Fic: Running (1/1)
Title: Running
Fandom: Murder Call
Characters: Tessa Vance, Steve Hayden, Original characters
Prompt: 013. Yellow
Word Count: 5316
Rating: G (K)
Summary: Sometimes, you want to face things head on. Other times, you just want to run away.
Author's note: This is another of those fics that was intended to be longer, but wound up on the back burner as RL took over. Since I doubt I'll ever finish it, I post it instead here as a oneshot piece. You can create your own beginning and ending. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. They belong to Jennifer Rowe, Hal McElroy and Southern Star. I make no profit out of this.
Garbage cans toppled over behind him as he ran down the back alley behind a run-down restaurant. He was heaving for breath and his legs were painfully reminding him of old wounds that had never healed completely, but he could not afford to stop.
“Ricky, STOP!”
He ignored the yell behind him, sped on by the closeness of the voice. Too close; he was lagging behind. In the distance he heard the sirens closing in as well.
He looked around frantically for a way out. The alley split into three at an intersection. One was a dead end. Without thinking, Ricky took the left and was off again.
The yell returned but he did not hear the words. He simply ran, ignoring the pain in his throat, his lungs and his legs. He dodged a garbage container and took hold of some boxes, leaving them crashing down behind him.
The sirens were close by, but he could see daylight in the distance. And he recognised the street. Only a few turns and he would be in safety.
Hope soared in his chest and gave him extra energy. The voice behind him was cursing, and Ricky dared to glance behind him. The suit-clad man was caught up in the boxes he had toppled over. Finally! He grinned and looked back to see the daylight again and the flashing lights-
“Ouf!”
Suddenly, Ricky was crashing into the ground hard, his head snapping up as it met the concrete. Something fell on top of him, a weight of some sort, and he struggled to get free, but the weight was moving and struggling as well. They were locked in a fight for dominion and Ricky’s chest was hurting with every heaving breath, blood pounding in his head and veins . . .
Then he was flipped onto his stomach and the weight settled onto his lower back, digging into it painfully as his arms were wrenched back and locked in place by the unmistakable cold steel of handcuffs.
“That-was-incredibly-stupid-of-you-Ricky!” breathed a female voice heavily just as another voice joined in,
“You all right?” Ricky saw from his awkward position that the suit-clad man had reached them.
“I’m fine,” said the female and Ricky saw a blonde flash before she moved out of sight. “He’s all yours.”
The weight disappeared from his lower back and Ricky moaned as strong arms pulled him to his feet in a tight grip.
“Now why’d you run, Ricky?” asked the man over his shoulder, frisking him. “Got something to hide, have you?”
“No,” insisted Ricky quickly, but even as he said it he saw the female reach down and pick up the items he had dropped as he fell to the ground. The bag of white pills dangled from her fingertips as she looked at him.
“Something like this, perhaps?” She smirked slightly and the man behind Ricky scoffed.
“Seems like you’ve got yourself a date with the station, Ricky,” said the man and Ricky hung his pounding head in defeat.
***
“I hope you’re all right, missus. I wasn’t gonna hurt you, you know. I didn’t know you were there!”
Ricky looked at her with desperation in his eyes and Detective Senior Constable Tessa Vance only gave a tight smile where she stood on the other side of the table.
“I’m quite all right, Ricky. No need to worry about that. But you’ve still got something to answer for.”
“I was gonna tell you about him!” claimed Ricky quickly as she took the usual round around the table in the interrogation room. “I swear! I was on my way here, to tell you, when-“
“When you remembered you’d forgotten to rip off a few teenagers their allowance,” interjected Tessa icily, all smiles gone as she picked up the evidence bag containing the drugs he had been in possession of. Ricky swallowed visibly as she loomed over him, arms crossed.
“So how much did you actually see that night Vanessa Smart died, Ricky?”
“Everything,” replied Ricky quickly, sweat beading on his forehead. “She got into the car, another one came by - a, a BMW! - and this bloke rolled down his window, talking with her for a while and then BAM! He’d got his gun up and shot her. Then he drove off. That’s all I saw, I swear!”
“Did you get a good look at the man?” asked Tessa; ignoring the looks he sent her this time. This is where he had been dodgy with the information last time he had been here.
“Yes,” said Ricky quietly, looking nervous.
“Who was he, Ricky?” He did not reply. “Someone you’d seen around the neighbourhood before?”
He snapped his head up at her, eyes wide. Tessa returned the gaze stonily, revealing nothing.
“It-it was . . .”
“Come on, Ricky, we haven’t got all day! Those friends of yours down at Drug squad are very anxious to have you come down and explain a few things about that bad tip-off of yours. They haven’t forgotten you.”
That did it. “Can you protect me? I tell you who I saw and you keep me away from them?”
Tessa chuckled. “Ricky, you’re in this deep. I can’t promise you anything. But if you don’t cooperate with our investigation, I’m afraid things might get a little worse for you than it already is. Openness will help you.”
The rat-eyed man hardly considered it, biting his lip briefly before looking up at her. “It was Rick Travis. That guy down the road who deals with the Chinese.”
Tessa inwardly sighed in relief. Finally! The pieces were coming together. With Ricky’s witness statement, Travis would not be able to bail his way out of here again.
“So that’s it? You’ll help me with those blokes?” asked Ricky.
Tessa picked up the evidence bags and folders lying on the table, nodding to the detective in the corner to bring him out. Ricky noticed and panicked.
“You’ll help me, right?” he cried out as the detective came up behind him and gestured him to his feet.
Tessa paused by the door leading into the office, glancing back at him. “Some advice, Ricky: Get yourself a lawyer.”
Ignoring the cries he made, Tessa opened the door and escaped into the bustling office, closing the door and the sounds behind her. She let out a deep sigh, reaching up with one hand to rub her belly.
“You sure you’re all right?” asked Detective Senior Constable Chris Myers as he appeared beside her, coming from the viewing room where he had watched the interview. “I’m not particularly in the mood to get accosted by the Sarge and get my head chopped off for not looking after you.”
Tessa chuckled at the thought of their over-protective boss as they made their way to the three desks pushed together in a corner. “Don’t worry. I’m the one most likely to get the chewing. I’m not supposed to be in the field so much.”
“Well you can’t exactly plan these things,” commented Chris as he leaned against her desk while she sat down, rubbing her rounded stomach. “You got car duty, but hey! We didn’t know the guy was gonna bust.”
“And I’ll make sure to mention that,” replied Tessa with a smirk. “But I’m all right save for some bumps and bruises, and Peanut’s not acting up - much,” she added wryly as something connected with her belly. “Besides, I’ve got a doctor’s appointment this afternoon, so she can’t exactly force me to get myself checked out either.”
“I’m sorry, though,” said Chris seriously, looking at her with hazel eyes. “Running never was my strongest skill.”
Tessa waved him off. “Don’t worry about it. It all worked out in the end. And now we’ve got Ricky’s statement, so let’s bring in our number one suspect.”
“All right.”
“Besides,” added Tessa as Chris went for his own desk, “Benton never was my biggest concern.”
The knowing smile in Chris’s eyes accompanied his small chuckle. “I understand you perfectly. Just let me know if you need me to run interference.”
“I’m hoping it won’t come to that,” mumbled Tessa, trying to push the possible reactions out of her head.
***
“You WHAT?” exclaimed the voice at the other end of the phone. “Tessa, you promised you wouldn’t get yourself into such situations again!”
“It’s not like I went out there with the intention to get myself into a jam with a bolting eye witness,” pointed Tessa out with a grimace. Although she had not been afraid of the chewing she certainly got from the Senior Sergeant at the end of the day, she had been apprehensive about his reaction. He was, after all, the father of her baby.
“Besides,” she continued, “the doctor checked me out. Everything’s fine. I got some bruises, but it’s nothing. Peanut’s still kicking away for the grand championship,” she added with a smile. When she didn’t receive a reply, she frowned. “Steve? You there?”
“Yeah, I’m still here,” mumbled Steve Hayden with a half-sigh. He was obviously still upset.
“Look, I’m sorry,” said Tessa, pulling at her sleeve with the tip of her fingers. “But I can’t stay holed up in the office all day just because I’m scared something like this will come up.”
“Or worse,” added Steve.
“Or worse,” acknowledged Tessa, sighing. She tucked her bare feet under her on the couch, one hand tracing her belly. “I’ve only got a few days left before Benton will definitely put me down for a desk job. It’s all paperwork at this moment, and now that we’re in the process of closing down our case, I’m sure I’ll be happily stuffed and chained to the wall within two days.”
She let a little irritation seep into her voice. She hated sitting still, even if she was more tired these days and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Napping had been one of the new concepts she had been forced to take into consideration after she found out she was pregnant. Or should she say, it was one of those concepts she had been intimately familiar with even before she knew she was pregnant.
“I won’t say I’m not happy you’ll be running a desk,” said Steve slowly. “But I know you hate it. Have you considered that other option?”
“What? Taking early leave? I’m not sure I’ll get paid for all those months, Steve. I just don’t know how I will afford it, not with the extra money I’ll be forced to spend the next few months. And don’t say ‘move in with me’ - you know we can’t. We’re still partners.”
“Right. There’s that,” acknowledged Steve. He sounded nervous. “Then there’s the letter I wanted you to give to Benton.”
Tessa’s head snapped up. “No! I won’t let you quit your job, Steve. You’ve worked too hard to get where you are now. I can’t let you throw all of that away.”
Steve sighed. “I wish you wouldn’t see it as me throwing it away, Tess. Sure, I’ve made a career for myself up to this point, but priorities change.” He paused and Tessa felt apprehensiveness rest on the edge of her mind. “My offer still stands, you know.”
Tessa’s stomach did flips as old emotions quelled the irritation she had just felt. “I know. And I’ve thought about it. A lot. Steve . . . I just can’t see the logic-“
“That’s your problem,” interjected Steve quickly. “You think too much. I wish you could stop thinking every once in a while and just . . . I don’t know. Maybe I’m playing an old tune and should just stop.”
“No!” said Tessa quickly. “Don’t . . . don’t stop. Please. I’m just-I haven’t been able to sort out my mind yet. I’m tempted to blame it on Peanut. I swear my mind’s never been this fuzzy before!” Her attempt at humour had some small success. Steve chuckled.
“Look,” she said quietly after a while. “I-I don’t want to do this on the phone. When will you be back?”
“My plane lands at 6:15 tomorrow evening. I could drop by?”
“And take a taxi all the way from the airport? No, I’ll come pick you up. Driving’s got a pretty calming effect on Peanut, so it’s two-in-one, really. And then we could find someplace to talk. Maybe have hot chocolate or something.”
“Still not agreeing with the coffee?” commented Steve amusedly. “Sure. Let’s do that.”
“Great,” said Tessa, smiling. She could feel the muscles in her neck tense and a headache build up behind her temples. “Well, me and Peanut’s got a pressing appointment with the loo, so I’ll have to go.”
Steve chuckled. “Enjoy. I’ll see you tomorrow then. And Tessa? Take care of yourself. No late movies for you.”
“As if,” rebuffed Tessa easily. “I’m nodding off long before midnight thanks to Peanut.” She smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a nice flight.”
“Thanks . . . Bye.”
***
Tessa shifted impatiently on her feet by a stand of newspapers as she waited for the familiar face to appear in the crowd departing the baggage reclaim area. Her back was aching from a day spent sitting on a hard and worn office chair, and her feet were throbbing and swollen. It was an odd mix and not one she particularly enjoyed.
She was rubbing her lower back and rounded belly when she spotted Steve behind an elderly couple and some suit-clad men and women trailing suitcases behind them.
As he worked his way through the throng, eyes sweeping the crowd - probably looking for her - Tessa took a moment to gaze at him. He was tall and lean, and though he was closing on his early forties, he wore his age very well. The slight grey in his hair made him look distinguished rather than old. He was still a very attractive man.
A blush rose up her cheeks as Tessa quelled the appreciation surging through her and she turned her gaze on the big board announcing the flights as they landed. He was her boss now, and partner, so he was very much off-limits.
Although that line keeps blurring with everything he’s done and said since I told him I was pregnant.
She still had not been able to work out what to tell Steve. After the phone call last night she had gone straight to bed and slept until early morning. All the paperwork they had been bogged down with today following the arrest of Rick Travis had taken her mind off the matter as hand as well. Frankly, only the drive to the airport and the few hours spent at home beforehand had given her some time to consider her options.
Looking back with a frustrated sigh, Tessa met Steve’s dark eyes and her neck tensed as she realised he broke into a smile before it toned down almost as immediately. Flutters rose up in her chest and she hoped her cheeks were not blushing as much as they were heating up.
She cocked her head sideways as she shifted on her feet and crossed her arms.
“Hi,” greeted Steve as he reached her, his overnight bag slung over his shoulder. He was wearing khaki slacks and a light blue sweater under a dark jacket. He looked wonderful in civvies.
“Hi,” said Tessa, smiling. Her shoulders tensed and she felt like a highly-strung wire - ready to snap if he so much as touched her. The atmosphere felt oppressing with unrelieved tension and Tessa did not like to entertain the thought that he looked like he wanted to hug her as much as she did.
“The flight okay?” she found herself asking, feeling stupid but defensive. This was how it worked. Besides, she had no idea how he would react if she stepped out of their usual pattern.
She gripped her upper arms tightly as she saw Steve’s expression closing off and resuming the same mixed look he had worn lately.
“Nothing to complain about,” said Steve. “We took off later than scheduled, though, which you probably noticed. Been waiting long?” He turned as if to leave and Tessa fell in step with him, making their way outside.
“A bit,” admitted Tessa. “Benton sent me home at three, so I’ve been going stir crazy trying to come up with something to do at home. So I drove here early, took the scenic route, but it was all in vain apparently.”
“I’ll tell the pilot to speed up next time,” said Steve smartly, edging his shoulder forward to halt the revolving door enough for Tessa to step inside. “So how’s the back?”
“That obvious, huh?” Tessa sighed, rubbing her belly when the baby kicked. “It’s aching. It’s been paperwork all day.”
“You gotta talk to Benton about getting yourself a decent chair,” commented Steve as they escaped into cool night air, the sound of cars and buses assaulting their ears immediately. “Especially if you’re gonna be sitting for the next two months.”
Tessa only hummed. The thought of a desk job still did not sit well with her.
She nearly jumped when Steve put his hand on her lower back, stepping closer to her as people pushed past them. His hand was warm and the flutters returned to her chest as they found their way to the parking lot where she had put the dark grey sedan.
“Here,” said Steve. “I’ll drive. You rest that back of yours.”
“I won’t object to that,” retorted Tessa and threw the keys to him as she went around the booth, opening the passenger door as soon as the car was unlocked. She immediately popped the seat back and settled in as comfortably as she could, running a calming hand over her belly and closing her eyes.
Steve slung the overnight bag into the back before getting into the driver’s seat and firing up the engine. Moments later he was backing out of the parking spot and rolling slowly between pedestrians and parked cars towards the exit.
“So where are we going?” he asked as the car came onto the correct lane and they set off in direction of the city. “Found someplace selling hot chocolate on your long detour here?”
Tessa opened her eyes and glanced at him. For all anyone knew, he looked at ease, but she could see the miniscule signs of tension in his neck and mouth.
“I thought we’d just stop somewhere along the road,” she said, closing her eyes again. The ache in her back and feet were calmed slightly by the motion of the car, making her drowsy. “I fear I’ll nod off, though, so you can be in charge of finding somewhere. Anything will do fine.”
Steve chuckled. “Will do.”
***
Steve turned off the engine and leaned back in the comfortable seat, turning his head to gaze at his semi-partner. Tessa’s head was resting against the window and she seemed to be breathing deeply, hands motionless on her swollen stomach.
He eyed that stomach with something indescribable shooting through him. It was becoming a familiar sensation, as well as the urge to reach out and touch her belly. But he did not want to startle her. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, so unlike the thunder coaster she was riding when awake.
Normally she would never have let him see her like this, but the pregnancy had changed her. In his mind, some of it was for the better - especially the sleeping part. He had never considered her insomnia to be normal or particularly healthy. And apart from a few incidences like yesterday’s scuffle, her recklessness had toned down considerably. She was no longer the only one in the equation after all.
Steve smiled as she shifted slightly in her sleep, fingers curling protectively around the swell. She was beautiful. Even more so when pregnant. It evoked a picture of her he had never pictured.
For eight years he had seen her wear a business suit more often than not, even if she had slacked off for some more casual shirts in later years. Now she wore a long snug grey sweater and casual pants, her hair messy, and he could only think of how motherhood suited her. It was the total opposite to the career woman. Though, he was very sure Tessa would most likely not appreciate such thoughts.
He sighed and cleared his throat loudly, stirring her from her sleep.
“We’re here,” stated Steve, smiling at her confused expression. She really was cute. “Have a good power nap?”
“Mm,” hummed Tessa, rubbing her eyes. “Definitely needed that one. Although something tells me I’ll be in bed early tonight as well.”
“I’ll have you home by ten,” joked Steve, opening the door and getting out. Tessa followed close behind.
They got into the small diner Steve had picked out on impulse for its welcoming appearance, finding a booth relatively private in the corner.
A waitress came by and took their orders, Tessa surprising him by ordering both hot chocolate and a large bowl of ice cream.
“What?” she retorted at his look. “Can’t a girl get her ice cream?”
Steve held his hands up in defence. “I didn’t say anything.” He grinned, though, fingers knitted together on the tabletop.
Silence befell them and the pressurising atmosphere he had begun to associate with her in the past year returned. He looked around.
“Nice place, huh.”
“Steve . . .” Tessa’s voice was soft, if a bit strained. He glanced back and found her big blue eyes shimmering. His neck tensed. “You don’t have to try so hard,” she continued. “You don’t have to feel like you have obligations or anything.”
So she wanted to cut to the chase. Well, he should not be surprised. This was a matter that had been resting heavily on his mind for the past few months since she told him she was pregnant - it was something he wanted over with pretty quickly as well.
“It was a one-night thing,” continued Tessa slowly when he did not immediately reply, looking at her hands. “We were drunk. You don’t have to stick around because you feel guilty.”
He sighed. Well, now it was time to stop holding back. These half-truths he had wrapped around himself for years had to give way to the truth once and for all. Screw the job!
“I don’t see it that way,” said Steve truthfully, gazing at her head on until she met his eyes fully. “We’ve known each other for eight years, Tess. You’re more than just my partner; you’re my best friend. And in my book that means I’ll stand by you whenever you need me.”
He paused, wondering if he should take her hand. He was tempted. It was lying just within easy reach.
“Sure, I feel guilty,” he admitted slowly. “As I recall, I was pretty . . . insisting . . . that night. I’m not particularly proud of that.” Steve paused, holding her blank gaze for a throbbing heartbeat. “It’s too easy to blame it on the drinks, Tess. I won’t even try that. What should matter, however, is that I’m not going anywhere.”
Silence fell over them again and Steve hoped his heart would stop pounding in his ears. He forced himself to keep her stare, to not break the connection they shared in that moment. It felt like he was laying himself bare, and he became consciously aware of the large open space behind his back.
Finally, Tessa gave him a small demure smile before saying quietly, “As I recall, you weren’t any more insisting than I was, and I was the one who initiated things.” She reached up with one hand to run it through her hair, not able to hold his gaze any longer.
Steve did not know what burst through him at the loss of eye contact, but pushed it away as the waitress appeared with their hot drinks and Tessa’s ice cream. Tessa gave the woman a grateful smile, but her eyes were blank with unshed tears. Steve hated it, and hated that he was probably responsible for that.
He sipped his coffee to pass a few more moments, then spoke while staring into the murky brown liquid in his mug. “Why are you so opposed to me on this, Tess?”
***
Tessa’s head snapped up in shock. “What? No! I’m-I’m not-“
Yet even as she sputtered feeble responses, Steve’s expression flashed with sadness. In her desperation Tessa leaned across the table and gripped his hand in hers.
The effect was immediate. Warmth shot through her just as she saw Steve startle a bit by her action. He stared at her hand with such intensity Tessa almost retracted it. After a long moment, he tipped his chin up and met her wide eyes with swirly dark orbs.
“Steve,” whispered Tessa, her throat suddenly thick. “I-I-I just don’t understand why you want the responsibility of having a kid. I mean, you just got promoted and you’re heading your own team! That’s huge! There were others with more experience than you who wanted that job, but you got it!”
Her partner shook his head before sighing. “Tess, I thought I made it clear what this matter means to me when I handed you that letter for Benton. Jeez, Tess, you’re having a baby! My baby! Unlike the team, that’s not exactly something I can easily hand off to someone else!”
“Please don’t shout,” begged Tessa, casting a glance around at the other patrons curiously following their conversation from the corner of their eyes.
Steve blew out a breath, stared at her hand upon his again, and met her eyes in cold annoyance and hurt. “You know, I’m starting to think you don’t want me around.”
Tessa’s breath caught in her throat and she gripped his hand again. “No, that’s not it!” she insisted quietly.
“Then what, Tessa?” asked Steve, retracting his hand forcibly and leaving hers on the cold tabletop. He gripped his mug with both hands, knuckles whitening, sighing. A moment passed. “I wish you’d tell me, because I’m getting sick of waiting for you to make up your mind.”
Tessa did not know what to say. What could she say? Her mind was so conflicted, so fuzzy - she could hardly think straight. Was he giving her an ultimatum? Tell him or he was gone? That thought hurt her more than she had envisioned.
She could feel the tears start trailing down her cheeks and her back was aching just as Peanut started kicking again. Tearily, she reached down and rubbed her belly in hopes the baby would calm down. He did not.
Her eyes fell on the bowl of now-melting ice cream. Glancing briefly at Steve found him immersed in his coffee, so she slowly scooped up some chocolate ice cream and ate it quietly.
Tension rose between them as Tessa racked her mind for the words she wanted to put on her feelings, but everything felt so useless, so incomplete. There were no words she could come up with to cover the range of emotions running through her. And this time she could not just crawl into her best friend’s arms and get the selfless comfort she needed.
“Tess . . .”
Slowly, Tessa ran her thumb across her cheeks and tipped her face up, hoping she managed to keep her tears at bay while he looked at her. Steve’s expression was closed off again but something shimmered briefly in his eyes. His knuckles were still slightly white around the coffee mug.
“I really need to know,” he said - was his voice a bit thick? - and Tessa took a deep breath, still rubbing her overly active belly. A string of thought came to her and she jumped on it.
“I-It’s difficult . . .” she began quietly, hoping she managed to convey her honesty in her voice. “You’re my best friend, Steve, no matter the fact that you’re also now my supervisor. I don’t want to lose you.” The tears escaped again and Tessa paused, squeezing her eyes shut briefly. Steve’s expression had softened when she looked back at him. “I thought I was gonna lose you six months ago when we didn’t know what was gonna happen to us.”
Tessa knew she had found the correct emotion. It felt right. This was what she was afraid of the most: Losing him.
“When Thorne told us the new plans were going to be initialised within the month, I was so scared. I’d known it was gonna happen, but I think I must’ve pushed it away, thinking things weren’t gonna change that much. We’d still be partners in Central Homicide.” She paused, swallowing. “But when I learned people were going to be relocated due to the merging of Homicide units . . . I really believed that was it. It made sense that one or both of us would go.”
When she paused, her throat constricting with resurfacing emotions, Steve asked softly, “So was that why you showed up on my doorstep with a bottle of wine and a six-pack?”
Tessa nodded. “Partially, at least,” she said with a small smile. “I didn’t come there with the intention to feel you up in the wee hours of the night, even if that’s what happened eventually.” She blushed under his amused gaze.
“And here I thought I’d finally won you over with my sexiness,” jested Steve lightly.
Tessa’s cheeks heated up and she could not believe he had actually fired off that comment. She pushed it away from the front of her mind, difficult as it was.
“You won’t lose me, you know,” said Steve after a while, smiling at her. “Like I said, I’m not backing out. I didn’t plan on turning my back on you before that night, and I don’t plan on doing it now either.”
Her chest fluttered and Tessa stared down at her melted ice cream, tears threatening to fall once more. She startled when warmth encompassed her hand and looked up to Steve’s serious look as he squeezed her hand tightly.
“Please believe me, Tess. I want to do this. You’re not a burden - you’re my best friend and the mother of my baby. I want to do right by you.”
Tessa’s heart skipped a beat and she could hardly get the words past her lips. “By quitting your job or getting me to move in with you?”
“Both, if that’s what it takes to get you to listen.”
“Listen to what?”
Steve eyed her for a throbbing heartbeat and then took a deep breath. “I had been hoping you’d let me take you out on a real date some day.”
Tessa thought her heart had stopped, only to have it hammering wildly against her chest a second late. Had he really said that? A real date? As in ‘not only friends but something more’ kind of date?
“I-I don’t know what to say,” stammered Tessa wide-eyed, even as the thought of smiling goofily crossed her mind. “I mean-okay.”
“Really?” asked Steve warily, frowning slightly.
He does not believe me.
Tessa turned her hand around and entwined it with his, relishing in its comfort and warmth. She smiled tearfully at him, gripping their hands with her other hand, stroking the skin above his wrist.
“Yes. I’d like that,” she said firmly, blood soaring to her head as Steve split into a full-blown grin. His second hand joined the knot of hands on the table, stroking her smooth skin, sending flutters into her belly.
“That’s great,” said Steve with feeling, his stony expression transforming to a calm smile even as Tessa felt herself blushing like a nervous teenager.
Yes, it was.
Fandom: Murder Call
Characters: Tessa Vance, Steve Hayden, Original characters
Prompt: 013. Yellow
Word Count: 5316
Rating: G (K)
Summary: Sometimes, you want to face things head on. Other times, you just want to run away.
Author's note: This is another of those fics that was intended to be longer, but wound up on the back burner as RL took over. Since I doubt I'll ever finish it, I post it instead here as a oneshot piece. You can create your own beginning and ending. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. They belong to Jennifer Rowe, Hal McElroy and Southern Star. I make no profit out of this.
Garbage cans toppled over behind him as he ran down the back alley behind a run-down restaurant. He was heaving for breath and his legs were painfully reminding him of old wounds that had never healed completely, but he could not afford to stop.
“Ricky, STOP!”
He ignored the yell behind him, sped on by the closeness of the voice. Too close; he was lagging behind. In the distance he heard the sirens closing in as well.
He looked around frantically for a way out. The alley split into three at an intersection. One was a dead end. Without thinking, Ricky took the left and was off again.
The yell returned but he did not hear the words. He simply ran, ignoring the pain in his throat, his lungs and his legs. He dodged a garbage container and took hold of some boxes, leaving them crashing down behind him.
The sirens were close by, but he could see daylight in the distance. And he recognised the street. Only a few turns and he would be in safety.
Hope soared in his chest and gave him extra energy. The voice behind him was cursing, and Ricky dared to glance behind him. The suit-clad man was caught up in the boxes he had toppled over. Finally! He grinned and looked back to see the daylight again and the flashing lights-
“Ouf!”
Suddenly, Ricky was crashing into the ground hard, his head snapping up as it met the concrete. Something fell on top of him, a weight of some sort, and he struggled to get free, but the weight was moving and struggling as well. They were locked in a fight for dominion and Ricky’s chest was hurting with every heaving breath, blood pounding in his head and veins . . .
Then he was flipped onto his stomach and the weight settled onto his lower back, digging into it painfully as his arms were wrenched back and locked in place by the unmistakable cold steel of handcuffs.
“That-was-incredibly-stupid-of-you-Ricky!” breathed a female voice heavily just as another voice joined in,
“You all right?” Ricky saw from his awkward position that the suit-clad man had reached them.
“I’m fine,” said the female and Ricky saw a blonde flash before she moved out of sight. “He’s all yours.”
The weight disappeared from his lower back and Ricky moaned as strong arms pulled him to his feet in a tight grip.
“Now why’d you run, Ricky?” asked the man over his shoulder, frisking him. “Got something to hide, have you?”
“No,” insisted Ricky quickly, but even as he said it he saw the female reach down and pick up the items he had dropped as he fell to the ground. The bag of white pills dangled from her fingertips as she looked at him.
“Something like this, perhaps?” She smirked slightly and the man behind Ricky scoffed.
“Seems like you’ve got yourself a date with the station, Ricky,” said the man and Ricky hung his pounding head in defeat.
***
“I hope you’re all right, missus. I wasn’t gonna hurt you, you know. I didn’t know you were there!”
Ricky looked at her with desperation in his eyes and Detective Senior Constable Tessa Vance only gave a tight smile where she stood on the other side of the table.
“I’m quite all right, Ricky. No need to worry about that. But you’ve still got something to answer for.”
“I was gonna tell you about him!” claimed Ricky quickly as she took the usual round around the table in the interrogation room. “I swear! I was on my way here, to tell you, when-“
“When you remembered you’d forgotten to rip off a few teenagers their allowance,” interjected Tessa icily, all smiles gone as she picked up the evidence bag containing the drugs he had been in possession of. Ricky swallowed visibly as she loomed over him, arms crossed.
“So how much did you actually see that night Vanessa Smart died, Ricky?”
“Everything,” replied Ricky quickly, sweat beading on his forehead. “She got into the car, another one came by - a, a BMW! - and this bloke rolled down his window, talking with her for a while and then BAM! He’d got his gun up and shot her. Then he drove off. That’s all I saw, I swear!”
“Did you get a good look at the man?” asked Tessa; ignoring the looks he sent her this time. This is where he had been dodgy with the information last time he had been here.
“Yes,” said Ricky quietly, looking nervous.
“Who was he, Ricky?” He did not reply. “Someone you’d seen around the neighbourhood before?”
He snapped his head up at her, eyes wide. Tessa returned the gaze stonily, revealing nothing.
“It-it was . . .”
“Come on, Ricky, we haven’t got all day! Those friends of yours down at Drug squad are very anxious to have you come down and explain a few things about that bad tip-off of yours. They haven’t forgotten you.”
That did it. “Can you protect me? I tell you who I saw and you keep me away from them?”
Tessa chuckled. “Ricky, you’re in this deep. I can’t promise you anything. But if you don’t cooperate with our investigation, I’m afraid things might get a little worse for you than it already is. Openness will help you.”
The rat-eyed man hardly considered it, biting his lip briefly before looking up at her. “It was Rick Travis. That guy down the road who deals with the Chinese.”
Tessa inwardly sighed in relief. Finally! The pieces were coming together. With Ricky’s witness statement, Travis would not be able to bail his way out of here again.
“So that’s it? You’ll help me with those blokes?” asked Ricky.
Tessa picked up the evidence bags and folders lying on the table, nodding to the detective in the corner to bring him out. Ricky noticed and panicked.
“You’ll help me, right?” he cried out as the detective came up behind him and gestured him to his feet.
Tessa paused by the door leading into the office, glancing back at him. “Some advice, Ricky: Get yourself a lawyer.”
Ignoring the cries he made, Tessa opened the door and escaped into the bustling office, closing the door and the sounds behind her. She let out a deep sigh, reaching up with one hand to rub her belly.
“You sure you’re all right?” asked Detective Senior Constable Chris Myers as he appeared beside her, coming from the viewing room where he had watched the interview. “I’m not particularly in the mood to get accosted by the Sarge and get my head chopped off for not looking after you.”
Tessa chuckled at the thought of their over-protective boss as they made their way to the three desks pushed together in a corner. “Don’t worry. I’m the one most likely to get the chewing. I’m not supposed to be in the field so much.”
“Well you can’t exactly plan these things,” commented Chris as he leaned against her desk while she sat down, rubbing her rounded stomach. “You got car duty, but hey! We didn’t know the guy was gonna bust.”
“And I’ll make sure to mention that,” replied Tessa with a smirk. “But I’m all right save for some bumps and bruises, and Peanut’s not acting up - much,” she added wryly as something connected with her belly. “Besides, I’ve got a doctor’s appointment this afternoon, so she can’t exactly force me to get myself checked out either.”
“I’m sorry, though,” said Chris seriously, looking at her with hazel eyes. “Running never was my strongest skill.”
Tessa waved him off. “Don’t worry about it. It all worked out in the end. And now we’ve got Ricky’s statement, so let’s bring in our number one suspect.”
“All right.”
“Besides,” added Tessa as Chris went for his own desk, “Benton never was my biggest concern.”
The knowing smile in Chris’s eyes accompanied his small chuckle. “I understand you perfectly. Just let me know if you need me to run interference.”
“I’m hoping it won’t come to that,” mumbled Tessa, trying to push the possible reactions out of her head.
***
“You WHAT?” exclaimed the voice at the other end of the phone. “Tessa, you promised you wouldn’t get yourself into such situations again!”
“It’s not like I went out there with the intention to get myself into a jam with a bolting eye witness,” pointed Tessa out with a grimace. Although she had not been afraid of the chewing she certainly got from the Senior Sergeant at the end of the day, she had been apprehensive about his reaction. He was, after all, the father of her baby.
“Besides,” she continued, “the doctor checked me out. Everything’s fine. I got some bruises, but it’s nothing. Peanut’s still kicking away for the grand championship,” she added with a smile. When she didn’t receive a reply, she frowned. “Steve? You there?”
“Yeah, I’m still here,” mumbled Steve Hayden with a half-sigh. He was obviously still upset.
“Look, I’m sorry,” said Tessa, pulling at her sleeve with the tip of her fingers. “But I can’t stay holed up in the office all day just because I’m scared something like this will come up.”
“Or worse,” added Steve.
“Or worse,” acknowledged Tessa, sighing. She tucked her bare feet under her on the couch, one hand tracing her belly. “I’ve only got a few days left before Benton will definitely put me down for a desk job. It’s all paperwork at this moment, and now that we’re in the process of closing down our case, I’m sure I’ll be happily stuffed and chained to the wall within two days.”
She let a little irritation seep into her voice. She hated sitting still, even if she was more tired these days and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Napping had been one of the new concepts she had been forced to take into consideration after she found out she was pregnant. Or should she say, it was one of those concepts she had been intimately familiar with even before she knew she was pregnant.
“I won’t say I’m not happy you’ll be running a desk,” said Steve slowly. “But I know you hate it. Have you considered that other option?”
“What? Taking early leave? I’m not sure I’ll get paid for all those months, Steve. I just don’t know how I will afford it, not with the extra money I’ll be forced to spend the next few months. And don’t say ‘move in with me’ - you know we can’t. We’re still partners.”
“Right. There’s that,” acknowledged Steve. He sounded nervous. “Then there’s the letter I wanted you to give to Benton.”
Tessa’s head snapped up. “No! I won’t let you quit your job, Steve. You’ve worked too hard to get where you are now. I can’t let you throw all of that away.”
Steve sighed. “I wish you wouldn’t see it as me throwing it away, Tess. Sure, I’ve made a career for myself up to this point, but priorities change.” He paused and Tessa felt apprehensiveness rest on the edge of her mind. “My offer still stands, you know.”
Tessa’s stomach did flips as old emotions quelled the irritation she had just felt. “I know. And I’ve thought about it. A lot. Steve . . . I just can’t see the logic-“
“That’s your problem,” interjected Steve quickly. “You think too much. I wish you could stop thinking every once in a while and just . . . I don’t know. Maybe I’m playing an old tune and should just stop.”
“No!” said Tessa quickly. “Don’t . . . don’t stop. Please. I’m just-I haven’t been able to sort out my mind yet. I’m tempted to blame it on Peanut. I swear my mind’s never been this fuzzy before!” Her attempt at humour had some small success. Steve chuckled.
“Look,” she said quietly after a while. “I-I don’t want to do this on the phone. When will you be back?”
“My plane lands at 6:15 tomorrow evening. I could drop by?”
“And take a taxi all the way from the airport? No, I’ll come pick you up. Driving’s got a pretty calming effect on Peanut, so it’s two-in-one, really. And then we could find someplace to talk. Maybe have hot chocolate or something.”
“Still not agreeing with the coffee?” commented Steve amusedly. “Sure. Let’s do that.”
“Great,” said Tessa, smiling. She could feel the muscles in her neck tense and a headache build up behind her temples. “Well, me and Peanut’s got a pressing appointment with the loo, so I’ll have to go.”
Steve chuckled. “Enjoy. I’ll see you tomorrow then. And Tessa? Take care of yourself. No late movies for you.”
“As if,” rebuffed Tessa easily. “I’m nodding off long before midnight thanks to Peanut.” She smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a nice flight.”
“Thanks . . . Bye.”
***
Tessa shifted impatiently on her feet by a stand of newspapers as she waited for the familiar face to appear in the crowd departing the baggage reclaim area. Her back was aching from a day spent sitting on a hard and worn office chair, and her feet were throbbing and swollen. It was an odd mix and not one she particularly enjoyed.
She was rubbing her lower back and rounded belly when she spotted Steve behind an elderly couple and some suit-clad men and women trailing suitcases behind them.
As he worked his way through the throng, eyes sweeping the crowd - probably looking for her - Tessa took a moment to gaze at him. He was tall and lean, and though he was closing on his early forties, he wore his age very well. The slight grey in his hair made him look distinguished rather than old. He was still a very attractive man.
A blush rose up her cheeks as Tessa quelled the appreciation surging through her and she turned her gaze on the big board announcing the flights as they landed. He was her boss now, and partner, so he was very much off-limits.
Although that line keeps blurring with everything he’s done and said since I told him I was pregnant.
She still had not been able to work out what to tell Steve. After the phone call last night she had gone straight to bed and slept until early morning. All the paperwork they had been bogged down with today following the arrest of Rick Travis had taken her mind off the matter as hand as well. Frankly, only the drive to the airport and the few hours spent at home beforehand had given her some time to consider her options.
Looking back with a frustrated sigh, Tessa met Steve’s dark eyes and her neck tensed as she realised he broke into a smile before it toned down almost as immediately. Flutters rose up in her chest and she hoped her cheeks were not blushing as much as they were heating up.
She cocked her head sideways as she shifted on her feet and crossed her arms.
“Hi,” greeted Steve as he reached her, his overnight bag slung over his shoulder. He was wearing khaki slacks and a light blue sweater under a dark jacket. He looked wonderful in civvies.
“Hi,” said Tessa, smiling. Her shoulders tensed and she felt like a highly-strung wire - ready to snap if he so much as touched her. The atmosphere felt oppressing with unrelieved tension and Tessa did not like to entertain the thought that he looked like he wanted to hug her as much as she did.
“The flight okay?” she found herself asking, feeling stupid but defensive. This was how it worked. Besides, she had no idea how he would react if she stepped out of their usual pattern.
She gripped her upper arms tightly as she saw Steve’s expression closing off and resuming the same mixed look he had worn lately.
“Nothing to complain about,” said Steve. “We took off later than scheduled, though, which you probably noticed. Been waiting long?” He turned as if to leave and Tessa fell in step with him, making their way outside.
“A bit,” admitted Tessa. “Benton sent me home at three, so I’ve been going stir crazy trying to come up with something to do at home. So I drove here early, took the scenic route, but it was all in vain apparently.”
“I’ll tell the pilot to speed up next time,” said Steve smartly, edging his shoulder forward to halt the revolving door enough for Tessa to step inside. “So how’s the back?”
“That obvious, huh?” Tessa sighed, rubbing her belly when the baby kicked. “It’s aching. It’s been paperwork all day.”
“You gotta talk to Benton about getting yourself a decent chair,” commented Steve as they escaped into cool night air, the sound of cars and buses assaulting their ears immediately. “Especially if you’re gonna be sitting for the next two months.”
Tessa only hummed. The thought of a desk job still did not sit well with her.
She nearly jumped when Steve put his hand on her lower back, stepping closer to her as people pushed past them. His hand was warm and the flutters returned to her chest as they found their way to the parking lot where she had put the dark grey sedan.
“Here,” said Steve. “I’ll drive. You rest that back of yours.”
“I won’t object to that,” retorted Tessa and threw the keys to him as she went around the booth, opening the passenger door as soon as the car was unlocked. She immediately popped the seat back and settled in as comfortably as she could, running a calming hand over her belly and closing her eyes.
Steve slung the overnight bag into the back before getting into the driver’s seat and firing up the engine. Moments later he was backing out of the parking spot and rolling slowly between pedestrians and parked cars towards the exit.
“So where are we going?” he asked as the car came onto the correct lane and they set off in direction of the city. “Found someplace selling hot chocolate on your long detour here?”
Tessa opened her eyes and glanced at him. For all anyone knew, he looked at ease, but she could see the miniscule signs of tension in his neck and mouth.
“I thought we’d just stop somewhere along the road,” she said, closing her eyes again. The ache in her back and feet were calmed slightly by the motion of the car, making her drowsy. “I fear I’ll nod off, though, so you can be in charge of finding somewhere. Anything will do fine.”
Steve chuckled. “Will do.”
***
Steve turned off the engine and leaned back in the comfortable seat, turning his head to gaze at his semi-partner. Tessa’s head was resting against the window and she seemed to be breathing deeply, hands motionless on her swollen stomach.
He eyed that stomach with something indescribable shooting through him. It was becoming a familiar sensation, as well as the urge to reach out and touch her belly. But he did not want to startle her. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, so unlike the thunder coaster she was riding when awake.
Normally she would never have let him see her like this, but the pregnancy had changed her. In his mind, some of it was for the better - especially the sleeping part. He had never considered her insomnia to be normal or particularly healthy. And apart from a few incidences like yesterday’s scuffle, her recklessness had toned down considerably. She was no longer the only one in the equation after all.
Steve smiled as she shifted slightly in her sleep, fingers curling protectively around the swell. She was beautiful. Even more so when pregnant. It evoked a picture of her he had never pictured.
For eight years he had seen her wear a business suit more often than not, even if she had slacked off for some more casual shirts in later years. Now she wore a long snug grey sweater and casual pants, her hair messy, and he could only think of how motherhood suited her. It was the total opposite to the career woman. Though, he was very sure Tessa would most likely not appreciate such thoughts.
He sighed and cleared his throat loudly, stirring her from her sleep.
“We’re here,” stated Steve, smiling at her confused expression. She really was cute. “Have a good power nap?”
“Mm,” hummed Tessa, rubbing her eyes. “Definitely needed that one. Although something tells me I’ll be in bed early tonight as well.”
“I’ll have you home by ten,” joked Steve, opening the door and getting out. Tessa followed close behind.
They got into the small diner Steve had picked out on impulse for its welcoming appearance, finding a booth relatively private in the corner.
A waitress came by and took their orders, Tessa surprising him by ordering both hot chocolate and a large bowl of ice cream.
“What?” she retorted at his look. “Can’t a girl get her ice cream?”
Steve held his hands up in defence. “I didn’t say anything.” He grinned, though, fingers knitted together on the tabletop.
Silence befell them and the pressurising atmosphere he had begun to associate with her in the past year returned. He looked around.
“Nice place, huh.”
“Steve . . .” Tessa’s voice was soft, if a bit strained. He glanced back and found her big blue eyes shimmering. His neck tensed. “You don’t have to try so hard,” she continued. “You don’t have to feel like you have obligations or anything.”
So she wanted to cut to the chase. Well, he should not be surprised. This was a matter that had been resting heavily on his mind for the past few months since she told him she was pregnant - it was something he wanted over with pretty quickly as well.
“It was a one-night thing,” continued Tessa slowly when he did not immediately reply, looking at her hands. “We were drunk. You don’t have to stick around because you feel guilty.”
He sighed. Well, now it was time to stop holding back. These half-truths he had wrapped around himself for years had to give way to the truth once and for all. Screw the job!
“I don’t see it that way,” said Steve truthfully, gazing at her head on until she met his eyes fully. “We’ve known each other for eight years, Tess. You’re more than just my partner; you’re my best friend. And in my book that means I’ll stand by you whenever you need me.”
He paused, wondering if he should take her hand. He was tempted. It was lying just within easy reach.
“Sure, I feel guilty,” he admitted slowly. “As I recall, I was pretty . . . insisting . . . that night. I’m not particularly proud of that.” Steve paused, holding her blank gaze for a throbbing heartbeat. “It’s too easy to blame it on the drinks, Tess. I won’t even try that. What should matter, however, is that I’m not going anywhere.”
Silence fell over them again and Steve hoped his heart would stop pounding in his ears. He forced himself to keep her stare, to not break the connection they shared in that moment. It felt like he was laying himself bare, and he became consciously aware of the large open space behind his back.
Finally, Tessa gave him a small demure smile before saying quietly, “As I recall, you weren’t any more insisting than I was, and I was the one who initiated things.” She reached up with one hand to run it through her hair, not able to hold his gaze any longer.
Steve did not know what burst through him at the loss of eye contact, but pushed it away as the waitress appeared with their hot drinks and Tessa’s ice cream. Tessa gave the woman a grateful smile, but her eyes were blank with unshed tears. Steve hated it, and hated that he was probably responsible for that.
He sipped his coffee to pass a few more moments, then spoke while staring into the murky brown liquid in his mug. “Why are you so opposed to me on this, Tess?”
***
Tessa’s head snapped up in shock. “What? No! I’m-I’m not-“
Yet even as she sputtered feeble responses, Steve’s expression flashed with sadness. In her desperation Tessa leaned across the table and gripped his hand in hers.
The effect was immediate. Warmth shot through her just as she saw Steve startle a bit by her action. He stared at her hand with such intensity Tessa almost retracted it. After a long moment, he tipped his chin up and met her wide eyes with swirly dark orbs.
“Steve,” whispered Tessa, her throat suddenly thick. “I-I-I just don’t understand why you want the responsibility of having a kid. I mean, you just got promoted and you’re heading your own team! That’s huge! There were others with more experience than you who wanted that job, but you got it!”
Her partner shook his head before sighing. “Tess, I thought I made it clear what this matter means to me when I handed you that letter for Benton. Jeez, Tess, you’re having a baby! My baby! Unlike the team, that’s not exactly something I can easily hand off to someone else!”
“Please don’t shout,” begged Tessa, casting a glance around at the other patrons curiously following their conversation from the corner of their eyes.
Steve blew out a breath, stared at her hand upon his again, and met her eyes in cold annoyance and hurt. “You know, I’m starting to think you don’t want me around.”
Tessa’s breath caught in her throat and she gripped his hand again. “No, that’s not it!” she insisted quietly.
“Then what, Tessa?” asked Steve, retracting his hand forcibly and leaving hers on the cold tabletop. He gripped his mug with both hands, knuckles whitening, sighing. A moment passed. “I wish you’d tell me, because I’m getting sick of waiting for you to make up your mind.”
Tessa did not know what to say. What could she say? Her mind was so conflicted, so fuzzy - she could hardly think straight. Was he giving her an ultimatum? Tell him or he was gone? That thought hurt her more than she had envisioned.
She could feel the tears start trailing down her cheeks and her back was aching just as Peanut started kicking again. Tearily, she reached down and rubbed her belly in hopes the baby would calm down. He did not.
Her eyes fell on the bowl of now-melting ice cream. Glancing briefly at Steve found him immersed in his coffee, so she slowly scooped up some chocolate ice cream and ate it quietly.
Tension rose between them as Tessa racked her mind for the words she wanted to put on her feelings, but everything felt so useless, so incomplete. There were no words she could come up with to cover the range of emotions running through her. And this time she could not just crawl into her best friend’s arms and get the selfless comfort she needed.
“Tess . . .”
Slowly, Tessa ran her thumb across her cheeks and tipped her face up, hoping she managed to keep her tears at bay while he looked at her. Steve’s expression was closed off again but something shimmered briefly in his eyes. His knuckles were still slightly white around the coffee mug.
“I really need to know,” he said - was his voice a bit thick? - and Tessa took a deep breath, still rubbing her overly active belly. A string of thought came to her and she jumped on it.
“I-It’s difficult . . .” she began quietly, hoping she managed to convey her honesty in her voice. “You’re my best friend, Steve, no matter the fact that you’re also now my supervisor. I don’t want to lose you.” The tears escaped again and Tessa paused, squeezing her eyes shut briefly. Steve’s expression had softened when she looked back at him. “I thought I was gonna lose you six months ago when we didn’t know what was gonna happen to us.”
Tessa knew she had found the correct emotion. It felt right. This was what she was afraid of the most: Losing him.
“When Thorne told us the new plans were going to be initialised within the month, I was so scared. I’d known it was gonna happen, but I think I must’ve pushed it away, thinking things weren’t gonna change that much. We’d still be partners in Central Homicide.” She paused, swallowing. “But when I learned people were going to be relocated due to the merging of Homicide units . . . I really believed that was it. It made sense that one or both of us would go.”
When she paused, her throat constricting with resurfacing emotions, Steve asked softly, “So was that why you showed up on my doorstep with a bottle of wine and a six-pack?”
Tessa nodded. “Partially, at least,” she said with a small smile. “I didn’t come there with the intention to feel you up in the wee hours of the night, even if that’s what happened eventually.” She blushed under his amused gaze.
“And here I thought I’d finally won you over with my sexiness,” jested Steve lightly.
Tessa’s cheeks heated up and she could not believe he had actually fired off that comment. She pushed it away from the front of her mind, difficult as it was.
“You won’t lose me, you know,” said Steve after a while, smiling at her. “Like I said, I’m not backing out. I didn’t plan on turning my back on you before that night, and I don’t plan on doing it now either.”
Her chest fluttered and Tessa stared down at her melted ice cream, tears threatening to fall once more. She startled when warmth encompassed her hand and looked up to Steve’s serious look as he squeezed her hand tightly.
“Please believe me, Tess. I want to do this. You’re not a burden - you’re my best friend and the mother of my baby. I want to do right by you.”
Tessa’s heart skipped a beat and she could hardly get the words past her lips. “By quitting your job or getting me to move in with you?”
“Both, if that’s what it takes to get you to listen.”
“Listen to what?”
Steve eyed her for a throbbing heartbeat and then took a deep breath. “I had been hoping you’d let me take you out on a real date some day.”
Tessa thought her heart had stopped, only to have it hammering wildly against her chest a second late. Had he really said that? A real date? As in ‘not only friends but something more’ kind of date?
“I-I don’t know what to say,” stammered Tessa wide-eyed, even as the thought of smiling goofily crossed her mind. “I mean-okay.”
“Really?” asked Steve warily, frowning slightly.
He does not believe me.
Tessa turned her hand around and entwined it with his, relishing in its comfort and warmth. She smiled tearfully at him, gripping their hands with her other hand, stroking the skin above his wrist.
“Yes. I’d like that,” she said firmly, blood soaring to her head as Steve split into a full-blown grin. His second hand joined the knot of hands on the table, stroking her smooth skin, sending flutters into her belly.
“That’s great,” said Steve with feeling, his stony expression transforming to a calm smile even as Tessa felt herself blushing like a nervous teenager.
Yes, it was.