Chapter 18

"Hey, Romeo," Paul teased the next morning. "Guess you finally got to second base with your lady, huh?"

"Who the hell…" Brian began, then had a thought. "You talked to Joey, didn't you?"

He nodded. "I heard the whole thing about how she busted you playing tonsil hockey during Lord of the Rings. Nice make out movie, man."

"I'm going to kill that kid," Brian sighed. "And keep your damn voice down, will you? I don't need the whole precinct knowing my business. What are you doing here anyway?"

"Talking to the Captain. He, uh, needed some advice on a case he's working on."

Brian eyed him suspiciously. "Since when does Shields get case advice from private dicks?"

"Well, I've been used before," Paul said, indicating the now-closed Galloway case. He was doing his best to cover the real reason for speaking with Captain Shields and hoped it was working.

"Must be something he's really looking at to call you down here," Brian nodded.

"Yeah, maybe he'll hand it to you," Paul grinned.

"Fine and dandy, but after the whole Galloway thing, I could use a break for a couple of weeks."

"Yeah, believe it or not, the captain kind of said the same thing. So have you and the woman–"

Brian cut him off. "No, Paul, we haven't slept together if that was what you were about to ask. I'm not like you; I can't just fuck anything with a pulse. I'd like to take some time to know a woman before doing anything that serious, thank you."

"Don't know what you're missing out on, blondie," Paul teased. And the chicks will really be after you when Shields delivers the good news, he thought.

"Shut up, Paul." Brian rolled his eyes. "I know Lorelei isn't exactly in your league, but not only is she perfect for me and has actual values, but also she and Joey like each other. And rest assured, when it came down the choice of some woman or my kid, the kid is going to win, so any woman that accepts Joey is a bonus in my book."

"And has a big ass," Paul added.

"That too. Now, any other smart remarks?"

"No, outside of the thought that a chick would want a short dude," Paul laughed.

"Is it really that shocking that there is a woman in the world that would choose brains over beauty?" Brian shot him a dirty look. "You know, you should try boning up on your own smarts once in awhile, and you'd actually land a good woman. In the meanwhile, I plan to enjoy the one I have. And you can thank both my daughter and partner for running interference in bringing us together. God knows what I would have missed out on otherwise."

Meanwhile:

"Hey, everyone," Lorelei breezed in.

The room went silent, with everyone staring at her, something not lost on Lorelei.

"What?" she asked. "Can't a girl change her look once in awhile?"

"Who are you and what did you do with the girl we knew that wore glasses and pulled her hair back?" Eva teased.

"She's gone," Lorelei smiled.

Indeed the old one was; gone were the ponytail or a bun at the nape of her neck and now her dark hair hung over her shoulders, held back with a stylish yet simple headband. Lorelei had also put away her glasses and wore contact lenses, wearing makeup that accentuated her stark blue eyes.

"Damn girl, you and the detective are getting pretty hot and heavy now, huh?" Yvette asked. "First you go out for coffee, then the movies, then the lieutenant's retirement party, move in together, and here you are getting a new look. Of course, you couldn't pick a better time, being he could be about–"

She couldn't finish. Callie clapped a hand over her mouth. "Yvette!" Callie admonished her.

"Wait, no. Brian could be about what?" Lorelei wondered.

"Well, now that Vette let the cat out of the bag," Eva explained, "there's been some rumors going around that Brian could be the new replacement to help Captain Shields head up the Major Case Squad, especially since it just came out he'd passed his lieutenant's exam. Thing is, everyone's keeping it on the down low because one, nothing's been confirmed that the captain made his decision yet, and second, no one's even sure there's lieutenant's postions in general open in that department anyway."

"They're really considering him?" Lorelei was both shocked and elated.

"That's the word, but again, keep it quiet. No one knows for sure."

"Captain Shields is making an announcement next week," Callie added. "From what his secretary told us, there's going to be a press conference."

"This is amazing," Lorelei breathed. "But whoever it is, wouldn't they have to be notified first?"

Callie nodded. "More than likely. I don't think I would like the idea of my being told I was getting a promotion in front of the press. I'd prefer a head's up first."

Lorelei smiled and all but floated to her desk. "Come to think of it, so would I. Nevertheless, I think the next two weeks will be interesting."