Chapter 8

When Natalie got into her car, she picked up her phone and called Monk. "Hey baby."

"Hey, where are you?" He asked.

"I'm on my way. I had to make sure Julie had something to eat. I'll be there in about 10 minutes."

"Ok, well the door will be unlocked so you don't have to knock."

"Adrian, do I ever knock? I'll see you in 10 minutes, I promise." She said turning a corner.

"I love you Natalie." Monk said smiling, even though she couldn't see him she could tell he was smiling.

"I love you too." And with that they hung up. Natalie looked at her phone, held it to her chest, and breathed deep. She was right; she was falling for him. She smiled to herself and placed her phone back in her purse.

Monk was moving around the room in a hurry to make everything perfect. He hadn't cooked for a woman in almost 12 years. About 5 or 6 minutes later he heard Natalie's car pull up outside. He was still in the dinning room fixing the table when she walked in the door.

Natalie walked in the door and knocked. "Hey baby I'm here."

"I know…" He said walking out of the dinning room and into the hallway, "and I thought you never knocked." He hugged her, "Are you ready to eat?"

"Yeah." She said while Monk was taking her coat. He led her into the dinning room where there was a beautiful candlelight dinner. "Adrian, it's beautiful. How did you do this in just an hour and a half?" She asked him, and he gave that 'do you remember who I am' look. She smiled at him and sat down while Monk poured the wine. He filled their glasses so that they had the same amount, and sat in his seat.

Outside, Stottlemeyer and Randy were sitting in their car watching Monk's door. "What are they doing?" Randy asked.

"I don't know. She isn't dropping anything off because she didn't walk in with anything, and she has been in there for 30 minutes. I asked her if anything was going on, and she said no, but when we were in the observation room I could've sworn I almost saw them kiss." Stottlemeyer said still looking at the door.

"Wait, so you think Monk and Natalie have something going on? And that is why we are following her?" Randy asked.

"Yeah." Stottlemeyer said sounding a little embarrassed.

"Well they must have something going on because she was dressed really nice and she has been in there for half an hour…so what do you want to do about this?" Randy asked. They were both looking at Monk's door.

"There's nothing we can do…I just don't think he can take getting hurt again." Stottlemeyer said placing a hand over his eyes.

"What makes you think Natalie would hurt him? Have you seen they way they look at each other when they are at a crime scene or at the station? It makes me jealous sometimes. I mean 2 beautiful women in one lifetime, and I can't even get one." Randy said looking up to the sky as if he were talking to God.

"You're right Randy. Come on, I'll buy you a drink." Stottlemeyer said driving to Pastor's Tavern on Pearl St. (the bar with the fish.)