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A Week and a Half Later
When Jonathan returned with the glass of tea, he found Officer Lucian Stavropoulos watching the women in the indoor pool from the hallway.
Jonathan tottered toward him, recognizing yet another one of Lucian’s weaknesses. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.” With his hand pressed to the glass, Lucian gazed through the window as the women of The Circle swam half-naked in white bikinis.
The desire in Lucian’s eyes reminded Jonathan what a lucky man he was to own such beauties. “You like the tea?”
Lucian sipped, eyes still on the women.
“Do you like the tea?”
“Huh?” Lucian shifted his weight, a hard-on bulging from his black pants.
“I pissed in the tea,” Jonathan said. “You like it?”
Lucian clamped his lips on the glass, not paying any attention.
“Jesus.” Jonathan laughed. “Hello.” He slapped Lucian’s back.
Lucian jumped, his bushy, black eyebrows dancing. “Sorry. My mind’s somewhere else.”
“I know where it is.”
“What’s it like?” Lucian’s ebony eyes twinkled. “To have all this money and these women?”
“It’s heaven.” Jonathan tilted his glass inward. “My own little paradise.”
“I’d kill for your life.”
“Keep playing your cards right and you’ll have enough money to at least pretend you’re as rich as me.” Jonathan slipped his hand into his pocket. “So? Do we have a deal or not?”
Lucian’s cheeks raised. “I don’t think so.”
Jonathan leaned on the glass. “Why not?”
“You have any idea what could happen if people find out the shit I’ve done for you? Not only could I lose my badge, I’d go to prison.”
“I saved your father’s life when he had no one else now I want you to save mine. Without Deidra, I’ll die.”
“Think of how I feel. I’ve known Dee for years.” Lucian looked into his glass. “In the department we’re family.”
“Think of the good this will do her.” Jonathan gripped the back of Lucian’s neck. “This is where she belongs, and I love her.”
“What about Winston? She’s having his baby.”
“I’ll worry about Winston.” Jonathan pressed his fingertips into the glass. “Did Winston cure your father’s cancer? No. It was my medicine and my expertise and damn it Lucian, you’ll repay this debt for as long as you live.”
“Jonathan, be reasonable. No way I can pull off what you’re asking.”
“Come now. Resourceful guy like yourself. You must know someone who can do this job.”
Lucian rocked, watching the women again. “I might, but I’m warning you. You get involved with him and you might regret it.”
“For Deidra, I regret nothing.” Jonathan opened the double doors to the pool. “I want to meet him. ASAP.”
****
Connie returned from the lounge to find a yellow rose on her desk. “What in the world?” She looked around at the officers, searching for a clue how the flower had gotten there.
“Hm. Nice flower.” A female detective sprinted past.
Connie sniffed the fruity rose. “Who would leave a rose on my desk and not say anything?” Grayson’s handsome face popped into her head and she got her phone, giggling as she dialed his number.
“Hey,” he answered. “How’s it going, beautiful?”
“Stop being coy.” She twirled the flower in her fingers. “You’re so romantic.”
“Um, glad you think so.” He chuckled. “But, I don’t understand what I did for you to call and tell me.”
“The rose.” She reclined, propping her feet on the desk. “It was sweet.”
“What rose?”
“You snuck into the station and left this yellow rose on my desk.” She dangled it from her fingers. “Sly devil.”
“I didn’t leave you a rose.”
She stopped wiggling her feet. “What?”
“When I do a romantic gesture, I make sure the woman knows it’s coming from me.”
“If you didn’t give me the rose then who did?”
“Sounds like you have a secret admirer.” He hummed. “Should I be jealous?”
Connie scanned the chaotic cops but nothing stood out from the ordinary.
“Connie? You still there?”
“Yeah.” She set down the flower.
“Disappointed?”
“A little.”
“I’m sorry, sweetie. Come to my place tonight and you’ll get more than flowers.”
She smirked.
“We can have some of Sylvia’s famous fried chicken. She’ll take care of the main meal and I’ll take care of dessert.”
She laughed. “Sounds good.”
Dee flounced to her desk.
Connie stuffed the rose in a drawer. “I’ll see you later.” She hung up, smiling at Dee.
“You and Grayson have plans tonight?” Dee sat at her desk and tapped her computer to wake it.
“Do you have an issue with that?” Connie brushed chip crumbs off her desk and into the wastebasket. “Thought you accepted me seeing Grayson.”
“Girl, please.” Dee flashed an overzealous smile full of teeth. “I got a man and a baby to worry about. Grayson called me and congratulated me on the baby.”
“Your friendship means a lot.” Connie swayed in the chair. “I hope this never comes between us.”
“It’s fine.” Dee stared at her computer but Connie got the feeling she wasn’t reading it. “I’m happy for you.”
Connie smiled and when she faced ahead, caught CeCe’s penetrating stare from across the room.
He smiled back, and as if a light switched on, she realized he’d given her the rose.