Lorene wore a black, strapless, sheath dress that reached her calf. She had a bolero jacket that covered her shoulders but exposed a beautiful, white gold necklace.
Jake grabbed Robert’s arm. “Let’s get our table numbers while the girls talk.”
They took their date’s arms and while they still chatted entered the ballroom and found their assigned table. Jake and Robert’s back were to the exit, so they could both see the entrance and the dance floor.
The women placed their napkins over the chair backs to indicate they were taken and went to talk to other guests. Jake and Robert stood by the table, eyeing the crowd.
“I always get a little nervous when you have this many officers of the law in one place. If someone wanted to do some real damage to the police force, the Policeman’s Ball would be the place to do it.” Robert checked the doors, keeping his eyes on the movements of the guests.
“No kidding.” Jake elbowed Robert, “Take a look around at the men, and we aren’t the only ones a little nervous here.”
Jake was right. Robert could see that the early arrivals stood around the edges. The retirees were seated at the tables closer to the center of the room and the dance floor. Robert let out a long breath.
As the room filled, they were joined at their table by two couples from another precinct.
One of the wives held her hand up after the introductions. “I propose that there will be no shop talk. The only subjects allowed for discussion are books, hobbies, movies, and travel. After dinner, there will be dancing.” They all laughed and agreed.
The conversation was stimulating and fast-paced throughout most of the dinner. After dessert, the band began to play dance tunes. Jake stood, took Lorene’s hand, and moved to the dance floor, and soon the others followed.
Robert turned to Barbara. “I’m not much of a dancer. If you don’t complain when I step on your toes, I can move around the dance floor with you.” She smiled at him and stood. Robert took her hand and moved through the tables and guests to the dance floor.
She moved into his arms, and it felt like she belonged there. He’d felt that with Becca when they were first married. He was feeling it again.
She leaned into him. He tightened his hand on her back and waist. He felt her breath on his neck, and it was like fire shot from his heart to a place lower than his belly button. He dropped his chin on her shoulder, and the music wove its magic in their hearts. He moved his head and pressed his lips to her ear kissing the diamond inserted there.
In the dim lights that surrounded the floor, they were locked in their world. Robert didn’t know when one song ended and another began. He forgot to keep his eye on the doors or anyone else.
Barbara seemed content to move in his arms as one song flowed to the next. They didn’t do a lot of talking. Robert felt the comfortable ease of holding her. The graceful way she moved easily to the music and matched his dancing feet, such as they were, was heavenly.
Jake tapped Robert on the shoulder at the end of a song. “Hey, buddy, we’re leaving.”
Robert looked around and saw most of the tables were empty and others were headed for the lobby.
“Sure, we’ll go too.” He looked at Barbara for confirmation. She blushed and nodded.
Jake and Lorene went to their car after Lorene gave Barbara a quick hug and a peck on the cheek. Robert pulled Barbara’s arm through his as they walked to his car, keeping to the lighted areas. Robert walked on the outside between the street and Barbara. She hugged his arm.
After they got home, Robert walked Barbara to her door. She unlocked it and held his hand, trying to pull him in, but he shook his head. “Not tonight.” He reached his hand across her shoulder and up the side of her neck, cradling her jaw in his palm and running his thumb across her lips. She kissed it. He felt the jolt through him. Then he dipped his head and brushed his lips across hers and finally deepened the kiss. Her arms slid around his neck and she opened her lips. It felt like the Fourth of July in June.
Chapter 14
Robert stood before the corkboard with all his notecards pinned on a timeline. Strings connected the different clues. Some overlapped and crisscrossed. His mind whirled, mixed, and rearranged the clues to see if there was something he’d missed. It was the first thing on his mind in the morning and the last thing he thought about before his exhausted brain shut down at night.
It was getting harder and harder to deal with all the various aspects. The leads, the suspects were all there, but the connection seemed just out of his reach. He buried his head in his hands. The files on his desk slid to one side, and he didn’t care.
Strong fingers gripped his shoulders and squeezed, thumbs dug into the stiff muscles of his neck. Slowly, reluctantly he lifted his head and opened his eyes. He smelled the soft fragrance of Chantilly Lace. Barbara.
“Thanks, but you don’t have to do this.” He stifled a groan as her fingers worked on a tight muscle.
“I know I don’t. I also know that this case is getting to you, and you need to unwind. You need to come home with me tonight and let me fix you a homecooked meal. No strings attached, just good food and no shop talk.”
He leaned back, and he didn’t care if they were at work. The door to his office was cracked a little to alleviate any improprieties. He closed his eyes to block any wandering eyes. His head rested against her breasts. They were soft and lush, good ear warmers. He shook his head to clear that thought. Where did that come from? He choked, sat forward, and lifted her hands from his shoulders.
“We shouldn’t be doing this at work. Yes, I would love to have dinner with you. I want you to know there is nothing attached to that acceptance. I enjoy your company. I hope you had as good a time at the Ball as I did.” He stood, but she didn’t move, her breasts were almost touching his chest. He took a deep, silent breath and held it, waiting for her response.
Barbara smiled, glanced past his shoulder toward the door, raised on her toes, and gave him a peck on the lips. “See you tonight.” She left, leaving the lingering scent of her cologne and the pressure of her lips on his in her wake. He sucked in air as if he’d just broken the surface of the water.
He stood staring at the doorway when Jake walked by, then backed up. “Are you twitterpated?”
The odd question took him back for a moment. “What?”
“You need to get out more.” He laughed and walked away, leaving Robert even more confused. He went back to his desk and rearranged the fallen stack of folders. A smile he didn’t bother to resist spread across his lips. He opened the first folder and for the rest of the day, nothing took away his happiness. Not even Jake, who stopped in more times than he wanted to point a finger at him, make smacking noises with his lips and hum a tune, Robert didn’t even want to guess the title.
When Robert arrived at Barbara’s apartment, he handed Barbara the flowers he’d purchased from the florist on his way home. She buried her nose in their aromatic essence, then lifted her face and smiled. He stepped past her into the entry.
“Thank you for the beautiful flowers. This early in the spring, these daisies are beautiful. Come, I made steak with potatoes.” She took his hand and led him to the kitchen. “My mother would have a fit. First, for having a man in my apartment, then for letting him in the kitchen while I finish dinner. My father always sits in the living room and reads the paper until she cooks dinner and sets it on the table.” She pointed to a chair next to a gray, Formica-topped, aluminum table. “I, on the other hand, think a man should be in the kitchen. All great chefs are men, so why not you? Do you cook?”
Robert smiled. Barbara could talk the paint off the wall, but he liked her free-and-easy manner. “A little. I cook a mean garlic chicken and potatoes. I like a good grilled steak and baked potato. I don’t make haute cuisine meals.” He sat in the chair and crossed his leg over his knee.