Chapter 11
The click of the door latch seemed so loud, but Jane could suddenly hear nothing but the drumming of her own heartbeat. She could feel her pulse throbbing in her fingertips. She caught sight of golden blonde and all the effort of finding a pose scattered from her thoughts as she jumped to her feet.
She smiled, her eyes questioning. Maura remained in that incredible pantsuit, the collar and deep cut accentuating her collarbone and slender neck, Jane couldn't help but notice, forcing herself not to look lower. Her makeup was freshened and Mauras perfume was spinning Jane's mind.
She had played over and over, in the last few minutes what that first shared look would be like.
When it happened, Maura's eyes were wide as saucers, trying to convey some unspoken message. It certainly wasn't the desirous moment she'd had in mind. She rushed to her friends side but Maura stepped away, Jane opened her mouth to speak but Maura made sure she got there first.
"Miss Masiello, I'm so grateful you asked for me. I SEE EVERYTHING," she raised her voice and bumped a pause "is in place for us to get familiar." She smiled cautiously. Never the master of subtlety Maura was clearly trying her best to be discreet. "I've HEARD ALL about you and I believe we're both new here." Ahhh. So that was it.
Jane couldn't say she was surprised. She actually paused for a moment to appreciate her own naivety. Clearly just the idea of Maura had her blinded.
Of course it would be bugged. Both visually and audibly. Damn it!
Jane could have, would have kicked something if it had been appropriate. Maybe when she got home she could throw some things around.
Why couldn't they catch a break?
So the roles must continue.
She beckoned Maura to take a seat.
"Please. So I hear. What can I get you to drink?" Maura made to move to the sofa but stopped mid sit and looked up at Jane, frozen in position.
"Surely that's my job?" She smiled this time it was a genuine Maura smile. Jane melted a little but gathered herself.
"Please. Indulge me." She waited patiently for an answer, whilst the blonde seated herself and brushed the creases in her outfit. Jane loved Maura for all her intricacies, she was so fastidious and unconcious about her presentability, even here, she couldn't fail to keep herself in check. Jane couldn't help but study the doctor, unaware that her face conveyed so much in her lingering gaze. When she finally looked up to answer Maura looked a little flushed at the scrutiny.
Character or no, that spark was building again and Jane wanted to keep it burning a little longer before real life set in and they were back to their typical less than subconscious refusals and buried emotions.
"I'll have a whisky too please." She gestured to the glass on the table. "It appears that you could do with a top up." She stood and brought the glass to Jane behind the bar. Jane couldn't help but smile at the switched positions.
Maura placed the glass next to her dry one. "Ice?" she asked bending towards the ice drawer. Again their eyes met, but this time they lingered. Jane found her heart hammering again. Her chest heaving.
"Sure." Maura almost breathed the word, not wanting to taint the moment and not taking her eyes away from the brunette. Jane's attention finally moved away to the task at hand.
The detective knew that whilst she could drink most hardened cops under the table regardless of their age, spirits were not her forte. After all the beer, a second whisky could seriously impair her judgement.
She poured a sizeable amount over the ice and licked her bottom lip as Maura looked on with a surprised but salacious smile.