Love Is Your Color
Chapter 3: Dangerous Dates
It was Wednesday evening. Roxie looked at herself in the mirror. There were still 24 hours before her date with Nick, but she had to work tonight and that meant seeing him. She wore her hair in a ponytail tonight. She wore a bright purple and black-stripped top with plain black jeans. Tonight she was going to dress a little somber. She took a deep breath before walking away from the mirror and leaving her room.
Nick put his phone down. He had just reserved something special for the next night with Roxie. He smiled to himself. He hadn't expected Roxie to ask him, but he liked that she did. There was a knock at the door. Catherine walked in giving him a wave.
"Just wanted to see how things were with Roxanne and all." Catherine said as she leaned against an empty chair.
"Things are working out great. She is going through cases like crazy." Nick said thinking of Roxie. He couldn't help, but smile.
"What's that smile?" Catherine asked.
"Nothing…it's nothing." Nick said.
"You like her?" Catherine asked as she now sat in the empty chair.
"Maybe." He answered.
"I will admit I didn't see that coming, but she seems like a nice girl. A little on the young side for you, but nice." Catherine said.
"She's sweet and that girl can kick some ass. I've seen her do it." Nick said laughing thinking of feisty short little Roxie.
"Well with a name like Roxie. You've got to be tough." Catherine said laughing. "So are you going to make a move?"
"Roxie already did. She actually asked me out." Nick said.
"She asked you? Girl doesn't play around. I like that." Catherine said.
"Yeah, but I'm planning the date. It's tomorrow. I just made reservations at Jasmine the waterfront restaurant at The Bellagio and tickets for the Cirque show." Nick said smiling.
"You take a girl on a great date." Catherine said as she stood. "Let me know how it goes." She said giving him a smile before leaving the office.
Roxie walked into the lab and walked through the halls. She spotted Catherine leaving Nick's office. She knew he must have been in there. She made her way into his office. He looked up from his desk and gave her a smile. Roxie sat down in the chair that Catherine had just occupied.
"So I guess we're checking out another case." Roxie said happily as she reached into the box and pulled out a folder. Before opening the folder she looked up towards Nick and gave him a smile. "So what do I need to wear tomorrow night?"
"Umm I guess… Dress to impress." He said. Roxie nodded and took note.
Roxie then opened the folder and started to read the case notes. "This is an easy one." Roxie said as she closed the folder.
"Well get to it." Nick said. Roxie stood and smiled before leaving the office.
Roxie was so nervous. She was actually shaking. She sat on her couch fiddling with her newly dyed hair when the doorbell rang. She quickly stood. She didn't want to seem too eager and answer the door too quickly so she took her time getting to the door. She opened it to find Nick standing there. He was wearing a black suit with a white shirt and dark purple tie. She gave him a smile. He looked great.
"Hey Country Boy." Roxie said trying to not sound nervous.
"Rainbow. You ready?" Nick asked her. He looked her up and down. She looked amazing. She wore a lace detailed black fit and flare dress with a pair of black pumps. He then noted the change in her hair color. The pink and purple ombre at the bottom of her hair was gone and had been replaced with a bright red. "Your hair looks great."
"I'm ready and thanks. Decided it was time for a change." Roxie said happily as she touched her newly dyed hair.
Nick led her out to his truck and opened the door for her. Roxie smiled to herself at his politeness. They were off. Nick drove down the strip and stole a look at Roxie whose face was lit from all the lights. He liked watching her smile. Roxie turned towards him and caught him looking at her. She simply stuck her tongue at him. He laughed as she did so. They then pulled up to the Valet at The Bellagio Hotel and Casino.
"Oh fancy." Roxie said as Nick opened her door and took her hand. She got out of the truck.
Nick laced his fingers with hers as they walked. Roxie's heart was beating quickly as they walked hand in hand. They walked into the restaurant together. Nick held her hand as they walked to the podium.
"I have a reservation for 2 under Stokes." Nick said. He turned to Roxie and smiled. Roxie couldn't believe he was taking her to such a fancy restaurant.
"Yep I have you right here. Right this way Mr. Stokes." The hostess said. The two of them followed her to a table right by the window over looking the fountains. Nick pulled out a chair for Roxie. She sat and smiled up at him. He then took his own sat. The waitress handed them both a menu. "Your server will be by shortly." She said before walking away.
Roxie looked at her menu. Everything was so expensive and she was worried about what Nick was willing to spend or night. She bit her lip nervously because everything cost so much. She then lowered her menu where she saw Nick starring right at her.
"You are starring again." She said.
"Sorry. You just look very beautiful tonight." He said in response. Roxie tried not to blush.
"Thanks." She said sweetly. "I'm not sure what to order." She admitted.
"Me either. It all looks so good." He said.
"That too, but it's all so expensive." Roxie then said looking at him.
"That's no problem. Order whatever you want. I've got it." He said as he took her mahogany hand into his. He stroked her hand with his thumb. Roxie smiled in his direction. He was everything she could want and more. He was sweet, charming, strong, and handsome.
Dinner seemed to go quickly, but the food was amazing. As the waiter collected their final plates Roxie glanced outside at the fountains performing their show. She'd grown up watching them all the time. When she was younger and not having a good day her mom would always bring her down to watch the fountains. As she sat a single tear found it's way down her cheek. She then felt a finger wiping her tear away. She looked to see Nick looking at her concerned.
"It's fine. The fountains just make me think of my mom." Roxie then said. "She would bring me down to watch the show when I was feeling down."
"From everything you've told me about her so far she sounds amazing." Nick said as he sighed the credit card receipt.
"She is." Roxie said with a smile. Nick then stood and walked over to Roxie's side of the table. He put his hand out for her to take. She simply smiled and took his hand. He led her from the restaurant. Nick wanted to walk with her a bit before the show. They walked outside into the warm air hand in hand. They stood on a walkway above the Bellagio lake. He pulled her close to him. He thought back to that night they were undercover when she kissed him. He had been eagerly waiting the feel of her lips again since that night. Roxie smiled at him as he held her close. He took a hand and cupped her soft cheek in his hand.
"Can I kiss you?" Nick asked.
"Of course." Roxie breathed impatiently awaiting his lips.
He then came forward and softly pressed his lips to hers. Neither of them could explain the feeling that came over their bodies. It just felt merely amazing to be together in that moment. Roxie slipped her arms around the neck as their kiss deepened. Without warning gunshots rang out. Both of them dropped to the ground. Nick pulled himself over Roxie to protect her. Both of them were unarmed. Roxie did her best to see what she could. She could hear screaming from all around her and the sound of people running. She then heard the sound of tires squealing off. The gunfire stopped at that instant that she heard the tires. Nick then pulled himself off of her and pulled her up.
"Are you okay?" he asked as he cupped her face with his hands.
"I'm fine. I'm fine." Roxie said as she looked around. "What the fuck was that?"
"I don't know." Nick then said. They both looked around Roxie could see some people on the ground. She rushed over to the first person she saw. A young woman who had a gunshot to the abdomen. Roxie took her hands and pressed them against the woman's wound.
"Hello my name is Roxanne. I'm a CSI and I'm going to stay here with you until help arrives ok." Roxie said to the woman who was in hysterics. "Just calm down I've got you." Roxie then looked to see Nick caring for another victim. Nick looked over at Roxie. He couldn't believe what had just happened. That prefer moment had been shattered.
Roxie stood with her hands covered in blood. She stood alone still on the walkway where they had been. She saw Nick talking with Detective Brass. The woman whom she had stayed with died right before the paramedics had arrived. Her lifeless body still lied there. Roxie just looked down at the ground and at her bloody hands. Greg then walked up to Roxie.
"Hey umm. Glad you're ok." He said giving her a kind smile. During her time in the lab she had gotten to know everyone including Greg who shared the office with Nick.
"Yeah that was umm…special." Roxie said still replaying everything in her mind. She was trying to find one detail about that moment that she could remember to help, but nothing seemed to help.
"Alright Roxie you and Nick are allowed to go, but I hear Ecklie wants to talk to both of you at the lab." Catherine said as she approached. Roxie rolled her eyes. She looked over to Nick. His white shirt was covered in blood. Luckily the guy he was helping had survived and was expected to survive his injuries.
Nick walked to Roxie and handed her a towel for her hands. She simply smiled and took it cleaning the blood off her hands as best she could. She could feel everyone's eyes on them as they stood there. It was pretty obvious that they had been there together and now everyone knew it. When finished with the towel Greg took it for her. Nick then laced his fingers with hers not afraid of what anyone would think. The two of them made it down to the Valet to get his truck.
At the lab both of them changed into extra pairs of clothes that they had in their lockers. Roxie then walked down to Ecklie's office where the two of them were expected. She knew that it was going to have to do more with their relationship than the situation that just happened. When she walked inside she saw that Nick was already there. She took the seat next to him. He gave her a small smile. She couldn't help, but smile back.
"Alright…Firstly I am glad the two of you are ok." Ecklie started. "But we have some issues. The issue being that the two of you have been working closely together and the two of you seem to be involved."
"That's right." Nick answered plainly. He took Roxie's hand into his. He in that moment didn't care what Ecklie or anyone else thought. He enjoyed spending time with Roxie and was going to continue no matter what anyone else said.
"So how long as this been going on?" Ecklie asked.
"Umm about 5 hours now." Roxie said as she looked at her watch.
"5 hours?" Ecklie answered. "Come on really how long have the two of you been having an intimate relationship?"
"Well tonight was our first date. It started 5 hours ago. Now for intimate I am guessing you are assuming that we are sleeping together." Roxie started. She was now fired up. "This being our first date we haven't gotten towards intimate, but hey you might be a sex on the first day kind of guy. I'm guessing you are Conrad." Nick was trying his best to not laugh. Roxie had a tongue on her and she knew how to use it.
"Enough Ms. Jones." Ecklie then said.
"I think what Roxanne is trying to say here is that this is a fairly new relationship. We haven't discussed where we go from here. There wasn't enough of a relationship established to be reported at this point. Of course it is being reported now and we promise to keep things professional around the lab." Nick said saving Roxie's behind from some serious consequences with her smart mouth.
"The problem we have here Mr. Stokes is for the time being you are Ms. Jones' supervisor and the two of you are working together. I know you aren't normally on the same shift, but for now you are. I'm going to let this slide, but if anything comes up and the two of you put a toe over the line and things become less professional I will have to take action." Ecklie explained.
"Sounds fine." Nick said looking at Roxie.
"Ms. Jones?" Ecklie questioned. "Is that clear?"
"Crystal." Roxie said with a smirk on her face.
"Alright the two of you may go. Go home and get some rest." Ecklie then said. Both Nick and Roxie quickly stood and made their way from the office.
"I can't believe you said that to him." Nick said to Roxie as they walked into his office.
"Well he asked a question… I answered." Roxie said simply giving him a smile.
"I guess I'm driving you home." Nick said.
"You did pick me up." Roxie answered as she picked up her purse that she'd left in his office when they got there.
"Let's go." Nick said as he took her by the hand. Heads turned as the two of them walked hand in hand. Roxie smiled to herself.
They sat in the car in front of her apartment. Roxie didn't want the night to end. Even though their date was ruined there was still time to salvage it. She turned to him. He looked at her and held her hand tightly in his. Nick looked into her cinnamon colored eyes. He couldn't explain the pure and simple connection he had with her. He leaned forward and cupped her cheek bringing her into a kiss. Roxie smiled against his lips. She loved kissing him. He was so gentle with every kiss he gave her. Roxie then pulled away and looked at him.
"Do you want to come up?" she asked looking into his eyes. She could only hope he would say yes.
"Yeah." Nick answered. The two of them got out the truck.
They walked together to her apartment. She unlocked the door and they walked inside together. Once inside Roxie closed the door and turned to him. They both nearly ran at one another. Nick pulled her into a strong passionate kiss; his tongue entering her mouth. Roxie pulled him towards the couch. They fell on it together in a passionate entanglement of kisses. Nick wanted all of her right there, but he wasn't going to cross that line just yet, not on their first date. He wanted to savor this romance with her before they went further.