I notice that she's blinking a lot more than usual. She seems to take a minute, close her eyes and take a deep breath before opening them again. “Stop staring and get out of the car. We're not here to f**k spiders.”
I burst out laughing. Sam is very dry at the best of times, but occasionally she says something that cracks me up. “Yes, Ma'am,” I say, adding a mock salute to my senior partner.
We get out of the car, and I check my belt, making sure everything is where it should be. Sam squares her shoulders and takes a deep breath before knocking on the door. When there is no answer, she turns the handle and pushes it open. “Hello? Chicago PD. We're just here to see Mr. Ryan Miller.”
“Through here,” a voice bellows from behind the dark bar. The whole place is dark, the only light coming from behind the bar and from a few low lights scattered around the edge of the large dance floor. I take a few moments to take stock of my surroundings. This place is freaking insane. I look up and see the dancefloor is surrounded by a second floor of mirrored glass. If you were up there, you'd have the false impression that everyone could see you. Suddenly, there are images flashing through my head of Kate and I f**king against the glass, and the fantasy of everyone watching me with my girl makes me instantly hard.
Fuck. Not the time, dude. Calm it the f**k down.
I look over at Sam who is standing in front of me with her eyebrow raised. “You quite alright there, Roberts? You were a million miles away.”
“Sure. Just checking out the place.”
“Right...okay then, let's find the guy and get out of here. Too dark for my liking,” she mutters, her voice losing her normal air of authority. Samantha Richards is a tough nut, a ball buster at the best of times. Her sandy blonde hair is always up in a tight bun, never a wayward hair or a crease in her uniform. She's strictly by the book. It's taken a month for her to relax a little around me. She's told me that she asked the Captain to assign me to her because she thought we'd work well together, and we do, but god I wish she'd just let loose sometimes. I'd also love to know who stuck a stick up her ass to cause her to be so unmoved and rigid. That woman screams out a need to get laid, sooner rather than later.
“I'm over at the bar. Come in,” the same male voice calls out to us.
When we reach the bar, a brown haired, well-built man stands up, startling us. “I guess you'd be looking for me. I'm just stocking up the bar. That's allowed, isn't it?” This guy is all attitude. These kind of perps are always a challenge, something I've learned since working general patrol after I graduated.
“Mr. Miller, I'd recommend you lose the chip on your shoulder. We're just here to check in,” Sam states in her matter-of-fact cop voice.
“Right. It's not as if I can run off anywhere is it? I have a club to keep open so that I don't piss my brother off even more. So if I'm not here, I'll be at my brother's house. You know, the address I was bailed to.”
“There's no need for the attitude, Mr. Miller. Is your brother around?” Sam's body is tense as she looks around for the other Miller brother.
“Nope, but he'll be in later no doubt. He has a day job too, you know. Should I tell him you called by asking for him?” His telling smirk is aimed straight at Sam, and her body goes stiff as a board.
What's THAT about? Now I'm intrigued. I know Sean Miller is a dominant and likes to practice light BDSM...well, he did with Mac. She told me that she'd meet up with him when she had the urge to submit, but I've never considered the fact that Sam might be into that stuff. If she is, she'd definitely be a dominatrix. She's wound so tight that she probably needs to whip men in order to feel control. I shudder at the thought as I'm brought back into reality.
Sam clears her throat, and I see her shoulders square up. “Right. Well, Mr. Miller, as long as you abide by your bail conditions, I don't think we'll have a problem. We'll pop in later in the week to see you again.”
“I'll be here ready and waiting, officer. Oh, and I'll make sure I tell my brother you were here, Sammy.”
“I…” Sam's face goes blank as she swallows hard and gives Ryan the exact reaction he was looking for. Whatever the reason, I'm not going to let it slide.
“That's enough, Mr. Miller. We'll see you soon.” I grab Sam's hand and pull her toward the door. She snatches her hand back as we get outside.
“What did you do that for? I had it under control!” She glares at me as we stand in the middle of the sidewalk.
“I did what I had to do to snap you out of it. What he said about his brother rattled you, so I got you the hell out of there. It's what partners do.”
“Right. Well thanks, but no thanks. I don't need your help in the future.”
I chuckle as we get back in the car and drive back to the station.
Even if my personal life is in tatters, at least I can count on work to keep life interesting.
Chapter 27: “Who You Love”
KATE
I'm a coward. I know I am. Mac told me I am.
Daniel is a bit more reserved when it comes to my love life. After his talk to me the morning, after everything went down with Zander, he's remained tight lipped on the whole situation.
Last Sunday night, I sat on the floor crying behind the front door as Zander knocked and called out to me. He even begged me to let him explain. He said he missed me and that he never meant to hurt me. That made me feel even worse. How can I come back from this?
Mac sat down with me Sunday afternoon and explained everything. How he'd asked if I was on Chicago Singles. How the night we had pancakes for dinner he had texted her asking if she knew why I was so upset. And finally, how he never told her about the night he saved me from that ass**le in the bar.
Now I feel like a complete idiot. I had him, and I sent him away. I told him that he should be gone when I got back. I ignored his texts and calls. And this week, a single pink rose has been delivered to me at the salon with a different message attached to them.
Monday - “The first night we met, you were wearing the most gorgeous purple dress. Your hair was pulled back and pinned, with waves of curls floating down your back. I knew that night that I wanted to deserve a woman like you.”
Tuesday - “When I brought you home from the bar, and you kissed me, it was the best first kiss I've ever had in my life. Our second best first kiss was in the kitchen after pancakes. Kate and maple syrup are my favorite topping. I love you.”
Wednesday - “Stopping to kiss you in the middle of the sidewalk made it the best first date ever. Every date since-the restaurant, the park, the shopping trips, the salon, our bedroom-everything is better when it's done with you. I love you.”