Chapter 3
Warrick and Sara made their way across the field of grass, weaving around various balloons. They finally stopped in front of an enormous yellow one with a huge smiley face on it. Sara grinned up at Warrick and said, "Cute!" "You'll understand when you meet him," Warrick replied with a laugh.
A short black man with wild curly hair jumped out of the basket and headed toward them with a huge smile. The man couldn't help but notice his friend's hand intertwined with the lovely brunette's. "Rick my man," he said. "What's up Reggie?" Warrick said giving his friend an affectionate slap on the back. "Hey man, I'd like you to meet my friend and co-worker Sara Sidle. Sara this is my good friend Reggie Lewis. We go way back."
Sara glanced at Warrick touched that he had called her his friend first. As she held out her hand she said slyly, "Way back huh? Maybe later you can give me a little dirt on our friend here that I could use in the future." Reggie laughed as he ignored her hand and pulled her into a hug. "I like this girl already," he said as he released her. "I'm glad I got to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you."
Surprised Sara turned and looked at Warrick. If she'd of known him better she would have sworn he was blushing. Reggie however did and he blinked in amazement. Big, bad Warrick Brown was embarrassed. Reggie shifted his gaze back to Sara. She was looking at Warrick with the smallest of smiles on her face. Reggie shook his head. Something was going on between this two.
Sara turned back to him and said, "I'm really not as bad as he made me out to be. My bark is worse than my bite." Reggie's eyes shot to Warrick's. "Mmmm," he thought, "They have some serious history." This was getting better by the minute. He smiled as Warrick become more uncomfortable by the second. He decided to have a little fun with his friend.
"I must have missed that chapter. You'll have to fill me in later. He usually refers to you as the leggy brunette with the big mind and mouth too match." Warrick groaned and covered his face with his hand. Sara's eyes widened in surprise and then she started to laugh. "Leggy brunette huh?" she said grinning at Warrick. "I didn't ..."Warrick started but Reggie interrupted. "No he really didn't say that. I've only heard about how smart you are and how dedicated you are to the job. He also told me you were fine looking but he failed to mention how extremely sexy you are with those long legs and that incredible smile."
Sara felt her face flush as she looked away embarrassed. "Oh she blushes too. You keep getting more appealing by the second." Reggie laughed.
Warrick finally regained his composure and said, "Hey man quite hitting on her. You've already got a girlfriend." "I know but I can't help myself when I'm around a beautiful woman." Reggie said with a flirty grin. Sara blushed again and looked down at the ground. "I've got a couple of things to do before we take off. I'll be back in a few." With that said he was gone, leaving Warrick and Sara alone.
"Hey Sara I'm really sorry about that. I hope he didn't embarrass you too much." She shook her heard looking up at him. "No I'm just not use to someone I don't know flirting with me and giving me compliments." Warrick raised his eyebrows in confusion. "It's not like I have a bunch of guys lined up to ask me out. I'm not what you call head turning material." Sara said quietly.
Warrick looked at her not sure how to respond. Not wanting to hear what she thought his silence implied, she interjected, "So you didn't tell your friend what a bitch I was when we first met?" He looked away for a moment before meeting her curious brown eyes. "I wasn't to proud of myself then and I definitely didn't want anyone to know that a beautiful know-it-all white woman had to put me in my place." He said with a small smile.
Her eyes widened slightly and she whispered, "That's 3 times you've said that. Why?" "Said what?" he asked confused. "Beautiful you keep saying it," she answered. "Because you are. Why do you act so surprised?" "I just never thought you saw me that way," she said quietly looking away embarrassed.
"Sara," he said gently cupping the side of her face, "I think you're incredibly intelligent, extremely dedicated and very beautiful." "Oh," she said softly staring into his amazing eyes. With their eyes locked on one another Sara felt a spark of heat begin to stir in her belly. Warrick watched her faced flush a bright pink and her eyes ignite with what he could have sworn was desire. He felt her skin heat beneath his fingertips and a wave of want raced though his body.
They jumped when Reggie stuck his head between them and said, "Are you two going to stare at one another all morning or are we going for a balloon ride?" Sara was the first to pull, extremely embarrassed to be caught mooning at Warrick.
Warrick watched her hurriedly follow Reggie to the balloon. He groaned silently, thinking maybe taking her wasn't such a good idea after all. He was feeling way too many emotions about her right now. But what surprised him was the look in her eyes. Did she actually think of him as more then a friend? Just that small possibility made him feel just a little bit too happy. Christ what the hell was he going to do? He just hoped he'd be able to remain cool in the close proximity of the basket flying across the sky.
Warrick picked up the picnic basket and sauntered over to them. Reggie was helping her into the basket and he couldn't help but give Warrick a knowing grin. Warrick just shook his head and climbed in. He groaned silently when he saw exactly how little space there actually was.
Within 15 minutes they were floating high above the ground, moving gently with the wind. Sara had avoided eye contact with Warrick as much as possible. She kept up a constant chatter with Reggie, asking as many questions as she could think of.
Warrick watched her as she took in everything that Reggie was telling her. He could see her mind absorbing all the information Reggie was explaining. He loved how her mind worked. She was one of the most intelligent people he had ever met and he enjoyed some of the debates they would get into. He smiled when he remembered her spontaneous human combustion theory. He knew if he ever brought it up she would kill him.
Sara could feel his eyes on her and she tried not to blush. She wasn't exactly sure what was happening between them but it made her nervous. Warrick wasn't supposed to say that she was smart or beautiful. He was crossing her set line of comfortable friendship. He was making her feel things she didn't want to be feeling especially for him.
Sara turned at the sound of his voice when he asked if she was hungry. She said thanks to Reggie and gingerly stepped toward Warrick. The basket swayed slightly and she felt herself stumble forward. Warrick moved to help her and they ended up with their arms wrapped around each other. She smiled shyly up at him and said "Sorry."
Warrick just smiled down at her and released her slowly, keeping a hand on her arm to steady her. "I've got cinnamon rolls, danish, and muffins. What would you like?" "Mmm a cinnamon roll to start." Sara said with a grin. He smiled at her as he handed her the roll and a small bottle of orange juice.
They ate in silence enjoying the magnificent scenery surrounding them. When they finished eating, Sara looked at him and said, "Thank you. This is absolutely wonderful." He grinned warmly at her and said, "You're welcome. I'm just glad you're smiling." She laughed and said, "Who wouldn't be. I've got an incredible view and 2 handsome men to look at." "Hear that Brown. She thinks I'm handsome." Reggie said with a smirk. "She only said that cause you're flying the balloon." Warrick said with a grin. "Warrick," Sara said as she gave him a smack.
"That's right Leggs keep that man in his place." Reggie said with a chuckle. Sara laughed and said, "I do my best, but that big mind and mouth of his get him in trouble sometimes." "What," Warrick cried, "I agree I definitely have a huge mind but my mouth is not big." Sara just rolled her eyes at him. "Are you going back me up Reg or what?" Warrick asked his friend. "Oh you're own your own with the lady but I have a feeling she knows you quite well pal." Reggie replied with a huge grin.
Warrick turned and looked at a grinning Sara. He was about to continue the discussion when he noticed her rubbing her arms. "Are you cold?" he asked. "A little," she answered. "I forgot to remind you to bring a jacket. Sorry." "Here, "Reggie said as he tossed her a sweatshirt with a yellow balloon with a smiley face on it. She laughed as she pulled it on. "Thanks," she said with a grin. She ran her hands through her hair trying to smooth it down. "It looks fine Sara, Warrick said, "I like it natural and wavy."
Their eyes met again and Sara looked away, embarrassed by his words. He cursed himself for making her uncomfortable yet again. He watched her shiver again and asked, "Are you still cold?" "I'm fine," she answered. "I know the best remedy for that," Reggie said. They both turned and looked at him. "Sara, you stand if front of Warrick with you back to him. Warrick you face her back, now Warrick wrap your arms around her." Both of their heads whipped around and looked at him. "What?" he laughed, "It works."
Reggie stood there holding back his laughter as Sara and Warrick awkwardly tried to find a comfortable position. Finally Warrick just pulled her up against his chest and wrapped his arms around her. He had never seen his friend so nervous around a woman before. They obviously had feeling for each other but neither had any idea how to act on them. He would just have to give them a friendly push in the right direction.
Reggie knew Warrick was ready to settle down but he had yet to meet the right woman. Because Sara was a CSI she knew how difficult and demanding the job was. Many of the women Warrick dated could never understand his love for his job and his ungodly work hours. Sara however did. She seemed to share the values that drove Warrick. To the observing eye they seemed perfect for one another. Reggie already knew from past conversations with Warrick that he and Sara made a great team at work. Warrick had briefly mentioned their not so friendly beginnings but he said they had moved passed it, obviously to something deeper then either one realized.
Reggie silently watched as Warrick quietly said something in her ear causing her to turn slightly in his arms and smile up at him shyly. She shook her pretty head and laughed before turning to look out at the amazing view. Oh yeah the spark was there. Now he just had to find a way to ignite.
TBC
