More embarrassed than hurt, Scott focuses on cleaning up the mess rather than Hope's presence... Until he becomes acutely aware of her touch... on his hand... and forehead. And for just a moment, he freezes.Tingles shoot through his veins, starting from where her hands rested. Her touch was light and warm, just like he remembered. Tender. Caring. ...Loving. And a new chill runs down his spine.
Rebelling against his heart's desire to embrace his emotions, he shifts his head out from under her fingers and is also quick to slide his hand from hers. At the same time, he refuses to look at her. "I'm fine. It's nothing." He didn't mean to be so cool, but it was the only way he could shake these unwanted feelings.
Picking up the rest of the larger pieces of broken mug, he stands to retrieve the broom and sweep up the rest. Enough irritation had built up that he was tempted just to apologize to Hope and tell her to leave. Asking her here had been stupid, all he was doing was making a fool out of himself, and slowly but surely he was growing more and more uncomfortable with having her here in his house. But... he also didn't want her to think she'd done anything wrong.
Handing her the dustpan, he silently asks for her help to clean up the floor. "Some days I hardly remember I've got a blind side," he comments quietly, trying his hardest to create smalltalk. "Then on days like today, I can't do anything right, on account of not being able to see everything."
Sitting with Chad on the bed, Rosalyn tries to accept the comfort he was offering. It wouldn't change the situation, but she just wanted to feel better right now.
His light kiss confirmed that he cared, even through this messy spot. Looking up into his eyes, Rosalyn nods just a little. "I know you don't want to leave. I'm just afraid my dad will press it and get Mick to make you go. That wouldn't be your fault though."
Letting her head fall back to his chest, she sighs deeply, her tears finally having slowed. A few new ones escaped, but not as hard, and the sobs had ceased for now. Now all she felt was pure exhaustion, emotionally drained from the evening's fiasco. Closing her eyes, she sniffs again. "Can I... Can I stay here a while with you?"
Leaning his head back in the couch, Chance sighs before reaching up and tucking a strand of Destiny's hair behind her ear. Would it be too much to ask to just stay here forever? Right here, the two of them in a moment of peaceful bliss? He smiles. If she liked his kisses, then that's what she'd get. Wrapping both arms around her waist again, he leans in to give her another tender kiss before he pulls back and shakes his head. "I don't know when they'll want to use me again. Reese said to find somewhere to stay - that I'd have enough time to get settled before they'd send me back out. Apparently my skills are valuable enough to be used on some pretty high-security cases, but they don't want to burn me out either."
Shifting forward, he lets Destiny go for a moment as he finally sheds his jacket then leans back in the couch again. One hand takes hers, while the other rubs her back gently. "He gave me a choice. I could have walked away and decided on some other line of work, or even another location. But..." He shrugs. "I guess after everything happened, I decided I wanted to try it on the right side of things for a while and...I figured I'd be bored anywhere else. As far as a location went, well..." He squeezes her hand. "That wasn't too hard to decide either."
His eyes probe hers, searching down to their deepest depths. "I never really got a chance to tell you how grateful I was for your willingness to take me back as your friend, or... more. I know I don't deserve any of this, and... I can't tell you how good it makes me feel to be sitting here with you right now."
