A/N: You read Bones' thoughts on the question, now read Booth's. And I have to say, Booth's thoughts are so much easier to write than Bones'.
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"I'm sorry." Booth immediately said, pulling his arm away from her waist. "I didn't mean to."
"It's okay, Booth." Temperance assured him.
"No, Bones. You made it perfectly clear that you weren't ready for this kind of contact yet. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have."
Really, I shouldn't have even though putting my arm around her waist was something I had done before. It was a more 'normal' contact for us than tucking her hair behind her ear. I shouldn't have apologized but I did. I guess that changing the setting had changed the meaning of my move. Normally, the move would have been just a friendly gesture but today, since we're on a date, everything I do or say has a new meaning... to her at least. What she could have perceived as a friendly gesture at work doesn't fit on a real live date.
I'm normally like this on dates with women I'm really interested in. Today, I should go slower because it's Bones. She's my best friend but also my work partner and I know just how important our work relationship is for her. I know that agreeing to go on a date with me took a lot of courage on her part because it meant that our relationship would be changed for ever. I, myself, am worried that, when we go back to work on Monday, that everything is going to be different.
I kept a small distance between us as we walked back to the SUV. I wanted her to know that I was going to respect her rhythm and that I wasn't going to make another move until she was ready. I don't know if she understood that. I hardly doubt it. Bones is very literal, therefore you need to be very direct with her. She doesn't read body language very well even though she has gotten better over the months we have worked together.
I smile as I recall the first time I met her. Man I hated her. She was just so annoying, always trying to be right and dominate the conversation. It seemed like she always had to prove to everybody that she was smart when there was no proving to be done. She's the smartest person I've ever known and probably that I'll ever know.
As much as I hated her, I still found her attractive. I used my charm on her like I would have used on any other woman but Temperance wasn't any other woman. She's different and I quickly realized that my charm wasn't going to work on her. I didn't know her well enough back then to change my tactic so I just gave up. Instead, I focused my attention on another lovely lady who went by the name of Tessa, on whom my charm at least worked. But I soon realized that Tessa wasn't Bones.
My relationship with Tess didn't last very long bunt, unlike popular belief, she didn't break up with me because of Bones. She didn't accuse me of having feelings for my favorite doctor, she simply said she wasn't ready for a real relationship. She told me we could keep dating casually or see each other as friends but I said no. What was the point? I wasn't going to waste my time on someone who didn't want to be with me. I haven't seen or talked to her since our breakup.
I'm not sure exactly when my feelings for Bones came back since I walked in the Jeffersonian one morning, saw her and butterflies immediately appeared. It had been progressed so slowly that I didn't even notice that I liked her until that very morning. Looking back today, I'm pretty they all came back the day Ortez had put a hit out on her. I remember being really scared for her life and thinking the worst. I also remember thinking selfishly what I would do without her. But that hadn't been about me, it had been about her, about her life. I forced myself to remember that as I waited for Ortez in the alley but I have to admit, while I was threatening that scumbag, it was about the both of us and not just her.
Just like I said, my feelings for her slowly came back. The more time we spent together, the more I craved to be with her and talk to her. I didn't ask for much: only a smile or a few words. Her relationship with David was like a blow in the face for me, especially since I thought we had made progress. But the fact that she dedicated her book to me and not to him gave me hope that, maybe, what she felt towards me (if she felt something) was stronger than what she felt for that sleazeball. I admit it, it was stupid of me to think that way but then again, I am dating her today, ain't I?
I pull out of the freeway and, at the lights, I turn left. I can sense that she is confused and that she doesn't know where we're going. It's a good thing because I don't want her to know. I want her to be surprised. I know she'll love the place where we're going. My parents had their anniversary there last year and it was just great! It helps that my dad knows the owner because I was able to book us a table where there shouldn't have been one for us. I went through a lot of trouble for dinner, more than for lunch, and I hope that she'll like it.
The restaurant isn't too far from the freeway but an accident on the boulevard prevent us from getting there quickly. When I turn into the parking lot, I see her, from the corner of my eye, looking up at the sign.
I turn to her and say:
"I called and made reservations this morning. The host told me that there weren't any tables left but I pulled some strings and they added an extra table just for us."
I'm not sure what possessed me to say this but I did. Maybe it was because I wanted her to think well of me, maybe I just wanted to impress her. Nevertheless, she seems surprised and I feel gratified by that. I know she thinks that we could have just gone to another restaurant and, on any other day, I would have agreed with her. Not today. Today, I want to show her how much she means to me and show her that I will go through great lengths for her. I'm sure that's something that her ex-boyfriends never did for her. I want her to feel special. Today, she has my entire attention even though I know I might not have all of hers.
I pull the SUV into an empty parking space and turn off the ignition. Nervousness settles back into the pit of my stomach and I pray silently that everything goes well during dinner. I don't know if I'll be able to fight the urge to make another move on her. I want to but I know that maybe she's not ready for it. Just before I get out of the car, I make up my mind: no more moves until she tells me she's okay with it.
I get out of the car and I hear her do the same behind me. I start walking surprisingly fast. I try to slow down but I feel like I have no more control on my legs. I hear her behind me. She's jogging to catch up to me. Once she's reached and walking beside me, I hear her take a deep breath but I still don't look at her. If I look at her, I know that I won't be able to keep my hands off her (in a non-sexual way, I mean).
I feel something soft sliding in my hand and I soon realize that it's hers. She feels so warm and my nervousness just melts away. I relax immediately at her touch and my feet slow down. I look down at her. She turns to me and smiles. I can hardly smile back. Her hand feels so petite in mine as our fingers link together. Her move acknowledges so many things and, up to this day, I can admit that I have never truly understood the saying Action speaks louder than words.
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Okay they told me that they've had enough and that they would like to go eat now. Who am I to deny that to them?