Chapter 5
Rebecca leaned into the back of her chair, resting her head against the headrest and sinking into the soft leather. At 8:00 p.m. the BAU was like a ghost town. She'd been working non-stop since she arrived. Pulling files, double checking records.
Next week, the real work began. Next week she had to sit each agent down, and begin to comb through their lives. How much would they tell her? How much would they try to hide? She had to sit down with her profile, of each member and begin her evaluation.
She pushed off her pumps and propped her feet on her desk. Reaching behind her she turned on her iPod. Frank Sinatra began filling the room, with his unique version of I've Got You Under My Skin.
"I remember a night at the Overview Inn when we danced to that."
Rebecca jumped up. David – looking too damn good in a royal blue shirt, black blazer and jeans, stood resting against the doorframe.
"I...I remember too." Why did she sound like a stammering school girl?
David made his way in and taking her hand pulled her from behind her desk.
"That was the night we first met."
She nodded, "Joe and Arlene's wedding."
His smile sparkled in his eye's before reaching his lips. "I almost didn't go."
"Really? I didn't have a choice." She replied.
He looked down at her, "You were the maid of honor."
She nodded.
"You wore a light green dress, satin I think, and your hair was pulled up," he reached out and ran his hand in her hair, lifting it off her shoulders.
Rebecca forgot how to breathe.
"You know what? I'm glad I went." He laughed.
Despite the fact she knew how unfair it was, she compared Michael's laugh to David's. Where Michael's grated against her nerves, David's melted over her like a glass of wine.
Rebecca clenched her teeth, desperate to keep them from chattering, she felt like a kid with a crush.
She swallowed hard, as David pulled her close and began to sway to the music.
Oh God in heaven, please...she prayed even as she inhaled the spicy scent of his cologne. There was no way she could let herself get close to David Rossi again.
She felt his arm tighten.
"I meant what I said earlier. I'm glad you took the job."
His voice was sending shockwaves from her ear to her toes, as he whispered against her cheek.
Rebecca fought for control. She tilted her head and found his ear, "You know what? So am I."
He squeezed her hand, but she could tell she'd gotten to him. His breathing was heavier and he moved against her like a predator.
"What went wrong with us, Bec? Why couldn't you and I make a go of it?"
She pushed away from him, desperate for the air his presence had sucked out of the room. "You're job is to slay the dragons, mine is to take care of the wounded."
He reached out and cupped her chin between his finger and thumb, and Rebecca felt the heat from his touch burn low in her belly.
She wanted this man.
"That's not what you said when I left."
She couldn't look at him. "David," she closed her eyes.
She felt his fingers fall from her chin, but every nerve inside her still burned from his touch.
"Sorry, Bec. I didn't meant to dig out our skeletons. It's just...well, it's just damn good to see you again, that's all."
Where the courage came from, Rebecca was sure she didn't know, but she managed to sound in control. "I know, David. It's good to see you again too, but I have a job to do."
She watched him rub his neck as he blew out a long breath.
"David?"
"That's why I'm here."
She recognized the bad news tone in his voice. "Oh?"
"Yeah, we have a case."
"I see. Well I'll still be here when you get back."
David straightened.
This was really bad news. Rebecca waited.
"It's not that simple, Bec. You're going with us."
Rebecca shook her head. There was no way she was going down this road again. Dealing with the victims of the type of people David hunted was one thing, but there was no way she was going to start profiling again.
"David, I am not going to.."
"Bec,"
"No, David. There is no way I'm going to..." She fought the fear, pressed it down, back into the compartment she had so desperately worked to create. "I'm leaving. President or not...I..."
He closed the distance between them and grabbed her by the shoulders and gently shook her.
"Bec, you don't understand honey."
She stared at him.
"Bec, we're going to Magnolia Ridge."