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chapter 4
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"I know I'm repeating myself over and over again, but you really should call me Tommy, Barbara." he insisted. "We've been working together for more than ten years. Of course I am your boss but we're also friends, I thought, and friends call each other by name. At least when it's after work, Barbara. Please."
"Oh, ok. Tommy." She grinned. "Fancy a pint?" Barbara was even more impressed than Tommy that his name passed her lips so easily. She sat down next to him and was about to pour one beer into the glass but Tommy stopped her. Laying his hand gently on hers he pressed it down.
"No. No glass for me, Barbara." His voice was distinctively darker than he had intended but hearing her saying his name had done things to his belly that he could not explain. Of course he could in fact but he did not allow himself to follow those certain feelings. It was not at all appropriate, was it? "I'll drink it like you do."
In fact he ignored his own resolution. He knew exactly what he was doing but he could not really stop himself from doing so. Leaving a burning hot trace on the back of her hand he let his fingers gently slide across it before he retreated and placed his arm on the backrest of the sofa. Barbara leaned back and gave him one of the beers with one of her wonderfully innocent and slightly quizzical smiles. He could not smile back he just looked.
"Cheers then." she said. "To three solved cases."
They clinked their bottles and took a sip without breaking eye contact.
"Another toast." he said low. "To the best team at the Met, a wonderful, long lasting partnership. To us, Barbara."
"Yah, to us, Tommy." She had said his name again. Tommy took a deep breath.
Again they clinked their bottles and took another sip after which Tommy took the bottle off her hand without a word and put both onto the coffee table. She watched his every move. He knew she watched her. Then he threw all reasonable restrictions overboard.
"I'm sorry." Tommy cleared his throat. "I can't resist, Barbara. And I don't want to."
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