I would like to take a moment and thank you guys. Truly, you're awesome for sticking with me and this story. Here's to you!

These people… They aren't mine.

Messin' With Montana

Chapter 14: Ironic

Flack shook his head slightly, as if the quick movement would rid his mind of the traitorous thought. Danny's my friend and he still wants her. He reminded himself.

Lindsay studied the man walking next to her under hooded lashes. He's a good man, a real man. One who knows how to treat a woman, how to be in a relationship. One who wants to be in a relationship. She willed herself to stop thinking about him in 'that' way. After all, he wasn't Danny.

That very thought struck her cold. He isn't Danny??! WHA?!! You don't want Danny!! Her inner voice scolded her for her naughty thoughts. Flack is ten times the man Danny is! The voice continued to rattle her.

But it didn't matter, because as much as she tried to admit it, Flack just wasn't Danny. He never would be. He was a good guy, honest, and hardworking. In another time, she could've easily been attracted to him, but as long as Danny Messer existed, the Flacks of the world would continue to fall short of her desire.

They arrived back in the office frozen and sprinkled with snow. "I'll take your coat and hang it up to dry." Flack offered, holding his hand out.

She smiled gratefully, shrugging out and handing it to him. "Thanks." She said with a soft smile, fluffing her hair out, sending droplets of water everywhere.

Flack stood there for a moment and just watched. Her nose and cheeks were slightly red from the snow, her hair shown with the melted snowflakes, she was a sight for sore eyes.

Evidently, Danny agreed as he'd been on his way to Mac's office when the two of them arrived. He'd long since given up being subtle, he'd stopped in his tracks and openly observed the interaction between his partner and his friend.

He watched Flack watch Lindsay and his eyes narrowed. He can't. He can't date her, he's my friend. I dated her. He reasoned with his conscious, trying in vain to convince himself that there wasn't anything going on between Flack and Lindsay. The problem was, all he had was speculation. He wanted proof. Proof would only come in the form of words, and the words would have to come from one of them.

There was no way he could talk to either of them. That would be admitting he had interest and he clearly did not. Right?

He shook his head, clearly disgusted with himself. He never got this way when it came to a woman. He'd almost convinced himself that Lindsay was no different than every other woman he'd dated. Almost.

Flack closed himself in his office and sighed. This was bad. Danny was upset with him, no question about it. He'd seen Danny's face. Not to mention Danny had barely spoken to him since he'd taken to spending time with Linds.

His brain told him to stay away from her, at least romantically speaking. Danny still had a thing for her and it was becoming more and more obvious that she still had a thing for him.

He rested his head on his hands, which were propped up on his desk. This was turning into a sticky situation. His mind traveled back to when Lindsay had asked him to start hanging out with her in an effort to teach Danny a lesson. He'd refused because she only wanted to teach Danny a lesson and Danny was too good a friend to trick.

Now he realized he was doing exactly what he'd told her he wouldn't do. He was hanging out with Lindsay and it had definitely caught Danny's attention.

This has got to stop, I gotta clear the air here.

With that in mind, he pushed back from the table and started off for the lab, intending to fix things with Lindsay and Danny. I can't be with her.

He was at the office within the hour. He strode purposefully into their office, finding Lindsay just about to exit. He grabbed her arm, practically dragging her down the hall toward the locker room. He pulled her in, shutting the door and locking it.

He turned to face her and sighed. "What is going on ?" She finally asked, folding her arms in front of her.

He took in a deep breath and instantly regretted it. Her smell was slightly heady. Why did he have to stop hanging out with her?

Because if you keep hanging out with her, it's not going to stay friendly very long.

He sighed. "This… Lindsay, it's… It's not a good… We're going to…." He trailed off, unable to put his thoughts into words.

She looked confused and bewildered. Her brown eyes searched his and he swallowed. This wasn't good.

He took a step closer to her and had every intention of clarifying his point. But as soon as he was in her space, he felt her body heat start radiating off her, her perfume invading his senses. Her lips were pursed in a small smile.

He sighed. Damn it. He closed the distance between them and pulled her to him. His mouth descended and closed over hers. Her lips were warm and pliant against his. He felt her sigh against him.

It was her moving closer to him, gripping him closer to her that jerked him back to reality. He pulled away after a moment, breathing heavily.

He held her at arms length, still not letting her go.

"We… We shouldn't… You, you need to be with Danny." He breathed out.

With that, he let go of her and darted out, leaving her standing there, beyond confused.

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