Lassiter retrieved his tie from the large knot of female employees with some difficulty and then returned to his paperwork, which he worked on for the rest of the day. He jumped every time anyone ventured to his desk to speak to him, afraid of being mobbed by a gaggle of cologne-crazed women. There was no way that a few cupcakes and a bonus were worth this constant state of apprehension and anxiety.
"Hey, Carlton." said a soft voice, startling Lassiter and causing him to draw a long line of pen across the report he was working on. He looked up to see Juliet standing in front of his desk. Just as Shawn Spencer had predicted, she was holding a red velvet cupcake, which she shyly presented to him.
"Here." she said simply. "I got that for you."
There was something so childlike and innocent about the small offering that Lassiter couldn't help but be a little taken aback. He accepted the gift with a quiet, "thanks." Juliet smiled and he couldn't help but reciprocate the expression.
"It's getting late." she said. Lassiter looked up and saw through the Venetian blinds that night had fallen on Santa Barbara.
"I just need to finish this report." he said, returning to his writing with a little more haste, eager to go home and shower off that accursed cologne. There was silence for a few moments.
"Are you doing anything tonight?" Juliet said at last. Lassiter stopped writing and slowly looked up at her.
"No."
Juliet grinned. "Wanna walk down to the pier and get polish dogs?"
Lassiter jumped out of his chair and snatched his jacket from where it was laying on top of his desk.
"More than anything."
He draped his coat over one arm and started walking toward the door with Juliet. Then, hesitantly, he put his other arm around her shoulders.
And she didn't shrug it away.
Maybe this cologne stuff wasn't so bad after all…
Fin