Sherlock was still very confused by his emotions at this point. He wasn't used to having any emotional attachments to anyone. He was known for his 'one shag a year' and he liked that he didn't have to put any effort in but could still be sexually satisfied. But maybe...maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe he's finally reached the age where he wants to settle down, but he's still not 100% sure of his feelings. Oh well, he still has time to work it all out.
Sherlock was still pouring over this stupid list when Joan appeared at the threshold, making him jump.
"Sherlock?" she called out.
Shuffling the papers around quickly, Sherlock hid all evidence of his notebook and pen. Strutting over towards him in that way she does, Joan's face became quizzical.
"Sherlock, what are you up to?" she queried.
"Oh, um, just a cold case. You know how it is." He lied back to her. He didn't like the fact he had to lie but he couldn't just turn round like "oh hey Joan, I hope you slept well and like your puzzle, yeah I think I might be in love with you." That was not him. Besides, he still wasn't sure.
Joan decided to shrug it off. I mean, she knew he was weird - it's nothing new. She ambled over to the kitchen, her hips swaying as she went. "Coffee, Sherlock?" she called, although she didn't know why, she always makes him coffee in the morning.
"If you could be so kind, Watson"
She sleepily made him his standard mug of coffee and made her way back to where Sherlock was, still pouring over the list. For such an intelligent man, he'd never known himself to be so confused. Her bare feet padded across the floor in time for Sherlock to slip the notebook under a recent cold case he'd been studying. As she neared, she bent over him to place the coffee by his right knee and as she did so, casually brushed across this back. Before this would have been normal, but not now. Sherlocks breath hitched as the electricity sparked up between them, but he casually played it off as a slight chuckled, followed by an impromptu "thank you".
And suddenly everything unscrambled in his brain, just like that. Well crap. "I'm in love with Joan Watson."