They sit quietly for some time in the swings, neither quite knowing how to proceed or what to say.
Rick finally offers, "Kate, I know you are fearful of what I might do with the knowledge of Emerald and the serious harm you think it could do to your NYPD career. You have to believe I will never mention anything to anyone about you or your history in California. How can I prove this to you?"
Kate replies, "I don't know. I don't think you would purposely tell anyone or put in one of your books my connection to Emerald. However, how do I know in one of your frequent Page Six dalliances you won't let it slip?"
Rick was taken aback at Kate's assertion, and somewhat hurt, also.
He replied to her, his voice deadly serious now, "Kate, I am not the person you see on page six. Sure I have had my lapses of judgment, but the page six image of me is simply a persona issued to the public by my agent and publisher to boost book sales. Nearly all of the women I have been seen with on page six are ones for the purpose of arm candy for a single night. I am not denigrating them, but they were asked by my agent, Paula, to accompany me to the book launches or premieres or charity events or wherever else you have seen in the gossip rags. Not since San Francisco have I taken one of them home with me, neither have I stayed the night with them. I have been with no one since our night in San Francisco. You have had that type of effect on me and there is nothing I can do about it, even if I wanted to. You are such a force that I have not been able to forget you or get over you. I can't move on."
Kate didn't know what to say. She was well aware there was a connection between them, but was dumbfounded at Rick actually admitting it, and to the extent he had been taken in by her charms. She had to know more.
"Rick, who do you want, me or Emerald? Are you enamored with the woman or the mystery of the character I invented in an L.A. club? I am not that person, especially now. I have changed and I'm not sure you will like who I am now."
"I'm not sure about that. I very much like what I see sitting next to me in a swing," he teased. "You are more mature now, but I see a pain and sadness in your eyes not present in San Francisco. Something dreadful happened to you, probably just after our night in San Francisco.
By the way, I like this little park, but maybe simply because you are in it with me. You are really cute in your swing, round it out very nicely, I might add."
She slapped him playfully on the arm, saying, "Quit looking at my ass."
"Hey, how can I not look at your ass? Your legs and ass are awesome. Remember, I have seen you without a stitch and you are delectable."
"How did this conversation get to here so fast, 'Ricky'? I need to know you will protect my reputation for the police force and you are focusing on my ass?"
Rick came back with, "Ok, there is something you need to know about me. When I'm nervous, or afraid, I respond with humor and joking. I will always try to lighten the mood. When I am cornered, I try to deflect the conversation with tomfoolery so I don't have to deal with the hard cold reality of the conversation. Sometimes it works, but many times I am in deeper than before. I do not want to offend you with my humor, but that is my way. Please don't hold that against me."
"Yeah fine, but you don't have to do that with me. I want to be honest with you and you with me. You can make jokes and have fun all you want until we get to a serious conversation and then I want you to be just as serious. This is one of those times. . . Oh, and thanks for the compliment about my ass," she smiled.
Once again, there is silence on both their parts. They simply sit swinging slightly, noticing they are in perfect sync with their swings. They wonder if they can get their life in the same sync.
"OK, Kate, here is what I want. I would like to meet you for a casual dinner somewhere we can be alone, but still in public. I know a lot of places like this so it won't be a problem with finding those small getaways. We can continue this line of thought there if you wish, or we can talk about anything else you might fancy. We can even go now if you would like."
"I would like that. But first, I need to tell you something. I did not intentionally avoid you or run out on you in San Francisco. I had a family tragedy and had to return home before I had a chance to talk to you. That is the sadness you referred to earlier. I felt very much as you did in California, but did not have the time to let you know. I had no idea who you were until I found your picture on the dust jacket of a Storm book. That is why I came to the book signing. As I said in L.A., I'm a private person. I have a difficult time expressing myself in words, leaning more to action to express myself. Please believe me when I tell you I felt a very powerful attraction to you in San Francisco. I would like to find out if it still exists. Let's go eat".
"But don't ogle my ass!"
Rick stands from the swing, offers her his arm and gives her his 'melt-your-heart' smile, "Can't promise anything about what I watch. Other than it will definitely be you and not any other woman out there. I can't imagine a more perfect vision than you, so if I look at your butt or your long legs, please understand you have me under your spell. It's all your fault, standing there in those skinny jeans."
Kate laughs and says, "Alright, Casanova, let's go eat."
Rick hails a cab and places his hand on the small of Kate's back to lead her to the cab.
'Just another proof of his gentle character', Kate thinks. He treats her as a lady anywhere and at all times. She likes that.
They arrive at a small Italian place and Rick is warmly greeted by the portly gentleman who is the proprietor of the establishment. Rick hugs him passionately, slapping him on the back during the hug. He shows Rick and Kate to a quiet out of the way table in a secluded corner of the room. Very private.
"He obviously knows you quite well. Come here a lot?" Kate asks.
"We do come here quite a bit. " Rick answers.
"We?"
Rick smiles at the question, "Yes, we. I bring Alexis here all the time."
"Alexis?" Kate wonders if he has a woman in his life that he sees regularly. Who is this Alexis and who is she to Rick?
Rick smiles affectionately thinking about her. Kate can see he has deep seated feelings for this person. Is it an old flame, someone in his life now or in the past?
Rick looks back at the quizzical expression on her face and laughs loudly.
"Oh Kate, you should see her. She is one of the most exquisite girls I have ever seen. She is beautiful, very smart and has the most beautiful long red hair. She is my favorite lady."
Kate's face immediately fell and she looked at her plate instead of Rick. Rick just continued to smile.
"Is she someone very special to you?" Kate quietly asked, wondering if he really did have another person in his life and she was not as special as he had indicated.
Rick smiled at her and simply replied, "Yes, she is very special."
Kate was about to leave until she saw Rick's big grin, the one that consumes his entire face. He placed a hand softly on her forearm, beseeching her to stay.
"Oh, Kate, Alexis is the most important person in my life. She is the pride and joy of my existence. And… she is my…"
Kate was sure he was going to say wife or fiancée or something like that.
Rick finished his sentence, "daughter."
Kate was astonished. She didn't know he had a daughter and told him so.
"I'm very protective of her and keep her from the media circus that is my life. There is no confusion as to where she stands with my agent and publishing company. If they want me to work with them, Alexis stays out of the public eye, pure and simple. I'm protective of her, just as you are of yourself. That, Kate, is why you didn't know who she was. I'm sorry if you thought she might have been someone else, but the look on your face was priceless. And, for your information, I have never brought another woman to this place before you. It is my and Alexis' special place. We are treated to the best Italian cuisine and with the utmost privacy and discretion, much like the club in L.A. And that is how I know Mr. Giovanni so well. He is like Alexis' old great uncle. Teases her all the time, but loves her to death."
Kate wasn't sure what to think about Rick's admission. She was the first woman he had brought to his special place.
With that admission from Rick, her heart soared because now she knew just how special he finds her.