Leah arched an eyebrow. "You had to see a psychologist? Huh. That's interesting. So, were you crazy or something? A detective on the brink of becoming unhinged and killing everyone?" She was only half joking. "At least you found an outlet in arts and crafts."
Pretending the kiss hadn't happened wasn't an option now. Not with O'Brien smiling like that. It was a sweet smile, gentle. Something she felt she didn't really deserve, not just because of how she'd treated him. Her own responding smile was more timid, possibly even a bit silly. Maybe she could've gotten away without giving an explanation, but that would've been just another method of succumbing to her vulnerabilities. She was tired of letting the past get the better of her, preventing her from moving on and truly healing. If this was her one chance, Leah didn't want to let it go.
O'Brien's reaction to hearing that she was giving him a chance was both pleased and taken aback, which she counted as good signs. Her lips parted slightly, caught between wanting to smile and wanting to keep her expression guarded. This was what he wanted: a chance with her. Whatever that meant. The twinge of nerves in her gut told her it was much more than just sexual. That would've been enough for her, despite certain fears she had. But if what O'Brien wanted was deeper, well, his agreement for patience was needed.
Leah kept her gaze locked on his face, neither shying away nor leaning into the touch of his hand on her cheek. Her face was a lot warmer than his hand, that much she was able to tell. Fuck. She was blushing. Hardly anyone ever got her to blush anymore. At least it was dark. What couldn't be hidden, however, was the trembling in her limbs, which honestly could've been written off as the effects of the winter air, but Leah knew that wasn't the whole reason.
She let her eyes fall closed, the stroke of his thumb soothing in spite of her nerves. A half smile at his words, and she opened her eyes again to meet his, struck by how much he truly had been wanting this. She felt wetness gathering in her eyes and quickly blinked the tears away before they could fully form. So much for thinking she had no tears left to shed. Leah refused to let these fall, though. That was a little too much emotion she wanted to share with O'Brien just now. Letting herself smile was challenge enough.