A/N: Thanks to redrider for editing this story for me. Many thanks also to those who reviewed it: RedRoses18, btvsfifi, 4chi-za, BonesBBLover, Kia Grrl, x.songbird.x, infinites, flyersfan3588, and beaglelvr93.

Over the next few days, Booth observed Brennan closely. In addition to gaining a greater appreciation for her beauty, he noticed that the differences he had observed at the crime scene continued: she dressed in a more alluring manner; she was sometimes distracted when working; she stopped arguing with him over his being a gentleman; and she continued to be unusually silent. And she had actually listened to him when they went to arrest the girl's killer.

He puzzled about it as he took a bite of sandwich, and finally came to a conclusion. 'This can only mean one thing. She must be in love,' he thought.

After he finished his lunch, he headed to the Jeffersonian. As he walked down the hallway toward Brennan's office, he heard giggling. Leaning against Brennan's doorjamb, he was shocked to discover the source. The two women were sitting on the couch with their heads together and they were talking softly. They looked like two girls sharing secrets. Angela giggled in response to something Brennan said.

He cleared his throat and the two jumped like guilty schoolgirls. "Wanna let me in on the secret?" He waggled an eyebrow at them.

"No!" Angela responded firmly. What surprised Booth was that Brennan blushed.

"Hmmm… how about I guess?" he suggested.

When Angela quickly retorted, "Go for it, FBI," Brennan started to look nervous.

'An interesting reaction,' Booth thought. "Well, something has been up the past two weeks. Bones left early practically every night last week and it seems that the two of you spent most of it shopping. The result of which has been seen this week in Bones' attire, which has been slightly different than usual. She's also been distracted and unusually quiet, and she hasn't argued with me. This evidence, plus what I just saw, leads me to conclude that she has a new boyfriend." He paused. "So why didn't anyone bother to tell me?"

He watched the look that Angela and Brennan shared. Angela laughed quietly, stood up, and exited the office. 'I can't believe he noticed all those things, but missed the main point. At least the first part of my plan has worked. If Bren handles it right, we won't need the rest.'

'I can't believe she deserted me. What do I say now?' Brennan thought in panic.

Booth waited patiently for Brennan's response and was eventually rewarded with a denial.

"Nope. That wasn't right." She got up from the couch and moved toward her desk. "Do we have a case?" she asked hoping to distract him.

It didn't work. "You're not getting off that easily. Come on, tell me."

But Brennan was resolute. "No."

"Aw… give me a hint at least," he wheedled. He waited a moment and then his charm smile appeared at full wattage.

She couldn't help but smile back, and her resolve weakened. "Okay. The evidence you cited was correct, but your conclusion was wrong."

"That's all?" he asked.

"Yep. Unless you want to be one of the giggling girls, that's all you're gonna get from me."

A serious look crossed his face. At Brennan's loud laugh he looked at her questioningly.

"You weren't seriously considering becoming one of the girls, were you?" she taunted.

"Of course not," he defended himself hotly. "I was thinking about the evidence you mentioned."

Booth couldn't believe the turn this conversation had taken. 'This is so embarrassing.'

"So, why are you really here?" Brennan queried.

"What?" Booth started. "Oh. I wanted to see how close you were to finishing your report about that girl. I need to let Cullen know when the paperwork will be on his desk."

Brennan's forehead wrinkled. "You could have just called."

"I had lunch across the street, so it was just as easy to drop in," Booth explained.

"If you have five or ten minutes to wait, I'll do a final review and give it to you now," Brennan offered.

While Brennan pulled up the document on the computer, Booth sat down, indicating his willingness to wait. He replayed the conversation and tried to figure out what other conclusion fit the evidence. 'I can only think of one other way to interpret the evidence – that she's into me. But that's absurd. She's always telling me how annoying I am and arguing with me.'

The sound of paper emerging from printer distracted him from these thoughts, as did the way Brennan's hips swayed when she walked to the printer to retrieve the report. She took it back to her desk and grabbed a pen. She bent down a bit to sign the last page, giving him an excellent view of her well-toned derriere. His mouth went dry and his heart rate increased.

'I have got to get out of here before I do something to embarrass myself more,' Booth thought desperately.

When she turned and offered him the papers, he jerked them out of her hand and beat a hasty retreat, barely pausing to mumble a good-bye.

Brennan watched him leave, confused. 'Maybe Angela can explain his behavior.' So she headed towards Angela's office. Not long afterward, a loud squeal was followed by an 'oh' of comprehension.

When Booth arrived back in his office after leaving the report for Cullen, he seriously considered taking a cold shower or calling Gordon Gordon for an appointment. His reaction was that of any normal red-blooded male, but she was his partner after all.