Hello everyone! This is juat a short snippet of something I've been contemplating writing. I'm not sure if this will just be a series of small chapters or if I will make it into a full fledged story. I guess it all depends on your feedback. This is unfinished and has not been edited but I wanted to get it out there to see if it is even worth continuing. If you guys like it, let me know please and I'll try and finish the first chapter.

Thanks! - Ecorley

I had only been in New York about three weeks when I met Don Flack. I should have known right then that he was going to be trouble….

I was born and raised in a small town in Louisiana. I'm 28, single, and perfectly happy with that in fact. After a string of failed relationships over the last few years, I decided to give up the dating scene for a while and focus strictly on my career. This decision came at the just the right time. The bank I had worked for the last 8 years decided to expand and ended up buying out another smaller banking institution. Because of the merger, my company decided to create a new (but temporary) position to the bank: Operations Liaison Coach. I had started the bank as a teller but had worked my way up to an assistant manager by the time the merger happened. I had been a very liked and successful assistant manager for nearly 3 years, so when the announcement was made that the company was looking for employees to fill these special, temporary positions, my branch manager immediately recommended me. I was hesitant about it when I first heard exactly what the job entailed. I would be traveling to some of the larger bank branches that the company had acquired in the merger to help the employees adjust to the changes and teach them how we did business. Some branches only needed my help for a few weeks, but others were more complicated and required a longer stay. I took a chance and accepted the position, determined to get out of my comfort zone and experience new things. When I was told my latest assignment would take me to New York City, I had been extremely excited. Most of the places I had traveled to were banks in smaller cities, the longest stay only being a little over a month.

New York was somewhere I had always day dreamed about visiting but never had the courage to actually go by myself so my hope was that on my off time, I would be able to explore and enjoy everything the city had to offer. Unfortunately, that hadn't been the case since I had arrived. The branch I was currently working at was short staffed, extremely busy, and had two fairly new managers who, bless their hearts, were completely clueless. I was forced to spend my time helping them with customers rather than coaching them on the correct bank procedures.

The day I met Don had been the worst day I'd had since arriving in New York. The small, furnished apartment my company had put me up in during the duration of my stay was only a few blocks from the branch so I was usually one of the first people to arrive each morning. That wasn't the case on this particular day. Each night before going to bed, I would set my alarm on my phone and then plug it in to charge….unfortunately, that hadn't happened the previous night.

Friday morning, 7:07am

I woke slowly and opened my eyes, wincing when I felt the pounding in my head. The first thing I saw on the small table next to the bed was the empty wine glass from last night. I let out a groan, remembering how I had slaughtered the bottle of wine I had picked up from a small liquor store the night before on my way home from work. This week had been hell and I figured I was entitled to celebrate the upcoming weekend one day early. Of course, now I would be spending my Friday with a massive headache. I rolled over onto my back, rubbing my eyes furiously and then flopping my arms down hard onto the bed. I kicked my feet under the covers and let out a whine of frustration at having to actually get out of the surprisingly, comfy bed. The noise from the small fan I had sitting on the table across the room drowned out just enough of the traffic noise from outside that I could have easily fallen back asleep. I knew I would drift off it I laid there much longer so I counted to ten and then opened my eyes slowly, squinting against the bright sunlight streaming through the curtains.

Wait a minute….why the hell is it so bright?

I quickly rolled over on my side again and snatched my cell phone off the table, cursing when I saw it was dead. I picked up the delicate, silver wrist watch that was sitting next to it and squinted as I tried to read the time. My brain was still foggy from sleep (or maybe that big ass bottle of wine) so it took much longer than it should have to figure out the time.

7:50 am

"Son of a bitch" I groaned, yanking off the covers and jumping out of the bed. I tripped on the pair of heels I had kicked off last night and fell into the wall, smacking the side of my head into it rather hard but managing not to fall completely onto the floor. I reached up and rubbed the knot on my head, wincing at the pain and glaring at the traitorous black pumps on the floor before me. Immature as it was, I raised my middle finger to them before stumbling my way into the small bathroom to shower.

I was usually awake by 6:30am and almost always dressed and out the door no later than 7:45. The walk to the bank was quick and most mornings I would stop at a small coffee shop to pick up a bagel to eat on the way. That wasn't going to be the case today. I was showered, dressed, and out the door within 25 minutes, trading the treacherous black heels still lying next to the bed for some comfortable flats. I rushed down the stairs of the apartment building, shoving my dead phone and charger into my bag as I went. I power walked toward the bank, trying my hardest to keep myself from getting pushed and shoved by people walking in the opposite direction. I was shocked the first time I had walked down the street in New York City. I had grown up the south and I always tell people that Southern hospitality is a real thing. The first time a guy had bumped my shoulder during my morning walk to work, I had shrugged it off as someone who was just in hurry. I was wrong. New York City was brutal and people could be downright rude sometimes.

My head was pounding and my calves were burning from the fast pace I was attempting to keep. I felt sick to my stomach and swallowed hard several times to keep from puking up the red wine I had consumed last night. Usually I wasn't much of a drinker, especially in the middle of the week, but yesterday had been awful. I had adjusted to being the outsider at work but it was tough living in an unfamiliar place and having no real friends to spend time with or vent to about my day. Don't get me wrong, the employees were certainly nice enough but obviously things were kept professional since my stay wasn't permanent. It didn't seem to make sense to try and form friendships with people who I would more than likely never see again after my job was completed. A few of the men had tried to get more than just friendly with me and I had shut it down real quick. The last thing I was looking for was a man in my life and I wasn't interested in casual sex or a quick fling with some guy I barely knew.

I stopped walking as I reached the crosswalk and waited for the light to turn so I could cross the street. I glanced down at my watch again and let out a frustrated huff at seeing the time.

8:29am

A group of people were gathering around me, all waiting for the light to change so they could also cross the street. The man beside me was talking loudly on his cell phone and waving his hands around as he spoke. I gritted my teeth the first time he smacked my shoulder with his flailing hand and took a small step away from him, wrapping my arms around myself. The second time it happened, I turned my head sharply in his direction and glared at him which did absolutely no good since he was still angrily talking to the person on the other end of the line. After the third and then fourth time it happened, I'd had enough. I yanked the strap of my purse more securely on my shoulder and turned to face him, ready to give him a piece of my mind. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to speak, only to see the man suddenly bolt forward and make his way to the other side. The people behind me surged forward, pushing me to the left and then right and letting angry huffs out when I didn't immediately move too.

"Get out the way lady" I heard someone mutter as they passed.

I stood shocked on the curb for a moment before finally shaking my head, gritting my teeth, and stepping out to cross the street.

It's just a little farther Rowan. Just another block and you can go hide in the break room at work for a good 10 minutes and get your shit together.

I had almost completely crossed the street when I heard the commotion coming from the other side. Shouts and screams rang out and I could see people moving quickly out of the way of someone running though the horde of pedestrians. I didn't even have time to wonder what the hell was going on before I saw a man push through the crowd of people who had already made it to the curb. I stopped in my tracks when I saw the gun he held in his hand. He rushed towards me, two men hot on his heels, and I froze, not sure exactly what to do.

The guy slowed down and quickly looked behind him to see his pursuers had caught up with him. When he turned back around, I saw the panic in his eyes and knew I was in deep shit. I turned around to bolt in the opposite direction but felt his arms wrap around my chest and pull me roughly against his body and drag me back around.

"Move" I heard someone shout, "Police! Get out the way people"

Two men suddenly pushed through the crowd. The first was dressed in a pair of jeans and a simple button up shirt. He raised the gun in his hand and pointed it in my direction. I jumped, confused for a moment, before remembering the guy behind me who was apparently now using me as a human shield. My eyes darted between him and the second man who suddenly appeared beside the first, also carrying a gun that was now pointed at me.

What the fuck!? Holy shit! Shit…shit….SHIT! Stay calm Rowan…they're not technically pointing the gun at you.

My heart sank when I felt cold metal pressed against the side of my head, coincidentally the same side that I had bumped against the wall this morning when I'd stumbled over my high heels. I didn't mean to jerk against the guy but he pressed the gun directly on the knot and pushed harder; my southern temper got the best of me.

"Watch it asshole" I spat out.

He ignored me and instead tightened his hold on and thrust the hand holding the gun forward, now pointing it at the two men on the sidewalk. His hand shook and I could hear just how shaky his breath was as he exhaled against my neck.

My eyes settled on the two men and I judged from his appearance that the second man had to be some kind of cop. I could see a badge attached to the leather belt he wore and a gun holster on his hip. He was shouting at the guy behind me, telling him to lower his gun, let me go, and get on the ground with his hands above his head.

The sound of my blood pumping filled my ears and I heard nothing else of what they were saying. The man behind me was shouting wildly, jerking me back and forth as he moved in place but keeping his gun pointed at the officers. I was trying hard not to throw up, not because I was scared but because his erratic movement was making the drunken nauseous feeling return. I couldn't make out the words the man was shouting but from his tone, he was scared shitless. Unfortunately for him, I was not scared shitless, I was pissed! I was hung over, sick to my stomach, late for work and at this point I'd had enough. I don't know how many seconds or minutes may have passed but it was time for this to come to an end, I had to get to work. The gun in his hand was now shaking violently and it was then that I noticed the safety was still on. I rolled my eyes and muttered, "Oh for fucks sake"

I pushed my arms hard against his, catching him off guard, managing to wiggle from his grasp and turned around to face him. He was younger than I expected, maybe in his late teens or early twenties. I didn't know what he had done to have the police get involved but at that moment, I didn't give a shit, I was mad.

His recovered quickly and tried to raise his arm again and point the gun in my face but I my stern tone stopped him in his tracks.

"Don't you dare…"I seethed, my anger forcing the southern accent I generally tried to hide to come out. I pulled my purse from my shoulder and let it fall to the ground as I put my hand on my hip. "You put that gun down right now like they asked….right now mister" I yelled again when he hesitated. I don't know if it was my stern, country accent, the hand on the hip, or the fear of getting shot by the cops that did it, but the young man lowered his gun and placed it slowly on the ground. (It hindsight, it was probably the gun because I couldn't imagine anyone being scared of a 120 lb, 5'3 pip squeak like me, regardless of how angry she may be)

One of the men behind me rushed forward, bumping my shoulder in the process and pissing me off even more.

"Hey…" I balked, "…I'm getting a little tired of getting pushed around here. Watch it!"

It was the second man that had appeared, the cop, who glanced back at me with an amused smile on his face. He kicked the young man's gun away from him and began patting him down as I watched, my hand still on my hip. I felt a hand on my arm and I swung around quickly to see the first man that had appeared was now holding his hands up defensively, smiling at me.

"Whoa lady, I'm just seeing if you're okay" he said softly. "I'm Danny Messer, I'm a CSI with the New York Police department" he explained and then pointed at the other man, "…that's Detective Don Flack….and that is our suspect"

I looked behind me, seeing that a uniformed officer had appeared and Detective Flack was rising from his crouched position to come and stand next to me. I finally had a good chance to look at him and I swallowed hard and lowered my eyes to hide the blush in my cheeks that I knew had suddenly appeared.

He was gorgeous. There was no other way to describe him. I was mentally marking every attribute he had off my imaginary checklist for the perfect looking man. He was tall, over 6 feet with an athletic build and the sexiest smile I had ever seen. His smile revealed a set of perfectly white teeth that made his bright blue eyes stand out. As he came to stand beside his friend, I got of whiff of some kind of men's cologne.

Oh God, he smells as good as he looks. Good LORD!

"Ma'am, are you okay?" he asked, touching my arm gently when I didn't answer right away.

I looked up and my eyes connected with his. I felt the pitter patter of my heart and silently admonished myself for behaving like some silly school girl. Nonetheless, I broke eye contact and looked at everything else except Detective Don Flack's baby blues.

"I'm fine, thank you" I replied, "…but I really need to get going" I walked around the detective and picked my purse up off the ground and slung it back onto my shoulder. I had to get out of there before I made a complete fool of myself.

Damn me and my inability to handle being around super attractive men…

He grabbed my arm again, "Whoa there, not just yet. We need to get a statement from you" he said as he looked over at Messer grinning. "Did you see that man?" he said, chuckling. "I don't think I've ever see anything quite as impressive"

I wasn't paying attention to their conversation. I was looking down at his hand that was gently holding on to my arm. The skin underneath my blazer felt like it was on fire and I pulled away as politely as I could.

I cleared my throat and opened and closed my mouth several times, trying to find the words that would magically get me out of there right as soon as possible.

"I'm late for work" I said, finally looking up at Flack and hoping I looked pathetic enough that he gave me a break and let me leave.

He looked me over slowly, his forehead creasing in thought. He nodded his head and gave me a smile.

"Tell you what, I'll let you leave but I need to get your information so I can come get a statement from you later. Agreed?" he asked.

I let out a sigh of relief, "Agreed…thank you!"