A/N: Thank you for all the kind reviews. Didn't expect them because this is just 'light' fic, nothing too serious and all. But it's good to know you all like it. Here's the third chapter, a bit shorter, but otherwise the wait would have been longer. Enjoy and please R&R! Ideas for what should happen or suggestions are welcome!

Chapter three

Sitting at the restaurant with Lewis, Alex was thinking about Bobby. The entire afternoon he'd been quiet and sometimes she even caught him staring at her. That in itself wasn't odd, but the look in his eyes was. It was a look of surprise and it made her uncomfortable, like he'd just had some sort of revelation.

She was brought out of her reverie by a hand waving in front of her face. She found Lewis' blue eyes on her.

"You were miles away." He pointed out to her.

Looking down at her plate she apologized. "Do you know what was wrong with Bobby, today?"

"What do you mean?" Lewis smiled.

"I don't know. He was acting…well stranger than usual. Like he had some revelation or something. Did something happen at lunch?"

"Not really. You know Bobby, sometimes no one understands him."

When for the second time that evening Alex seemed to be somewhere else with her mind Lewis decided to try a different approach. "I don't think I've ever seen Bobby as happy with a partner as he is with you. I remember when he first called me about you. Saying how terrific you were, the only one to keep up with you. Also hoping that you wouldn't leave him like the others."

Alex smiled, she also still remember the first time she met the famous Robert Goren. To say she was surprised when she first saw him was an understatement. She expected a greying, boring, overweightdetective. Robert Goren was quite the opposite. She first noticed the way he stood out in the room. He was incredibly tall, especially compared to her somewhat smaller figure. Yet what stuck to her the most were his gentle dark brown eyes. They settled on her, eyeing her to see what she would do, to see if she was suitable. She'd simply stared back, not at all intimidated. Standing there, staring at him she really took him in. His designer suit, his stubble, his short curly hair…the whole package was a lot different than expected, a whole lot nicer.

"Of course, he never told me how beautiful you were." Lewis paused before continuing. "He probably wanted to keep you to himself."

She didn't quite know how to react to his words. The more time she spend with Lewis the more she realized this wasn't going to work. Sure Lewis was nice and funny, but her mind kept coming back to Bobby.

"Alex, the entire evening your mind has been on something else. Or should I say someone else?" Lewis finally decided to confront her.

"I'm sorry, Lewis. I just don't think this is going to work." Alex answered truthfully.

"Why haven't you ever told him?" Lewis asked Alex.

Confused Alex looked up. "Told who what?"

"Come on Alex, don't play dumb."

Alex had the decency to look guilty. "We're partners, things are complicated."

"I'm surprised that something like regulations would stop you. What's the real problem?"

Running a hand through her hair Alex sighed. What indeed was the real problem? Her own insecurities, the fact that she didn't know how Bobby felt or her doubts whether they should even take the risk of ruining their perfectly good friendship. Or maybe just all of the above. "It takes two to tango, you know."

"Don't tell me you're not sure about Bobby. I've seen him looking at you. Besides, let me say that after our lunch today, I'm pretty sure you have nothing to worry about."

"What did you do?"

He held his hands up in surrender. "I didn't do anything. I just…pushed him in the right direction."

"Which is?" Alex questioned him.

"You." Giving her some time to think about what he'd said, Lewis waved to the waiter for the check. "Look, you're making this a lot harder than it is. You know more then he does. When it comes to the people he loves, Bobby can be insecure. You need to give him that little push. He needs to be convinced. Take the risk, Alex. I promise you, you won't be disappointed."

Her dinner with Lewis was finished, Alex was now sitting at home. She couldn't forget Lewis' words. She didn't know she'd been that obvious. She wasn't even sure herself about her feelings for Bobby. Maybe it was just a faze, maybe it was because they'd been partners for a while now and she was confusing her feelings. Yet she knew that wasn't true, she knew it felt right. Still there was Bobby to take into consideration. Lewis told her she didn't need to worry, but she did. After all, before she was willing to risk their partnership by admitting she was in love with him, she needed to be sure about his feelings. And how to do that? Maybe she had to bait him, like Lewis had done. Provoke him to a response. She decided to see what would happen.

TBC...