*O/P – Richard would NEVER accept a gratuity (or bribe), he pays his way, making Z's life easier.*

*Isa – I agree,Catherine is a force to be reckoned with. And a good thing, too!*

Part 2 of 2

The next morning, a mug greets Detective Inspector Poole when he arrives at his desk. A plain ordinary blue mug, chipped on one side where it has been dropped into the station sink. Ordinarily, this mug would be full of hot black coffee poured just minutes before he came through the door… but not today.

Today it holds three stem-trimmed roses; yellow, white, and peach.

As Richard stands transfixed, translating at lightning speed… friendship/joy/gladness, affection/new beginnings/budding love, thanks/gratitude/loyalty... his heart lurches. COR! I'm IN!

At his rigid back, Dwayne speaks up, "Hey, Chief, you got a secret admirer somewhere in town! Romeo LaFleur caught me on my way inta work and said these were fer you, you lucky dog."

Richard starts back to life and completes the motion of laying his briefcase down, saying nonchalantly, "Nonsense, they're just a splash of much needed colour. It's not like they're a secret code or anything." That's when he turns and shoots a hot glance to the dark brown eyes that watch him so carefully.

Ten days later

The whole town is talking about the miraculous solving of Delilah Dunham's disappearance, the tragic revenge suicide of Angelique Morel, and the subsequent arrest of Nicolas Dunham when Richard Poole hosts his Sergeant to a second quiet dinner at his special table. Except now there's a slightly larger bouquet nestled at the table-centre; pale pink and lavender.

His Sergeant studies this silent floral call of longing for several moments before opening her purse and adding a single full-blown orange rose dead-centre.

Richard almost chokes on his wine when she does it. He stares; admiration/joy/gentleness, enchantment/desire/love at first sight – and NOW - passion/excitement/irresistibility? Stone the crows! She's up-ing the ante! She's propositioning me! He doesn't remember what he ate or how he got home that night but he remembers his dreams! You bet!

The next day, when Camille comes in, there's a nosegay of roses on her desk; lavender and orange with a single red nestled in its heart. She grins like a shark, eyes flashing.

Fidel sees it and literally jumps to his feet, "What! What is it, Camille? Why do you look so wild?"

Dwayne pushes his way in, "She wild 'cause she don't know who's sendin' 'em, right, Camille?"

She nods dreamily, "Right, no idea at all. Darn. I guess I've got a boyfriend I don't know about, hey?"

Fidel shakes his head, "You and the Chief both getting flowers from secret admirers at the same time. What are the chances of that happening?"

The Chief bustles in, "It's a complete coincidence, that's what it is! Come on, back to work, chop chop!"

As the two junior officers hustle to obey, DI Poole sidles up to his DS and mutters, "I hope you don't think I'm being forward with the red. I just couldn't help myself. I'm having SUCH dreams!"

She smiles with utter satisfaction and coos back, "Ooo, care to tell me about these dreams?" At his sudden blush she coos lower, "Oh, I see. Well, perhaps not here then?"

He turns away to hide his hot cheeks, "No," he grunts, "not here. Definitely not here."

She catches his elbow, half-turns him back to her. His eyes are very careful. She studies him for a second or two then smiles low and slow. "Perhaps later," she whispers.

A week later

Zannier has been watching developments with great interest. Lithera is too now that she's been introduced to the whole idea of Floriography. In fact, there's been a bit of a run on all the rose colours at brother-in-law Romeo LeFleur's flower shop. It seems there's a new hobby in town.

As he sets the Inspector's table, he lays out a vase ready to receive tonight's bouquet. I wonder what colours will be here tonight? This is kind of fun, watching from the sidelines like this. He hustles away as soon as he sees the couple come through the doorway with paper-wrapped floral sprays in hand. His attempt at giving them their privacy is interrupted by the Inspector's voice.

"Mr. Riviera, may we please have a larger container for our centre-piece?"

Zannier reverses course and comes back, takes the vase into the supply room and returns with a larger mesh-topped container. Within seconds it is jammed full of orange and red roses as the couple happily work together to create tonight's arrangement.

Zannier keeps a straight face as he goes into the kitchen and is jumped upon by Lithera. "Oooo, things are heating up!" she gusts, "Red AND orange? That's romance and passion, right?"

"Right," Zannier agrees, "we're gonna hear wedding bells real soon now, I think."

"It's so romantic," Lithera sighs, "I wish someone would romance ME like that!"

"Lithera," Zannier groans as he watches the Inspector add a rose of improbable blue only to be answered by Camille's sure addition of a rose that fairly glows a spectral green, "I think EVERY-one wishes to be so romanced." As the couple slip hands together and actually brush lips in public, he adds, "The trick is to find the exact right person at the exact right time and in the exact right place."

Lithera sighs right at his shoulder as she watches the couple sit down, hands still linked, "Ah, me. Paradise, in other words?"

Zannier smiles then, glancing out the far windows onto a velvety-soft Sainte-Marie night, "Exactly."

END