| |
The night of the police charity ball had arrived. It was the biggest social event of the year, and the evening promised fine dining and entertainment. Everyone would be dressed in their best. Gina loved parties, especially formal ones like this, and she was looking forward to it. Weeks ago, she had picked out the right dress, shoes, and hairstyle, and now it was all coming together. She would be arriving alone, but she didn’t care. She knew plenty of people who would be there.
This year, all the women had gotten together and agreed that those who weren’t married would offer themselves up for auction, which meant spending the duration of the event drinking, dancing, and socializing with the highest bidder as their “date.” Last year, the charity auction had consisted of items donated by the officers, but this year promised to be much more interesting. The stakes had been raised, with the goal of collecting twice as much money as before.
Gina couldn’t help but feel a little nervous about the night ahead. She wondered who would be her highest bidder. She hoped she wouldn’t get stuck with some jerk all night. She was sure Tim would make a bid, since he had been after her from day one, and Frank would probably feel obligated to bid on his partner. It was also entirely possible she would end up with a complete stranger. Police officers, detectives, and their superiors would be at the ball, and she didn’t know everyone. Maybe she would make a new acquaintance. The night seemed full of possibilities, and uncertainty. Either way, she could at least relax during the dinner and social hour, since the auction wouldn’t start until they were done.
The moment Gina entered the ballroom, she felt like all eyes were on her. Several men turned their heads to stare, and she did her best to glide past them with nonchalant confidence. Tonight she was walking the traditional red carpet like a movie star. Who didn’t love feeling special for a change? It sure beat wearing a uniform, like she did when she first started her career in law enforcement.
Captain Michaels was the first to greet her. “Gina, you look lovely. I’m glad you could come. I’d like you to meet my wife, Heather.” They exchanged pleasantries but soon left Gina in search of others they knew.
Gina heard her name being called again, but this time she pretended not to hear. It was a voice she knew all too well. To her dismay, Tim Wallace had discovered her.
“Nice dress, Gina. You look gorgeous!” he complimented.
“Thank you,” she replied politely. “Have you seen Frank?” she asked, trying to divert attention from herself.
“He was up at the bar when I left him,” Tim responded. “Hey, be sure to save a dance for me!”
The come-on was no surprise, but what Gina didn’t expect was for Tim to suddenly grab her hand and twirl her around. He seemed to have even less respect for boundaries in this environment. Maybe it was the alcohol or the fact that he was off-duty. Either way, she just wanted to get away from him as quickly as she could. Although Tim was a good-looking guy, something about him didn’t agree with her, and she wasn’t sure he was getting the message.
Gina endured a few of Tim’s inappropriate comments, then excused herself to go get a drink. Her eyes scanned the bar for Frank as she approached, but he wasn’t there. She turned around to get a better view of the entire room, and there he was walking toward her, looking the best she’d ever seen him. He was meticulously groomed and sporting a fine tuxedo. It made him look especially handsome and distinguished, and Gina was taking notice. He smiled warmly at her, drawing her in, and she returned his smile. She could not take her eyes off him, nor did she want to.
“Wow, Gina! You look absolutely breathtaking,” Frank said slowly, trying to take her all in while he spoke.
“Thank you,” she replied, smiling sweetly. “You’re looking rather handsome yourself.”
Frank made small talk while he tried to memorize every detail of her appearance. He hoped Gina would find him charming enough to stay a while. Frank would talk all night as long as she kept standing there for him to admire. He was captivated by the sight of Gina in her stunning off-the-shoulder dress with its flattering lines that accentuated her shapely figure. He tried not to stare, but her ruby red gown begged for his attention and made Gina look glamorous. Tonight her dark hair was half drawn up and half let down in an elegant fashion with long, beautiful, wavy curls descending the sides of her face. Sparkly dangling earrings were visible when she tilted her head just right, and her high heels were fit for a princess. Gina had attained that perfect combination, managing to look both classy and sexy. In Frank’s eyes, Gina was nothing short of exquisite, and he knew he couldn’t be the only man noticing her.
“Where’s your boyfriend, Gina?” a woman called out to her. She was accompanied by several others Gina’s age.
Frank did not know them, and they paid no attention to him, but he didn’t care. His eyes were focused on only one woman anyway.
“Oh, he had to work tonight,” Gina replied.
Frank wondered if Carlos knew what he was missing, but his thoughts were soon interrupted.
“Sorry, Frank,” Gina spoke up. “I haven’t seen these girls for a while, and we’ve got some catching up to do. Can we talk more later?”
“Sure. Have fun,” he agreed, forcing a smile but feeling a bit disappointed watching her walk away. Before Frank realized what had happened, he found himself alone.
Gina still had not returned by the time dinner was being served. Tim had deserted Frank a long time ago and was chatting with any pretty girl who would give him the time of day. Frank thought he would be forced to sit amongst strangers until he noticed O’Brien and his wife waving at him.
“Hey, Frank!” Sean greeted him. “I know Jenny and I are late, but I’m moving a lot slower these days, in more ways than one,” he commented, pointing to the cast on his leg and the general vicinity of his head injury from the accident.
“There’ll be no dancing for you tonight,” his wife added.
“Just glad you both could make it,” Frank replied warmly.
“Where’s Gina?” Sean asked. “I’d like to see how my old partner is doing.”
“Not sure,” Frank responded. “I saw her earlier, but she disappeared. I’m sure she’d want to say hi though.”
“You should join us for dinner, Frank,” Jenny offered, noticing he was alone.
Frank barely touched the food on his plate. He was too busy thinking about Gina and wondering what she was up to. His mind eventually shifted to the auction. She would have to reappear for that. He debated whether he should bid on her and what she would think of that, but if he didn’t, someone else surely would.
“Ladies and gentlemen! Can I have your attention please?” The host of the event did his best to quiet the crowd. “It’s time for the charity auction we’ve all been waiting for. As you know, we’re doing things a little differently this year. We have some lovely ladies who have volunteered to be your dates tonight in exchange for a sizable donation to our worthy cause. We hope to raise a lot of money for the families of our fallen officers. Let’s take a moment to remember our heroes and honor them with your generosity.” Applause broke out from the crowd, and the auction got underway.
When Gina’s name was called, she began to feel uneasy. Her heart pounded in her chest. Why had she agreed to do this? She reminded herself it was for a good cause and stepped out onto the stage.
“Our next charity date is Detective Gina Walker from Homicide. We’ll start the bidding at $100.”
“100!” shouted Tim Wallace, just as Gina had predicted.
“200!” called a man Gina didn’t even know.
“300!” Tim countered.
Frank watched the proceedings with great anxiety. Should he bid? He knew how much she’d hate getting stuck with Tim. “400!” Frank shouted. He couldn’t take it back now.
“500!” A new competitor entered the bidding.
“600!” Tim upped the ante, but it was beginning to get too rich for his blood.
There was a lull in the bidding for a moment, allowing the announcer time to speak. “$600 is the bid. Do I hear 7? Going once, going twice...”
“$1,000!” Frank called out confidently. He was not about to lose her to Tim, or anyone else for that matter. A collective gasp could be heard from the crowd, but no one dared to speak.
“I have a whopping $1,000, our highest bid tonight! Do I hear 1100? Going once, going twice, sold! Many thanks to Sergeant Frank Turino for his most generous donation.”
Hearty applause followed, but Gina didn’t even hear it. She was still trying to process the last few moments. Gradually, reality set in and she made her way to where Frank was waiting for her.
“Wow! $1,000, Frank? I was hoping for a couple hundred, but 1,000?”
“What can I say? It’s for a good cause, and I had to save you from Wallace.”
“Just so you know, I was rooting for you.”
“Better me than Tim, I suppose.”
“That’s for sure,” Gina agreed. “Now, I know you’re a nice guy, Frank, but I’m surprised anyone would give a $1,000 donation to charity on a detective’s salary.”
“You’re worth it,” he replied, studying her reaction.
Gina didn’t know what to say. She was taken aback by both his comment and his grand gesture. It was becoming clear Frank had feelings for her. She was sure of it. It was the only thing that made sense, yet he knew she had a boyfriend. What did he hope would happen? She would never cheat on Carlos. The problem was that she had developed feelings for Frank too. Gina couldn’t help but like the man who stood before her. He was her partner and her friend, but she was finding herself liking him much more than a friend should.
“Now let’s enjoy the evening,” Frank suggested, changing the subject. He handed her a glass of champagne and then grabbed one for himself.
Just as they finished their drinks, the DJ got the party started. Frank and Gina looked on as others flooded the dance floor.
“I’m not sure I know how to dance to this,” Frank admitted. “Slow is more my style.”
“It’s your $1,000,” she joked. “We can dance to whatever you want.”
The next song was slow and romantic, the kind Frank had been waiting for. “Would you like to dance, Gina?”
“I’d love to,” she replied.
Suddenly, Frank felt nervous. Sure, he had danced before. He just hadn’t danced with her before. A million questions entered his mind at once. How close should he hold her? Where should he put his hands? Was his dancing style up-to-date? His eyes made quick observations of the couples nearby while Gina watched him anxiously, waiting for his next move. Frank gently took her hand and led her to the dance floor. He decided to keep a little distance at first and hold her in a more traditional ballroom position. He would let her determine how much space to keep between them. As they started to sway to the music, Frank noticed how nicely her hand fit in his and how good it felt to have her other hand resting on his shoulder.
They tried to keep a light conversation going to ease the tension while they danced. Their eyes met from time to time, only to glance away briefly and return again. A second slow dance song began, and neither of them seemed in a hurry to leave the floor. Frank thought he sensed Gina inviting him closer, so he placed both his hands around her lower back, and she instinctively placed hers around his neck.
Frank leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “Do you know you’re the most beautiful woman in the room? Not one man here can stop himself from staring at you.”
“Oh, Frank,” she said, blushing. “They’re staring at you, the big-time spender.”
“Your company is worth every penny. Oh, and believe what you want as to why they’re staring, but I know otherwise,” he said, inching ever closer to her. She didn’t make any attempt to stop him. Gradually, she began to rest her head on his shoulder as she became more comfortable with him. With her lips so near his, the only thought on Frank’s mind was how much he wanted to kiss her, but he didn’t dare express his affection publicly. After all, the captain was in the vicinity, along with so many other people they knew. He leaned back just for a moment to look her in the eyes. Was she thinking what he was thinking? He desperately needed to know if she shared his feelings. How he wished for a more private moment with her! As the song ended, his mind raced, along with his heart. She made him feel so much more alive than he’d felt in a very long time.
Sensing things were about to get more serious, Gina backed away from him. “Excuse me for a minute. I’ll be right back.” She walked off the dance floor and into the deserted lobby. Her head felt cloudy, and she needed some air and a moment to think. Maybe all the alcohol was getting to her, she reasoned when she noticed herself suddenly feeling warm and dizzy. Her vision began to blur, and she struggled to maintain her balance without Frank to lean on. The friends she was partying with earlier really liked to drink and had encouraged Gina to test her limits. Maybe she had gone a little too far. She decided to give Carlos a call to see if he could come pick her up, but she could not reach him. By the time she hung up the phone, Frank had caught up to her.
“Gina? Is everything alright?” he asked her.
“I’m not feeling well,” was all she got out before collapsing on the floor. When she opened her eyes, she was on the ground and in Frank’s arms. He was checking her pulse, and he looked worried.
“What happened?” she asked.
“You passed out for a few seconds. I was starting to get concerned about you, Gina. Are you on any medications or have a medical condition I should know about?”
“I’m fine, Frank. I just drank too much too fast. I’m sure I’ll feel better in the morning.”
“I highly doubt that.”
“I guess I should have known better. I’m sorry I ruined the evening.”
“There’s no need to apologize. I had a great time, and now I want to make sure you get home safe.”
Gina could tell there was no arguing with him, so she reluctantly agreed to share a cab home.
“Here, put your arm around me so you don’t fall,” Frank ordered when the cab dropped them off at her building. He held on to Gina tight, steadied her in the elevator, and helped get her to her door.
Once they were inside, Frank guided Gina to the sofa and sat her down. He propped her feet up and removed her shoes. “That’s better,” he said as he sat down next to her and reached for the remote lying on the coffee table. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to stay for a little bit to make sure you’re fine.” He flipped through the channels and stopped at the first movie he could find. Frank moved closer and put his arm around her, allowing Gina to rest her head on his shoulder. They watched together in silence until they both drifted off to sleep.
Morning came, along with a loud and persistent knock on the door. Gina stumbled to the door, leaving Frank still asleep on the sofa. Her head was throbbing. “Carlos?” she said groggily. “What are you doing here?”
“You called last night, remember? Why are you still all dressed up?”
Before Gina could answer, Carlos had stepped inside and realized they were not alone. Frank was now awake and sitting up.
“What’s he doing here?” Carlos asked accusingly when he noticed two empty wine glasses on the coffee table, along with Gina’s messy hair and Frank’s loosened tie. “So, is he your official drinking buddy now?”
“Carlos, don’t be jealous! Frank was a perfect gentleman, and he helped me out last night.”
“So, I’m grateful. That doesn’t mean I have to like the guy,” Carlos said, staring Frank down. Was there something going on between these two? It couldn’t possibly be true, but even thinking about it fueled his anger. Why was she spending so much time with him? There must be some legitimate reason, Carlos decided. He had absolutely nothing to be worried about. Frank wasn’t a threat. He was much older and definitely not better looking. He was simply her work buddy. At least that’s what Carlos chose to believe for the moment.
“About our fight the other day, I just wanted to apologize for my behavior. I was out of line, and I’m sorry,” Frank said, trying his best to sound genuine.
Gina was pleased Frank had remembered his promise. “And, Carlos, is there something you’d like to say to Frank?” she prompted.
“Sorry, Frank. I guess I overreacted.”
“That’s better,” Gina said happily. “Obviously, you two need to find a way to get along since we’ll all be seeing more of each other. Can we just start over?”
The two men grumbled but nodded in agreement. Carlos, however, was still unsatisfied and asked, “So what did happen last night?”
“Gina passed out at the charity ball after having way too much to drink with her friends, so I wanted to make sure she got home alright. We both must have fallen asleep watching that boring movie,” Frank chimed in, studying Carlos. “Oh, and in case you’re wondering, those wine glasses had water in them.”
Gina began to fill Carlos in on some of the events of the evening, conveniently leaving out certain details along the way. She didn’t dare tell Carlos how much Frank had bid for her, merely that her partner had rescued her from an evening with Tim.
Eager to leave this awkward situation, Frank excused himself and walked out the door. He knew this had to be the end of whatever was going on between him and Gina. At least they would always have one magical night that no one, including Carlos, could ever take away from them. Of course, Frank had let things go much further than they should have. They both were heavily intoxicated last night, particularly Gina. Perhaps it had affected her actions toward him, and he had misread her signals. He simply had to stop indulging in his fantasies of being with her. It just wasn’t healthy, but the way she made him feel was difficult to ignore. If they had danced much longer, he would have been powerless to resist the temptation to kiss her. But if she wanted to be with him, she wouldn’t still be with Carlos. What was he going to do now? Should he talk to her about his feelings? Of course not! There were a million reasons he never should have had those feelings to begin with. Nothing could change the fact that Gina was too young for him, already had a boyfriend, and was his work partner. Wasn’t that enough to convince him any further involvement with her was a bad idea? It was his fault for entertaining such foolish thoughts, and he needed to get them under control. That would almost certainly be easier said than done, as the heart wants what the heart wants, and he wanted her.
