Danny and Kathryn ended up at a little Italian restaurant not far from the Federal Building. They sat at a quiet, candlelit booth towards the back of the restaurant. Kathryn was struck by how romantic the setting felt, but Danny quickly diffused that thought, "This place has the best eggplant parm in the city. I get takeout from here at least once a week."
"Sounds good," Kathryn said a little nervously. She had a feeling she was going to need a drink to get through this. When the waitress came to the table, Kathryn asked Danny, "Do you want to share a bottle of white?"
"No, thanks. But you go ahead. I'll just have a mineral water."
"OK…" Kathryn said hesitantly. "I'll just take a glass then."
The waitress nodded and left with their drink order.
"Not a big drinker?" Kathryn asked curiously.
"Not a drinker at all," Danny replied matter-of-factly.
"Oh…I don't really drink that much…I mean…just to unwind. You know?"
"Yeah, I understand, believe me."
"So is it like a healthy choice for you? Or…"
Danny cut her off and smiled, "It's nothing. I'm just high on life…can't you tell?"
Kathryn laughed, "Right."
They ordered their dinners, and enjoyed polite conversation. They talked about the Wilkens case, and Jimmy. Finally, Kathryn asked about the Missing Persons case Danny worked on today, "I'm sorry about today. John Livingston? Was that his name?"
"Yep, that was him."
"Is it harder when you find out it isn't foul play?"
"Sometimes," Danny replied quietly.
"I would imagine. I mean obviously he didn't want to be found or found alive."
"That's not necessarily true. He could have offed himself in the privacy of his own home, or he could have done it front of the Empire State Building. But he chose to run away first. I think…I think he wanted to be found. He wanted to know someone cared enough to call the police. He wanted to know he wasn't alone. We just didn't find him in time."
Kathryn watched Danny as he spoke. It was like he wasn't talking to her, but to himself. She saw the empty look again that he had in the office earlier. "That must be so hard. I can't imagine."
With that, Danny looked at her and tried to re-engage, "Well, I'm sure you see an awful lot of bad things as well."
"Yeah, I guess I do. But, it's different. I get so caught up in winning that sometimes I forget they are real people. It all becomes about how strong the evidence is. I like to win, in case you hadn't noticed."
Danny smiled, "I think you know I like to win, too. It's not that different. I've been doing this for a while now. I have to try to do the same thing. I try to make it about putting the clues together, and finding the answers. It's gets much harder if you find yourself connecting with the victim or even the family."
"But you always want to find them alive," Kathryn stated in almost a whisper.
Danny nodded curiously, "Of course."
"Lately, I've had these thoughts….awful thoughts….about how much easier a case would be if I had a body…if I had DNA. Victims and witnesses say the wrong things. They get confused, but physical evidence doesn't lie," Kathryn looked down realizing how dark her statement was. "Your opinion of me probably just gets lower and lower."
Danny shook his head, "Who I am to judge? I'm the kind of witness who makes your case difficult to win."
Kathryn smiled remembering their contentious first meeting, "That's not true. You are just passionate about what you do. You care. There's nothing wrong with that."
They were looking into each other's eyes now. He had the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. There was something so youthful and sad in them.
The waitress came over and broke their stare. She asked if they were ready for the check. Danny replied, "Yes, we're ready." Danny immediately took the check from the table.
"Hey, I thought I was taking you out," Kathryn said playfully.
"You can get the next one," Danny replied as he put money on the table, "You ready to go?"
"Sure." They rose from the table and made their way to the front of the restaurant. Danny gently guided her by placing his hand on the small of her back. It was only there for a moment, but Kathryn felt weak in the knees all the same.
As they walked out the front door, Danny asked, "Which way are you?"
"I actually just live a couple of blocks that way." Kathryn pointed to the right.
"Then I'll walk you," Danny said as he started down the sidewalk.
"Wait…you…uh…you don't have to. I mean I don't want you to go out of your way."
"No problem, I'll just hop on the subway after I get you home. I'm just two stops from here."
"OK. Thanks. And thanks for dinner," Kathryn added as they started walking to her apartment. "I had a really nice time."
"Me, too. All things considered," Danny replied with a smile.
"What does that mean?"
"Well, I thought you hated me. I actually thought you got enjoyment from making my life difficult."
"I never hated you. I just found you somewhat challenging."
"Yeah…well…you are not the first. So we are starting tonight with a clean slate, right?"
Kathryn nodded, "Absolutely. I would really like that."
"Good."
They walked in silence for another block, and then Kathryn stopped in front of a brownstone, "This is me." She looked up at Danny and smiled. She followed as he walked up the stairs to her front door. He looked down at her, and she wished that she had to courage to kiss him. But she had never been the type to make the first move.
Danny finally said, "Well, I guess I'll see you later."
"OK. Thanks again for everything…especially for the help with Jimmy."
"My pleasure," Danny replied as he did a mock bow.
Kathryn unlocked the door and started to walk in as Danny started toward the stairs, "Danny?"
"Yeah?" asked Danny looking back.
Kathryn let the door close with her back against it. "I…uh…I don't…"
Danny started to walk back toward her. "You OK?"
"I'm not sure," she replied in almost a whisper as she slowly reached out to touch his tie.
Danny looked down at her hand as it rested on his chest. Then he looked into her clear blue eyes, and was surprised to see the desire in them.
Kathryn was starting to feel silly. Her mind started to race. What if he didn't have any interest in her at all? What if he was just being nice to her? But then she saw that he was smiling, and starting to lean in. He lightly brushed his lips against hers. She moved her hand from his chest to his neck to pull him back down. He started to kiss her slowly and gently. He guided her from the door to the sidewall of her front entrance. It was darker there, and little more private than the lighted doorway.
As she responded to him, Danny deepened the kiss and pulled her closer to him. He ran his hands through her blond hair. Then he let them roam down her back. Kathryn moved her hands under Danny's suit coat. She felt the muscles on his lean back. Danny started to kiss her neck as his hand slipped under her blouse. He just let his hand rest against her stomach as he pushed her gently against the wall. There was now no space between them. She could feel the heat radiating from his body. It overwhelmed her. The feel of his hands on her skin made her moan with breathless pleasure.
Danny started to kiss her on her lips again, but then finally broke from her and rested his forehead against hers. "I should probably go," he whispered.
Kathryn nodded, but didn't let him go.
Danny started to pull away, but Kathryn grabbed his hand, "Do you…do you want to come up?" She'd never asked any man to sleep with her before. Certainly, not someone she barely knew. But she had also never felt so needy before. She felt like she physically needed him.
Danny finally just nodded, and let her lead him inside and up to her apartment. Her apartment was spacious, and very well decorated. It was very well put-together, just like her. "Nice place."
Kathryn put her keys and purse down, and looked back at Danny who was still standing in the open doorway. "Thanks. Come in."
Kathryn was now nervous. Especially since Danny didn't seem nervous at all as he stood there surveying his surroundings.
"Do you want anything…a drink, or I mean a coffee?" she stammered remembering that he doesn't drink.
Danny just looked at her up and down. "No, I'm good," he replied in one of the sexiest voices she had ever heard.
And now, Kathryn felt completely unprepared. She wasn't sure what she was thinking or what she wanted. All she knew was that she didn't want him to leave. And then Danny made it easy for her. He walked toward her and gently caressed her cheek. Then they started kissing again as she closed and locked the door.
Before she even knew what was happening, Danny had her in her bedroom. She wasn't sure how he knew where it was, or how she was already half-undressed. Everything was like a dream. And then he gently lowered her to the bed while still kissing her passionately. He was moving above her in complete control, but Kathryn finally was able to think a rational thought when he moved away from her for a moment to finish undressing and to put his gun and cell phone on the nightstand. "Danny?"
"Yeah," he whispered as he lay down next to her lightly kissing her shoulder.
"Do you have…um…I don't have…."
"I have a condom. Don't worry."
"OK…good…uh…," Kathryn was nervous again.
Danny rolled so he was hovering above her. He kissed her again, and looked into her eyes, "You are so beautiful. I've thought that since I first met you. If you didn't drive me so crazy, I probably would have asked you out a lot sooner."
Kathryn laughed as he tried to put her at ease. "I want you…I want you to know that I don't usually do this."
"I know," Danny whispered.
"Is it that obvious?"
"No, it's….look…I like you and I want this. But we don't have to go through with it tonight. If you aren't ready, it's OK. I didn't expect this to happen when you walked into the office tonight."
Kathryn put her hand on his stubbled face, and traced a finger across his lips. Then she arched up to kiss him. They didn't say anything else to each other. They had sex, and after Kathryn felt a sense of fulfillment that she never felt before as she lay curled against Danny's stomach.
The next morning the fulfillment turned to dread as she reached over and found only a pillow. The apartment was silent. The bathroom door was open. It was obvious that Danny was gone. She took the pillow in her arms and held it close to her cheek. It smelled like him – clean and masculine. She still felt his presence all around her and inside of her. She was mentally chastising herself for getting so caught up in him. She wasn't even sure what it was that made him so attractive besides the obvious. She'd been out with attractive men before, but she never felt compelled to sleep with them. It was his eyes, his warmth, his charm….she thought. But it was also obvious that it wasn't the first time he had been invited to spend the night after a date….which they weren't even on a date so that made it worse. So much worse. Kathryn thought that he must have humored her because she seemed so needy. She would probably never hear from him again.
Kathryn somehow gathered the strength to make it to the bathroom and into the shower. As the let the water beat down on her, she tried to force the images from the night before from her brain. She wanted to regret it and to chalk it up as a mistake. But everything about it felt too good for that.
She made it to work that morning. Her morning was spent in court listening to the defense's pre-trial motions. And all she could think of was Danny's face, his hands, his body. She tried to shake herself from the thoughts after the judge asked her a question, and she had no idea how to respond. She somehow muddled through. When she returned to her office, she asked Shelly hopefully, "Any messages?"
"Nope, not a one."
Kathryn slumped down in her desk, and ran a hand through her blonde hair. And then she thought about Danny playing with her hair as she lay against his chest. He did that until she fell asleep.
"What's up with you?" asked Shelly.
"Nothing….nothing….nothing."
"Oh come on. You look a little flushed. Did you get enough sleep last night?"
"I don't know. It doesn't matter," Kathryn replied as she laid her head down on her desk.
Shelly laid her head down to look in Kathryn's eyes, "Oh my gosh. You had sex."
"What?" Kathryn responded defensively as she quickly lifted her head up.
"You had sex last night. I didn't even know you were dating anyone."
"How can you tell? Do you think everyone can tell?" Kathryn asked as she reached for a mirror.
"No one else can tell. I promise. I just know you. You have this satisfied yet totally freaked out look about you."
"Yep. That about sums it up. I'm a whore…that's what I am. What was I thinking?"
"So it wasn't a date….you had a one-night stand?"
"NO…at least I didn't think it was a one-night stand until he was gone this morning when I woke up."
"Oh, poor thing. Well, who is the mystery man?"
"You won't believe it."
"Try me."
"Danny Taylor."
Shelly let out a yelp and did a little victory dance. "I knew it. I knew it. I knew you had a thing for him. You have to tell me everything. EVERYTHING."
"Shel – I'm not feeling particularly good about it right now. I mean it was good…it was better than good…it was great, but the fact remains I slept with him and I don't even know where he lives. I don't know where he went to school or who his family is. He doesn't know anything about me…."
Shelly shook her head, "OK, let's back up. 'It was great'. What was great about it?"
"Shelly…" Kathryn said with a scowl.
"No, I'm serious. When's the last time you really had a good time with someone? Don't worry about the right or wrong of it. When's the last time you just did something for yourself?"
"It's been a while. Honestly, I haven't been with anyone since I broke it off with Richard two years ago. We were together for three years, and he was pretty much the only guy I ever…you know."
"So last night, Danny was the second guy."
"Yes," Kathryn replied sheepishly.
"Well then you were long overdue. And you said things weren't that great with Richard, right?"
"I never really understood the big deal about sex when I was with him. I think, after last night, I have a better appreciation for it." Kathryn said as she smiled shyly.
"Well then, even if Danny Taylor is stupid enough to let you get away, it was still worth it, right?"
Kathryn nodded, "Yeah, it was worth it. But it will still hurt if I don't hear from him. I really thought we connected. And he's a really nice guy, you know? I mean I know I said he was egotistical and difficult. But I think that is just the way he has to be in his job. Last night, he was warm and so polite. When I came back from the bathroom, he did that thing where he kind of stood up when I came back to the table. And then when we were walking to the restaurant I started walking by the street, and he kind of maneuvered me over so that I was on the inside of the sidewalk. Guys don't do that anymore. Of course, then he left without so much as a word this morning. So what do I know?"
Kathryn muddled through the rest of her day, and then made her way home. She walked into her apartment and collapsed on the sofa. As she lay there, tears started to well in her eyes. The truly sad part of all of this for her was that she was really starting to fall for him. Even before they went out, she felt a connection with him. As she lay on the sofa tears rolling down her cheeks, the phone rang.
Kathryn didn't really think anything of it. She just wiped her tears away, and answered, "Hello."
"Hey," Danny said cautiously.
Kathryn was startled when she heard his voice. "Danny?"
"Yeah, listen, I'm sorry…"
"How did you get this number?"
"Oh, well…I do work for the FBI. I could probably find the number of your childhood home, too."
Kathryn smiled, but then immediately got serious, "Right. Well what do you want?"
"I got a phone call early this morning. It was work. I had to leave in kind of a hurry because I had to go home before I went to the scene. I meant to leave a note. I promise. And then I was going to call you at work but I got caught in a five-hour interrogation. I'm sorry. There's no good excuse."
Kathryn let out a sigh, and her heart was pounding, "I think that's a pretty good excuse…as excuses go."
"So I get a second chance? We can go on an official date?"
"I'd really like that."
"Me, too. I'm still caught up in this case, but I promise I'll call you as soon as we wrap it up."
"Sounds good. Thanks for calling, and for a great night, last night."
"Well, I should probably thank you for that. Take care. I'll see you soon."
"Bye."
Kathryn hung up the phone and did a little victory dance of her own.
TBC
"Sounds good," Kathryn said a little nervously. She had a feeling she was going to need a drink to get through this. When the waitress came to the table, Kathryn asked Danny, "Do you want to share a bottle of white?"
"No, thanks. But you go ahead. I'll just have a mineral water."
"OK…" Kathryn said hesitantly. "I'll just take a glass then."
The waitress nodded and left with their drink order.
"Not a big drinker?" Kathryn asked curiously.
"Not a drinker at all," Danny replied matter-of-factly.
"Oh…I don't really drink that much…I mean…just to unwind. You know?"
"Yeah, I understand, believe me."
"So is it like a healthy choice for you? Or…"
Danny cut her off and smiled, "It's nothing. I'm just high on life…can't you tell?"
Kathryn laughed, "Right."
They ordered their dinners, and enjoyed polite conversation. They talked about the Wilkens case, and Jimmy. Finally, Kathryn asked about the Missing Persons case Danny worked on today, "I'm sorry about today. John Livingston? Was that his name?"
"Yep, that was him."
"Is it harder when you find out it isn't foul play?"
"Sometimes," Danny replied quietly.
"I would imagine. I mean obviously he didn't want to be found or found alive."
"That's not necessarily true. He could have offed himself in the privacy of his own home, or he could have done it front of the Empire State Building. But he chose to run away first. I think…I think he wanted to be found. He wanted to know someone cared enough to call the police. He wanted to know he wasn't alone. We just didn't find him in time."
Kathryn watched Danny as he spoke. It was like he wasn't talking to her, but to himself. She saw the empty look again that he had in the office earlier. "That must be so hard. I can't imagine."
With that, Danny looked at her and tried to re-engage, "Well, I'm sure you see an awful lot of bad things as well."
"Yeah, I guess I do. But, it's different. I get so caught up in winning that sometimes I forget they are real people. It all becomes about how strong the evidence is. I like to win, in case you hadn't noticed."
Danny smiled, "I think you know I like to win, too. It's not that different. I've been doing this for a while now. I have to try to do the same thing. I try to make it about putting the clues together, and finding the answers. It's gets much harder if you find yourself connecting with the victim or even the family."
"But you always want to find them alive," Kathryn stated in almost a whisper.
Danny nodded curiously, "Of course."
"Lately, I've had these thoughts….awful thoughts….about how much easier a case would be if I had a body…if I had DNA. Victims and witnesses say the wrong things. They get confused, but physical evidence doesn't lie," Kathryn looked down realizing how dark her statement was. "Your opinion of me probably just gets lower and lower."
Danny shook his head, "Who I am to judge? I'm the kind of witness who makes your case difficult to win."
Kathryn smiled remembering their contentious first meeting, "That's not true. You are just passionate about what you do. You care. There's nothing wrong with that."
They were looking into each other's eyes now. He had the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. There was something so youthful and sad in them.
The waitress came over and broke their stare. She asked if they were ready for the check. Danny replied, "Yes, we're ready." Danny immediately took the check from the table.
"Hey, I thought I was taking you out," Kathryn said playfully.
"You can get the next one," Danny replied as he put money on the table, "You ready to go?"
"Sure." They rose from the table and made their way to the front of the restaurant. Danny gently guided her by placing his hand on the small of her back. It was only there for a moment, but Kathryn felt weak in the knees all the same.
As they walked out the front door, Danny asked, "Which way are you?"
"I actually just live a couple of blocks that way." Kathryn pointed to the right.
"Then I'll walk you," Danny said as he started down the sidewalk.
"Wait…you…uh…you don't have to. I mean I don't want you to go out of your way."
"No problem, I'll just hop on the subway after I get you home. I'm just two stops from here."
"OK. Thanks. And thanks for dinner," Kathryn added as they started walking to her apartment. "I had a really nice time."
"Me, too. All things considered," Danny replied with a smile.
"What does that mean?"
"Well, I thought you hated me. I actually thought you got enjoyment from making my life difficult."
"I never hated you. I just found you somewhat challenging."
"Yeah…well…you are not the first. So we are starting tonight with a clean slate, right?"
Kathryn nodded, "Absolutely. I would really like that."
"Good."
They walked in silence for another block, and then Kathryn stopped in front of a brownstone, "This is me." She looked up at Danny and smiled. She followed as he walked up the stairs to her front door. He looked down at her, and she wished that she had to courage to kiss him. But she had never been the type to make the first move.
Danny finally said, "Well, I guess I'll see you later."
"OK. Thanks again for everything…especially for the help with Jimmy."
"My pleasure," Danny replied as he did a mock bow.
Kathryn unlocked the door and started to walk in as Danny started toward the stairs, "Danny?"
"Yeah?" asked Danny looking back.
Kathryn let the door close with her back against it. "I…uh…I don't…"
Danny started to walk back toward her. "You OK?"
"I'm not sure," she replied in almost a whisper as she slowly reached out to touch his tie.
Danny looked down at her hand as it rested on his chest. Then he looked into her clear blue eyes, and was surprised to see the desire in them.
Kathryn was starting to feel silly. Her mind started to race. What if he didn't have any interest in her at all? What if he was just being nice to her? But then she saw that he was smiling, and starting to lean in. He lightly brushed his lips against hers. She moved her hand from his chest to his neck to pull him back down. He started to kiss her slowly and gently. He guided her from the door to the sidewall of her front entrance. It was darker there, and little more private than the lighted doorway.
As she responded to him, Danny deepened the kiss and pulled her closer to him. He ran his hands through her blond hair. Then he let them roam down her back. Kathryn moved her hands under Danny's suit coat. She felt the muscles on his lean back. Danny started to kiss her neck as his hand slipped under her blouse. He just let his hand rest against her stomach as he pushed her gently against the wall. There was now no space between them. She could feel the heat radiating from his body. It overwhelmed her. The feel of his hands on her skin made her moan with breathless pleasure.
Danny started to kiss her on her lips again, but then finally broke from her and rested his forehead against hers. "I should probably go," he whispered.
Kathryn nodded, but didn't let him go.
Danny started to pull away, but Kathryn grabbed his hand, "Do you…do you want to come up?" She'd never asked any man to sleep with her before. Certainly, not someone she barely knew. But she had also never felt so needy before. She felt like she physically needed him.
Danny finally just nodded, and let her lead him inside and up to her apartment. Her apartment was spacious, and very well decorated. It was very well put-together, just like her. "Nice place."
Kathryn put her keys and purse down, and looked back at Danny who was still standing in the open doorway. "Thanks. Come in."
Kathryn was now nervous. Especially since Danny didn't seem nervous at all as he stood there surveying his surroundings.
"Do you want anything…a drink, or I mean a coffee?" she stammered remembering that he doesn't drink.
Danny just looked at her up and down. "No, I'm good," he replied in one of the sexiest voices she had ever heard.
And now, Kathryn felt completely unprepared. She wasn't sure what she was thinking or what she wanted. All she knew was that she didn't want him to leave. And then Danny made it easy for her. He walked toward her and gently caressed her cheek. Then they started kissing again as she closed and locked the door.
Before she even knew what was happening, Danny had her in her bedroom. She wasn't sure how he knew where it was, or how she was already half-undressed. Everything was like a dream. And then he gently lowered her to the bed while still kissing her passionately. He was moving above her in complete control, but Kathryn finally was able to think a rational thought when he moved away from her for a moment to finish undressing and to put his gun and cell phone on the nightstand. "Danny?"
"Yeah," he whispered as he lay down next to her lightly kissing her shoulder.
"Do you have…um…I don't have…."
"I have a condom. Don't worry."
"OK…good…uh…," Kathryn was nervous again.
Danny rolled so he was hovering above her. He kissed her again, and looked into her eyes, "You are so beautiful. I've thought that since I first met you. If you didn't drive me so crazy, I probably would have asked you out a lot sooner."
Kathryn laughed as he tried to put her at ease. "I want you…I want you to know that I don't usually do this."
"I know," Danny whispered.
"Is it that obvious?"
"No, it's….look…I like you and I want this. But we don't have to go through with it tonight. If you aren't ready, it's OK. I didn't expect this to happen when you walked into the office tonight."
Kathryn put her hand on his stubbled face, and traced a finger across his lips. Then she arched up to kiss him. They didn't say anything else to each other. They had sex, and after Kathryn felt a sense of fulfillment that she never felt before as she lay curled against Danny's stomach.
The next morning the fulfillment turned to dread as she reached over and found only a pillow. The apartment was silent. The bathroom door was open. It was obvious that Danny was gone. She took the pillow in her arms and held it close to her cheek. It smelled like him – clean and masculine. She still felt his presence all around her and inside of her. She was mentally chastising herself for getting so caught up in him. She wasn't even sure what it was that made him so attractive besides the obvious. She'd been out with attractive men before, but she never felt compelled to sleep with them. It was his eyes, his warmth, his charm….she thought. But it was also obvious that it wasn't the first time he had been invited to spend the night after a date….which they weren't even on a date so that made it worse. So much worse. Kathryn thought that he must have humored her because she seemed so needy. She would probably never hear from him again.
Kathryn somehow gathered the strength to make it to the bathroom and into the shower. As the let the water beat down on her, she tried to force the images from the night before from her brain. She wanted to regret it and to chalk it up as a mistake. But everything about it felt too good for that.
She made it to work that morning. Her morning was spent in court listening to the defense's pre-trial motions. And all she could think of was Danny's face, his hands, his body. She tried to shake herself from the thoughts after the judge asked her a question, and she had no idea how to respond. She somehow muddled through. When she returned to her office, she asked Shelly hopefully, "Any messages?"
"Nope, not a one."
Kathryn slumped down in her desk, and ran a hand through her blonde hair. And then she thought about Danny playing with her hair as she lay against his chest. He did that until she fell asleep.
"What's up with you?" asked Shelly.
"Nothing….nothing….nothing."
"Oh come on. You look a little flushed. Did you get enough sleep last night?"
"I don't know. It doesn't matter," Kathryn replied as she laid her head down on her desk.
Shelly laid her head down to look in Kathryn's eyes, "Oh my gosh. You had sex."
"What?" Kathryn responded defensively as she quickly lifted her head up.
"You had sex last night. I didn't even know you were dating anyone."
"How can you tell? Do you think everyone can tell?" Kathryn asked as she reached for a mirror.
"No one else can tell. I promise. I just know you. You have this satisfied yet totally freaked out look about you."
"Yep. That about sums it up. I'm a whore…that's what I am. What was I thinking?"
"So it wasn't a date….you had a one-night stand?"
"NO…at least I didn't think it was a one-night stand until he was gone this morning when I woke up."
"Oh, poor thing. Well, who is the mystery man?"
"You won't believe it."
"Try me."
"Danny Taylor."
Shelly let out a yelp and did a little victory dance. "I knew it. I knew it. I knew you had a thing for him. You have to tell me everything. EVERYTHING."
"Shel – I'm not feeling particularly good about it right now. I mean it was good…it was better than good…it was great, but the fact remains I slept with him and I don't even know where he lives. I don't know where he went to school or who his family is. He doesn't know anything about me…."
Shelly shook her head, "OK, let's back up. 'It was great'. What was great about it?"
"Shelly…" Kathryn said with a scowl.
"No, I'm serious. When's the last time you really had a good time with someone? Don't worry about the right or wrong of it. When's the last time you just did something for yourself?"
"It's been a while. Honestly, I haven't been with anyone since I broke it off with Richard two years ago. We were together for three years, and he was pretty much the only guy I ever…you know."
"So last night, Danny was the second guy."
"Yes," Kathryn replied sheepishly.
"Well then you were long overdue. And you said things weren't that great with Richard, right?"
"I never really understood the big deal about sex when I was with him. I think, after last night, I have a better appreciation for it." Kathryn said as she smiled shyly.
"Well then, even if Danny Taylor is stupid enough to let you get away, it was still worth it, right?"
Kathryn nodded, "Yeah, it was worth it. But it will still hurt if I don't hear from him. I really thought we connected. And he's a really nice guy, you know? I mean I know I said he was egotistical and difficult. But I think that is just the way he has to be in his job. Last night, he was warm and so polite. When I came back from the bathroom, he did that thing where he kind of stood up when I came back to the table. And then when we were walking to the restaurant I started walking by the street, and he kind of maneuvered me over so that I was on the inside of the sidewalk. Guys don't do that anymore. Of course, then he left without so much as a word this morning. So what do I know?"
Kathryn muddled through the rest of her day, and then made her way home. She walked into her apartment and collapsed on the sofa. As she lay there, tears started to well in her eyes. The truly sad part of all of this for her was that she was really starting to fall for him. Even before they went out, she felt a connection with him. As she lay on the sofa tears rolling down her cheeks, the phone rang.
Kathryn didn't really think anything of it. She just wiped her tears away, and answered, "Hello."
"Hey," Danny said cautiously.
Kathryn was startled when she heard his voice. "Danny?"
"Yeah, listen, I'm sorry…"
"How did you get this number?"
"Oh, well…I do work for the FBI. I could probably find the number of your childhood home, too."
Kathryn smiled, but then immediately got serious, "Right. Well what do you want?"
"I got a phone call early this morning. It was work. I had to leave in kind of a hurry because I had to go home before I went to the scene. I meant to leave a note. I promise. And then I was going to call you at work but I got caught in a five-hour interrogation. I'm sorry. There's no good excuse."
Kathryn let out a sigh, and her heart was pounding, "I think that's a pretty good excuse…as excuses go."
"So I get a second chance? We can go on an official date?"
"I'd really like that."
"Me, too. I'm still caught up in this case, but I promise I'll call you as soon as we wrap it up."
"Sounds good. Thanks for calling, and for a great night, last night."
"Well, I should probably thank you for that. Take care. I'll see you soon."
"Bye."
Kathryn hung up the phone and did a little victory dance of her own.
TBC