11 ANYTHING GOES

"Is that normal?"

Aidan couldn't help feeling he must have missed something she said before this question but he figured it was better to ask anyway.

"Is what normal?"

"What you did back there?" she said while touching the hand he kissed.

Aidan's eyes went to the same place and came back to her eyes again. He couldn't help thinking how very blue her eyes were even under the night sky.

"No." He said simply, not wishing to explain what happened there because it was not normal for him to do such a thing and he was afraid of scaring her away. So, he continued to guide her the rest of the way to the house. He had seen the confusion and what looked almost like hurt enter her eyes. He could just kick himself. He honestly wouldn't be surprised if she sent Joe back alone tomorrow.

Toni was confused and a little hurt that he would be short with her. She knew that she must have said something wrong because he was now tense and didn't even look at her when he left her with his mother and Claire to join his father and Tom.

So much for progress and making friends, I absolutely sucked at this. Does this mean the lunch is off?

Claire must have seen her troubled thoughts because immediately when Tom came back into the room, she suggested it was time they left.

"Thank you for the dinner Mr. and Mrs. Booth." Toni said after Tom and Claire had said that goodbyes.

"It was a pleasure to have you here dear and it's Adriana and Cameron. You should visit us again."

"Thank you." She didn't know what to say to that because she had ruined any chance of making friends with their son.

"Aidan is taking a call, he said to tell you all he enjoyed the evening and to have a good night."

"Of course, we had a wonderful time." Claire added.

"Have a good night then," Tom added while leading Toni and Claire to the car.

They headed for Toni's apartment and got out of the car to accompany Toni into the building.

"Could I have a moment alone with Toni?" Claire asked her husband and gave him a wide smile.

"Of course, I'll wait in the car." Tom returned with a smile of his own. "Have a good night honey." He kissed Toni's cheek and headed back to the car.

"Did something happen while you were walking with Aidan?" she asked Toni, looking very concerned.

"I don't know. Everything seemed normal. He asked me what I did and I told him I designed jewelry."

"You told him about Neha?" Claire was surprised because Toni never told anyone anything she wished private.

"Yes, he promised not to tell anyone. We talked about that for a while then he kissed my palm."

Claire gave a gasp then a wide grin split her face.

"He kissed your palm? Really?" Her voice had changed and she looked at her with a crooked grin she always had when she was up to mischief.

"Is that weird?"

Claire was giggling now and Toni couldn't help feeling like she was missing something.

"Not weird, but not something you do to just anyone either. He must fancy you." Claire seemed excited about this so it was ok. She decided not to tell her about the lunch because she wasn't sure it was happening anymore.

"I like him too. I'd like to be friends but he didn't seem all that interested when we went back inside."

Claire was obviously confused then she realized Toni had never encountered any males interested in her for more than friendship. She didn't know if she should tell her what Aidan was obviously interested in or if that may scare her away and kill any chances Aidan may have at getting her out of her shell. She decided to keep quiet about it.

"I'm sure that's not true, you'll get another chance to talk to him. I'm sure. So, how did you feel when he kissed your palm?"

Toni could hear the humor in Claire's voice and couldn't help the blush that colored her cheeks. They were standing at the entrance on her apartment building.

"I felt a little hot and my heart started beating a lot faster than normal." She felt confused about her reaction even as she recalled.

"Don't worry dear, that's completely normal. Tom must be bored out of his mind in that car," she said looking back at the car. "How about you call me when Aidan contacts you? Then we can continue this talk, yes?"

"Ok. Thank you, Claire, I feel much better now." She hugged her and she practically skipped to the car. Toni couldn't understand what had excited her so much but she figured Claire being Claire, anything goes.