At the beeping of her alarm Beth's hand shot to her phone, resulting in her nimbly sliding it off the bedside table and it thumping on the carpet. Her arm followed, rummaging for it as she pushed herself a little to look down. Itching to close her eyes she instructed herself to keep them open, knowing if she didn't she'd slip right back into a new a dream. Not quite able to reach her target she sat up and rubbed her eyes with one hand as she pushed the blanket off with the other before glancing out the small window.

Once Rio had left she had picked up the phone he gave her and studied the manual one more time. By the point she'd put it away sleep caught on very quickly but she'd lost a good amount of sleep. Lack of sleep was nothing she wasn't unfamiliar with but she'd be lying if she'd say she wouldn't have preferred to have at least another hour of shuteye.

Checking the time on her phone she realized with disappointment that she'd overslept. Not by that much but enough to throw off her schedule. Still, she reasoned with herself, she had a few minutes for a quick shower. Having four kids was just the training a person needed to get that kind of task done in a flash.

Five minutes later she was drying off and reading a text from one of Rio's men with a notice of when he'll pick her up. With enough time to grab something quick to eat too, Beth thought, pleased.

It wasn't the first expo she'd attended, having accompanied Dean on a few car related shows over the years but the theme was certainly different here. The buzzing activity was the same, with people in formal wear finishing setting up, some already chatting with guests. It was easy to get drawn in the excitement of the space. The anticipation of what the event was bringing. Beth's spirits gladly picked up the energy.

She'd gotten the booth number from her ride and she took in the competition along the way. A lot of the merchandise seemed to be medically related but she couldn't find something very similar to what Rio was selling. Finally she arrived at the destination, a booth sitting at a fork in a central spot that Beth imagined was chosen carefully to benefit from amped traffic. Busy at the booth was a sharp dressed woman with her hair swooped up. This was probably Inez, she guessed, her partner for the morning session.

"This place is huge," Beth said to Inez once the two made brief introductions.

Inez nodded. "We've been to bigger but I have to say it's a decent crowd. This your first?"

Beth considered the woman who was considering her and wondered for a moment what Inez knew about her. She was ready to prove herself.

"I've been to expos before," she looked briefly around her as she saw women carrying carts of boxes in the path in front of them. "But I haven't worked a booth before," she admitted. Beside Inez the tables and accompanying presentation items seemed ready to be inspected by curious visitor eyes.

"What's this?" Beth glanced at the text on sheets the table in front of her.

"What?" Inez followed Beth's eyes.

"This isn't," Beth picked up a brochure. "This isn't what I was reading," she said, more to herself than to Inez. She'd been taken with the place she hadn't focused on the details right away. The pictures, the title of the product, it wasn't the same. Strange. There must have been two booths.

"What do you mean? It's StatsTake. It's what we're selling."

StatsTake, the app she was looking at on the board beside Inez, seemed interesting enough. It certainly was not what she had spent hours studying yesterday. Instead of catching up on much needed sleep.

"Is that all you're selling today?" Beth asked, speaking in a low voice, skin prickling on her arms.

Inez nodded.

Rio. Beth took a deep breathe, and put her palm to her forehead.

"Is there a problem?"

Apart from being shaken what may quickly grow into a migraine, no. Beth's eyes looked over the text on one of the brochures. She could just wing it. It wasn't very different from the product Rio had shown her. It provided information, except it wasn't at all the same kind of information, Beth thought with exasperation that she had a hard time quieting down.

"No, no," Beth shook her head, glancing between Inez and the brochure.

"Good," Inez past a tiny remote to Beth. "You can work the demonstration. I can work this side-"

Inez kept talking but Beth was looking at the seven buttons on the remote and tried to keep her breathes steady. Oh, this was not good.

"First demonstration is in fifteen minutes."

"Thank you everyone, and welcome to our first demonstration of the day," Beth smiled at the small crowd that had gathered in front of her. Inez had stepped away and it had taken her a few painful minutes to get the right screen up. With disappointment she saw a few guests walk away but put on a friendly face and asked one of the men standing in front of her where he was from and what he knew about the product, starting a conversation going with a woman standing on the other end of the group.

Finally clicking on the right button she was thankful and relieved to see the next screen pull up. She wasn't sure if it was the right one but still she read from the screen, going over the device's specs. Once done with that she clicked a few buttons, with muted annoyance and without the screen changing, finally putting the remote aside.

As she continued she noticed Inez from her periphery. Her cheeks likely burned but she was going to keep going.

"When is this going to be available to the market?"

"In the coming spring." Beth said only too happily, having remembered it from the brochure.

"I wasn't sure when it'll be available in France. Online I was reading two different things-"

Beth nodded, and admitted she'd need to check about that. A second question quickly came that she didn't have an answer for and Inez jumped in, rescuing her. While the crowd dispersed Beth wondered briefly if she could walk out altogether. That had been a rough start. She despised remote controls. She knew she could've easily given a non-answer answer but when she was asked technical questions she preferred not to make something up.

"Rio told me you'd be prepared," Inez said, but at least she didn't sound as perturbed as Beth surely would've sounded in her shoes.

"I-" Beth started, then considered her phrasing. She should trust whatever she'd say would make its way to Rio. "I understood that I was going to present a different product." She finished diplomatically.

Inez's face cleared a little. Beth resisted the urge to ask her if Rio had ever done something like that before. She hadn't really considered that it could be the case, but why not? He probably saved it for people he particularly wanted to torment.

"I think it may be better if you run the next few demonstrations." Beth painfully admitted.

"I think so too. Why don't you watch?"

It was a lot of information, and Beth tried to take down a few main notes as stealthily as she could. She cataloged what she thought were the most relevant facts, starting from the most general. It was especially painful at first, particularly because she didn't like knowing so little about something she was supposed to present, but she also found that she could connect to certain members of the crowd, like moms who could find similar use to the product.

As the minutes ticked on she thought in the back of her mind about what her kids were doing with Dean. Annie and Sadie were going to come over later. She was reading a few weeks ago about the conservatory having a tulips exhibit. She'd love to go. Maybe a few of the kids wouldn't mind going back. Maybe Annie and Ruby would like to go. Annie would have fun but if she only took Ruby she'd be more open to stay longer.

Her partner, Inez, was perfect for the role, charming the businessmen and women, as well as inquisitive guests who'd gotten tickets to the event. Beth was grateful when she stepped in to clarify a particularly challenging question and tried to follow her answers unless someone else walked up.

"Thank you for your help," She commented during a brief lull in visitors. "If I slowed you down-"

Inez shook her head. "I won't lie, I was worried for a second. But you're trying."

It wasn't the most enthusiastic praise but Beth would take that. She could appreciate she was still learning. "I appreciate I'm able to hear you talk about it."

"I've been part of this from early research," Inez said proudly. "I've been involved with this for a while."

At least she had the opportunity to shadow Inez even though it was still trial by fire. The crowd was different from the party she'd been at the first night. The long list of medical start up companies intrigued her and she hope she'd get a chance to walk around later, maybe during her break.

Both she and Inez had chairs but she didn't like to sit down, instead leaning on her cane and the table to try to keep weight off her foot. It was going to bother her later but she stubbornly preferred to be able to meet potential buyers at eye level, particularly because she wasn't as knowledgeable about the topic as she'd like. Only when the thought about her kids needled in her mind did she sit down to take a break from standing.

Selling something like this felt meaningful. She pondered the job interview she'd put on hold in Detroit. Maybe she could do sales. She'd applied for jobs rather blindly, not sure what her skill set would fit and mostly thinking how her lack of experience and higher education would make it hard to find work, let alone a job that she could provide well for herself and her kids.

Just that marketing this product, it being a part of telling a story and being excited about it made the process easier even if she was out of her depths. This was something she connected more easily with than car insurance to be sure.

"Inez, take your break."

Her head snapped back. She had been caught up talking with the man in front of her and hadn't hear Rio walk up. The brightly colored clock at the booth across from theirs showed it had already been two hours since she'd entered the building.

Inez smiled and grabbed her bag and jacket, saying goodbye to Beth as she headed out.

"You have to do this too?" She asked coldly as he took Inez's place. She understood that she'd need to take shifts at the booth. But him?

"We all got a boss," He surveyed the crowd. "Mine wants me to make an appearance."

The thought someone was above him made her pause for a moment. She imagined there was hierarchy in Rio's business but was a little fascinated with who his boss was like. She stepped further away from him close to the opposite edge of the table to give herself space and held back a sigh. She hadn't minded taking a break from him, especially with the bait and switch he'd pulled on her. Him standing beside her brought it all back. She tried to paint a picture of what his boss looked like, how the conversation went when he – or maybe she? – demanded Rio come down. Yes, she preferred that word – demanded.

On top of what Rio's set up, she couldn't help but remember the last time they'd spoken. Though it hadn't been the situation exactly, she knew, the sting of rejection, even though he'd had to leave had been a little confusing and she was sure that some time alone would clear her head. She folded brochures and with each fold the thought shrank a little, but she couldn't erase the tension in her arms as she sensed him beside her and heard him speaking to someone who stopped by their table.

She was able to keep herself in check for the most part, the forced partnership even pushing her to interact more with passerbys. It was biting at her that Rio brought nothing up about what he'd done. Of course he'd do that, she kept reminding herself. To get back at her for what he considered conspiring with Karin even though she helped him. All right, it wasn't her initial plan but she knew she'd made a decision that all things considered, Rio would take too. Maybe with him giving her the USB, showing her trusted her, maybe with getting hurt, maybe she'd choose a different route next time. Maybe.

It was easy for her not to bring up her irritation at what happened this morning and she was certainly not going to give him the satisfaction of blowing up at him right now. While explaining the device to one woman, Rio slung an arm around Beth's waist, his chest against her side, grabbed a pamphlet and again put distance between them. I could just pass it to you, Beth thought, relaxing from her coiled posture as he moved back. Even if she wouldn't speak it was hard for her body to not respond to her feelings around him and honestly that – well, that was new. Beth didn't know quite what to do with it.

"What's up with you?" Rio asked after the woman left.

"Making sales," Beth said, managing something near a neutrally amicable tone.

There came the difference. When more and more in later years Dean would take it and back off until time had passed and Beth was on to something else – leaving the matter so often unresolved – Rio stood still, waiting. And OK, he was probably not going to step away, them being stuck working the same table. But even as another conversation went on between him and a potential buyer she felt his eyes draw back to her.

After the woman left Rio stepped closer to Beth but didn't speak. There wasn't a wall he could back her too but she didn't like how he stood in place, not moving, having an unspoken argument with her. It made her feel like there was no where she could go but lash at him.

"Was this a test?" She couldn't hold back anymore. "A way to make me look like an idiot?" She swallowed and resisted the instinct to put her hand on his chest to push him away to give her a little space to breathe.

"Should know better than to put you through a test, right? I didn't learn the first time."

If she'd ever entertain the amused tone in his voice, now was not the time.

"This isn't the best way to advertise a product," she kept her body language as welcoming as she could while sharpening her tone, which didn't come by so hard.

"I needed to see how you can work on your feet." He mirrored her stance but he wasn't as relaxed as he appeared to be. "And Inez was here."

"Having me be stopped by an officer wasn't enough?"

"You could walk away."

"I don't walk away." She said sharply, realizing what she was admitting. He had trusted her to do this and she was going to do this. Even if it had been a test. She wanted to – impress him was the best word, but not Rio the man. Rio the temporary boss. It was self-preservation!

Ugh though also – she cared what he thought and the thought only made her angrier.

A few people came by, distracting them both from their conversation. More than she liked since he'd come Beth had to guide people to speak with Rio, but where she didn't know all the information, she was able to connect with the potential buyer about why he'd need the product.

How could she expect to know the answers when she had no time to prepare, she reminded herself weakly. She should still know, another voice said, stubbornly and irrationally. Not only that but after each passerby left the adrenaline that had kicked in when they stopped by evaporated leaving her eyes felt heavy, wishing to guide her to a comfortable chair to close them for only a few moments... She sipped on her coffee.

"You're doing good," Rio allowed on the next reprieve.

"Thanks." She knew she'd remember the way he said it, his eyes, even though she'd quickly look away.

She'd figured it out. As best she could in the circumstances, which wasn't what she'd want, but it'd do right now. She was learning as she went to be sure, but she was able to more than occasionally turn the conversation around to focus on the main points and deflect to Rio when needed.

She knew why he'd given her a test. She was ready to take on more if that's what she needed to prove her and her girls were worth it. But something itched at her, that he was going to stand on obstinate grounds and not change his mind about the ultimatum he'd given her. And last night didn't make her less sure of it.

"Got anything else on your mind?" Rio asked her in between visitors.

"Nothing. Just didn't sleep so well." She said evenly as she folded the next brochure. She wasn't happy with a test, but she needed to move beyond it to get what she wanted. It'd be all worth it for that. She still felt his eyes on her.

"I thought you trusted me." He asked and though he was obviously teasing her his words were like a deceptively gentle caress on her neck.

Her insides tensed up. If only she hadn't said that. His eyes waited patiently. She could see that he was part putting on a show, turning up the innocence in his eyes. With reluctance, though, she started thinking that he wasn't going to give up without an answer.

"Let it go. Please. It'll pass." If she was going to approach him about business matters, which wasn't her being tested, but her goal in doing this trip, now she wouldn't be at an advantage when she was still worked up. If he hadn't arrived she was sure she would've had enough time to cool down some.

A woman stopped by the booth and Beth took over, seamlessly putting on her professional voice. She'd had plenty of practice putting on a calm, warm face when guests came over right after a heated argument with Dean or more often, when she'd felt discouraged, to the point she'd destroyed half a meal before having to redo it quickly, and oddly relishing at the challenge. At the first doorbell everything was put and locked away and if she concentrated enough she wouldn't ever think about it again.

A few visitors later she felt Rio's eyes on her again. His timing was impeccable. Just when Beth felt she'd put aside her resentment towards him he'd look at her and she realized the coals were still burning. Time apart may have only done so much when it comes to him. How couldn't her irritation be so intense when her loved ones were counting on her?

"I'll tell you. All right? But not now." She looked back at a brochure as she folded it. "We're working."

He regarded her like he was impressed. People continued stopping by asking a host of questions that by now were starting to become more and more predictable. Beth hit her stride, making light conversation, putting on the demonstration. Small talk was of course a little easier to make than focusing on the details of the products, and on top of that she felt that she was being closely observed with Rio standing right there, but she shut him out and focused on the expression of the person in front of her. It wasn't so difficult to do and she supposed she'd gotten practice in that as well.

Twenty minutes later a middle aged man stepped up to the booth. Rio and him exchanged a few words as Beth nodded thanks to a group of businesswomen who walked by.

"Come here," Rio touched her lower back and stepped back from the booth. The man he'd just spoken with replaced him and acknowledged her with a nod. She followed Rio into the hallway. She knew what she wanted to say. She'd keep it brief. No need to get into anything, she tried to coach herself, finding with surprise a soft reaction that it may not be so easy to do. Why not?

He slipped into an empty room and she stepped inside behind him. Maybe she could just give a short, even coy answer and they could let this go, she thought as he closed the door behind them. As soon as he met her gaze her bravado evaporated. She wanted to tell him the truth. It was enough to make her want to stamp her feet.

"Look, I understand that you gave me a test, what you were trying to do. And if this was worth getting back Ruby and Annie into this then that was one thing-"

"Good you consider yourself back in."

She fumed. He wouldn't let her go through all of this without any assurance she got the job back but she had to get something after all of this. She should know better.

"That's right. Because if they're not back in I'm not."

He put his hands in his pockets, was about to talk again when she raised her palm.

"I know – I messed up. We talked about it-" she broke eye contact, "last night. We both do it. I take care of my family." She pressed down on her cane. Just like he does.

"Yeah, I don't see how it's my problem."

"No, I guess that's mine." She snapped, resisting rubbing her shoulder. Between last night, the test he'd just made her do, the fact she'd still have to prove herself and still be unable to get her sister and her best friend back into business – her whole body was stiff with stress. "If I have to choose, it only goes one way."

"Play it a martyr and you're all out, I told you." He replied quickly but she saw his interest piqued a little.

She was going to grind her cane into the ground the way she was going. "It's not worth it for you." She said, her statement coming more pleading than firm, wanting to call his bluff while trying to figure out how to appeal to him. She suspected he'd easily try to shut her suggestion that they were an asset although it was clear it was the case. "You gave me a test but you still took a risk. I'll find something that the three of us can do."

"Guess you'll just tell me when you figure it out."

"We could all fit in your business before and that hasn't changed."

He only shook his head at her with a resolute expression. It was better not to keep pushing, she knew, not right now. Even if she knew they were an asset, had had her hope reignited that if Rio was running legitimate business that that was the in Ruby needed to reconsider getting back, she was sober enough to know that with everything else that she wasn't going to change Rio's mind right now. And she still had the event to finish working. But it lightened the weight in her just a little to have brought it up, even if the feeling wasn't mutual. In fact, now that she was a little calmer, she could see Rio was holding himself at a distance, and she realized she had been focused elsewhere that she hadn't noticed it.

"What?" She asked.

He feigned an innocent expression and shrugged. "Waiting for you to tell me you gonna take your business elsewhere," he raised one of his hands to motion for her to continue. "Got something else in the pipeline and whatnot."

"What are you talking about?" Beth grimaced, not following.

Rio's body language didn't give but he looked about to turn away from her. "Heard you got an offer. Maybe you should think about it," he started to turn.

"Wait," Beth stepped after him.

"Maybe this is your sign to split." Rio stopped a second before Beth could tug back at his arm. "Figured you'd try to milk something before-"

"Who told you?"

Wrong answer, she clearly saw, but that was the only thought she wanted to verbalize to him about it. The expression on his face that had shown contempt looked no more sympathetic.

"I didn't take it." She resisted the temptation to feign ignorance, to lie. He already knew. "I just had a conversation."

Rio shook his head at her. She wasn't going to tell him that she had to be desperate that she'd even consider it. He wouldn't understand it.

"She saw something she could use," she said, ignoring Rio's expression. It wasn't just Rio who could see something he could use. "And maybe I saw that in her."

He didn't respond but didn't seem about to turn away from her. She wasn't going to apologize for not telling him about Karin's offer. He'd put her in a position that made it even a little appealing to hear Karin out.

"Is that why you gave me the test?"

Rio glanced away for a moment.

"To punish me?" Beth pushed when he didn't answer.

"Nah." he finally said.

He didn't add to it but she believed him.

"No, it's not a threat," Beth said, enjoying a little that Rio stood almost uncomfortable in front of her. "I'm here." She said with a firm nod. "And I stayed."

With you, she thought, leaving it unsaid, because saying it out loud would be – would sound much more meaningful than she'd mean. Than it was.

And she had stayed, what with what he'd thrown at her earlier. She didn't expect a prize (OK, maybe just a little) but it surely had to mean something to him that she hadn't walked out. But maybe she'd put too much faith in that, she considered, as his face remained cold. One thing was certain, she wasn't going to let him make her feel guilty. Not when he'd threatened to cut Ruby or Annie out.

Something went through the air then between them and Rio's face softened just a little. Beth's heart sank and she breathed in sharply as she realized that he may have been responding to something on her face. The tightening in her chest, a feeling she was well acquainted with that she'd only before felt with people she cared about, when things were unresolved, a crumpled up feeling that was better left undisturbed in a drawer, with other thoughts better left alone.

"Last night-" he started.

She sucked her breath in and waved him off, trying not to shudder at the memory of it. Or of how the night ended. She wished he'd not push it. She was already feeling better, the tension had finally ebbed a touch between them but now the water was warming up again and she wasn't going to leave it over the fire.

"Sorry if you were uncomfortable." He said.

She chuckled without much mirth at his choice of words.

"Something funny?"

Later she couldn't easily justify what made her speak only that she was so exhausted she didn't care anymore, or that she wanted to give him something for not arguing further after her bringing up Ruby and Annie. Or perhaps it was that they were on this interlude, this trip away from real life, so real life behavior didn't really apply. "Look, it's not like I wanted something to happen but – no one wants to be turned down," She said simply, choosing to tell half a lie, hoping that it would be enough.

Even if a small, stupid part of her wanted something to happen last night she knew it wouldn't have been the right choice. The thought was so fleeting that she immediately boxed it away refusing to touch any bit of regret. Of everything on her mind, this was taking the least space but if he wanted to air things out there he had it.

He raised his eyebrows and she saw him trying to make sense of her words. She was giving him mixed messages, she knew. It was petty, but at least didn't make her any less human, to be upset even if she didn't really want something to happen. But the alternative meant that she'd say out loud and definitively something she had no interest in admitting. That she wanted him.

"I guess I thought that you changed your mind and went to look for something else." She took half a step back.

He shook his head once. "I didn't." He said, still looking like he was figuring out what she was trying to get at. "But I could," he looked over her face. "I'd keep it on the down low. Not to disrespect. Not with us dating and all," he said, commenting on not breaking the facade of their fake relationship.

"No, I know." She bit her inner cheek and looked away, her fingers rubbing the top of her cane. "Of course."

"It's not that kind of trip." He stepped closer to her. "I need to focus. If this was something else," he sighed and it was so loud it filled the room. "I'd pi-"

That hunger turned up in his eyes and her mouth went dry. Painfully, she realized she couldn't take her eyes off his face.

"Not that kind of trip." He said again. "Not the right time. Or I'd have turned around last night and given you good reason not to sleep. Feel me?" He gave her what felt like a belated top down stare.

Her eyes widened as her brain caught up. He admitted it. He admitted he wanted her. Not with a look and not with his eyes. With words. But surely he was just trying to console her. Surely those eyes raking her in didn't belong to her. That voice was speaking more quietly as he held her eyes.

"OK," was all the said.

"It couldn't be more than one time. You understand that too, right?"

She nodded a little robotically, not quite believing that they were talking about this.

"No, I know, I know that this couldn't be anything else." She looked away, then back, and at his expression she immediately looked away, felt like she had to keep talking. "If it wasn't for this trip nothing, it wouldn't even have come up," she was sure of that. "I just – listen," she shook her head, schooling herself to take stock of the situation, to set them and herself back onto a safe path. "You don't have to say this just to make me feel better."

"What?" He squinted at her with a frown.

She was an adult, she reminded herself. What was she trying to get at with this conversation? It didn't matter. It wasn't real, not with what else was going on with her life and – well, Rio's. "I was just being silly earlier. We're just coworkers," she tried to keep an amicable tone, disappointed his eyes gaze wasn't any less fixed on her. "Or probationary – you know what I mean. I shouldn't have brought it up. Antonio told me you were talking about someone else-"

His eyes widened before he squinted at her. What was he acting surprised for? Clearly he'd just said what he did because it was a strange way to comfort her. For what reason, she wasn't sure, but she preferred to think that than him using it as an opportunity to tease her. No, she couldn't handle that thought right now.

"It's not a big deal," Beth waved her hands, almost regretting having brought Antonio up, expecting that Rio wanted to keep all his business to himself. But she just wanted to move on. Needed to. "He thought he was talking about me, like when you told him about – what," she breathed as she felt her cheeks grow warmer, "We were doing," she looked away, unable to say the words. "So it's OK, I get it it," she slowed her hand's movement as she waved it dismissively. "you're thinking about someone else you don't have to pret-"

And his mouth was on hers and she nearly yelped, losing her balance from the force of it, and he pulled her against him and his body was completely flush against her. After the impact his movements slowed just a little but didn't loosen his hold and she hadn't even close her eyes but his were shut tight. She followed suit and tasted him, softly sucking on the lips that had caressed her with compliments and threatened her and frightened her and she wanted to breathe and wanted to kiss him and didn't know what she needed more.

Rio's arms and hands left her waist and her arms along with his lips and her eyes remained closed before she found his above her, staring at her mouth. Why had he stopped? Her hand smoothly went to his cheek, not wanting him to pull himself any further away from her. His eyes found hers and she resisted the immediate, sober urge to let go of his face. Instead her eyes focused on his lips as she tentatively closed the distance between them, gently taking his lips with hers. His teeth scraped hers with a jarring bite before they found a rhythm. The tension drew again as she drew courage to bite his lower lip before Rio's breathes turned into something closer to pants, or maybe it was both of them. She did it again, wanting to hear him make the same noise, and he did, and what felt like bursts of tiny arrows lined up inside her chest before taking off. Her cane had dropped with a resounding clang on the floor but she had barely registered it, not hearing anything but him and her.

He couldn't lie, he couldn't be making it up, Beth thought, and she pulled his face towards her, unable to resist, and he moaned softly, and his hands were on her waist, on her face, and he was starting to back her up and no one was watching, no one was watching.

He covered his hand over hes and drew it away from his face and oh OK, he didn't want her so close, and she pushed the pang away, trying to take her hand back but he held on and brought it down to her waist level. Maneuvering her hand on top Rio put a few inches of distance between them just to press down on it with his left hand, and she understood somehow that he wanted her to put her weight on him.

"Thank you," she said, barely able to find the breathe between kisses, and he grunted a response, and if she wanted to imagine it was because he couldn't stand stopping kissing her that was OK. And she pushed into him just to see how he'd respond and he moaned and she smiled and he mumbled something that sounded like "welcome" and it made her smile, and wait-

Stop. Distant voices grew louder. This time she wasn't sure who'd been the first to stop. Still unable to tear her eyes away she stared back at him wanting to whine but this time because he'd stopped kissing her. The voices grew softer before only silence filled the space. She'd moved her free hand to Rio's face after he had grabbed hold of the other, and it was still on his cheek, still caressing it, their eyes only holding each other, before she caught herself and stepped a little backwards, finally taking her hand away. Neither of them seemed at a hurry to speak but at a subtle movement in his eyes she wondered if he could tell what she was feeling, though she herself wasn't sure what had just happened. Just that she hadn't expected it.

"That a good answer for you?" He asked her and swallowed.

Beth's eyes turned from him to the window, wondering fleetingly – but no one was outside. Her fingers went to her lips and she saw his eyes follow her, or maybe he was already staring when she'd briefly looked away.

"Yeah, yes. That's– good." She said, stumped for something else to say. In no way she liked the peace she felt now that they'd been so close, the strange sense of relief, of unbottling a pressure cooker of that she'd held onto. With that relief of feeling something fulfilled, some need, she couldn't help imagine if that was what the man who had shared the last few decades his life with her had felt.

Had Dean waited to act on anything, had he felt an attraction for some time and resisted acting on it? She didn't try to question why the thought of Dean came into her mind. She could hardly avoid it, to compare how it felt, Rio with Dean, and she pushed that out because it only uncovered hallow ridges in her chest because… Not now.

She took her cane from Rio who'd picked it up for her, nodding at him in thanks. Something else didn't hurt exactly but nagged at her, to do with the man standing in front of her, something that shouldn't have, but she couldn't resist asking.

"Are you-" She forced herself to keep her eyes on his. "Are you with her?" Even if the kiss didn't have a deep meaning to it, she knew what it had been like. To be on the other end. It was something she didn't want another woman to experience.

He shook his head. "Nah," He licked his bottom lip, seeming like he was about to elaborate when he shook his head sharply. "Just cause there's someone else, doesn't mean you can't get," he paused and looked her up and down. "Distracted."

She laughed, accepting his playfulness, trying not to get distracted with the mix of relief and loss that crossed her chest. And a strangely placed sense of pride. Would he never-

"You leaving?"

She punched back the stirring of something akin to anticipation at his question, preferring happily and instantaneously not to pursue it. He knew very well, and she could see in his face, what she wanted to say. Was he going to keep Ruby and Annie? Or choose to give her up, the only other option.

"I haven't told her."

And she didn't want to leave. Right? She wanted to ask him to make it easier for her, but as he regarded her she wasn't sure how he could do that. "I'll tell you what happens."

"All right," he said, stepping towards her. "Got work to do."