"We're going where?"
"Out on a proper date. I feel like Erin and her children spend more time with you than I do. Jessica has agreed to keep Jack for the evening, so we can head back to my home after our date and let the night lead where it may. I miss you."
She sighed a little at the tone of voice Aaron was using, since it almost felt like he was trying to guilt her over the amount of time she spent with her friend. "That will be fine, dear." She smiled tightly before leaning in and kissing his cheek. "I'm so glad that we're home after that horrid case you dragged me out on."
"We needed you there, and you were a great facilitator between the local police and the families and us. I know that you don't like having to be that close to all that gore, but you did an amazing job, and I want to celebrate you and what you did in Ohio." He pulled away a little so that he could cup her chin and look into her eyes. "I love you."
Those were the only words that he needed to speak to her, and she melted a little as she nodded, puckering her lips in clear invitation. He smiled before kissing her softly, his hand cupping the back of her head as he deepened the kiss and she sighed as she wrapped her arm around his neck in order to encourage him to linger on her lips, completely forgetting that they were still in his office. A softly clearing throat caused her to spring back from Aaron's embrace, and she glanced over at her doorway to see Rossi standing there, a lecherous grin on his lips. "I was about to ask if the two of you wanted to come over for supper tonight, but it seems like you're already feeding your hunger. And in the office, too! What would Erin say if she were to catch you?"
"She's the one that approved of our relationship, Dave," Aaron said as he tugged at the hem of his suit jacket, "so I hardly think that she's have much to say. And if she did, well, there are things that I could say, too, even if Penelope would like me to be kinder towards the woman."
Thankful that his back was now towards her, Penelope glared at him, seeing over his shoulder that Dave had caught the look and was similarly upset, though she didn't know why he might be upset with Aaron over those words. "Well, even you have to admit that since Kitten has become close to Strauss, the woman has been easier on our team. You should thank Penelope for that change. I, for one, am going to embrace it with as much gusto as possible."
Penelope shook her head a little as she smiled at him. "Good luck trying to woo her, bucko. I have the feeling that she does not want to even look at another man right now, and I don't blame her in the least. Though I suppose that that might be something interesting to see play out, especially with Jayje gone. We need a little drama to lift our spirits, after all."
He winked at her so quickly she almost missed it before shrugging a little. "Never let it be said that David Rossi backed down from a challenge, Kitten. Every woman likes flowers, right?"
"Well, Erin seems to be partial to living plants, since I've noticed she has at least two bonsai in her office, along with a few succulents at home. If you want an inside tip."
"Have I ever told you that you're a peach?" he replied as he came over to her side and pressed an enthusiastic kiss to each of her kisses. "Though if thing end up going well, we'll have to look to you two for examples of how to navigate workplace romances. I mean, you're obviously doing that quite well."
"Yes, well, it works better when my best friend doesn't enter offices without knocking," Hotch said drolly as he wrapped his arm around Penelope's waist possessively. "And we're actually going out on a date tonight, so we won't be able to join you for supper. Can we take a raincheck for that?"
"Of course! You know that you're all welcome at my house at any time. Enjoy your evening, and don't do anything that I wouldn't do." Once more, he waggled his eyebrows at Penelope before he turned and pranced from the room, leaving her feeling decidedly better about things, since she had expected the conversation to quickly go south when Aaron had disparaged Erin.
"Well, we should probably head out before we're visited by another member of our team," she said as she stepped away from Aaron and grabbed her purse from her desk and smiled at him. "Unless you've changed your mind about taking me out?"
"No, I would never waste a free night by changing my mind this late in the game." She let out a mock gasp of indignation before smacking his chest lightly. "I mean, we need to cherish the minutes that we have together alone when we can find them. Especially because it feels like it has been far too long since my hands have touched that soft skin of yours."
"That's better," she purred as she powered down her system and then sashayed out of her office, flipping off the lights before Aaron could follow after her. She was halfway down the stairs before he caught up with her, grabbing hold of her hand possessively, and Penelope smiled to herself as she slowed her step and began to walk in tandem with him out to the elevators. "Is there anything that we should pick up after we eat?"
"Not that I can think of. Why?"
"Eh, I was thinking that honey or whipped cream could be fun. Or was I reading your vibe wrong?"
He cleared his throat and ran his finger along the collar of his shirt before he answered. "No, you were definitely reading things right. But perhaps we should wait to discuss that until we're alone?"
Penelope shrugged a little as she glanced at the two other people in the elevator, seeing that they were both fully occupied by their phones, though Kathe's cheeks were flushed a bit, which might indicate that she had overheard Penelope. Sighing, she stepped closer to her lover and waited quietly as the elevator slid down to the ground floor. After the others had exited the elevator, she took hold of Aaron's hand once more and they walked together to her car. "I'll meet you at the restaurant, then? I don't want to leave Esther here overnight."
"I'll see you there, then," he replied before kissing her cheek quickly. Penelope sighed a little as she watched him make his way over to his vehicle and once he was inside, she slipped behind the wheel of her car and plugged her phone onto the charger before scrolling through her notifications, having felt something buzz against her thigh when Rossi had come into her office.
Thanks so much for making Mom smile at the concert, Penny! She's always so sad, it seems, but when you're around, that sadness seems to fade away. I think that you're one of the only friends who's bothered to stay in her life after the divorce. And I hope that you don't mind I sniped your phone number from her contacts, since I never thought to ask you for that info! And I don't think Dawn would be very happy if she knew that I was texting you. Anyway, thanks for being Mom's friend, and for caring enough about her and us to rearrange your life at the drop of a hat.
Though there was nothing to tell her who had sent the text, from the language used she was pretty certain that it was Tabitha, and not Karen, who was so effusive towards her. Smiling, she typed out a fast reply, telling her that that was fine and that she was welcome to text or call at any time if she needed an ear to listen to her. Once that was sent out, Penelope turned on her car and backed out of her spot, driving towards the restaurant with her mind bouncing between all the different things she was feeling. She knew that she should be more focused on her relationship with Aaron, but there was something that pulled her towards Erin at this time in her life. She knew what it was like to be without a friend, and she wouldn't wish that pain on anyone, especially not when she was fighting to keep custody of her children.
Her mind was still preoccupied when she pulled into the parking spot next to Aaron's car and she glanced over at him through her window, seeing that he was on the phone with someone. He looked her way and mouthed Jack, and she nodded as she pulled her phone off the charger and called up her emails, smiling to see that she had a message from Erin. A part of her knew that she would have to answer it before they went into the restaurant, or else not until the morning, but just as her finger hovered over the message, Aaron knocked on her window, and she knew that the message would have to wait until the morning.
