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Damn Lieutenant.
“Yes, sir,” I muttered, wanting to throw shit since I couldn’t kiss my angst out on Colbie… yet.
2
Colbie
“Ma’am, I need you to stay calm. I have an officer on route. I need you to stay on the line with me.” Sweat beaded between my breasts, and I hated these kinds of calls. I was helpless on my end with the exception of connecting her to an officer to respond. Too bad, this was par for the course, and you never got used to it.
The last two weeks had been an exercise in patience. After my surprise meeting with Theo Rumson in the break room, we talked nearly every day in-between breaks, before and after shifts, whenever possible. He sometimes left me little notes on my headset or a tied up box from the local bakery called, Sweet Salt before my shift. I knew more about him than I did my last two long-term boyfriends, and I wasn’t sure what that said about me, but I liked this guy.
* * *
Today’s message: I’m looking forward to later. I’ll be off earlier since I have the range today. I’ll do my best to not shoot my eye out.
* * *
I laughed hard because we joked about our favorite holiday movies, and we both agreed A Christmas Story was right up there. His dad had a sexy leg lamp his mother deemed only suitable for residing in the garage. On the flip side, my grandmother sent us matching pajamas until the year she passed, and now my mom kept up the tradition. He asked to see last year’s pair, and I told him they’d already been donated because they were so bad with dancing elves. It felt nice to have something sweet in common.
He disclosed that his wife left him a few months ago, but he didn’t trash talk his ex. They’d been together since college and, in retrospect, had grown apart over the last few years. I took that as a sign of respect, although I sensed some bitterness about her taking the dog was just the tip of the iceberg. His reason for coming to this precinct in a transfer was so that he could put some distance between him and his ex. I liked that he didn’t seem hung up on her even after she’d burned him. Last thing I wanted was her crazy ass showing up or him pinning for her as we started this relationship.
We were both partial to Italian food, and Theo did a mean Godfather impersonation that left me laughing well after our conversation ended. He went to SUNY College and considered becoming a high school history teacher. I attended a small four year school with training in communication systems. In between his freshman and sophomore year, his mother had been mugged in the grocery store parking lot, and he switched his major to Criminal Justice attending the police academy right after college. His parents still lived in Cortland, NY and wished their son would move closer to home. Mine weren’t too far away in Brooklyn. I was partial to him staying, but I carried a bit of bias.
“Miss, I hear a knocking at the door.” I snapped back from my fantasy of Mr. Tall-Blond-Blue-Eyed-Six-Pack-Gun-Toting-Hotness, whom I had a date with in about two hours when my shift finally ended.
“Okay, please stay on the line until you can verify the officer’s identity.” I waited for Mrs. Simms to get back on the phone, letting me know that Officer Hernandez was indeed there to help her. Hernandez verified, and my call ended, letting him go from there. I heaved a deep sigh and sat back in my chair. The day had been slammed with calls, and I was looking forward to the weekend off. A weekend Theo Rumson had thoughtfully coordinated a trio of dates within the 60-hour window of our time off schedule. I happened to know he switched out a shift with Hudson on Sunday because the schedule was posted in our call center, but I liked that he was willing to devote the time to me. We agreed that at any point if one of us wasn’t feeling it, we’d end the date and part on friendly terms. I felt anything but friendly with Sergeant Rumson. Our talks had left me pining for more and eager to see where this could go.
Another knocking on the door in my call center had me looking up into a grinning Theo’s blue eyes. “Ready to go?”
I glanced over at the clock and realized it was time my shift officially ended on the dot. “I thought I would meet you after,” I said, picking up my things. I planned to change out of these clothes and freshen up, but it looked like he was as eager as I was.
“I thought I would pick you up. Save us some time.” He winked, and my heart jumped.
“You couldn’t wait, could you?” I joked, and he nodded sheepishly, guiding me toward the exit.
“Let’s go then before someone calls out and we’re ordered to work overtime.” I hurried as he put his arm around me squeezing and pulling me in for an unexpected side hug.
“No worries on that; I checked with the Lieutenant, and we’re clear. We are so far down the totem pole that nobody is going to call us until Monday.”
“Oh my god, this is already the best date ever.” We made our way to his truck in the parking lot, and he opened the door to my side, waiting until I secured my buckle. I can’t believe his ex-wife left him when he was the perfect gentleman. It almost felt too good to be true.
“I figured we could try out the Mange Meatball.” He drove through the familiar neighborhood we worked in toward the main thoroughfare, parking in a reserved spot. This place was known for its meatballs, obviously, but also cost a decent penny. If he was trying to impress me, it was working.
Dinner left my hunger satiated, but not my desire for this man who was funny, thoughtful, and sexy. I couldn’t believe that this was only date number one, and I didn’t want it to end. He ordered dessert and moved himself closer to me in our secluded booth.
“Tiramisu?” I asked, and he chuckled, ordering us a plate.
“It sounded right up our alley.” The server brought us a single dish and two forks though we only used one. Theo fed me bite after bite interspersed with bites of his own.
“Theo, this has been a really nice first date.” Our plate was now empty, and the evening coming to a close.
“I don’t really want to drive you back to get your car or leave you tonight. I realize that sounds crazy, and we have the whole weekend, but I don’t want to relinquish you.” He reached for my hand, and our palms met, our fingers lacing together. I scooted closer, and our bodies lined up from thigh to shoulders. The heat between us warded off the chill of air-conditioning in the restaurant, and my shiver was more about the craving I felt for the sexy man next to me.
“Come home with me, Theo.” I rested my head on his shoulder, and he wrapped a muscular arm around me. I sank into his chest and leaned in, letting go and becoming boneless in his embrace.
“Only if you’re sure, Colbie. I’m content to wait. You’re not a rebound girl for me or a notch from the department pool. I don’t ever want you to think that.”
“I believe you.” I did believe him. If I knew one thing, it was that Theo Rumson was a by the book guy in all aspects of his life. He felt guilt over his divorce not being final, and he mourned his dog. Nothing he said or did in the last two weeks of us flirting on the phone or talking at work made me suspect anything else, and I was willing to give him a chance.
