Disclaimer: I don't own CSI..rawrr.
A/N: We're winding down on this story. However, I've got another one planned in the works. Enjoy!
Chapter 9:
Greg couldn't believe how well his earlier lunch with Riley went. Ever since he'd been grinning like an idiot. Even walking into work, he was all smiles.
"Greg what's with the smile,'' Grissom said as he walked into the lab. ''Any particular reason?''
Greg shook his head. ''Just had a good cup of coffee today.'' He explained.
''Or he could have a little crush,'' Nick finished walking in with a clipboard in his hand.
Grissom raised an eyebrow.
''Greg fancies the child services worker'' Nick filled Grissom in.
Grissom nodded. "The redhead?"
Nick nodded, a grin on his face.
"Riley Parrish, right?" Grissom asked.
Greg was surprised. First Warrick, now Grissom, how many people does Riley know? "Yeah, that's her. How do you know her?"
"Never Say Die," Grissom stated, matter-of-factly.
"The Bond movie?" Greg asked.
"The cockroach," Grissom replied. "He came in third if I remember."
"She races cockroaches?" Nick laughed.
Greg shot him an evil look.
"Well, if I remember correctly, she has retired from racing. Which is a shame," Grissom added.
"Why's that?" Greg asked.
"You don't get many beautiful women racing cockroaches," Grissom responded.
Nick laughed again. This was just too good to be true.
''Nick doesn't get many beautiful women at all'' Greg shot back shrugging. That made Nick shut up. Greg grinned at him.
Catherine walked in and paused. ''I'm sensing some tension in this room''
''Nick's just jealous about this beautiful children's services worker we met a few weeks ago and she decided to be my friend. Not Nick's'' Greg responded before Nick could.
''She wasn't his friend until last night! Not until he got her wasted'' Nick pointed out. He gave a know it all look.
'Wait,'' Catherine said thinking ''Does she have red hair?''
''Ok, so how do you know Riley?'' Greg asked flatly. It seemed like he was missing something with everyone.
''Mutual friend. She babysat Lindsey a few times before she went into children's services'' Catherine responded. ''Wasn't she into political science before?''
Nick grinned. ''Your dealing with a politician Greggo?''
"Riley is not a politician," Greg responded, as Sara walked in.
"Riley, the red-headed children's services worker?" she asked.
Greg was incredulous. This was getting ridiculous! "How do you know her? And how come I never met her before?"
Sara smiled, she liked Greg's aggravation. "Firing range. She's a mean shot, so watch out!" She laughed.
He got to the coffee shop before her. So he found a table and sat. Greg picked up a flyer from a local band on the table and started reading it.
He didn't even see Riley walk in and jumped a little when she sat down. He almost didn't recognize her when he looked up.
This was not the same Riley Parrish. She looked happier and calmer. She was even smiling. He noticed her auburn hair was slightly wavy today and it brought out her blue eyes immensely—even more than before. Or was it just Greg's imagination? Was he just looking at her in a different state? Snap out of it Sanders. He slapped himself in his mind.
"Hey," he greeted setting the flyer down. He leaned across the table and kissed her hard. ''Sorry, I thought about that all day'' he blushed sitting back down. Riley smiled.
"Interesting reading?" she joked, pointing at the pamphlet.
"Huh?" he responded.
"You jumped when I sat. I figured you must have been engrossed by something," she smiled.
He winced, she had noticed his jump. "Just reading about a band playing tonight. Thought I might check it out since it's my scheduled night off."
She picked up the flyer and looked at it. "Looks interesting,'' she stated
He smiled. He knew what she was getting at. "Yeah," he agreed with her.
They sat looking at their menus for a few moments. ''How was your meeting earlier?'' Greg asked.
Riley rolled her eyes. ''Pretty much like 20 questions,'' she sighed putting her menu down. ''They wanted to know a lot about my career, surprisingly. So, um, how're you?" Riley asked
"Tired. I spent most of the night being told stories by coworkers who know you," he laughed. "You?"
She blushed a little. "I'm pretty tired myself," she responded. Then questioned, "Who are your coworkers?"
"Gil Grissom, Warrick Brown, Catherine Willows…" he told her.
She nodded at each name. It seems they did know a lot of the same people. "Yeah, I've been around."
Greg gave her a playful wink. ''Bad girl! But I forgive you,'' he grinned. "Only because I know where you live."
''Yea, only because you were afraid to give me your address first,'' she accusingly joked back.
Greg laughed. ''You were brutal, what can I say.'' He smiled at her.
''Ouch, Greg,'' Riley put her hand to her heart smiling back.
''You're really something else, Riles,'' Greg shook his head.
''RILES, Where did you hear that!'' Riley snorted and burst into laughter. ''My dad called me that when I was a kid!''
"You only referred to yourself as it when you proceeded to tell me your life story,'' Greg smiled. Riley's mouth dropped and he quickly added, "It's called blackmail hunny,'' and winked at her.
Riley sat back folding her arms with a grin. She shook her head. "Note to self: don't drink anymore until tolerance is built back up!"
Greg laughed. "Yeah, that might be a good plan."
"So, what's my blackmail?" Riley slyly asked.
Greg let a big grin creep across his face. "I don't know…yet. But it will be big."
She laughed at his silly grin. "Uh-oh!"
The rest of the meal and conversation went well. They didn't realize how much they actually had in common, even though they were so different. Riley wanted to spend the entire day with Greg, but she knew she couldn't.
She looked at her watch. "I've got to get going," she told Greg.
He glanced down at his. "Yeah, me too," he responded.
"So, uh, tonight? Corduroy Skin?" she hesitantly asked.
He smiled. "It's a date."
"Great!" she exclaimed and they left.
Now all she had to do was stay calm until tonight. But she knew how to distract herself. If she was going to see a band at a club, she could use a new outfit. She decided she'd go to the mall.