''Where am I supposed to sleep?'' Celine asked with an angry tone in her voice.
''I was going to let you use my bed and I was going to crash down here.''
''Oh. Ok, I guess that's fine.'' Ryan smiled and watched her walk up the stairs. Once she reached the top, she stopped.
''Goodnight Ryan.'' She yelled down.
''Goodnight Celine.'' He heard footsteps and a door close. He turned off all the lights and got some boxer pajama pants and no shirt. He took a blanket and laid down. She's quite the gal. I don't know what it is but she keeps me wondering. She's intriguing, captivating. She's entertaining, enchanting. She's also very sweet and very stunning. She's something special. As Ryan kept thinking, he fell into a deep, calm, sleep, dreaming of her.
Celine woke up around eight the next morning. As early as it was, she felt pretty good. She had a nice, comfortable sleep, thanks to Ryan's generosity. The other reason is because it was Christmas Eve. Celine adored the holidays, especially Christmas. But in Miami there's no snow, no cold weather, not even Christmas trees. They were mostly decorations and lit up palm trees. But this Christmas was different. She was in a story book house, having a story book Christmas with a story book guy. All those thoughts made her smile, and the guy made her happy. She went to the washroom, brushed her teeth and tamed her hair, not that it was that bad, just a bit of bed head. She was still in her pajamas, comfy and warm. She wasn't going anywhere, at least not then. As she was walking down the hall to the stairs, the smell of eggs and bacon lingered in the air. She took stepped down the stairs and entered the kitchen. She saw a shirtless man buttering a piece of toast. There were two eggs in a pan and some bacon on a plate, ready to join the eggs. The guy hadn't seen her. So Celine decided to surprise him. She tip toed behind him and snuck an arm towards the plate of bacon and placed a couple of strips onto the pan. Ryan saw turned slightly and saw some bacon in the pan and never remembered placing any in the pan. Celine ducked down low and crawled around the island.
''I could have sworn I hadn't started cooking the bacon yet.'' Ryan said to himself. A confused look disappeared and he kept going with the toast. Celine silently tip toed back behind him and placed the now cooked eggs onto two plates and added more bacon to the pan.
''There! Toast is done, eggs should be too.'' Ryan said to the air around him. Celine scurried back, silently, behind the island.
''What the hell! I didn't put the eggs on plates or add more bacon to the pan... Did I?'' Ryan looked at the pan and plates one last time and looked at his reflexion in the window. Ryan continued. ''Ryan, your going crazy.'' Then he heard a quite, but loud enough to notice, sneeze. Celine cursed herself and hoped Ryan didn't hear it.
''Well, everything looks ready. Took less time then I thought. I better go wake up Celine.'' Ryan said louder then usual, hoping Celine would buy it that he was going up stairs to wake her up. Celine thought that he didn't here her little accident. As Ryan was walking up the stairs, Celine quietly grabbed the plates and was walking towards the island as she was about to place them Ryan came jumping down from the stairs.
''GOT'CHA!'' Celine jumped and smiled.
''What are you talking about?'' She replied, giving an innocent look.
''It was you making me look crazy, for your own dirty pleasure.''
''Now I just got down. I'm surprised you hadn't seen me. I was just helping out.'' Ryan gave her a once over. He was starting to believe her but he knew that something was off. So he sat beside her at the island, eyeing her suspiciously. Celine just ate her food and ignored him. In her mind, she was laughing like you wouldn't believe.
''Well, I spoke to Eric; he said that he picked everything up yesterday night. I have to be back at the lab to do some work. You can join me, pick up anything that is yours, then meet me back at the lab later on tonight around four o'clock.'' Ryan explained.
''Sounds good, I have practice till two anyway. I don't know what I'm going to do for two hours, though.''
''Come back to the lab.''
''Why?''
''Well, I'm most likely going to be only logging evidence. So you can hang out with me. Unless that's too boring for you.'' Ryan said giving Celine a 'puppy dog' face.
''Don't give me a look like-'' Celine rolled her eyes. ''Fine. I'll be back at the lab around two thirty.'' Ryan smiled and finished his plate. They both wash their dishes and took a shower. Celine dried her hair and added little makeup since she had practice that day. She got dress in a pair of jeans, a yellow t-shirt and her soccer, zip-up sweater and a pair of converse. She brought downstairs to the door, a big black duffle bag containing her soccer equipment: Shirt, shorts, cleats, water bottle, etc. Ryan was just getting a pair of shoes on. He was wearing also a yellow t-shirt, a army green, zip-up hoodie and a white leather jacket. He had on a pair of jeans and was putting on some fancy, brown leather running shoes.
''You're going to be cold.'' Ryan told Celine.
''How bad is it?''
''Well I went to clear the snow off the truck and turn it on. It's freezing. This all I brought for jacket, I regret it.''
''I didn't bring anything else. I didn't know it was going to be so cold.''
Ryan took off his leather jacket and wrapped it around her.
''Put it on.'' He said.
''I can't, Ryan, you're going to be cold.''
''Put it on, you can't get sick. You have to be back in Miami, ready to play soccer.''
''What about you. You have to solve crimes, put murderers in jail.''
''Don't argue.'' Celine gave him a smile after he said that familiar line. He helped with one sleeve and with the second.
''It's a bit big but it will keep you warm.'' Ryan said.
''Thanks.''
Ryan took her bag and they left towards the truck. He loaded the bag and Celine, then himself and they were off towards the lab. ON the way there, Celine's cell went off.
''Celine.'' She said into the phone.
''Celine? Where are you?'' A woman's voice said.
''Good morning to you too, Carly.''
''Oh. My. God. I heard what happen to Michelle. That's so sad!''
''I know. I couldn't believe it happened.''
''When someone told me, I was like: Not our Michelle. They were like: Yes your Michelle. Then he told me it happened at the big meeting and I was like: Oh My God! That's our Michelle! Then I asked him about you and he said you were fine.''
''Who is the guy that told you?''
''Detective Maxime Desjardin. He was really hot, but I couldn't think straight, everything going on with Michelle and all.''
''Yeah, Maxime is a nice guy. He's doing everything he can. I'm glad he's on the case, if it weren't for him, I think people would have trouble with this case. He knows what he's doing.'' Celine said with a smile. A wave of jealousy his Ryan right in his weak spot.
''I hope so, he seemed like it though. Well, anyway, I'm just calling to make sure your going to make it to practice. We have a game next week in Miami and the team needs to get ready. And the fields in France are beautiful.''
''Yeah I know. I just need to stop by the lab to pick up some stuff then I'll be right over.''
''Alright. I'll see you then.''
''Bye.'' Celine ended her phone call and put her phone away.
''How long do you think I'll be at the lab for?'' Celine asked.
''Not long.'' Ryan said quickly and blankly.
''Is something wrong Ryan?''
''No, why?''
''You just seem, bothered.''
''I'm not.''
''Ok.'' Celine gave Ryan one las glance and restrained herself from saying anything.
An hour later, they were walking up to the front desk at the forensics's lab. Celine signed some papers and placed around her neck a visitor's pass. They walked up to an elevator and they rode all the way up to the fourteenth floor. Celine followed Ryan into a room with a big lit up table with all of Michelle's things.
''Alright, this is all that Eric found at the hotel. Any of it yours?'' Celine went threw some of it. She made a pile of little things.
''Those.'' Celine said pointing at a pile. Ryan handed her an evidence bag and she put them all in the bag. The rest was left there for Ryan to log later.
''Here are my keys. Take the truck to your practice.'' Ryan said, placing his keys into her hand.
''But don't you need it?''
''I'll be fine till you get back.''
''Well, I have to go. Thank you.'' Celine started walking back to the elevator. ''I'll call you later.'' She yelled to him.
She got into the elevator and was heading for the ground floor. At the tenth floor, the elevator doors opened and Detective Maxime Desjardin entered.
''I didn't think I would see you here Miss Richond.''
''Just picking up some things.'' Celine said lifting up the bag of her stuff.
''Well, you'll be glad to know that we have some suspects. Now, we are just waiting on some results.''
''That's great. I can't wait till this bastard is put away.''
''Well, I'll make sure to give you a call.''
''That would be great. Thank you.'' Celine looked into his eyes. Such wonderful eyes, filled with passion. She thought.
The elevator doors opened and they both exited letting others in.
''It was great seeing you again. And I'm glad your taking priority on the case.'' Celine told him.
''Well, for you. No problem.'' Maxime gave her a smile and she smiled back. She also started to blush.
Celine was on her tippy toes hugging him. But when she started to move apart from him, she looked into his eyes once more. She saw the passion and it made her even more invited. Arms still linked they each met halfway and their lips touched. Celine was right, he was full of passion and he showed it.
At that same moment, elevators opened letting Ryan out. He was going to return to Celine the jacket he lent her and came across Detective and Celine kissing. He wasn't seen so he slipped away back into the elevator. Ryan felt like he had a knife going threw him continuously. He thought there was something between them. He felt like an idiot. Why would a perfect, sweet, adorable girl like her want a lab rat like me. How stupid am I? Ryan kept telling himself. He entered the lab once more, but angry, pissed off and frustrated. Everyone noticed it and tried not to go near him. All day.