When she got into the car Eddie still couldn't stop smiling. It was spring, and Jamie had asked her out finally – again – and the world was beautiful again. Well, technically, it wasn't – she still was partnered up with the greatest idiot probably in the whole NYPD history, and people were still fighting and robbing and killing each other – but somehow it couldn't reach her today.
"…understood? Hey!"
"What?" Frantically, Eddie looked around. What had she just missed?
Ed chuckled. "What's up with you women once the sun comes out, uh? Can you just for once be focused?" He paused to breathe, precious seconds Eddie normally used to snap back at him, even if she knew it was useless.
But today was different.
After several more seconds of clearing his throat, Ed stared at her. "Now come on, Eddie. What's up? Tell me!"
"What do you mean, partner?" Just a little reminder that they were equal in rank. Eddie smiled at the fat man, in her mind changing him for her TO. Four days till Friday.
Ed shook his head in complete confusion. "You're always crazy. But right now… oh please don't tell me you're a Valentiniac!"
"A what?"
"A fan of Valentine's Day. Those crazy fans always are something-iacs. Never noticed?"
She had, in fact, she knew Latin. But for Edmund Rickers this was a big improvement, and Eddie was too happy to fight, so she nodded approvingly. "I see. And no, not really. How about you?"
"Oh no, it won't be that easy!" Ed laughed nastily. "Paul told me about your visiting our room asking for a very special person to meet on a very special day? Friday night? February 14th? Ice skating in the darkness, skin on skin, and when you fall hell just fall onto you. Or into you if you're quick enough undressing. The commissioner's boy is pretty handsome, I guess… for a girl." His grin made Eddie's stomach turn.
"You know", Ed either didn't notice her despise or chose to ignore it as always, "I thought a tough girl like you would look for a man that's more… you know, manly. Someone with balls who knows how to handle a big girl. Or a little girl with a big gun."
Eddie closed her eyes with disgust. "Oh, just shut up."
Her thoughts were racing. Valentine's Day? Had Jamie really asked her out for Valentine's Day? This was getting way too fast, way too big now!
Or did he care for that day at all? Well, he had once been engaged so he probably would.
Sydney Davenport. Eddie bit her lips. That woman had left Jamie for London, but what if she decided to come back now? What if she realized her mistake and wanted him back?
The joy suddenly was dried up.
Eddie realized her partner was again rambling. She nodded absentmindedly.
Ed chuckled. "Really, princess?"
Eddie frowned. "Really what?"
He moved closer, his big hand landing on her knee. Eddie tensed but withstood the temptation of shoving him off. If he lost control over the car she would never find out why Jamie wanted to see her on Valentine's Day.
Suddenly the hand wandered upwards and sprang at her breast, squeezing it. Eddie froze for a second, then shoved him away. "Get your hands off me!"
Ed's sardonic grin widened. "Why, honey? Don't you want a foreplay?"
"Foreplay?" Eddie hoped that the contempt in her voice would conceal her horror. This was how it had started with Robert and Michelle. Just like that. Trapped in a car.
Ed's hand fell back into his lap, resting pleasurably between his legs. "I asked you to join me for Valentine instead of Reagan. And you know what that little up and down of your pretty head means? It means you're mine."