Chapter Fourteen: Dinner?

"Dinner?" I repeated, only a little confused by this suggestion, or maybe it was just the simplicity behind it.

"At Massimo's. Just think of the opportunity!" Aiden pressed, trying to make me see her 'side' of things – it wasn't really working.

"To do what?" I asked, with a raised eyebrow. "Eat?"

"Oh shut up," she swatted me on the arm. "Just take her to dinner, she'll like it there – honest."

"Then if it goes well, which it better," she slipped in, reminding me not to screw it all up – Cindy had her own little fan-club with my co-workers since my 'party', and she didn't even know who half of them were… actually make that nearly all of them.

"I'll even make you some of my famous chicken parm, that I know you love – an you can get her over to your place. Just don't tell Flack, or he'll kill me," Aiden ended, looking somewhat serious.

"Take her to Massimo's 'cos they've got the best food around right now, and I'll even book the table for you," she carried on, trying to tempt me even more.

"Thanks, that's really sweet of you," I replied, flashing her a wide grin.

"I know, isn't it?!" she smiled back, playing along with me, before turning on her heel and walking out.

x

I walked up to join her at the reception, where she was waiting for Flack, and kissed her as soon as she turned round.

"You love me," I stated simply with a grin, as we broke apart.

She just looked at me then, as I grinned at her, before rotating back round, "Yeah right, Messer."

"Come on, Cind," I tried to coax her, with a smile. "You love me, admit it?"

"Haven't we already covered the arrogant bastard routine already, Messer?" she asked me then with a smile.

"Haha," I replied. "But I confessed to that, didn't I? Why don't you just do the same? You love me. Why don't ya just admit it, we both know it's true."

Cindy rolled her eyes at me, but with a smile on her face, before saying, "You're cute, but that's it."

"So you think I'm cute?" I echoed, smirking at her.

"You think you're cute, Messer," she told me then. "I just boost your ego and tell you what you wanna hear."

"Honestly, woman!" I exclaimed dramatically. "If you're gonna lie, at least make it believable."

Cindy smiled at this, while I continued, "Since when have you done, or said, anything you don't wanna? You tell me whatever you feel like, an don't go trying to pretend otherwise neither – I'm wise to all your tricks, MacIntyre."

She continued to smile at me, as she mused, "Mmmm… true – I suppose."

But I snapped her out of her 'thoughts' – no doubt about me – with my self-assured line, "So about this undying affection of yours… "

Cindy mock glared at me then, before telling me matter-of-factly, "Attraction, Messer, is not the same thing as affection."

She sent me a look then to accompany her 'line', but I simply smirked back at her, countering easily, "Ahh, but attraction is the first step to affection, isn't it, Cind?"

"Attraction's probably the only thing I'm ever gonna feel for you, Messer. Sorry," and she gave me a fake apologetic look at the end.

"Huh, fancy that," I said, as I pretended to mull over her response in my head, before adding with a smirk, "That's my personal rule too."

And I grinned at her then, making her roll her eyes at me once more, before she sighed dramatically and replied, "What a shocker."

I feigned a hurt look then, even going so far as to place a hand over my heart – or where I figured it was at least, Cindy probably wouldn't notice anyway, she'd be too busy laughing at me on the inside – before I questioned, "An what is that supposed ta mean?"

"You don't like strings," Cindy told me then quite matter-of-factly.

"Strings?" I echoed, my face no doubt suddenly taking on a searching look because quite frankly I had no idea what she was on about.

"You don't like things that involve messy things like strings and… and… " she said, trailing off towards the end as she hunted for something else to say, and I watched in amusement as her silently cursed herself.

"And… ?" I asked, my face taking on that of innocent curiosity – but we both totally knew better.

I could lie well, sure, but she had this damn annoying ability to see right through them. Was gonna have to do something about that.

"And attachments," she told me, giving me a look that basically said 'Ha! Got another one for you!' – which only served to further entertain me.

"I like you," I replied simply in response, trying a different tactic.

"Uhuh," Cindy answered, drawing it out – she clearly wasn't buying this.

Sure we'd slept together, but that didn't mean you necessarily had to feel something for the other person. That was what one-night-stands were all about, an hookers. Oh shit, I'd just referred to her as both a one-night-stand and a prostitute, it didn't matter that they were both said in my head, I'd said them. Period.

Shit, I'm in so much trouble here. Damn Cindy, an Flack too – and Aiden as well. Damn them all, in fact. They took far too much pleasure in messing with my brain, an it was getting really annoying.

"I do, I like you," I repeated, and gave her a dazzling smile to go with it.

"You like the idea of me, Messer," she answered, though she smiled back at me in return to mine. "You like the idea of this."

And she moved her hands back and forth slightly to portray what she meant – Us. Me an Cind. Together.

"You like ideas, Messer. But you don't like the entity," she told me next.

"Have you ever been to Massimo's?" I asked her simply, completely ignoring what she'd just said or anything that had just happened for that matter.

"You what?" she asked, a little taken aback by my sudden diversion.

"Massimo's?" I said. "Ever been there?"

"Isn't that, that overpriced, overrated restaurant next to the Coroners?" she questioned with a slight raise of the eyebrow.

I smirked at her then, "No, the one next to that."

She rolled her eyes at me, while I simply stated, "Meet me there tonight at seven-thirty."

And I turned and started to walk away – I wasn't sure why, cos I didn't really think she'd refuse, but I guess I figured, better safe than sorry. Leave before she has the chance to back out altogether. Cos damn, if there was a chance of more night's like my birthday, I was sure as Hell gonna go for it.

"Eh, wait a minute! Bit short notice, isn't it? What makes you think I'll show up?" she called to me, as I reached the door.

"I don't think you'll show up, I know you'll show up," I replied, and sent her a cocky smile I knew she loved.

"Will not!" she screamed, because I was already through the door and halfway along the other corridor.

"We'll see Cindy. We'll see," I said – more to myself than anything – and spun on my heel and carried on down the hall with a grin on my face.

TBC…

Thanks for reading – means a lot!
Steph
xxx