SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT

Robin only remembered feeling this tingling sensation one other time, and it was yesterday when they had ended up in this exact same position. She wasn't about to kiss him, had herself half convinced that no kiss was going to take place between them, but neither could she find any reason to push him away and yell at him. Despite the air conditioner, the kitchen was stifling and she figured she might as well have been standing on the center of the sun. She could feel Patrick sweating underneath her palm and smiled at the effect her touch had on him. Whatever else happened, it was wonderful to know that some part of him craved the feel of her against him.

His hand rested over hers for a second and then slid down her arm to her shoulder, his thumb pushing her sleeve down her arm. Well, he just wasn't wasting any time was he, she thought dreamily. If he had his way, he would get more than a kiss for his efforts. Then, she'd be no better than the countless women he had bedded before her. She would have to see him day in and day out, each one more difficult than the last. He would joke with his friends about how easy she had been persuaded.

"Put your hands where I can see them." She insisted, wiggling out of his grasp. He made a low growl and reached for her, but she was too quick for him and he almost stumbled over his own feet.

"You've got to be kidding me!" He couldn't believe she was stopping him. What did she have against mutual pleasure?

"I said a kiss. What was with that hand of yours?" Robin challenged, tilting her head at him.

"Why do you have to question everything?"

"Because I don't trust you." Robin pointed out.

"Well, that much is obvious." Patrick muttered.

"Why do you sound so put off? You didn't actually think getting me into bed was going to be that simple did you?"

"Who said anything about getting you into bed? I was just entertaining a fantasy."

"A fantasy?" Robin snorted at him.

"This is not what I had in mind at all when I stopped by. I swear." He hurried to assure her.

"Right. Like I'd believe that."

"What if we tried again only I stand completely still and you kiss me?"

"So I have to do all the work? Typical man."

Patrick lightly beat his head into the side of the silver refrigerator.

"You're going to knock something loose." Robin warned, moving toward him.

"Come here." Patrick said a second after he grabbed her and held her against him. "Mmm. Much better." He murmured, nuzzling her neck.

"Patrick, let me go!" Robin felt stupid for giggling like a high school teenager, but she figured it was fitting considering her company.

Robin's eyes shot open when she realized that he was no longer holding her. "Patrick…what--?" Her eyes widened when she noticed the .35mm pressed into Patrick's temple. "What the hell!" She screamed, slapping the gun away when she recognized the eldest of Secret Service Agents, Dennis Wiley.

"I'm sorry, Miss Scorpio, but we heard you scream." Wiley explained somberly, dropping the gun into its holster. His usual crowd of agents were behind him.

"And you just thought you'd investigate?" Robin snapped curtly. "Need I remind you that your job is to protect my mother? Speaking of which, where is my mother?"

"Really, boys, this is getting a little ridiculous. How bad could it be?" Anna Devane's sing-song voice interrupted Robin's rant as she pushed her way through the agents. Once her eyes fell on her daughter, she squealed, "Robin, darling! Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes!" Before Robin could pull away, Anna hugged her tightly.

"Miss Devane." Patrick obliged her.

Anna's eyes turned a dangerous shade of brown as they settled on the man she blamed for most of her daughter's recent struggles. "Shoot him." She ordered her guards.

"Mom, really!" Robin shook her head at her mother and stepped in front of Patrick. "You're overreacting."

"This is the second time I've had a gun pointed at me in less than two weeks!" Patrick moaned, closing his eyes as he remembered Brenda and her shotgun.

"Stop your whining!" Anna demanded, resisting the urge to shoot him herself.

"I've missed you terribly, but what are you doing here?" Robin wondered.

"I came to town to rally a few votes." Anna explained. "And to see my one and only pride and joy of course."

"Of course." Robin forced a smile.

"How is Morgan? I haven't seen him in ages!" Anna urged.

"Mom, why don't we get some coffee? Patrick, you can see yourself out, can't you?" Robin didn't wait for him to answer.

"Dennis will make sure he gets to his car safely, won't you?" Anna addressed her favorite guard.

"Absolutely not. Patrick can get to his own car without the help of an armed guard." Robin countered, nodding for Patrick to make a break for it.

Anna waited until Patrick was out of earshot and then asked, "Why can't I have him shot?"

"It's called murder." Robin replied.

"It's called necessity." Anna argued, her face set in an adorable pout.

"You can't just go around executing people. How would that look in the election?"

"So, you're saying I should invade other countries and force my beliefs on them?" Anna inquired.

"Of course not." Robin shook her head.

"Darling, what's the fun of having these men following me around if I can't get rid of a few unsavory characters once in a while?"

"Protection?" Robin guessed.

"Might I have a private conversation with my daughter without your constant hovering?" Anna waved her left hand and the guards each took a seat at the table Patrick had vacated.

"What didn't you want them to hear?" Robin whispered.

"They're merely window dressing. They're rather boring." Anna clarified.

"So killing Patrick would be great entertainment, I'm assuming?"

"Patrick? You're on a first-name basis with that slime ball?" Anna's voice rose at the very thought.

"I don't want him knowing about Morgan." Robin told her instead.

"Are you seeing him?"

"No!"

"Then why should it matter if he knows you have a son now?"

"Please, just don't say anything."

"Robin, you can do so much better than him. He's just like his--" Anna began.

"Don't! No, he's not."

"You're defending him too? Luv, I've taught you better than this."

"I'm not asking you to approve. You don't see me calling you out on your illicit affairs."

"What exactly did I walk in on?" Anna wanted to know, her eyebrows drawing together in contemplation.

"We were having an argument."

"That led to what exactly?"

"Nothing. God, why can't we just be normal?"

"Normal is for the weak. Now, answer my question."

"I already did. We were arguing and then, the next thing we knew, Sergeant Dipshit pulled a gun."

"You screamed." Anna pointed out.

"I laughed. There was no screaming."

"Why were you laughing during an argument?"

"I find myself incredibly amusing."

"Robin Cecilia Scorpio, I don't appreciate the sarcasm."

"You wanted to go home and see Morgan right? Let me just tell Lucas--"

"Stop. Turn. Explain." Anna ordered.

"You walked in on absolutely nothing. We were having an argument, he might have mentioned something about me wanting to kiss him, and then there was a gun."

"I should have expecting this. It was only a matter of time before he came sniffing around."

"You're being ridiculous."

"Did you want to kiss him?"

"No."

"Really?"

"Maybe a little."

"Come on; I'm getting you out of here."

"Where are we going?"

"We're going to the spa and then I'm dropping you off with my shrink."

"I don't want to see Dr. Skinner!" Robin gasped.

"You're not five years old anymore, Robin. Please don't argue with me."

"I'll take the spa, but no shrink." Robin planted her hands on her hips.

"Not even a ten-minute consultation?"

"Nothing."

"Dennis, do I have time for a spa day with my daughter?" Anna called to the head of her henchmen.

"No ma'am. You have a lunch scheduled with the former first lady and then a conference for the rest of the afternoon." Dennis explained.

"Double damn." Anna sighed.

"It's all right, Mom. I actually have plans with a friend of mine. Go. Work. We'll spend some time together when you get back into town."

"But that could be another three months!" Anna protested.

"We'll always have Internet."

"Why are you trying to get rid of me? For all I know, you've paid off Dennis to make up appointments for me." Anna narrowed her eyes at her only child.

"Politics have made you paranoid." Robin smiled.

"The first chance I get, I'm going to take you and Morgan away to Paris with me."

"I'm sure he'll love that."

"Has he spoken?"

"Finger spelling."

"That's progress."

"Yes." Robin agreed.

"Don't worry. Soon he'll be talking your ear off." Anna promised, squeezing Robin's shoulder.

"Hug me and get back to your campaigning." Robin insisted.

"Yes Ma'am!" Anna saluted her daughter and hugged her fiercely. "I love you."

"I love you too. Be safe."