A/N: Those of you who are familiar with my writing know that I do not often do authors notes at the beginnings of chapters or long ones. I'm afraid my friends that today I must break that tradition (though hopefully this will not be too long). I received a review from someone informing me that a comment I made in the last chapter about a short bus offended them. I wanted to take this opportunity to apologize for any hurt feelings that may have caused that reader or anyone else who chose not to say anything. That being said I do take offense to the fact that this reviewer has chosen to disregard what I think is a pretty good story (feel free to correct me if you disagree) due to two words. I have a brother who suffers from FAS who does take a 'short bus' to school. My family has always believed that handling this situation with humor is the best way. To make him understand that while there are those who are cruel and will choose to torment him for his differences sometimes a smile and a giggle is enough to make them go away. My brother has an amazing sense of humor and has taken to teasing us in return about our own shortcomings. As someone who lives with a difficult family situation I do understand how this comment can be offensive. However unless I receive more comments from people who would like me to change that part of the story I plan to leave it as is, if I do change it the change will be minor and not affect the general plot of the story. I will also be PMing this individual this authors note as well in the hopes that it will if not encouraging them to continue reading it will at least sooth any hurt feelings.
That being said I hope everyone enjoys the premiere tonight as well as this chapter of my story!
Upon their return home Eliot had immediately returned to the work he had started that morning. He knew the library was the biggest of the projects they were undertaking and he didn't want to put it off until they started work again. Unless Nate learned his lesson this might be their last break for a while. Parker had busied herself bringing in all the supplies they had purchased and then assisted him in the library. She had tried to remove a shelf with a crowbar but after hitting herself in the head with the shelf and him on the toe with the crowbar he put her on book duty. As she ferried the rest of her novels upstairs he finished removing the bookshelves the process going much quicker with Parker giving him descriptions of some of her books. He found out that she had not read them all only most; she took them from houses she robbed. She was curious to see what rich people missed so she often took a worn or well used book from their homes to see if it would show up in the police report.
Eliot sighed and took a step back as the last shelf hit the ground with a satisfying thud. As he looked around the now bare room Parker returned after storing the last of her piles of books. "Are we done now?" she asked him. Since their conversation at the housing development she had taken to standing a bit closer to him but also seemed to have let down the guard she put up since he moved in.
"For today, we'll start on the frame for the second floor tomorrow." He moved a few tools and took a seat on one of the leather couches simply looking at the blank walls proud of his handiwork. "What was in here before the shelves?"
"Pictures from the vault, I coded you for that by the way. I'm not sure if you have anything worth putting in there I didn't see anything when we were packing your stuff but you might keep it with you." She told him her expression making it clear that she was once again uncomfortable.
Eliot was having trouble figuring her out, it was clear that she wanted him there. The little things she did made it obvious. He had caught her on one of their breaks arguing with the cable company about adding the fight channels and pay-per-view matches to their lineup. Things like that and giving him a code to the safe proved that he was welcome. But she was always so uncomfortable when she told him about the things she did for him. He had thanked her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek for every single thing she did so she had to know he was grateful.
As she stretched in place Eliot chose to put that question on the back burner and take a moment to admire the graceful form of his partner. "I want Mac-And-Cheese!" she announced before bounding out to the kitchen gleefully. Her mention of food reminded him of the dinner invitation for the next night, he had no desire to be hit on by Danielle while Rachel shot him embarrassed looks and Parker continued to remain oblivious.
"Do you think we can get out of that dinner with Jimmy's family?" Eliot asked entering the kitchen to find Parker sitting on the counter bent over the stove her face half in the pot of water she was waiting to boil.
"I thought you wanted to go?" Parker asked not moving her face though steam had begun to rise.
"They say a watched pot never boils." Eliot told her unable to take the younger woman seriously when she was hunched over a pot of water.
"I don't know what that means." She said finally looking up.
"It means it feels like it takes longer when you're watching." He said lifting her off the counter with ease. He took a moment a he should have done many years before to relish the feeling of her in his arms. She had such a big personality it amazed him sometimes how small she really was. She wasn't short per say but sinewy. Her weight barely registered as he carried her to the couch and sat down. He expected she would scurry off his lap in a second once he loosened his grip but to his surprise and pleasure she instead remained snuggled up to him her head on his shoulder.
"How come you don't want to go to dinner?" she asked after a moment of silence. Eliot shrugged knowing she would feel the movement.
"I guess I really don't mind if we go I just don't want anything bad to happen." He answered unsure how to explain that he didn't want Parker to become jealous and stab Danielle. Though she hadn't said it he knew his feelings for the blonde thief were reciprocated it was clear even then as she snuggled deeper into his embrace.
"What bad could happen?" Parker asked suddenly tense. "If you think they're going to poison us then we're supposed to switch plates with them and let them eat first. If they don't die it means we're safe." She told him matter of fact as though she had survived many a poisoning attempt in the past.
"I don't think anything that extreme will happen." He said coaxing her down to her former position. "I just want to make sure that everyone gets along."
"Ok I guess." Parker shrugged and then stood leaving Eliot on the couch a bit put out that she felt her food was more important than their discussion. He heard the telltale sound of noodles rustling into the pot and stirring. He re-entered the kitchen and found her staring determinately at the floor while holding a spatula at the ready.
"What are you doing?" he asked, her eyes flicked to the stove for a split second before landing on him.
"Not watching." She answered before returning her gaze to the floor tile she had been so enamored with just in time to miss his broad smile.
"You're being a bit literal Parker." He informed her stepping closer and removing the spatula from her hand despite her death grip on the plastic tool.
"You said…" she began but before she could continue Eliot clamped a hand over her Mouth.
"I remember what I said." He told her wrapping his free arm around her body and pulling her close so she couldn't step back. "It's just a saying." He whispered softly. He had been unprepared for his body's reaction to her close proximity. In a matter of days touching her had become a normal thing for him but she was not normally this close to him in a kitchen that was already steaming hot from her cooking.
It was apparent that Parker also felt the shift as she stopped squirming to get loose and instead remained perfectly still. He was pleased to note that she had not frozen up like a board but instead was still pliant in his arms reflecting her trust in him not to allow any harm to come to her. "Did I ever tell you you're beautiful?" he asked removing his hand from where it covered her mouth to push a lock of hair that had fallen forward in their struggle behind her ear. Parker chose not to speak instead simply shook her head in the negative.
"I remember that job right after Sophie left when you were in those damn dresses, I almost had a heart attack the first time I saw you in that." He whispered this into her ear pulling her close and swaying her back and forth to a tune only he could hear.
"That's bad right?" she responded just as quiet and just as caught up as he was.
"Not in that context Parker." He told her pressing his lips to her forehead. She looked up at him when he pulled back surprised at the gesture. He took a moment to search her eyes looking for even a hint of fear or uncertainty; instead he found only trust and a bit of heat if he looked carefully. "I want to kiss you." He said, he felt her stiffen for a moment and in that instant the spell was broken for him. The desire was still there but her reaction told him she wasn't ready. "But I'll settle until you're ready. Momma always said to make your intention's known. Here it is then I intend to kiss you, hug you, love you, and for damn sure do some less than gentlemanly things to you but only when you ask." She looked up at him sharply.
"What do you mean when I ask?" she questioned her mind still trying to process the first half of his statement.
"When you're ready for this." He pulled her close breathing in her scent and placed a soft gentle kiss to the corner of her Mouth lingering a moment longer then he planned, his self-control wavering in the eyes of what he so desperately wanted. "For us to be together, all you have to do is say the word and I'll be there waiting for you." He took her hand in his chuckling on the inside at her shocked expression before he placed a gentle kiss to her knuckles and left her to her dinner retreating to his bedroom.
If asked years from then Eliot Spencer would freely admit he had no idea how he forced his body to leave that room. Despite knowing that she wasn't ready for them it took sheer willpower to pull him away from her adorably confused expression and her hand still suspended in the air where he had let go. He would however add that that was the moment he was finally able to admit to himself that Parker had completely stolen the most important thing he owned, his heart.