Leland was in a terrible mood when he arrived at the office. They'd been out until 4am this morning on a hunt and now he had to come in here to do some stupid profile update thing for the website and it's only 8am! He wasn't a morning at the best of times and this was ridiculous. He slammed the door to his car and stormed into the office. He threw his bag in the vaguest vicinity of his desk and headed straight for the coffee machine. He could hear people chatting and laughing but right then he couldn't have cared less. He downed the first cup of coffee and poured himself another one.
"Thirsty?" He didn't recognize the voice but he wasn't amused by who ever it was. He didn't even bother turning around.
"Go away!" He snarled. He knew he was being rude but he couldn't find it in him to care at that moment.
"Leland Blaine Chapman! That is no way to talk to our guest." He gave a wry half smile as his dad started chastising him; he was 33 and still getting told off by his dad. He spun round to apologize and his face hit the floor. The woman that stood in front of him was gorgeous! She was stood with her hands on her hips glaring at him. She was about 5ft 4 and had raven black hair that fell in loose waves to past her hips. She was oddly pale considering she was in the middle of Hawaii. Her eyes were a stunning royal blue that he could tell were sparkling even though he was across the room. She wasn't thin by the locals standards but she had curves in all the right places. She wouldn't have appealed to a lot of men but he thought she was truly beautiful.
"I'm sorry. I'm not a morning person and I was up late last night." He stepped forward and offered the woman his hand.
She shook it once and then dropped his hand as if it displeased her. "That isn't my problem Mr. Chapman. I'd appreciate it if you could behave professionally from now on." She turned on her heels and walked back into Beth's office. He was in shock; nobody spoke to him like that. Although it was almost worth it to watch her walk away.
"Who is that?" Leland sipped his coffee but his eyes never left the door for Beth's office.
"Come outside while I have a smoke." Dog started heading towards the door Leland hadn't long come through. They were leaning against the wall outside in silence for a minute or so. Leland nursing his coffee and Dog enjoying his cigarette. "That's Jaime. She runs the site for us. I think she's the daughter of Beth's sisters friend or something like that."
"And you didn't think to give me a heads up?" Leland was upset that he had made such a bad first impression.
"Son, how was I to know you were going to come in like a bear with a sore head? And anyway, her picture is on the site so if you ever bothered logging in you'd have seen her." Dog flicked his cigarette stump into the grid and held the door for his son. "Well, she's shadowing you today so you can try and make it up to her then."
They went inside and Leland took his position at his desk as his dad called the rest of the team together. Jaime came out of Beth's office giggling about something and her whole face lit up. She looked like she was only about 20 when she smiled like that. She grabbed one of the office chairs and dragged it over to his desk. She was sat so close that he could smell her perfume and that unique scent of a person. She smelt like roses. She grabbed a notepad and pen from her bag and then dropped it next to his feet on the floor.
"I really am sorry about before. I'm not a morning person; especially before I've had a few cups of coffee." He smiled at her and he was treated to a small half smile from her. His heart melted and he knew in that instant that he was going to be in trouble around this woman.
"And it's my fault you didn't get much sleep?" She was watching everybody else and that bothered him. He wanted her to be looking at him. He found that he was starting to feel jealous of the attention everyone else was getting from this woman.
"Unfortunately not." He muttered under his breath thinking she couldn't hear him but then she bit back a giggle and he felt his face start to burn. Beth and his brother Duane Lee raised their eyebrows at him but he just shook his head once and got on trying to find the file for todays case.
About an hour later they were loading up the cars and putting on their vests. She was made to put a vest on before they would let her go out on the bounty. Leland was strapping her into his spare vest. "If you play your cards right then maybe one day." She walked away then laughing uncontrollably. His mouth was still hanging open.
"Bro, close your mouth your catching flies. What's up?" Duane Lee clapped him on the back and was looking at his little brother expecting him to start spilling.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." He walked away and climbed into the drivers seat. Jaime was sat in the back of his car with Baby Lyssa. He was watching her in his rear view mirror but she was deliberately not meeting his eye.
He didn't get a chance to talk to her for the rest of the day. They were busy with the fugitive and then he got a call from his ex wife Maui to tell him that his eldest son Dakota was off school with the flu. When they got back to the office everybody was constantly coming and going. It was busier than usual and he was getting more and more annoyed when an idea struck him. "I'm starving. Anyone want anything for the store?" He stood up and put his sunglasses back on and grabbed his wallet. He knew that to shadow him she would have to come with him. She grabbed her bag and walked out of the front door. Nobody wanted anything so he went and met her outside.
"Finally." He said as they turned the corner away from the office. "What was all that about today?" He slowed his pace and started watching her face. She wouldn't even look at him.
"What? You made a comment and I replied. Why do you have to analyze everything Leland?" She still wouldn't look at him and had found something really interesting with her feet. She didn't know what to say. I find you attractive? I wanted to kiss you as soon as I saw you? I've been having fantasies about you all day when I was supposed to be working? She wasn't sure if he'd even meant his muttered comment this morning.
"Jaime. Stop. I don't get you. Why do you keep blowing so damn hot and then cold around me? I just want to know where I stand." He grabbed her shoulders and turned her to look at him.
"What do you want Leland? I'm not some groupy who is just going to lay down with you and then walk away. Yes, I'm attracted to you and I want to get to know you but I'm not going to be a one night stand for you. So I guess thats the end of this conversation huh?" She was watching his chest. He was wearing a Da Kine t-shirt which was blue with white writing.
"What makes you think that all I want is a one night stand? Did I ever say that? I'm not going to deny that I wouldn't love to have you in my bed but I want to know you too." He was angry with her but he was also horrified that anybody would think he was that type of person.
"I get e-mails every week from girls telling me about their amazing night of passion with you and how they're waiting for you to call to arrange your next date with them." She still wouldn't look at him. She was angry with herself for being upset by this conversation.
"That's it? Some crazy chicks start e-mailing our site saying shit about me and then instantly its true? You're kidding me right? If you believe everything that's written about me on the internet then I must have about 50 kids, I'm bout 7ft tall and I've been an ICE head for nearly 20 years. You should know that. I want to take you out for dinner but if you think thats a bad idea I'll understand." He let go of her then and turned to carry on to the store.
"Leland, stop. I know Dakota's sick right now so why don't we go out next week? He should be feeling better by then and you won't be so tense." He turned to look at her and she smiled sweetly. She was nervous; he could tell.
"OK" He held his hand out to her and she slid her hand hesitantly into his He wrapped his hand around hers and squeezed. It felt natural to hold her hand but at the same time he could feel the electricity pinging between them. He'd never felt that before.
They walked hand in hand to the store and back. When he held the door open for her to the office and then slid his hand back into hers there was some raised eye brows but nobody said anything. It had been too long since they'd seen Leland genuinely smile that nobody even wanted to tease them in case he slipped backwards again. Since his split with Maui he hadn't been truly happy. He'd pretended he was but they knew him too well. He was actually happy now for the first time in almost 3 years.