Author's notes: same disclaimer as previous. Remember to review, don't make a grown woman beg!
CSI:NY CSI:NY CSI:NY
Two hours later the men had taken up position in the hotel's lounge. The band had just finished setting up and more people were starting to filter in. The dim lights inside allowed for a view of the frozen lake. The moonlight reflecting upon the snow was bright enough to cast dim shadows of the fir trees. However, neither man paid much attention to the beauty outside; they were too busy scanning the crowd.
The good natured teasing had continued over dinner and when Flack's college buddy, Shawn stopped by the table to chat for a while, Danny made sure to fill him in on the bet.
"I don't know Danny. Don always got plenty of action when we were in school. Remember that weekend where you ended up sleeping with that blonde, what's her name, the cheerleader." Shawn had drawn up a chair and had taken the opportunity to fill Danny in on some of the dirt in Flack's past. "So on Friday, Don sleeps with the cheerleader, on Saturday with the roommate, and on Sunday he takes the roommate's sister back to our apartment. God that girl had a set of lungs on her. She started screaming, "Don, give me.."
Flack broke in quickly, "That's enough of that story. So, Shawn, business is good?"
Danny waved a finger, "Ah ah ah, no changing the subject. I do believe this is all about you right now." Turning to Shawn, "So Flack here has always been a ladies man?"
"Not at the start. As a sophomore he started dating a girl that was in his humanities class. Rachel. Boy, you were sure hung up on her weren't you? I thought for sure Don would either propose or wind up a daddy, but you stopped dating the next year."
Danny's curiosity had peaked, "So, what happened? Rachel dump you for the football star?"
A burst of laughter from Shawn was cut short as he tried to camouflage it into a cough. He looked over at his old friend and the laughed again as Flack's face tried to maintain a slightly bored expression. "It was something like that." Shawn snorted again.
"Alright, go ahead and tell him the rest. You know you are dying to tell it." Flack looked at Shawn.
"She dumped him for the blonde cheerleader!" Shawn's laughter rang across the dinning room. Several tables' occupants looked in their direction. Shawn continued, "It seems Blondie played both sides of the field and during a human sexuality class they were both in, Rachel "found herself". So she comes over to break it off with Don and she brings the new girlfriend. Seems like Blondie hadn't quite forgiven Don for sleeping with the roommate and the sister. She starts in on him, Rachel starts in on him and pretty soon someone calls the cops about them all disturbing the peace."
"Let's just say it wasn't one of my better moments." Flack stabbed at a piece of steak on his plate.
After sharing a few more Flack stories, Shawn excused himself and left the two men to finish their meal. Danny waited until Shawn had left the room and turned to his friend. "I've got to admit, Shawn is a pretty funny guy."
"Yeah, a ball of laughs." Flack deadpanned.
"Hey, if you're wanting to call off our little wager, I'll understand." Danny replied grandiosely.
"Forget it Messer. You're not getting off that easy." Flack cut off another bite of steak. "May the best man win."
CSI:NY CSI:NY CSI:NY
The cocktail waitress brought over their drinks and Danny quickly pulled out the cash to pay. He also proceeded to flirt openly with her, in spite of her large diamond engagement ring.
"I think that one will be a dead-end. Didn't ya see the rock on her finger." Flack took a swallow of his Guinness.
"Just practicing. Besides a lot of girls who wait tables wear a fake ring to keep the guys away." Danny scanned the room, looking for prospective targets.
"Doesn't seem to work as well as it should if guys like you don't let a ring stand in your way."
"Hey even the married gals enjoy a little of the Messer charm. Haven't you ever noticed how Rose in the lab always gets my things done faster than anyone else's? She likes the sugar." Danny smiled, sure of himself. Suddenly he slid off his chair and clapped a hand on Flack's shoulder. "Watch the master at work my boy. I might not be back." He began walking towards a table with three women sitting around it.
Lifting his glass, Flack took another swallow of the dark, creamy beer. The band took the small stage and welcomed everyone. The lead guitarist then started the opening riffs of a Billy Joel tune and the crowd began to clap. Couples started making their way to the dance floor and Flack smiled as he noticed that Danny was not among them.
"That's a dangerous smile you've got there."
Flack was slightly thrown by a voice so close to him; he hadn't heard anyone approach his chair. Turning slightly he was surprised to see the redhead from the check in desk. "It's ok, I've got a license for it." 'Ok, that was dumb', thought Flack as he flashed her another smile.
"Shawn said you were a police officer, so I guess that makes it legal enough." She moved closer to the table. "My friend Chris and I decided we would make a night of it here, so I was going to see if you and your friend were interested in joining us."
"I don't know? Won't Chris mind two guys hanging around with you?" Flack glanced over to where Danny was standing, still trying to make inroads with the three females.
"Well, Christine probably won't mind." Stacy making sure that she emphasized that her friend was indeed a female. She thought it was cute that he would be so polite in assessing the situation. "She is setting over there." Stacy pointed to a small table near the bar.
A leggy brunette wearing a black dress was sipping a margarita from a stemmed glass. Her hair was shoulder length and pulled back at the sides, exposing her smooth neck. Seemingly unaware of being watched, she removed the lime from her glass and squeezed it into the drink. Laying it to the side she took another sip and smiled to herself and she watched the band.
Flack turned back to Stacy, "I think this table has more room, would you both like to join me over here?"
Stacy nodded and set her drink down. "I'll be right back." She moved quickly through the crowd and back at her table made conversation with her friend. The friend, Chris looked up and frowned slightly. She paused for a moment and then nodded her agreement. Picking up her drink, both women made there way back to Flack's table.
"Chris this is Don Flack, he's a friend of Shawn's." Stacy stepped back to allow her friend access.
"Nice to meet you Chris," Flack held out his hand. "Please have a seat." Chris took his hand and he was pleased to see that she had a firm handshake. "Can I get either of you ladies something to drink?"
"I'm fine, thank you." Chris slide onto the stool opposite from Don.
"I'll be right back," Stacy spoke up. "I see someone I need to talk with. I'll be right back." She took her drink and threaded her way across the room.
Don and Chris looked at one another for a moment. Chris smiled lightly and leaned forward to speak, "I'm sorry about this."
Don was a little confused. "Sorry?"
"Yes, for the seemingly blatant attempt by Stacy to dump me on you. She has a habit of doing that to people."
"It's really ok." Don answered quickly, "I mean, I don't mind at all." He thought a moment. "So? Are you from around here?"
Chris smiled and shook her head. "Stacy and I went to high school together in White Plains. She started working here during her summer vacations from college. After she graduated, she decided to come on full time. So you went to college with Shawn?"
"Yes, we got stuck together as roommates our freshmen year. So, do you still live in White Plains?"
"No, I live in the City. I work for a brokerage firm. How about you?"
"NYPD's finest at your service." Don did a mock bow.
"So, now I've got a perfect out for those parking tickets I keep collecting." Chris teased.
"Sorry. Not my department. Now, if you kill someone, then I can help. Don had lowered his voice, as if conspiring.
"Mmmmmm, I can't think of anyone right now, but I'll take a rain check."
"Have you been to this resort before?" Don was desperately trying to maintain the conversation. Although his ability to only ask predicable questions was frustrating him. Where were his glib remarks that he used on suspects? "I was wondering how good the skiing was."
"I have been here twice before, but always in the fall. I know plenty of people do. They only have four runs, but Stacy says that if business keeps growing they will try to add several more."
"So do you ski?" Don noticed her drink was empty and his beer was almost gone, so he caught the attention of the server and indicated another round.
"Barely, I spend more time on the bunny slopes than anywhere else. How about you?"
"Some, I get out a couple of times a year. So, would you like to tackle a few hills tomorrow?" Don took the plunge.
Smiling beguilingly she fiddled with her cocktail napkin. "Possibly, let's see what the New Year brings."
"Great." Don settled back in his chair and noticed that Stacy had managed to wrangle Danny away from the table of women and the two of them were now standing by the edge of the bar talking. That reminded Don of their wager. With a sense of confidence he turned to Chris, "Would you be interested in dancing?"
"Sure." Chris let him take her hand and lead her to the dance floor. They wove their way through the tables and by the time they got to where other couples were dancing, the band had slowed things down a little.
Watching couples moving close together, Don turned to Chris and looked at her questioningly. "A slow song all right with you?"
"None at all, as long as you remain a gentleman." Chris put her arms around his neck and he could smell her perfume, a warm vanilla scent. They swayed to the music and Don smiled down at Chris.
Don looked towards the bar and noticed Danny looking in his direction. He smiled brightly and waved. Maybe the New Year was going to be a better year after all. The best part of all was the night was still young and so was he.
Next chapter: What does the night bring for our boys? Kisses at midnight or a cold shoulder!