Oblivious will always be very near and dear to my heart as it brought Sammy and I together and through Sammy, I met Ilna ... the rest is history. I'm honored and flattered at how much our readers love this series. Thank you all!

Sammy & Ilna, you're the bestest. As Jacob would say, "high five!" Thank you for the love, friendship, support and for sharing your amazing talent every day. xoxo

Oblivious: A hundred and one

Catherine walked into the break room to join the rest of the team and sat next to Steve. "Hi guys," she said, smiling when he handed her a wrap from the box of take-out dinners. "Thanks, I'm starving."

"Just under five hours." Danny smirked. "How was the fundraising committee?" He'd had his share of boring meetings and was happy Catherine was tapped to sit in for the annual HPD fundraiser.

"It wasn't that bad." She took a bite. "There were some interesting suggestions, though." Her smirk gave her away.

"Like what?" Steve cast a look in her direction.

"Chin jumping barrels on his motorcycle."

Chin laughed. "Ah, no."

Catherine smiled. "Annnd ..."

"And what? Can't be worse than the year they suggested a bachelor auction." Kono grinned.

Catherine burst out laughing. "They did not."

"Oh, but they did." Danny shook his head. "Steve shut that down in two seconds."

"Because it was ridiculous and degrading." Steve took a long swallow of water.

"And because you knew I'd get more bids than you." Danny snorted.

"That's even more ridiculous because nobody was going to be bidding on me. I wouldn't have been in the auction, I was with Catherine."

"Who you were calling your 'not girlfriend' with whom you had 'a thing' at the time so nobody knew that. Except of course us and everybody who'd ever met Catherine or seen you together."

Catherine and Steve exchanged a look before she continued, "They suggested a kissing booth."

"Hell no. No way." Steve's brows knitted. "You're not volunteering for any kissing booth ... are you?"

"Wasn't me they wanted." Her smile grew.

"Kono wouldn't do it either." He glanced at the smirking cousins. "What?"

"Boss, again, oblivious. We gotta meet with the DP, we have court in the morning." Kono stood to leave and Chin followed. "See you all tomorrow."

Steve added, "'Night, see you tomorrow," after Catherine and Danny's good nights to the cousins, then turned to look expectantly at Catherine.

"Really?" Her expression was amused and loving.

"Catherine."

Danny barked a laugh at his partner and grabbed a water. "I'm gonna finish up my report and go pick up Grace. See you in the morning." He was still chuckling as he left the room.

When Steve repeated, "Cath..."

"They suggested you."

She patted his cheek when he continued to stare, speechless.

"No, they didn't." He found his voice.

"I couldn't make that up." She gave him a tiny smile.

"That's insane."

"Half the women there would have lined up on the spot."

"Now you're exaggerating. A lot of those women are your mom's age."

She raised an eyebrow. "You forget our bet in the restaurant? I won a car wash."

Steve's eyes lit. "Actually, I won when you wore the cut off cammies to help me wash the truck, but whatever. Those women sending me a drink that night was a fluke or a bet or something."

"We never finished washing the truck; and you underestimate your effect, Commander, you always have. I've been telling you that for years."

He glanced down, then back into her eyes. "You shut the booth idea down, right?"

She grinned and said nothing.

"Catherine, you told them 'no way', didn't you?"

"Of course I did. They knew you'd never do it, it was just wishful thinking by a couple of the volunteers."

"A kissing booth." He shook his head. "They know about us, don't they?"

"I didn't walk in with I love Steve doodled on a notebook, but I'm sure they all know we're a couple, yeah."

His eyebrows knitted. "Then it's offensive." When she started to speak, he shook his head. "To you, Cath. It's disrespectful to you."

"Awww." She looked around and seeing no one, pecked his cheek. "Thank you. Nothing I can't handle."

"I know, but I don't like it. Maybe I should have a talk with the HPD committee chair."

"Steve, it's okay. I handled it."

"I'm absolutely confident you did." He touched the back of her hand as it rested on the table. "I'm saying you shouldn't have to."

"And I love you for that. But it's totally fine. As long as you're not patronizing random kissing booths …" she teased.

His expression lightened. "Never. Well, unless you were in one."

"See, now that defeats the purpose. I kiss you for free." Her smile was contagious. "Carrie called while I was on my way back."

"Oh, jeez." He dropped his head in an exaggerated show of exasperation.

"She offered to buy up all the tickets for me to use if you'd do it. Just so she could have a picture of you under a Kisses for Sale sign." Catherine winked. "I told her that would have caused an uprising in the McGarrett fan club."

"Oh God, she's gonna bust me for months." He grimaced good naturedly, and Catherine grinned. She knew her best friend and Steve got a kick out of teasing each other since their Academy days.

Catherine was about to speak when Steve's phone rang.

"McGarrett. Yes, actually, she did." He mouthed, "Lieutenant Governor," snd she nodded, moving to stand.

Steve touched her hand and shook his head, indicating she should stay. She did, hearing his side of the conversation.

"Yes, Sir. Of course, Sir. Definitely not. I don't think it was ever a serious suggestion." He took a breath. "If you say so, but with all due respect, it was never going to happen. From what I understand, it was just one of several suggestions thrown out by the committee members. The lieutenant is here, if you'd like to ask ..." He smirked before saying, "Yes, you too. Thank you, Sir, I'll tell her."

Catherine smiled at him, not saying a word.

"That was the lieutenant governor," he said.

"I gathered."

"He asked about you."

"That's very nice of him." She schooled her features.

"And about the meeting."

"Really?" Her lips were pressed together, but she knew she wouldn't be able to hold back a laugh much longer.

"And he asked ... he sends his regards, did I mention that?"

"Yes, you did." She chuckled. "C'mon, say it."

He sighed. "He wanted to know if the rumored kissing booth was a legitimate request. Because Denning's getting calls."

"Already, huh?"

Steve shrugged. "You heard my part. It's not appropriate even if anyone would volunteer … it's conduct unbecoming; people will complain about it."

"But that's not what the calls were about."

His voice dropped. "Not exactly." He ran a hand behind his neck. "Ya know, we should go." He indicated her dinner being complete.

"Steve." She absolutely couldn't resist that face, and she full-on smiled. "What did the callers want?"

"To know if there was gonna be a booth and who was going to be in it." He looked up, a combination of sheepishness and confusion in his expression. "Why would anyone over middle school age want to kiss a virtual stranger in a carnival booth?"

"Oblivious, McGarrett, and yeah, let's go home, everyone's gone." She stood and tossed out the garbage before offering him her hand. Catherine smiled as they left the break room and stopped first in Steve's office and then hers before leaving. When they reached the parking lot, she looked up at him and said, "You didn't finish telling me … what else did they want?" Her eyes sparkled with mirth.

His sigh was audible, but he was smirking when he teased, "Tickets, okay? Happy, Rollins?" He outright laughed when she clapped and grinned. "Clearly you are."

"I just think you're adora ... " His eyebrows rose, and she chuckled, "handsome. Really handsome when you're befuddled."

Steve rolled his eyes but couldn't hide a small grin.

"Besides, why shouldn't I be happy? I get to kiss you for free," she teased back. Glancing around the empty parking area, she pecked his lips.

His grin morphed into a suggestive smile. "You get to do anything you want. No tickets needed." He shook his head. "I still think they're nuts."

"And that's exactly why I want to kiss you. Well, that and a hundred other reasons."

Steve waited until Catherine was in her car before leaning down to kiss her quickly. "Then let's get home and see if I can make it a hundred and one."

End Thanks for reading.

Oblivious will return

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