While the alcohol helped soothe the tension that had appeared when they had walked into an apparent date night featuring Robin's ex and his new wife, Strike had the odd desire to show Matthew the lively, witty and effortlessly sexy woman that Robin had grown into in the years they had been apart. He wasn't a petty man, but possibly the years of watching Robin slowly stifle while trying to keep Matthew happy were enough for him to want to exact a small revenge on the man.

Strike flashed Robin a crooked smile as he said,

"Being fit doesn't mean you're good in bed- but it can help get you there."

Robin took a long drink from her glass, pink faced and smiling now,

"If that's the case, explain to me how it is that you ended up sleeping with a model?"

Strike had never admitted that he'd slept with Ciara Porter, but he didn't argue with her. After all, he thought with satisfaction-his partner was one the best detectives he knew. Strike shrugged,

"If there's one thing this job should've taught you by now, it's that there is no accounting for taste." He gave her a look, "Dave Pollworth says my type is a woman who wants to waste some time on a lost cause."

Robin laughed. She intuited that strike was gently drawing her out of her own misery and she gladly took the lifeline. She knew that a lively conversation with Strike could carry her out of nearly any unhappiness.

"You're not a lost cause." Said Robin quickly.

Strike laughed and tipped his pint to her,

"I think you're the only woman in the world who knows me and would still say that."

"Well," she said leaning forward to stress her point, "I don't really think you are! As much as you play into being fucked beyond hope, you care about the important things,"

He scoffed skeptically,

"Like what?"

He knew he was fishing, but he had the sudden urge to draw her into the type of conversation they had both shied away from so many times before. He had now given himself the permission, after all...

Robin's eyebrows shot up, she felt he was digging a little but she indulged him-

"Like Justice and truth, and people's lives and morality and principals… and…" she trailed off knowing that she'd just given him glowing praise, but she shook her head and continued despite herself, "you help people." she said with conviction, "It's why I knew I wanted to stick with you…and this agency." she added quickly.

"You act like a lost cause to hide the fact that you are, in fact, a good man." she finished boldly looking him in the eye.

He sat back in his chair not knowing how to respond to this proclamation. He was trying to lure her into a buoyant and attractive mood, but found himself forgetting completely about his petty aims in her sincere and kind words.

She looked so beautiful to him just now- still wearing in that woolen jumper, her red-gold hair falling loosely around her shoulders cheeks flushed and eyes lit with the ghost of a smile.

They looked at each other for a few seconds before a faint awkwardness sent them both for their drinks.

"You know, I think that might be exactly what I would have said about you- except that you don't act like a lost cause." he added hastily, "and every year that goes by I think I really do owe temporary solutions that commission- I've even considered being generous and adding interest. Everything about the business…worked once you were added into the equation" and in my life, he added to himself.

Robin smiled warmly up at him and was gratified that Strike had returned her embarrassingly heartfelt compliment. Somewhere in the back of her mind she must've realized that she was still in a room that contained Matt and Sarah- however, her brain was occupied and hardly seemed to register it as important at the moment.

Throwing the last of his drink down in a gulp,

"Again?" he asked, gesturing to her nearly empty glass. She nodded and strike snatched up his empty glass and weaved through the tight room to the bar- where Matthew was standing, waiting for his drinks.