An introduction and dismissal

The male lion is the protector of his family – the pride - but contrary to popular belief, he is also a hunter. Lions usually hunt at night, their strategy is to study their prey and single it out from the crowd. They then advance quickly towards the prey, then slow down into a stalking posture. From there they advance skillfully until at striking distance.

Lara likened his approach to a male lion – the alpha of the pride. The officer advanced over to her until he was a few feet away. Lara pretended not to notice that he was standing in front of her. She didn't like feeding male egos, which she ran across often, but the seconds felt like hours as he stood there. Feeling a slight irritation, Lara made up her mind to at least give him a dirty look. The split second she decided to turn towards him was his signal.

The officer grabbed her right hand and raised it to his lips. (The lion was also the most social of wildcats.)

Lara pulled her hand away in shock. She wasn't sure if she was more mystified that he had the gall to do that, that he was actually quick enough to grab her hand, or that she was slightly thrilled by his bravado. Feeling both impressed and annoyed she looked up at the now amused look in his eyes.

"Is that your way of introduction," she demanded. The man smiled mischievously.

"I've been watching you. You turn away every man who tries to speak with you, so I thought a physical approach would be more strategic," he said with a thick accent. Lara rolled her eyes. It would be a Scot that would make such an introduction.

He continued to gaze down at her as the pair stood almost toe-to-toe. Despite an outgoing behavior, she felt that there was something deeper to his character. Lara felt a smile tugging across her face. In the split seconds when you first judge a person, she decided that she liked him. By the look in his eyes, he approved of her as well.

The moment was lost as a hand reached up and grabbed the man's shoulder. Another man, almost the complete opposite of the officer leaned in between the two.

His red-flushed face matched his red hair, and he screamed aristocrat by his dress, facial expression and the way he carried himself. Lara knew instantly that this was the host of the party.

"Ah, Colonel Sheridan, admiring the scene at my party, are you?" The intruder said almost mockingly.

The officer didn't take his eyes off Lara.

"Sir Branson, indeed - the view is lovely," Sheridan said evenly – like a challenge.

Lara shook her head, sensing tension between the men. She turned to Branson who smiled almost suggestively at her.

"Lady Lara Croft, I am so pleased by your attendance," he said rapidly. "Please is there anything that I can do for you? Is this brute bothering you? He doesn't get out much - the Royal Marines keep him deployed in all sorts of dire environments… This must be a pleasant change, yes, Terry?"

The officer didn't respond. Once again, Lara sensed tension between the two men.

"Sir Branson, I thank you for your hospitality, but the reason I'm here –"

"Ah, yes, shall we?" The host stepped away from Sheridan and offered Lara his arm.

Lara was annoyed by this gesture, but desperately wanted to get away from the situation and desperately just wanted to see what she had come to see: the location of Galahad's shield.

She gave one last glance at the officer – Colonel Terry Sheridan - whose smile had faded into an expression of passive aggressiveness towards Branson. There was definitely history between the two men, but she didn't dare delve into it.

Lara nodded at Terry with a slight apologetic smile then accepted Branson's arm.

"Is that your way of introduction, Lady Croft," Terry said in a dark, but amused tone. Lara smiled at him. She thought about the kiss he had given to the back of her hand. Almost seductively she brushed the part that he had kissed across her lips. A smile crossed Terry's face.

As she and Branson walked away, she noted that Terry Sheridan didn't move one step. She also felt his eyes on her as he had been watching her earlier. It occurred to her that she might actually like to see him again.