Monday morning brought Michonne finishing the move into her new office. Her desk was in place and her small conference table was in the perfect spot. She needed to arrange her artwork as well as her diplomas and certificates on the wall and then she'd be all set. Her office was larger than her old one, but lacked the beautiful view of the city that she loved. Now she had a view of the courthouse steps and front door of the sheriffs department. Trying to look on the bright side, she figured she could get used to it and maybe she'd see some action from the sheriffs department sometime.
She was setting up her computer and printer when her stomach started to growl. She looked at the clock noticing that the time was 10:45. She had about an hour before her lunch would be delivered. She smiled to herself thinking about the fun her group had against the sheriffs department and their win, which will be getting them fed for the week. She wondered who drew her name and what they would be bringing her for lunch. Right about now she would eat anything, she was so hungry. Trying to take her mind off her hunger, she checked and replied to emails and then began placing her framed artwork and certificates along the bottom of the wall where they might go. Once she had them all placed in the perfect spots with her diplomas hanging behind her desk next to a beautiful piece of art, she thought about how she would hang them. Knowing good and well, she didn't have a hammer and nails in her office, she decided to leave it for another day. She sighed and lightly rubbed her belly as another hungry growl rumbled through her. She was just about to look over at her clock when a knock came from her door.
She looked up to see the handsome Rick Grimes smiling at her and holding a white bag with her lunch in it.
Raising the bag, "Lunch delivery for a Michonne Anthony." Rick said smiling.
"Oh my. You must have heard my stomach growling from across the street. I'm starving. That smells so good. Come in, please."
She led him to her conference table and sat down across from him.
"We never discussed what everyone liked to eat, so I stopped by the diner and got you a chicken sandwich. I think it's really good. There are sweet potato fries and a slice of chocolate pie too."
Opening the Styrofoam food container and taking a deep breath from her nose.
"This looks amazing, Rick. Have you had lunch yet? There is so much here, please share it with me."
"I have a little bit of time."
"Good" Michonne said as she took out the plastic knife and cut the sandwich in half and offering it to her lunch companion.
"So how have you been settling in to the county so far?"
"Just fine. All the people have been welcoming and I'm really exciting about getting to work. The small town is different, but I needed a change."
"The hustle and bustle of the city get to be too much?"
"In a way. When I first decided to become a lawyer, I wanted to help people, make their lives easier, better. The past year in the city seemed like one big blur. I don't think I remember the names of anyone I represented. They just came and went. I did my job, won my cases, but I didn't get to know anyone and connect with anyone. I'm hoping to do that here."
"I hope you can too."
Are you all moved into your home? Did you buy a house here?" Rick looked up at her slowly, "I don't mean to pry."
"I'm renting a house right now over on Lincoln st. There was so much going on before I moved here; I didn't have time to house hunt. The place I'm in right now suits my needs. I'm almost all unpacked. There's some furniture that I have to put together, but as you can see, I don't own any tools to hang anything or put a screw in the legs of my dining table."
Rick looked around and laughed as he shook his head. "I have tools. I could come by and help, if you'd like.
"Would you?"
"It would be my pleasure. Here" Rick took out a card from his wallet. "Here's my card. The front has my office number and the station number. I'll write my cell on the back. Text me your address and I'll be over with my hammer. How do you feel about 8 year old boys?"
Michonne looked at him questionably
"My son Carl will be with me. He might not be much help, but I think he can bribe him to use a screwdriver."
Giggling, Michonne shook her head up and down. "Well since he's 8, I guess that's fine. If you have said 6 that would have been a deal breaker."
"Before you go, will you share this chocolate pie with me also. That chicken sandwich was so good. I don't know what kind of seasoning they use, but it works to perfection. But if I eat this whole piece of pie, I'll be searching this building for a couch to nap on."
She handed him a clean fork and they both dove into the dessert.
"mmmm, Oh my god. Rick is this real? This is wonderful."
Rick smiled, amused at her response to chocolate pie. Trying to stave off dirty thoughts on ways that would get her to respond in that way again. He licked his lips and tried to focus on the carpet, the wall color the sounds of the people in the hallway. Anything but the sounds she was making and the color of her eyes, the glow of her skin, the enchanting way her lips wrapped around the fork. He tried. He was failing miserably.
"Rick, can you come by tonight?"
"Sure. I'll be home about 6:30."
"That's perfect. It gives me time to cook dinner for you and Carl."
"You don't have to do that."
"Are you kidding? My grandmother taught me better than that. She would always say, if a man if doing work for you and you're not paying him with money, you better be paying him with food."
"Alright then, I'll see you tonight. Text me your address. "
"Can't wait. I'll see you tonight."
'Hey Rick, I was just looking for you; we were all going to go to the diner to grab some lunch."
Rick looked down at this watch. He noticed it was noon.
"Oh, I just ate. Sorry Shane, ya'll go on without me."
"What do you mean, you already ate? When?"
"When I delivered Michonne her lunch. She shared it with me. I guess that's what you get for being on time."
"So you have a lunch date with Michonne?"
"Who had a lunch date with Michonne?" T-Dog asked as he walked up to the pair.
"Rick did. Can you believe he's using the bet to get dates? Damn. Why didn't I think of that?
"It wasn't a date Shane. It was just lunch. The lunch that we have to provide this week thanks to your bet." Rick said as he motioned to T-Dog. She invited me to share it with her and I did. I have to eat too. Have you two delivered ya'lls lunches yet?
"We were going to pick up something after we ate at the diner. Now you're making us look bad."
"Damn, he sure is." Really Rick?" T-Dog said
"I'll see ya'll later." Rick said as he walked away laughing.
"Hey girl, it's really looking good in here. You're almost done. When are you going to hang your frames? Andrea asked.
"I don't have a hammer. Rick said I could use his though, so hopefully tomorrow."
"When did you see Rick? Did ya'll talk this weekend after we bowled? Tell me everything."
"Calm down Andrea. I saw him not too long ago when he brought over my lunch."
"Oh" Andrea said deflated. " You already ate? I'm starving. I don't know who got me, but I hope they hurry up. Lucky you getting the punctual one."
As Rick sat down at his desk, he received a text:
-Thanks for the delicious lunch and even better conversation. See you tonight.
763 Lincoln S
-M-
Rick smiled at the simple signature knowing Michonne was anything but simple. He couldn't wait to see her again tonight, even with Carl in tow. He seemed to be thinking a lot about this beautiful woman he just met and couldn't wait to get to know her better.
