Chapter Four
First of Many
Alex stares at the elevator for at least a minute. She slowly walks back to her desk.
Why didn't I say anything? She stops walking
Why didn't he say anything? She shakes her head sure that any chance with him is over.
If he ever knew, what I was thinking. Oh my God. Let my imagination run away like that.
She lets out a sigh. All right, enough forget it…………for now.
She and Mike spend the next few hours searching Rollings apartment. After they return to the station, she starts in on her paperwork. As she takes a glance at the clock, she suddenly remembers that she was to join her sister's family at their home for lunch.
Damnit. I'll be late again.
She quickly straightens up her desk and leaves the station.
Her brother-in-law, Philip Daly, answers the door, "Hey Alex."
"Hi Phil, How are you?"
"Good. Come on in." As they hug, Laurie and Matthew enter the room.
The little boy runs up to her. Alex bends down to give him a hug. "Hi sweetie."
He is off and running within seconds. "Jesus the energy, they should find a way to bottle it."
Alex stands up and hugs her sister. "Sorry, I'm late."
Laurie shows no sign of anger toward her older sister. She is use to it. "It's alright, come on in."
They all enjoy a lunch of salads and sandwiches.
The sisters remain behind while Philip and Matthew have already left the table.
"Laurie I'm off." Philip says as he enters the kitchen. He kisses his wife goodbye. "I shouldn't be more than an hour." He turns to Alex and kisses her.
"Ok bye. Don't get lost in that store."
"See you later Phil." Alex says.
Alex turns to her sister. "Where's he going?"
"Lowe's, every time he goes to that store for one thing he comes home with three. I love him very much but mister handy he is not, but at least he tries."
The sisters laugh. Philip is a computer graphics designer.
The thought of him enters her mind. She has managed most of the afternoon not to think of him. She suddenly gets very quiet.
The sisters begin to clean off the table. Laurie suddenly realizes that she is doing all the talking. "Alex what's the matter?"
"Nothing."
"Bull, come on. I know when something is bothering you."
Alex pours a glass of iced tea and sits down. She lets out a sigh.
"Do you remember Vinny Morelli? I dated him after I graduated High School."
"Sure I do." She smiles at the memory of him. "I had a crush on him." Laurie sits down next to her sister. "Oh no did something happen to him?"
"No." She pauses. "I met this guy during out latest case and he reminds me of him."
Laurie decides that she could use some iced tea and pours a glass. "You mean the way he looks?"
Alex nods her head. "Yeah, except his hair is not blonde and he's not in his twenties. However, there is something more. I don't know what but I can't get him out of my mind."
Laurie flashes a smile remembering how Vinny looked. She picks out a pastry from the tray she has set on the table. "Is he a cop?"
"What difference does it make? What he does."
"Obviously you do or you wouldn't be snapping at me. I have met most of your boyfriends, Alex. Like that last guy, Greg something." Laurie points toward her living room. "He sits on that couch drinking my wine and criticizes me for being a stay at home Mom. First, I shouldn't have to defend myself to a stranger in my own home. But my sister," Raising her voice. "Sits there and says nothing."
Alex grabs her sister's arm. "Laurie I'm sorry, I have apologized to you more than once for that. Can you please let it go?"
"I know but it still bothers me that you could find someone like that attractive."
"Well he is very handsome."
Sarcastically Laurie says. "So"
Alex nods her head. "I know, I know."
"Ok I won't bring it up again." She takes a sip of tea. "So, who is this guy?"
"I don't know."
"What?"
"All I know is that he lives in Brooklyn rebuilds classic cars and motorcycles. He works at a hardware store. He's a widower and has two little boys. But I want to know everything about him, his favorite food, music, wine."
"Wine?"
"Yeah I noticed a wine rack in his house."
Laurie smiles, "So what's the problem?"
Alex stands up and pours the left over ice cubes into the sink. "I'm not sure. We have been dropping hints here and there that we're interested but neither one of us has gone any further."
"So you're waiting for him to say something and he's waiting for you to say something. Well it sounds to me that the both of you are thinking too much."
"You're probably right."
"Does he seem shy?" Because I know that sometimes you are."
"No not at all. That's what I don't understand."
"Laurie chuckles, "You said he was a widower, right?"
"Yes he is. His wife died two years ago."
"That's so sad." She says shaking her head. "It's possible that you're the first woman in a long time that he's been attracted to and maybe he's out of practice."
Alex has to smiles at the thought. "That makes sense. So what should I do?"
"Ask him out."
"I have never asked a man out in my life."
"Well it seems like this is the time to start."
"Laurie. What guy have you asked out?"
"Philip. I asked him out first."
"That's right."
"Call him up and ask him to dinner."
"I was going to ask him that this morning but I chickened out. I thought of the two of us sitting there in a restaurant being very uncomfortable."
Silence goes through the air.
Alex says with pride in her voice. "I know. I'll bring over dinner." She pauses. "But what if he thinks I'm pushy?"
"You're bringing over dinner. I can't think of too many guys who wouldn't appreciate something like that."
Laurie sits back in her chair. "I did that for Philip when we starting dating and I must say it was a very enjoyable evening."
"I'm gonna do it." Alex smiles as she sits back in the chair. She takes a bite out of her second cannoli. "Why am I eating these things?
Her sister picks up a pastry. "Because they're fantastic, nothing better that Italian pastries."
Alex drives back to her apartment she suddenly remembers that he was to work today until five. She changes her clothes and then goes to the market. By five-thirty, she is crossing the bridge on her way to Brooklyn.
She notices a black Chevy Avalanche parked in the driveway. The motorcycles are not there. For no more that thirty seconds she feels uncomfortable. She suddenly remembers that the last time she was here that same truck was on the street. She smiles to herself. It's his truck. She grabs the bags and is on the front steps within minutes.
She pushes the doorbell. No answer, Shit.
The door finally opens, his hair is wet and he's not wearing a shirt.
Wow. She takes a deep breath. Damn just like, I imagined.
"Did I get you out of the shower?"
"No I was in the pool." He pauses. "Detec…. Alex, I thought all this stuff with Stewart was over."
"It is. Do you have any plans for tonight?"
He shakes his head. "No." He gives her that same smile that he flashed the other day. The one that makes his eyes shine.
She returns the smile as she holds up the bags. "Have you had dinner?"
"No. Not yet, Jesus, I'm sorry, please come on in."
He steps aside as he holds the door open for her as she passes him. He closes the door and follows her into the family room. He picks up a T-shirt and puts it on.
"In the mood for a steak?"
He smiles. "Sure."
"I also brought burgers and hot dogs for the boys."
"That's very nice of you. Thank you. Here, let me help you with those." He grabs the bags and places them on the kitchen table. Alex follows him into the kitchen and begins to unload the bags.
Alex turns around quickly as two boys run into the kitchen. Bobby puts his hand up. "Whoa. Where are you going?"
The taller of the boys' answers, "Downstairs."
"You're wet, dry yourselves off first, Jesus, where's you brains."
The smaller of the boys says so his Dad is sure to hear. "We left em out here."
Alex has to laugh.
Bobby has to answer his son, "Wise ass."
As she continues to laugh, "You walked right into that one."
"That's for sure."
They grumble under their breath as they walk outside. They return within minutes followed by two other boys. Alex looks over at him.
"No. Just the first two, but they might as well be. They're here all the time." He shrugs his shoulders. "Ah. I don't really mind. I always know where they are."
She returns to unpacking the bag. He is standing behind her. She can feel him come closer as he puts his hand on her shoulder. She stands up straight and closes her eyes and moves back into him. He speaks very softly.
"Do you do this all the time?"
"What do you mean? Make dinner for people."
"No. That's not what I mean."
She shakes her head and she can feel his breathe on her neck.
Please hold me.
It's as if he can read her mind. "I want to hold you but if I do. I won't want to let go."
"I won't mind."
He breathes in her scent and steps back.
"The problem is that I can think of too many reasons not to. The kids downstairs playing video games and do you want the end before we had a beginning and middle."
She turns to look at him for the first time and smiles.
If this is, what love feels like. It's wonderful.
His mouth is inches from hers and he steps back again. "That's a beautiful smile you have. You should use it more often."
"It's nice to know that my first impressions of you were wrong."
"What's that suppose to mean." He says sternly.
She waves her hand across her face, "Nothing."
"If it was nothing you wouldn't have said anything." He moves to her side as he scratches the back of his neck. "Oh I see." He nods his head. Alex turns to look at him.
He steps back. "Well I was right about you," Pointing his finger in her direction.
"Right about me?"
"Yeah, My first impression of you, you're a snob."
"Excuse me."
"Like I'm saying something that you don't already know, I saw your face when I opened the door." He walks around her.
"I knew who and what you were expecting to see. Some low-life loser, Right?"
Her eyes widen.
I don't believe this guy.
He bends down to catch her eye.
She turns her head away. "Well maybe I should leave."
"Why?"
"Well obviously I'm wasting your time."
"It's my time and you're not wasting it. Are we afraid of a little confrontation?"
"No." She pauses. "You just called me snob."
"Yes I did. But you don't mean to be."
"You're analyzing me?"
"No just asking questions. And so far you haven't answered any of them."
He sits down. "Why is that? Afraid to let people know who you are?"
She sits down and shakes her head in amazement at the man sitting across from her. A soft chuckle comes from her.
"You're right." She pauses.
"I'm a cop. I stopped being Alex Eames a long time ago. Nevertheless, the thing is I love being a cop. It's so gratifying, especially when you know you're right. I never wanted to be treated like one of the boys but I didn't want them to think of me as just one of the girls either. Being a cop and being female, nothing has changed even in this century. We have to prove ourselves everyday and when I find myself in a situation where I know that I'm better at what I do then him, it's frustrating. After awhile Alex disappeared and Detective Eames took her place."
He moves his arm across the table and reaches for her hand. She accepts his hand in hers. She looks up at him and he can see her eyes filling up.
"Sorry."
"It's alright. Actually it felt good to finally admit that to myself."
He lightly squeezes her hand.
"So, do you want to talk about politics now?"
She wipes her eyes and begins to laugh. "With you, forget it."
He stands up as he holds her hand and she rises. He moves a lock of hair away from her face and she lowers her head. He lifts her head up by her chin and she welcomes his touch as she closes her eyes. He brushes his lips across hers. He tenderly kisses her cheek and then her neck. He holds her head close to his and whispers in her ear.
"You feel so good."
He suddenly steps back and touches the side of her face.
"I wish I could be reckless but I can't." Shaking his head, "Not anymore."
"Bobby?"
"Yeah," He says weakly.
She whispers. "I think you'd better light the grill now."
"I think you're right."
She smiles as he walks out onto the deck.
She exhales. Oh that man………….Is he for real?
She smiles………Yes he is.
TBC