The sooner we do that, the sooner we can head to dinner and I can buy you dessert."

Maura collect her bag and stood to stand in front of me. She tilted her head to the left. "Do you always have to have the last word, Jane?"

I winked and grinned. "Yep. But trust me, it's always worth it in the end."

Maura waved for me to go first. "Oh I'm sure. After you, Detective."

I shook my head and gently took her elbow. "Nope. From this point on, we're doing everything together. It's the first rule of being a con buddy." I clenched my jaw at how warm Maura was under the thin rain coat she wore. I had to close my eyes for a split second as her perfume hit my nose. She was warm and smelled incredible.

Yep. I was in trouble.