"So, Ross," Angell said, taking a seat next to him in the break room. "What's the scoop?"
Adam stared at her in bewilderment. "The scoop?"
"Yeah. On you and the blonde scientist. Enquiring minds want to know."
He continued to stare at her, desperately trying to figure out if she was serious. "You mean…me and Kendall?"
Jess nodded, unwrapping her sandwich. "Yeah. You and her."
"There's…there's no scoop. We're friends."
"You're not together?"
He shook his head. "No. Why?"
She shrugged. "Like I said…enquiring minds."
As the detective began to eat, Adam watched her out of the corner of his eye. Her question had caught him completely off-guard, and now he wasn't sure what to do. He and Kendall had been over before they'd even really begun, and now the woman he'd been interested in for months was suddenly asking him about his relationship status. He'd be a fool if he didn't at least test the waters.
"Do you…would you like to get dinner?"
Jess fought back a smile. "Are you asking me out on a date?"
"Only if you're gonna say yes."
She shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Swing by my desk around seven?"
Adam swallowed, his palms sweaty and his heart pounding. "You don't mind me picking you up in front of everybody else?"
"Why would I? I know at least three woman who are going to glare at me when they see that I'm the one that gets to go out with you."
"Really?"
Jess nodded and stood up, regarding him for a minute. Then she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "See you at seven, then?"
"Right. Seven."
He watched her as she walked back down the hall. Asking Jessica Angell out on a date had been the last thing he'd expected to happen that day, but he certainly couldn't complain. He just hoped that Danny and Flack were there when he came to get her – the looks on their faces would be priceless.