First of all: thank you all so much for the kind reviews! I know I hadn't upload in ages and it just made me so happy to see people had missed my story *tear*

Also, I know some of you were disappointed by the lack of Tom/Rachel interaction so I thought I would make it up to yous in this chapter here! ;))

I'm so excited for this story now, as I sat down yesterday on my bed and started writing down a map of how I wanted things to play out. So excited for y'all to read the result of it!

Looking at the three women sitting around her, Rachel realised she had never felt more carefree in her life.

Her boss - and friend- Sami Roberts had come that morning in her lab, moving around the place more enthusiastically than any other day. "Hey, Rach" she had started "Do you wanna grab lunch with me and some girls today?"

Rachel had looked at her as if she had three head. She had never been too good at interpersonal relationships and had a very vague idea of how to react to such a request. Sure, she had wanted to go out with Sami's friends but what if they found her boring - or worse- annoying? "Would I happen to know them, by any chance?"

"Does Sasha Cooper or Kara Foster ring any bells?"
"Oh, yes, I've met Sasha. Unfortunately, I don't believe I've heard of Kara"
"Well, I assure you she's really great" Rachel nodded "Plus they would both love it if you joined us. I already asked them!"

Rachel had smiled at that "Alright then, I'll come with you"

"So then I arrived at the property and was like What happened and apparently the couple discovered the thief that was hiding in their home because the husband told some joke and they heard a laugh from the bedroom" Kara finished telling her story, making the group laugh. She was a petite woman with brown hair and hazel eyes. Really pretty.

Sasha was sitting next to Rachel and she added "Oh Goodness, this reminds me of that home invasion where the guy trying to escape by jumping from the window but got stuck in the clothes hamper"

The conversation between the four women flowed easily, Rachel letting them do most of the talking. They were naturally funny and easy going and she found being with them refreshing.

"Did you have any luck finding a new apartment, K?"
"Nope, nothing for now. Danny and I just haven't found what we're looking for yet"
"Wait, have you already told Tom about the relationship?"

Rachel's attention immediately intensified at his mention.

"No, we haven't yet," Kara said, "I know, I know, we should tell him sooner rather than later but we just can't seem to find the right moment, you know?"

Rachel saw Sasha and Sami nod and she copied them, still a bit unsure on what was going on "Speaking of, do you know what's happening in Tom's life?" Sami asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement "Are you two involved?" she asked Sasha

The other woman almost choked on her water, her eyes bulging out of her skull "No, no, not at all" Sami's sparkle died a little and Rachel couldn't help but chuckle internally "Him and I were a thing ages ago, but we ended it long before Darien. We're just excellent friends now and that's it"

"Honestly" she added after seeing Sami's unsure expression.
"Darien?" the name was out of Rachel's mouth before she could reflect on it.

"Oh, sweetie, right, you must be feeling completely lost," her boss told her "Darien was Tom's wife. They were married for a quite a while as well and they had two children"

"Ashley and Sam. Yeah, I've met them"

"Exactly. Unfortunately, Darien passed four years ago due to cancer. Tom was obviously distraught but he had to be strong for his kids, you know. We tried to set him up a couple of times, just so he could go out a little but no girl has struck his interest thus far. It's a shame, really; he's smokin'"

"Sami!"
"What? It's true! Actually, you know what I heard the other day? That he might be into someone"
Rachel's stomach dropped at that and - even though she knew she had no right to feel like this- she couldn't help the pang of jealousy.

"You're kidding, right? Who is she?" Sasha asked
"I don't know yet, but evidence suggests this. I was talking with Mike and also Jed, his father, and they both told me he has definitely changed in behaviour and they suspect there might be someone"

"I can't believe this! We need to find out who it is!"
Rachel's appetite had suddenly vanished, and she was now poking around her salad.
"I genuinely have no idea who it might be. This is going to drive me crazy until I know!"

Upon seeing her, his heart caught in his throat. She was having lunch with people he knew and she looked so relaxed and carefree, listening intently to the conversation they were having, her brow furrowed as if she could concentrate more by doing so.

He looked at his daughter who was talking with some of her school-friends in the green and he realised how she was the reason he was seeing Rachel in the first place.

"Daddy, daddy!" his daughter had come running down the stairs just half an hour prior "Can you please take me to the library? I need to borrow a book for a school project"

Tom looked at Ashley again and motioned to her. She was next to him in a couple of seconds. "Do you want anything to eat? Maybe a muffin?" Yes, he knew he was being lame by using his daughter as an excuse to enter the bar but what option did he have? Go in without an excuse just so he could talk to her?
"Sure, Dad, why not?"

Once inside the café, he couldn't stop throwing furtive glances towards her direction, his gaze always falling on her.
"Daddy, look! Aunt Sasha is here! She's with Sami and Kara! Wait, Rachel's with them too! Can we go say hi? Please?"

This couldn't have gone better even if I had planned it, he thought. "Of course, we can. Let's go" As they were getting closer to the table, Tom couldn't help the excitement that was creeping up in him. "Hello ladies," he said when he was close enough to them, using his charming grin

"Hi, Auntie Sasha" the woman in question took Ashley in her arms, kissing and hugging her, making her giggle adorably.

Tom was looking at Rachel while Kara and Sami were talking to Ashley and he couldn't help the ear-to-ear smile that formed on his face when he saw her beaming in front of him.
He noticed her cheek looked less swollen than the last time he had seen her and for some reason he longed to caress her, making her feel all the affection he had for her.

Their eyes were locked for what seemed to be hours and Tom had to force himself to look away, not wanting to make her uncomfortable, but also for his own sake. He looked down at Ashley who was making conversation with Sasha and -subconsciously - he looked at Rachel again, only to realise the spell was broken.

He cleared his throat, trying to gather courage -something he hadn't done since his teenage years when he had been shy and scrawny-. "So, what have you been up to?" he asked her, but trying to make it sound casual and more general.
She looked at him with those hazel eyes of hers and he knew it in his heart that he wouldn't be able to resist her any longer.
"Oh, nothing much, really. Just boring science stuff"
His attention was focused on her rosy, full lips, the sensual way in which they moved when she spoke making it impossible for him to focus.

"I don't think you're capable of doing anything boring, Rachel" the words were out of his mouth before he could think about it. He was deliberately flirting with her and he knew it was wrong of him but, oh God, those lips of hers made it impossible to concentrate.
She blushed in front of him, embarrassment taking over her "You don't know me, Tom"
The way his name rolled off her tongue made him feel all tingly on the inside.

"Then let me" again the words were out of his mouth before he could stop them, but if the conversation had come this far then he hadn't blown everything up already.
He saw her biting her lower lip - another thing he found extremely attractive about her- while battling her inner emotion.
"Why don't we meet for lunch, tomorrow?" he asked her.
He, again, noticed the inner conflict going on within her but still didn't want to lose this opportunity. "Please" he added, giving her his best puppy-eyes look.

"Fine. Alright" she finally gave in with a sigh, but he could see she was trying not to smile. He gave her a wide grin in response, to which she finally let go and beamed, her adorable dimples showing.
"Great. You won't regret it, I promise. What do you think if you give me your number so that I can text you later with the details?" she nodded in return, taking his phone.
"See you tomorrow, Rach" he whispered to her when he was about to leave, Ashley on his side.
He saw her smile to him one more time before he turned around and left, feeling the most content and accomplished he had in forever.

That afternoon Rachel went home happier than usual, her encounter with Tom being the highlight of her day. At dinner, Michael had questioned her on her good spirits, but she had brushed him off easily.

Now that she was changed into her pyjamas she couldn't stop thinking about him: his deep blue eyes, his laugh, his boyish charm. She couldn't believe how much she had grown attached to him in such a short period of time and it was crazy to think she didn't even know him that well when she felt completely at ease in his presence.

She was sitting in front of the TV, blankly staring at some sitcom that was playing, when she felt her phone vibrate against her pocket. She took it out and saw a message from Tom.

How does tomorrow 12:30 at That's Amore sound?
Tom

She grinned involuntarily, her body shaking with anticipation.

Perfect x

Her happiness was short-lived, as she heard her husband's hands encircling her from behind. "What are you doing?" his voice was low, dangerous.
"Nothing. I just... erm ...wanted to check the time" she felt panic take over her body. Still, she tried to lie hoping he wouldn't suspect anything since he was standing behind her.
"Really" it wasn't a question, merely a statement as he took her phone from her in one swift movement. He unlocked it easily, the passcode familiar to him, and the first thing he saw was the brief conversation with Tom.

"What the fuck is this, Rachel?" he exclaimed, his voice barely below shouting.
"Nothing. It's nothing" she told him, ripping her phone from him with courage she didn't know she had. That only seemed to make him angrier as he quickly moved around the couch and in front of her. He grabbed her neck with his big hands, making sure to leave a print the next day.
"It didn't seem like nothing to me, Rachel," he said tightening his grip. Her hands -so weak and small compared to his- flew to his strong forearms, unsuccessfully trying to make him ease up his grip.

"Who was that, huh?" he asked her again, pushing her body against the soft backrest of the couch and then letting her go, obviously expecting an answer from her.
Rachel tried to gain some composure, not wanting to show weakness in front of him. "Geez, it's only a work meeting. None of your business anyway" she told him, getting up to go to the bedroom, surprising herself.
However, she wasn't even able to take ten steps, that she felt his iron grip on the back her neck and suddenly she was against the wall.
"None of my business? Explain to me how not wanting my wife to act like a slut is none of my business, Rachel"

She knew he had asked her a question, but she also knew the sound of her voice would only make him angrier, so she stayed silent, focusing on standing up against the wall. He came closer to her, her whole body shaking, and he threw a punch in her abdomen making her bend in half.
He then grabbed her by the hair and made her stand up, leaning in towards her ear. "No one would ever want you, Rachel. I'm just doing you a favour by staying with you and you know that. No one has ever wanted you and no one ever will"
She was shaking her head, tears streaming down her face. She tried to convince herself that wasn't true, to ignore his words, but what truly hurt most was knowing it was the truth.
"You're just pathetic and useless and you're lucky I find you attractive sometimes"

He went on to grab her hip forcefully to stop her from struggling against him and spoke again. "If I even remotely suspect that you're cheating on me, it's over for you"
He let her go roughly, shoving her to the ground and then proceeding to walk away.

She waited to hear the bedroom door click to finally allowed herself to break down, letting go of all the sobs and sighs she had tried to hold back.

As she finished typing one last page of her scientific report she moved around her office, excited as she'd never been before to arrange her things and leave the building. At 12:15 Rachel Scott was walking - or better running - to the best of her capabilities in heels to her car. She sat on the driver's seat and opened her phone to check for directions, only to find a message from Tom. Her heart started beating so fast, making her feel like a high school student with a silly crush.

I'll be waiting for you. Be on time. Or I'll get Dr Roberts to fire you ;)

She read it and immediately blushed. She could almost hear his voice and picture his smile. The way he made her feel was just something else. In different circumstances she would probably think he was flirting with her - of course, she would come to this conclusion after making an Excel spreadsheet with information- but she kept telling herself it couldn't be true. She wasn't going to leave Michael and Tom would certainly not be interested in her that way.

On the way to the restaurant, she kept going over topics of possible conversation, in an attempt to stabilise her heartbeat. Once in front of what she discovered was That's Amore she took a long, deep breath. She looked at herself on the rearview mirror. She could do this. She was a grown woman, she had to stop acting like a fourteen-year-old teenager with her first crush.

She got out of the car and, as she pushed the doors of the restaurant, a sharp pang of pain shot up from her ribs. She immediately felt dizzy and lightheaded, the reality of it all too real.
She felt the door being pulled from her and she looked up to see it was Tom standing in front of her. "And I thought you were a punctual person" he shook his head with a disappointed air "One minute late, Doctor Scott. You might want to reconsider your conduct in the future"

He tried to pretend to be discontented but soon burst into a laughter that Rachel couldn't help but return. "Are you okay?" concern evident all over his face when he saw she was still in her place, trying to catch her breath. She looked at him, big, blocky words in her mouth and she imagined what it would feel like if she spilt them. No.
She nodded, giving him a smile.
"Shall we?" he asked her, offering her his arm, which she happily took.

Their table was a nicely decorated one, on the opposite side of the room from the window. The environment was just so welcoming and warm, Rachel couldn't help feeling at ease almost immediately, even as Tom guided her through the other tables, placing his hand on the small of her back, his touch ever so light she wondered if it was really there.
For some reason, she didn't stiffen or move away from his caress, as she realised how comfortable she felt with this man.

The whole lunch went better than Rachel could have ever imagined. They asked each other questions, she realised how his attention was focused completely on her and her only and, even when she was telling him some scientific facts he probably found boring, his focus never faltered, not once. They quickly moved on to silly questions and silly answers, both laughing like crazy, not able to stop smiling for a second.
They talked about everything and anything, from their jobs, to their childhoods, their passions and their guilty pleasures.

"You don't have children, do you?" Tom's question threw her off balance. It was meant as a simple topic-filler and as Tom was eating his pasta he didn't notice her little moment of hesitation, shivers ran down her spine, but not the pleasant ones she had experienced during this lunch. "No... erm... I don't. The timing was never... right" It wasn't completely true, but he didn't have to know that.
She remembered the time Michael and she had semi-tried perfectly, and it wasn't a good one. It was probably one of the reasons their marriage had become a miserable one. The first fights, the first tears. The first bruises.

Her face darkened at the memory, only this time Tom noticed her hesitation and put his hand on top of hers. She didn't wince away like she would have normally done, feeling it was so natural for them, so comfortable. His hand was pleasantly warm against hers, cold as ice. She smiled at him, a big, genuine smile that she had only given a few people over her lifetime.
"It's just... bad memories... that's all" he squeezed her hand lightly at that.

"What about you, ever thought of having another child?" She enquired, happily diverting the attention from herself.

"I... to be honest I haven't really thought about it. After Darien's death, I was kind of in a really bad place but I had to be strong, for the children. I wouldn't mind another kid, honestly, with the right woman, you know" his blue orbs met her hazel ones and she felt heat rise to her cheeks, barely holding it together. Another shiver - a much more pleasant one- ran through her back as she noticed how he was tracing invisible designs with his fingers on her hand. Of course, he hadn't meant her when he said the right woman, but the way he was looking at her made it difficult for her to ignore those thoughts.

By the end of the meal, Rachel wasn't sure she had ever smiled more in her whole life. After he had eaten his dessert and practically begged her to get one for herself as well, they stood up, both reluctant to put an end to their date.
"So..." he exclaimed while walking with her to her car "I'm assuming this will be the first and last of our lunches, huh?" she watched as he bit his lower lip, hesitating, unsure. She understood he didn't want to seem too eager to see her again, probably because she was married.
"Absolutely not," she told him, and it was so worth it when he saw his face light up "Next time it's on me, though" she giggled, biting her lip herself.
"Not happening, Doctor. I would never let you pay me lunch"

"It would be a pleasure, Chief. Really. I have to return the favour. Just tell me when you're free" she was aware that she sounded almost childish, her desire to see him again making her heart beat faster.
"I'm sure we'll organise something. I'll be looking forward to it" he said and, just as she thought he couldn't charm her more- he grinned at her making her heart want to jump out of her chest.
"Well, this is it then. Thank you so much for today, Tom. I really had so much fun" Rachel told him, as they were standing in front of her car.
"Please, I'm the one who has to thank you for this wonderful time. I'm hoping this could be the beginning to a nurturing friendship"

Hearing him say the word friendship hurt a little bit more than it should have and she had to refrain herself from spilling her life story to him.
"My pleasure" and she smiled.

The whole date was replaying in her mind continuously as she tried to catch her breath in the car. Breathe in, breathe out. The way his blue eyes sparkled at her, his caring touches, his kind words.
Taking in one last breath, Rachel looked over on the rearview mirror to manoeuvre the car out of her parking spot, when she saw Kara Foster walking around the green with someone he didn't recognise. A foolish idea came to mind and she turned off her car engine and crossed the road to quickly reach her new friend.

"Kara!" she called the younger woman, seeing as she smiled when she saw her. She got closer to the pair and she offered a quick smile to the man standing next to her friend. "I hope this isn't a bad time, I just wanted to talk to you. It will only take one minute, I promise"
The guy took his queue to leave. "Sure, what is it?" the other woman asked.
"You know how you're looking for a new house, right? Well, I was wondering if you could tell me if your realtor is professional and trustworthy"
If Kara was surprised by her random question, she didn't show it "She most definitely is. I've known her since my teenage years and she's very good at her job and definitely trustworthy. Why?" she asked then.

Rachel hesitated just one split second, calculating what she was about to do. "I was wondering if you could give me her number"

Aight fellas! What do we think so far? Does anyone think they might know why Rachel asked for the realtor's number? Please review review review.
xx