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I stared at him for a moment, and forced a smile on my face. “Did you just call me a wanker?”
Behind me, Ethan snorted.
“Maybe.” Andy raised a shoulder, and leaned back into his chair. “Maybe a year ago I was in your position, out of my league and showing it.”
“He was,” Ethan muttered not so discreetly.
Andy grunted. “And now... I’m a fixture. Give it time, man. You’re a fucking good cop. You’ll be a better Ranger. Just let up on the trying bit. Be you and work hard. That's all it takes.”
“That’s it, huh?” My fake smile plastered to my face, I remembered hamming it up for Floss and Ella, trying to channel Jake prancing about the office. “Maybe y'all don’t want to see my grumpy ass morning face. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I cocked an eyebrow in Andy’s direction and waited for Ethan’s snide comment.
The office fell silent.
Andy considered me. “Pull up a chair. Let’s go over this drug scheme. And I want to talk to you about Floss.”
“Yeah, that didn’t go so well.” I ran a hand over my hair. I’d kissed her, and she said nothing, though she’d reminded me how awkward I was earlier. That stung my pride at a deep level, though I buried the unwanted emotion to focus on work instead. That at least I knew I was good at.
“Yeah? Cause Ella said she was taken with you. Coulnd’t stop talking about how much you annoyed her.”
I grimaced. “That’s not such a great thing.”
“Come on.” Andy rose and grabbed Jake’s vacant chair, swinging it around in my direction. “Are you kidding? That’s a great thing. She likes you, man. Let up on the fake stuff and just be you. Now, work me through this because I’m missing something and I need a solid sounding board.”
I took the proffered chair and sank into it, flicking open the paper files Archer insisted on keeping rather than digital, and started scanning the top one. Names and places fell into a neat list in my head as I digested the information, creating a mental pathway and seeing where it went. “Just call me Devil’s advocate.”
***
I stood in my apartment, flipping my phone over in my hand. I managed to ask Floss out on a date–albeit a fake one–which somehow felt more real than it was supposed to be when I first suggested the idea on a whim. I shaved and changed out of my work shirt, though I left my usual boots on. A little bit scuffed, a little bit worn on the sides, but they were my comfiest pair and a man had to cling to something when he was so far out of his depth, right?
She called me out, that day the florist shop. I’d ended up messaging her with a regular twenty questions. Each one added an extra knot to my stomach, while she asked about my family, and that ended the conversation as I barely spoke to mine. The reward of a career cop: no time for a social life and opting to hide behind my caseload rather than deal with family dinners where everyone had a life partner, but nme.
And so, we drifted apart.
Which was why I had to keep things both uplifting and thankful to Floss for taking me in like a city stray. Finding no reason to hang around my apartment any longer, I left the building, checking the time to make sure I arrived early, but not too early.
The exclusive rooftop bar sat above the main street level set over the hotel. I’d done a rec mission on the place before I sent an invitation to Floss. The space was tidy, neat and the staff had let me decorate our corner that overlooked a balcony and below, the city lights.
Vines crept across the back of the area, studded with orchid blooms that created a backdrop for the white-clothed table. Tea lights decorated the corners nearest the balcony that overlooked Austin’s sparkling lights. Small vines wound around the table, the dark green contrasting against the white tablecloth and the rustic wooden chairs.
I placed a small burgundy box just in front of her side of the table that offered the best view and ordered a bottle of wine. It was presumptuous, perhaps, but if nothing else I wanted to appear organized.
That's so romantic, Acton.
Maybe not, but I wanted Floss to enjoy tonight. I was going to ask her to attend a stack of events with me as I knew there are quite a few festivals and holidays coming up. Tonight was my chance to actually get to know her before life got hectic for us both. Between my investigation into the drugs and finding my feet in the unit, I hadn’t had time to see her again for the last few days.
Considering what I’d be asking of her, that sat poorly with me, but I shoved thoughts of work aside. Tonight wasn't about talking shop. It was abouther.
Keep on going like that, Acton, and you’ll start to sound like you actually care.
Maybe I did care. Floss was certainly in a league of her own.
I didn't have to wait long after I arrived and paid the staff in advance. Floss tripped into the balcony room from the stairwell, peering around like she was looking for waitstaff for directions, but the only people in the room were us.
She wouldn't know it, but I'd reserved the entire rooftop bar. It cost me a week’s wages, but by gods was the girl worth it. She wore an aqua blue flouncy dress that dropped low over one shoulder and settled in cascading ruffles from her hips to her knees. Tan sandals with a small heel gave her golden legs an extra little bit of lift, although she wasn't really that short by any means. She was right. I was tall, and everything-and everyone-else looked a fair way down from where I stood.
Her beachy blonde hair tumbled over her shoulders in messy waves that might have been strategically twisted and decorated, but she didn’t strike me as the sort of woman who spent hourson her hair just to make it look messy at the end. No, she had a sexy mussed bed head at any hour of the day, it seemed. She smiled when she spotted me, my body reacting the moment she came close. I clasped my hands in front of my crotch, calling for the deluge of blood to head north as I smiled back, keeping our space. This was an informal dinner, right?
Then why did you put so much effort into it?
