AN: Here is the next installment. Enjoy!
Ch 11
"Damnit, Walt."
Startled by her outburst, he saw her tears and sighed. He either hurt her or pushed this boundary too far, probably both. Cringing on the inside, he waited to see what she would say.
"You didn't hurt me and you didn't do anything wrong. It's me. I don't know how to handle that, tenderness, from a man. I've always been one of the guys, so no one's ever done anything like that for me."
He knew she didn't want his pity, but that was just sad. It explained a lot about her. He knew, in that single moment, two things. One – he had just crossed the line with her. Two – she had just captured his heart. His instinct was to get away from her, clear his head and think this through. He couldn't do that to her. Not now when her guard was down and she was so vulnerable. He reached out his hand and tilted her head up so he could look in her eyes. He didn't have words just yet and he didn't want to risk hurting her so he just pulled her into his arms and held her. Existing in the moment. She smiled up at him as she moved out of his arms. It didn't take him long to reassemble her gun and return it to her holster. He handed her the phone.
"Vic. I uh, I think we need to talk. Soon. When we have more than a few minutes."
An amused smile crossed her face and he realized that he was rambling. Well for him anyway. His smile slid into place as he realized he must not have messed this up yet.
"We do and we will. Soon. I need to talk to Sean first. Then we can sort out this thing between us."
Her left hand found his right and he hoped this wasn't her round about way of telling him thanks but no thanks.
"Walt?"
"Yeah."
He looked down at her, wondering how he let things get this far and why he didn't care more that he was falling for a woman who was married. Why he was more worried about whether she would be happy with him long term than how she was going to handle her marriage. They hadn't physically crossed the line into an affair, but they were heading that way.
"Please don't shut down on me with this. I can guess the kind of thoughts going through your mind. You can brood all you want, but don't make any decisions. Wait for me."
"I have to make one, Vic, so I need you to tell me the answer to one question. If there were nothing in the way of a relationship between us, would you consider it? All I want to know is if it's an option."
"You really don't know the answer to that?"
The agitation in her voice was clear.
"Hey, I won't make assumptions. Not on something this important. Not when it comes to you."
As quickly as she seemed to be upset, it faded with his words.
"Yes, of course I would."
He nodded, unsure if he could speak past the lump in his throat. He cleared his throat.
"Good."
He returned her smile as he grabbed their cups and tossed them in the trash, too cold to salvage. He followed her to the truck and held the door closed, which prompted her to turn around. He put his other hand on the truck and essentially trapped her. He leaned toward her so his mouth was near her ear.
"I can wait. I will wait. For as long as it takes. All I ask is that you let me know what's going on and you're honest with me. If there's a problem tell me about it. If you change your mind, say so. I'm not good at purgatory."
She didn't seem to be upset at his remarks, so he continued.
"No pressure. Ok?"
Her hair brushed his cheek as she nodded. It smelled of citrus. He took a deep breath and backed away from her, before he did something they both may, or may not, regret. Putting his hand on the handle of the door, he guided her around it and helped her in. He shut the door and returned to the driver's seat, put the key in the ignition, and paused looking over at her.
"Are you ok, Vic? You were quiet on the way here."
"I will be. I have to work some things out and talk to Sean. Then we can talk, like we agreed. Try not to worry. Playing house mouse will actually be a good thing, that way I'm not distracted in the field and end up getting someone hurt."
His eyes lingered on her a bit longer, then turned to the road as he cranked the truck and left the range. He hoped that what he thought she was doing and what she was actually doing were one in the same. She told him 'they' would be an option, so he shouldn't worry. They were so good together as work partners, as friends. Their age difference never crossed his mind until he started fantasizing about her. He still couldn't believe that someone like her would want him. He felt her response to his touch, his words. He felt his own response to her touch. How long before the spell cast upon her is broken? Is this just because she wasn't getting what she needed from her marriage? Once she's done with Sean, will someone younger capture her attention? Time will tell.
TBC