A couple of days later...

While Palmer was in her office, Riggs knocked on the door and said, "Didn't you get my flowers and the note?"

"I did..." she replied with a smiled.

"So..." Riggs shut the door behind him. "can you give me another chance?"

Palmer smile and then said, "Pick me up at the Hilton downtown. 7:30. Better not be late."

With that being said, Palmer walked out of her office. Riggs just smiled to himself because he knew he succeeded. Later on in the day, he found Roger and said, "So I have a date with Palmer this weekend."

"Finally! It's about time." Roger smiled. "Oh by the way, any word on your other girlfriend yet?"

"She's not my girlfriend." Riggs stated. "She's just got a crush. That's all."

"That is not a crush. She has some serious issues and I'm going to getting to the bottom of this if I need to." Roger stated.

At that moment, Riggs for a call saying there was a break in at the Applewood Apartment Complex.

"What's going on?" Roger asked concerned.

"There was a break in at the apartments I asked you to pick me up at." Riggs was about to head out.

Roger didn't have a good feeling about this. He thought it had something to do with Denise.

Riggs got to the apartment and went up the fifth floor that the supposed break in took place. He saw the door number looked familiar.

'This looks familiar.' He thought as he knocked on the door.

The door was opened by a dolled up Denise. She wore a sexy black backless halter dress with her hair in a messy bun. She wore a smoky eye shadow and red lipstick. This obviously wasn't a break in.

"You're just in time." Denise chuckled. "Please, come in."

Riggs reluctantly walked in the apartment and saw a table set for two. There was a bottle of red wine, a bowl of salad and bread on the table. The kitchen smelled like rack of lamb, his favorite dish.

"What is all this?" He asked.

"Oh...I wanted to thank you for helping me with my tire. I had to somehow get you here. So I feigned a break in." Denise giggled. "Take a seat. Dinner will be ready soon. I'm making rack of lamb and for dessert, Pastel de Nata or Portugese custard tarts."

Riggs was taken aback by all this. As Denise poured him a glass of wine, she noticed his face. "Is everything okay?"

"No...no...this is...inappropriate." Riggs got up from his seat.

Taken aback, Denise asked, "How so?"

Riggs took in a deep breath and started to speak, "Look, you're a beautiful girl and you seem to have a lot going for you but we can't ever be together. I'm not interested in you like that.

"Oh..." Denise looked confused and said, "Is there someone else?"

At that moment, Palmer came into Riggs' mind.

"As a matter of fact, yes. An ex girlfriend I still love." Riggs said. "Now if you will please excuse me."

As Riggs sought himself out, Denise started to hyperventilate. She took the pan of rack of lamb out of the oven and hit the pan against the sink, food falling on the floor. She threw the pan across the kitchen and started to scream. Panting from screaming, Denise said to herself, "We'll see who he loves."

Back in his truck, Riggs called up Roger and explained what happened.

"I think you are right...she is disturbed." Riggs stated.

That night, Riggs and Roger sat on the beach in lawn chairs, both sipping beers.

"I walked in...she had dinner ready for me." Riggs explained to Roger.

"I tried to explain to you she was crazy." Roger told him.

"How did I get into this position?" Riggs asked before sipping his beer.

"Well you did sleep with her." Roger joked earning a glare from Riggs. "Sorry but still."

Riggs took in a sigh and told Roger, "I mean...I'm sure that's all she wanted. Maybe she will take the hint and leave me alone. I did tell her about Palmer."

"Speaking of Palmer, what's going on there?" Roger asked.

"So far, we're going out to dinner and who know's after that?" Riggs answered.

Roger smiled at him and took a sip of his beer.

Unbeknowing to the two men, Denise was listening to the conversation. Who was this Karen Palmer and what effect did she have on Riggs? All she knew was he was taking her out Friday night to an upscale Mexican restaurant. Why was some other woman going to steal the man Denise loved away from her? She found herself hyperventilating. Tossing her phone to the side, Denise took in deep breaths and calmed herself down.

"No one will take him...no one!"

Friday night...

Riggs was dressed rather nicer than usual. He wore a casual blue shirt with grey jeans and his boots. He waited for Palmer to come down from her hotel room. Five minuets later, Palmer emerged from the elevator. Riggs got up from his seat and stopped in his tracks. She looked like an angel. She was wearing a short, white halter dress, white heels, pearl earrings and a messy bun with a pearl headband. She looked gorgeous. She wore light makeup, just foundation, mascara and lipstick. "Hi, Martin." She greeted.

"Karen." He nodded.

They looked at each other in silence for a few moment, not knowing the hotel concierge was looking at them and smiling. Riggs broke the silence and said, "Okay. Let's go! We don't want to be late for our reservations."

Karen took his arm. The hotel concierge gave her a thumbs up, indicating she was rooting for them. Palmer giggled in response before walking out of the hotel, heading to his truck. Meanwhile, from afar, Denise saw who Riggs was taking out. Who was this woman? And why was she making the man she loved laugh and smile like that? Once Riggs pulled out, she followed them to an upscale Mexican restaurant.