A Case of Defamation Pt. 04

TEN

Daniel saw a silver Toyota Camry sitting in front of Impact! Productions as he pulled into another parking space. Shay was sitting in the car, talking on the phone. She waved in acknowledgment as he stepped out of his car. He debated waiting on her but decided to go inside. He was going to have to clean up and change before the taping because he'd worked up a sweat exercising with Mairead. It wouldn't do to look like a sweaty mess before the workout even started. That was the reason they took a break after filming each segment. He and his workout partners needed time to cool down and change clothes.

He'd just reached the entrance when he heard a car door shut. He paused, waited for her to join him, and then opened the door for her.

"Thanks. When this is over, I need to talk to you."

He felt a chill of anticipation. "About the case?"

"Yes, but not here."

"Everyone's here," Jill said from behind her desk as they entered.

"Thanks," he replied with a nod and led Shay into the production area.

The small set he'd been using yesterday was gone, replaced with a huge white screen. When they started filming, a wall of glass with trees and a lake, gently stirred by a breeze, would be rear-projected onto the screen. The concrete floor in front of the screen had been covered in hardwood with thin rubber mats of red, white, and blue placed on top. On the video, you'd swear they were standing in some beautiful workout room in the middle of a forest. While they mixed up their uniforms for each routine, the floor and backdrop never changed.

Three cameras were set up on rolling tripods, and off to the side was a table with a sound board set up to control the music and his headset mic. Standing to the side was his backup, three men and three women, all dressed in colorful, tight fitting workout clothes, with gleaming white shoes and socks. They were part of the staff who worked the gyms, pulling double duty for a little extra pay. He'd hand-picked them based on three criteria... how they looked in tight fitting workout clothing, could they do the routines without slowing down, and finally, he didn't want all one color or body shape.

"Let me change, then we'll be ready," he called as he crossed to the changing screen. They didn't bother with makeup on the workout routines because they'd just sweat it off anyway and the camera never pulled in close enough for it to matter anyway.

He quickly stripped out of the clothes he'd been wearing and into the same, tight-fitting uniform the others were wearing. The only difference in their uniforms were the colors, and the seven athletes looked like Skittles in the dazzling yellow, blue, green, and red. When he stepped from behind the screen, Bobby handed Dan the headset. He slipped it over his head and positioned the thin mic at his lips as Bobby tucked the tiny transmitter out of sight in the small of Dan's back.

"Give me a mic check," Bobby said after he sat down behind his console.

"Fuzzy-wuzzy was a bear."

Shay smiled, something about Dan checking the mic with part of a nursery rhyme striking her as humorous.

"You're good," Bobby said, giving Dan a thumbs up.

"Everyone ready?" Dan asked as the team assembled on the mats.

Everyone took their positions. Dan was front and center, with the men and women arrayed behind him and staggered so nobody was standing behind anyone else. They'd done over a hundred of these videos, so they knew the drill. Dan spun his finger in the air and music began playing.

Chuck, the director, walked behind each of the cameras to check the setup before he pointed at Dan. "In your own time."

"Ready?" Dan asked again, looking at his entourage.

Everyone broke into beaming smiles and took a pose, their legs wide apart and their hands on their hips. As Shay watched, Dan began with some patter, telling the cameras what they were going to do before he launched into his routine. They started out slow, apparently to warm up, but the routine got progressively faster and more strenuous.

They always did the hardest work out first, while they were fresh, with each routine after becoming progressively easier so they could shoot all the routines in one day. The website was structured so that the first Friday of each month was the easiest workout, the last the most strenuous. The idea was subscribers would pick the workout routine that best fit their level and use that routine until the next one dropped, moving to the next harder workout as they improved.

They were well rehearsed and moved together like dancers, perfectly in sync with each other as they bounced, while Dan counted and encouraged the audience to keep up. The routines weren't complicated, but the more strenuous routines were enough for them to work up a good sweat. Even though they were working hard, their smiles never wavered, they never eased up, and they looked like they were having a grand time.

As Dan and his crew worked the routine, Chuck was softly talking to the camera operators over his own microphone and headset, slowly moving cameras around to keep the shots fresh. One camera was always wide, taking in the entire group, one was close on Dan, and the third was tight on another member. Once the routine was over, Impact! Productions would slice and dice the three cameras into one fast paced, dynamic, workout routine. Because the music was being fed directly into the sound board, as was Dan's mic, the crew could talk to each other without it being heard on the video so long as it wasn't loud enough for Daniels mic to pick it up. The music the group was listening to was so they could stay in step with what was being laid down in the video.

Finally, after about twenty minutes of hard work, Dan began to slow down, using the last two minutes as a cool down. He finished up with another couple minutes of encouraging prattle before smiling at the camera.

"And... we're out!" the director called.

Laura and Kim handed out towels as the group left the floor. Dan blew out a long breath, and the rest of the participants were just as sweaty and breathing just as hard. They might have pretended like they weren't working at the routine, but they were. Dan wiped his face and neck as Shay approached.

"I'm tired from just watching," she said with a teasing grin.

"Want to join us for the next routine?"

"No... I think I'd rather watch." She leaned in a little closer. "I have to tell you, though, I might join your site just to watch your videos. You guys are hot!"

He felt a little tingle of pleasure at the compliment. "That's all part of it. Get some eye candy up there for the men and women so they'll watch. As they're doing the routines, they can imagine they're the ones they see. You sure you don't want to join us? It'll be fun to have a new face in the video."

She grinned. "Maybe some other time. I didn't bring anything to wear."

"We have extra." When she smirked at him, he grinned. "Okay, you're right. Maybe next time." The women working with him were at least three or four inches taller than her.

They took a half-hour break, nibbling at the fruit that had been set out and drinking water. After cooling and rehydrating, they each took a turn behind the changing screen to wash up with baby wipes, use a dry shampoo, and to change into a fresh uniform of a different color. As the next person took their turn behind the screen, Janice fussed with their hair, and once the last of them were freshened up, they started all over.

As they worked, Dan saw Shay speaking to the two production assistants well away from the set, the three women glancing toward the performers as they smiled and talked. He wasn't nervous because he knew he hadn't knowingly done anything that would offend anyone, but he still had to force himself to concentrate. During the workout videos, he had more leeway for mistakes, but if he totally screwed it up, they'd have to stop, reset, and start again because it threw everyone out of sync, and that was jarring to see in the video.

After another break, a quick freshening up and a change of clothes, a bit of fruit for energy, they were at it again, but this time rain was pattering against the windows of the backdrop to give that little bit of extra to the illusion the videos were being shot in some location and on different days.

There was one more cycle, the easiest routine of them all, which consisted mostly of stretching and easy stepping, the video geared toward the injured, elderly, and the massively out of shape. As they worked, Jill came in and spoke to each person in turn, before Shay quickly followed her out. Dan wondered what was up, but he'd have to wait until he was finished to satisfy his curiosity.

"And remember, a little fitness every day... will always pay!" Dan said, forcing his tone and cadence to be upbeat and enthusiastic as he wrapped up the last routine.

"And... we're out!" Chuck called just as Shay returned to the production area clearly upset. "That's a wrap everyone."

"Thanks guys," Dan said while shaking hands with his backup. "Whew!" he continued as he took his towel.

After almost four hours, even a light workout like the one he'd just completed was enough to get him breathing hard and sweating.

Still mopping his face with the towel, he approached Shay. "What's happened?" Dan asked as he coasted to a stop in front of her, knowing she'd know what he was talking about.

"Some asshole backed a semi over my car," she growled.

"You're kidding!"

"I wish I were. Want to see?"

He followed her out. Her car was heavily bent on the rear passenger side, with the rear wheel canted at an odd angle. It was obvious the car wasn't going anywhere under its own power with the wheel looking like that.

"What happened?"

She huffed out a breath. "They were making a delivery over there," she said, nodding at another building that shared the parking lot. "He was backing up and turning around, when..." she waved her hand at the car. "The guy came in and told Jill what happened, and admitted it was his fault. His insurance is going to pay for it, but that doesn't do me any good right now. The tow truck is on its way. Dammit."

"How the hell...?" he began, trying to figure out how the guy had gotten so wacked up that he hit her car.

"I don't know. He'd already pulled off the car before he came inside. He must not have known he hit it. The damn bumper thing on the trailer wasn't even bent that I could tell, but he fu... messed my car up good."

He sighed in sympathy. "I'm sorry about this."

"Not your fault. I'll get a rental until my car's fixed."

"After they pick up your car, I'll give you a ride home."

"Thanks, I appreciate that."

They returned to the studio where Dan cleaned up and changed back into his street clothes, and by the time he was presentable, the rollback was there. The truck driver had to drag the car onto the truck because the damaged wheel wouldn't turn, and Dan grimaced at the screeching groan the car was making as the powerful winch on the truck muscled the Toyota onto the bed.

"York Toyota, on Cary," Shay said, speaking loudly to be heard over the clatter of the idling truck. The driver nodded as he continued chaining the car down. "They're expecting you. They said drop it in any empty spot in the parking lot as near the body shop as you can find."

"You got it."

Once the driver finished securing the car, he took her keys, she signed some paperwork, and they watched as the truck grumbled and snarled away.

"What a pain in the ass," she grumbled as the truck turned onto the street and slowly bellowed away.

"Yeah, I imagine so. How about I buy you dinner, you can tell me the news, and I'll drop you off at home. Once you get the car rental set up, I'll come by, pick you up, and take you to go get it."

"You don't have to do all that."

"It might not be my fault the guy ran over your car, but if I hadn't insisted you take the case, you wouldn't have been here for him to run over it. I figure it's the least I can do."

She watched his eyes a moment. "That's quite a stretch, don't you think?" He shrugged with a smile but said nothing. "Okay. Dinner and a ride home, at least, but I'll pay for my own dinner. I can catch a cab tomorrow."

"We'll talk about it over dinner. Home first though. I desperately need a shower. Is that okay?"

"Sure."

"So, tell me the news," he suggested as they drove to his apartment.

"I did some more digging last night and again this morning on Gail Dunnally. I found an old article on a website from about five years ago where she won a lawsuit against a special effects company. While I was waiting on you to arrive, I called them and posed as an investigative film maker doing a documentary on how the law treats celebrities and athletes differently than they treat the average person. A double standard if you will. That's who I was talking to when you drove up. Anyway, I name dropped Gail, and boy, did that get the guy going. He wouldn't give me any details, of course, but he swore that 'someone' nearly bankrupted his company for no reason other than spite. He said he had the contracts that proved he'd delivered exactly what was promised, when promised. The guy said they reshot a couple of scenes, so they had to rework the special effects, but this 'someone' wouldn't pay for the rush service agreed to in the contract to meet the deadline after the reshoots. This 'someone' had insisted that his company was simply padding their bill and had refused to pay the extra fees, claiming the special effect work was part of the original agreement."

He grinned at her making quote marks in the air every time she said someone. "And you think this someone was Gail?"

"I know it was. At least, it was her company. His story matches so closely with what was reported it couldn't have been anyone else. When he sued, he submitted the contracts and change orders as proof of his claim. According to the report, Gail's company then went after him for breach of contract because in the documents he submitted to the court, there were details about the then upcoming Natalie Nemain film. She claimed that violated his non-disclosure agreement, and in the end, the guy ended up having to pay her 4.1 million dollars."

"Wow! All over not wanting to pay overtime?"

"That's what the guy claims. Worse, his reputation took a real hit because he thinks she spread it around he couldn't be trusted to not leak details of the movies he was working on."

"That certainly has a familiar ring to it, doesn't it?" he asked.

"Yes, it does. It doesn't prove anything, and the method is different. She went after this guy in plain sight using lawyers, not backstabbing with rumors and innuendo, but it certainly shows she has a nasty streak if someone crosses her."

He snorted. "What would she sue me for? Not working with her or taking her to bed?"

"Age discrimination?" she suggested with a teasing grin.

He snickered as he stopped and waited for the garage gate to open. "Yeah, maybe that would be it. Do you think it could be her?"

"Could be? Yes. Is? I'm not so sure about that. I need to do some more digging. I need something solid, something more than conjecture and suppositions."

"See? I knew you were the best. If there was something to find, I knew you'd find it."

"I haven't found anything yet. This is all me simply looking at information and making some guesses."

"Yeah, but they sound like good guesses to me."

"Maybe, but guessing doesn't do you any good," Shay reminded him as he parked in his reserved spot. "If you're going to get a restraining order, or if you're going to sue her for damages, you need proof."

"If it's out there, I'm sure you'll find it," he said confidently as they exited his car and walked to the elevator.

"Maybe. The problem is, the internet is anonymous. There isn't going to be anything there to tie to her. Not until I can find something to get a court order to have the websites turn over the IP addresses attached to the messages." She paused as the elevator doors opened onto his floor. She said nothing until he unlocked and opened the door to his apartment, stepping aside to allow her to enter first. "Damn!" she murmured as he followed her inside. "This is a nice place, and what a view!"

"Thanks. I like it. Can I get you anything?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Okay, I'll be a minute."

As he showered, he thought about offering to fix dinner for her here. She might like a homecooked meal. Then, maybe after dinner, they'd sit and watch the city lights come on. Better, maybe they'd watch them come on from his bed. Even better, maybe they wouldn't watch the city light up from his bed because they'd be too busy to notice. He smiled at the thought, but decided he didn't want to go there. At least not tonight and not with the case hanging over his head. He was pretty sure she believed he was innocent now, and he didn't want to do anything to jeopardize that. Maybe after this sexual harassment thing was over, they could revisit the idea.

He finished showering and quickly dressed. Since she was always dressed so nicely in her suit, he put on a sports coat and dress pants.

"Wow! You clean up nice!" she teased when he stepped out of his bedroom.

"I was tired of looking like a ragamuffin standing next to you."

She twittered out a laugh. "I hardly think anyone noticed."

"Maybe not, but it was only because they were staring at you."

"Oh, you're a smoothie, alright."

"Ready?"

"Where are we going?"

"I'm starving. How do you feel about steak and potato?"

"You'll eat a potato? I thought potatoes were fattening."

"They're calorie dense, but I need that after shooting the videos." He paused as he grinned at her. "Besides, I love them and can resist them only for so long."

"Steak it is, then."

They didn't talk about the case on their way to his favorite steak house. It was of the style with hardwood everything, horseshoes, whips, western images burned into plaques, and old photographs of cattle drives decorating its walls. They arrived at the thick of dinner hour and had to wait, but he could think of worse ways to pass the time than to sit and talk with Shay.

"Beckette, party of two!"

They rose and were escorted to their table where they looked over the menu and placed their orders.

"If I can find enough to get a court order for the IP addresses, maybe I can track the rumors back to Gail's computer."

He didn't want to talk about business, but since she brought it up, he joined in. "IP address? I've heard the term, and I know it has something to do with the internet, but..."

"Simply put, every computer on the internet has a unique identifier, their IP address. That stuff is tracked by the internet companies because without it, the internet won't work. That's how an email sent to you actually gets to you. So, if I can find out the IP address on the computer that posted one of the messages, and it matches the IP address on her computer, you've got her."

"Why can't you just ask for that?"

"Because I need probable cause. Just like I can't ask for a court order to search your house unless I can show there is reasonable suspicion that what I'm looking for will be found there. Well... I can't actually do any of this because I'm not part of law enforcement, but you know what I mean. I have to have enough evidence to convince the police to do it because they're the only ones who can obtain and execute a search warrant."

"Well, damn."

She grinned. "Don't sweat it. This is what I do."

"You're feeling a little more confident now than you were yesterday."

Shay offered him a small smile before she looked down to hide it. "Maybe a little. The trick is not to get so focused on trying to prove one thing that you miss clues pointing you in another direction. That's a natural thing, to discard clues and ideas that don't agree with what you've already decided. That was probably the biggest thing I learned from Dad, to look at all the clues, not just those that support your suspicion."

"Makes sense,"

"Easier said than done, though."

Their lettuce wedges arrived and the conversation about business ended, which suited him fine. They spent an enjoyable ninety minutes eating and sipping their wine. He limited himself to only one glass because alcohol was hollow calories, and because he was driving, but he hadn't enjoyed a dinner out so much in a very long time.

Shay offered to pay again, but when Dan told her she was going to damage his fragile male ego if she bought her own dinner, she relented with a smile.

After the waiter returned his card, he escorted her to his car.

"Turn here," she said, pointing at her window. "That's it, the duplex on the left, the right side."

He turned into the drive on the right side of the house. The property was well maintained, but tiny. It was hard to tell in the darkness, but the building itself appeared to be light blue, or maybe grey. After stopping in the drive, he got out, opened her door, and stuck out his elbow in a silent offer to walk her to her door.

"Such a gentleman," she teased as she took his arm. The door was on the front corner of the house, under a small porch, and there had to be less than forty feet to the other door. The entire structure appeared to be smaller than his apartment, and there were two units in the space.

"Want to come in?" she asked as she opened the door.

He followed her in as she flipped on the lights. He was standing in a room that was maybe twenty by thirty, and it made up the living room, kitchen, and dining area. The room might be small, but it was nicely decorated with a large area rug over a hardwood floor, camel and black leather furniture accented with bright red and green pillows, and vibrant watercolor paintings on the walls. In the tiny eating area was a small, two-person table sharing space with a compact kitchen that gleamed with stainless steel appliances. There was a door out of the kitchen that probably led to the single bedroom and a bath. Judging from the outside of the house and what he could see, if there was more than one bedroom back there, the occupants would have to step into the kitchen to change their minds. The place was small, but she'd done a lot with the space she had.

"Nice place," he said as he glanced around.

"It's been upgraded, but it was originally built in 1924. I don't need a lot of space, so it suits me."

"You can tell it's older, but still, it's charming."

She looked around. "Thanks. I just finished renovating the place."

"You did?"

"Yeah. I own the building and rent out the other side. Dad owned the place for years. I think he thought he'd live on one side, and I'd live on the other." She looked slightly sad for a moment. "At the time I didn't want to be that close, so I had an apartment about twenty minutes from here, but after he died..." She paused with a slightly despondent expression marring her beautiful features. "Renting another place seemed kind of stupid, so I moved into his place. When the renters moved out, I renovated this side. After it was finished, I moved over here and renovated the other."

Her eyes still looked slightly haunted. "It wouldn't have made any difference if you'd been living here," he pointed out.

"I know, but I could have spent more time with him while he was still here, though."

"You can't think like that."

She looked at him and rallied, clearly trying to force the dark thoughts away. "Yeah, you're right. Can I get you anything?"

"No. I need to go."

"Okay. Thanks for the ride home, and dinner."

"My pleasure. You'll call me tomorrow to go get your rental car?"

"You don't have---"

He held up his pointer finger to silence her. "We've already decided, remember?"

She looked down as her lips twitched. "Fine."

"I need to go," he repeated, mostly to convince himself.

She looked up at him, her lips just begging to be kissed. She held his gaze for a long moment, her face upturned before he brushed her lips softly with his own. She didn't pull back, but alarm bells began ringing in his head. What are you doing? his thoughts raged before he slowly pulled back.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that," he said as he took a step back. She didn't seem upset, but as much as he wanted to kiss her again, he knew he couldn't. "I should go," he repeated before turning to the door. He opened it, but paused. "The offer to take you to your car is still on the table, if you want it."

She said nothing, so he stepped out and closed the door softly behind him.

.

.

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ELEVEN

Shay watched the door slowly close behind Dan with a click, his gentle kiss surprising her as she fought the darkness that sometimes overcame her when she thought about her dad too much. Far from being upset by the kiss, she'd enjoyed it, and wouldn't have minded enjoying another. She shook her head as she forced the thoughts away. He was a client. She'd never slept with a client, and she wasn't going to start with him.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly as the headlights of his car swung past the window when he backed into the road. When the lights of his car disappeared, she turned to the kitchen. The two glasses of wine she'd consumed at dinner had done wonders to relax her. After a moment's thought, she poured another glass and sat down to think.

The two women who functioned as production assistants had provided no new information. Like everyone else, they liked Dan, liked the entire team, and admitted to their tongues hanging out as they watched the men working out. They were also quite clear that all of Daniel's people had been nothing but friendly and professional.

She'd also found out that Firash, one of the men on Daniel's workout crew, was banging Deshane, one of the women. It had nothing to do with Dan, or what she was trying to prove, but it did explain why those two acted the way they did with each other, and why Dan was always teasing them about staying focused.

She liked the fact that he was open and honest with people. He didn't try to hide anything or pretend it didn't exist. Two of his people were getting sweaty together, and not just from jumping and kicking on workout videos, but he didn't seem to care so long as they did their jobs. It was refreshing to see the positive side of a sexual relationship, not just the dark side, like she saw so often.

Both production assistants admitted they'd gladly bed any of the men, and had made their availability clear, but thus far none of Dan's staff had made any moves. Shay could certainly understand the two women being willing to take any of the men to their bed. She'd never admit it, but as she watched the men going through their routines, she'd had more than a few fleeting thoughts about helping them work up a sweat herself, Dan in particular.

She'd already decided Dan was probably innocent of the sexual harassment charges because he'd have been an idiot to hire her and give her such open access if he was guilty, but she was surer now than ever. Everyone had only good things to say about him. The only negatives were actually positives, in that he held himself to a strict moral code.

Her thoughts returned to his kiss. It was true he hadn't asked permission before kissing her, but she liked a man who was sure of himself. The kiss had been very gentle, he hadn't tried to take it any further, and he hadn't gotten grabby. When he pulled back, he didn't look ashamed, rather, more like he was surprised. It was almost as if he hadn't planned the kiss to happen, but as she considered it more, she decided that wasn't quite right either. It was as if he wanted to kiss her, but then decided as he did, he was making a mistake... kind of like she felt after giving in to temptation and having a dessert when she was trying to lose a few pounds. As she thought about it, she decided that was exactly how he looked. He'd had that slightly embarrassed look of getting caught doing something he knew he shouldn't, but at the same time, knew he hadn't done anything that was actually wrong.

Maybe it was the wine talking, but she found it rather charming that he'd found her lips tempting enough to slip and have a little taste of dessert. Had he started pawing her, or been too aggressive, she might feel differently, but the fact he found her kissable enough to sneak a quick, gentle kiss after a lovely dinner warmed her. As Maranda had said about herself, Shay hadn't felt pressured to do more, which made her feel safe... and made her want to do more.

She forced her thoughts away from where they were going and back to the case. He was a client and that was that. Nothing was going to happen, but even as she thought it, it felt like she was trying to convince herself.

With a huff, she forced herself to focus. Gail was still her best lead, but she wasn't sure what to do about it. She'd love to find corroboration from another source. If she could find two sources that said the same thing, she'd feel pretty good about crawling up her ass with a microscope, but she'd had to dig deep to find the one thing she had. The problem, to her mind, was Gail's actions were business related, and there were two sides, sometimes three sides, to every story... his side, her side, and the truth. Shay wasn't prepared to condemn Gail just yet. Tomorrow she'd try to find someone to give her Gail's side of the story. For all Shay knew, the guy she'd spoken to today might have deserved everything that happened to him.

She thought about having another glass of wine but changed her mind, already feeling the effects of the three glasses. She was warm and relaxed, and such a lightweight. Only three glasses of wine with dinner, and she was already slightly fucked up. Her head resting on the back of the chair, her eyes closed, her thoughts returned to Dan's kiss. If Daniel were here now, she'd welcome him to do more than to just kiss her.

She recalled the surge of desire she'd felt for him as he stood in the photo shoot in all his shirtless glory, the medals hanging around his neck drawing her gaze to his chest. Not that his chest needed any help. The thing was, she liked him. Even taking away all his sexy goodness, she still liked him. He seemed to be a good person and someone who truly cared about people. So many people she dealt with were of questionable moral character. Cheating spouses. Deadbeat parents. People trying to scam or duck the legal system. It was nice to help a good guy for once, and he didn't deserve to be treated like he was by some faceless asshole trying to tear him down.

Her head resting against her chair, she opened her eyes to gaze at the watercolor seascape. Her job had made her cynical. She didn't trust people easily, but she felt like she could trust Dan. He seemed to be an open book with nothing to hide. She smiled. He was an open book, and she liked what the pages said.

Her thoughts circled back to the kiss. She knew why he broke it off. He didn't sleep with clients, and while she wasn't his client, he was hers. It was the other side of the same coin. She understood him feeling that way because she felt the same. Had he not broken it off, she would have... though she might have let it continue a little longer before she did. Another smile tugged at her lips. She was glad she didn't have to end the kiss because it only reinforced in her mind that all his talk about not sleeping with clients wasn't just talk, and he actually believed it. The hell of it was, she enjoyed the kiss and wanted more of it, and maybe something else too. She sat up with a growl of frustration.

"Goddammed wine," she muttered to the room. It was lowering her inhibitions and making her think thoughts she shouldn't be thinking. She stood and stomped to the kitchen, rinsed out the glass, and put it in the dishwasher. It wasn't that late, but she'd been up late last night and early this morning. She'd go to bed early, forget about Dan's kiss, get a good night's sleep, and be fresh and ready to face the day tomorrow.

She'd been neglecting her other cases for Dan's, but they weren't pressing. She'd been two months trying to track down the guy that owed a ton of back child support, and serving the divorce documents could wait. The woman that needed them served was already living with some other guy, so she was in no screaming hurry. Her only other case, one that she'd accepted just yesterday, was another cheating spouse case. Those were normally quick to prove, but she needed her car for that one.

She retired to her bedroom and stripped out of her suit, tossed it into the dry-cleaning hamper, and her blouse and underwear into the wash hamper. Tomorrow she'd take her dry-cleaning---except she didn't have her car. Dammit! She stomped to the bathroom and started the shower.

She thought the bath was the best part of the house. During the renovation, she'd had the tubs removed and replaced with large showers and a built-in cabinet for storage. The shower was tucked into a corner that made it pie shaped, the glass forming an arc to enclose the corner. Removing the tubs made the tiny space feel larger, and the oddly shaped shower was visually appealing. The custom tilework completed the look.

Both sides of the duplex were identical, though mirrored, images of each other, down to the color of the walls, and the bath was what rented the other side. She'd rented it to a twenty-something couple, and as soon as the woman saw the bathroom, she'd told her significant other this was the place. Shay knew they got a lot of use out of it. If she showered about nine at night, she would sometimes hear them screwing their brains out in the shower.

She often smiled when she heard him telling her he was about to come, her begging him not to, and then both of them crying out together less than a minute later. Shay always wondered who came first. Was it him coming inside his girlfriend that pushed her over the edge, or maybe it was her pussy clamping down on her boyfriend's plunging cock as she came that snipped the thread holding back his orgasm, or what happen if he managed to hold his nut and not come. The nosy private investigator in her never stopped, and she wanted answers. At least the bathrooms served as a buffer between the two bedrooms. Listening to them fucking every night as she was trying to sleep would get real old, real fast, especially since she usually slept alone.

She showered, enjoying the hot water pouring over her. She knew it was the wine, but she wished Dan was with her. If he were, they'd make a little noise in the shower themselves. She was twenty-eight years old, but she'd show those kids what fucking was all about. The way she was feeling tonight, she'd wear Dan's well-muscled ass out!

A smile tugged at her lips. She couldn't believe what she was thinking. She never, ever threw herself at a man. She was always in control, and she was picky, but Dan was winning her over without even trying. Maybe that was the appeal of him. He was drop dead fucking sexy, but he didn't act like he was God's gift to women, nor did he seem to think just because a woman went out with him, she was going to let him in her pants. His little kiss this evening only showed his interest, but he'd left it up to her what happened next. She smiled as the shampoo coursed over her body as the strong spray massaged her scalp. If he were here right now, what'd be happening would be some vigorous bedercise.

Smiling with the thought, she finished scrubbing herself clean, turned off the water, stepped out of the shower, and dried. She then slipped into her favorite sleepwear, the slightly tattered sleepshirt that had Licensed Private Investigator: Because Badass Miracle Worker is not an Official Job Title, the large teal and white letters covering the entire front of the shirt. Her dad had given her the oversize shirt when she'd obtained her Private Investigator license. While it was showing its age, with the black fabric and bright lettering badly faded, wearing it made her feel close to him. She'd been looking for a duplicate to replace it, but so far, she hadn't been able to find one.

After toweling dry her locks, she brushed her hair and teeth, and then returned to her bedroom. The shower and wine had relaxed her, but thinking about fucking Dan left her feeling jumpy. She knew the feeling well, unfortunately, and knew just what to do. After turning back her bed, she retrieved her toyfriend, Buzz, from the bottom drawer of her dresser. He wasn't as good as a man, but he was always faithful and, so long as she fed him regularly with fresh batteries, ready when she needed him.

After slipping out of her shirt, she lay down and allowed her mind to wander while gently touching herself. In her imagination she was in the shower, washing her hair, the warm water pouring over her like a summer's rain. She was wiping the water from her face when she heard the soft rumble of the shower door rolling aside. With a squeak of surprise she turned, but then relaxed when she saw it was Dan.

"I thought you left."

"I did, but then I realized that I'd forgotten to do something."

"What?"

"This," he growled, his voice low and sexy as he stepped into the shower and closed the door, his cock standing at attention.

She smiled as he picked up the bottle of bodywash and squirted a generous dollop into his hand as she turned her back to him, nearly shivering in delight as his big, strong hands glided smoothly over her flesh. He washed her back before squatting as he worked his way down her legs, rising slowly as his hands worked back up her front. He stopped at her neck, and she twisted her head around as she leaned into him, pressing her back and ass against his chest and legs. He was so tall, his iron like cock caressed the small of her back, his hips rocking slowly, as his lips devoured hers.

She gasped as her fingers danced in her wetness, her free hand tickling a nipple to aching erectness as his slippery hands massaged her breasts. Moaning softly in desire, she turned in his arms, their flesh made slick by the soap and water. Her arms went around his neck as she pulled herself tight against him. Their tongues dancing, he lifted her as if she weighed nothing, the muscles of his chest and arms twisting and bulging with the effort. As he straightened, she wrapped her legs around him before thrusting against his stomach, so eager to feel him inside she couldn't remain still. Holding her, he took a step forward so that the water ran over them to wash the soap away.

Slowly, carefully, he sank lower as he lifted her, until she was sitting on his shoulders as he settled to the bottom of the shower on his knees. His hands under her ass, he hoisted her higher still before guiding her womanhood to his waiting mouth. With a gasping moan, she grabbed the top of the enclosure for stability as his wicked, wicked tongue darted, slithered, and probed, and his soft, tender lips caressed her most intimate area. The shower spray teasing her erect and sensitive nipples, she moaned again, louder this time, as pleasure washed over her in waves.

Shay's finger began to dart faster, caressing her button, her fantasy causing her need to swell as the water poured over them, Dan's lips and tongue destroying her with pleasure. Unable to remain still, her hips began to lunge at his face as she was consumed with need.

Her rapture was coming. "Oh..." she gasped softly as her finger swirled and touched, her body alive with tingling flesh as her climax closed around her. "Fuck... fuck... fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck... fuck!" she murmured as Dan continued to devour her. His caressing lips and dancing tongue stripped away her normal reserve to leave her bare, her chant becoming faster and louder as she lit up with seething energy, her head thrown hard back as her body twisted and jerked in orgasmic spasms.

She lay still, every muscle taut, unable to breathe, waiting as she crackled with orgasmic energy... before exhaling slowly as she relaxed.

"Fuck," she muttered again, the only word she could voice.

Shit! She'd come before Dan could fuck her. She smiled. He'd taken the edge off in the shower, but she was certain there was at least one more in her, and he was going to fuck it out of her. With a small smile, her need bubbling just below the surface, she picked up Buzz, flicked him on, and gasped in bliss as she pressed him against her.

She'd cried out as she came, her voice loud in the shower, but she wasn't done, and wouldn't be done until she felt Dan's lovely cock inside her. She slipped from his shoulders, the weakness in her legs from the face melting climax she'd just experienced, causing her to wobble. Dan quickly pulled her to him to steady her. She smiled down at him, at the intensity in his eyes and the desire on his face as he held her close and safe. He was going to fuck the shit out of her, and she was looking forward to it. When she slowly pulled away from his embrace, he stood and picked her up before slowly lowering her over his cock as she steered him inside.

"Ah... fuck!" she gasped as he gradually slid inside her, twice pausing briefly to allow her to adjust to his size, before sliding deeper still, his passage causing her to burn in erotic fire. Pressing her tight against the shower wall, her breasts flattened against his chest and his face in her neck, he drove himself deep once, twice, three times, his deep raspy grunts with each slow thrust amazingly sexy. She wanted to scream with pleasure as she held him tight, the feel of his rippled, muscular body sliding against hers another source of pleasure as he began plunging into her fast and deep.

"Fuck you're tight!" he growled into her neck as he drove into her.

"You're so big!" she wailed, the pleasure of him inside her almost overwhelming in its intensity.

She moved Buzz from her button to plunge him deep inside, moaning softly as Daniel pounded deep into her, his hands gripping her ass tight as he grunted and gasped.

"Shit!" she snarled as she returned Buzz to her clit and pressed him down hard, every muscle straining as she crackled with pleasure. "You're going to make me come again," she growled into Dan's ear. "Make me come. Make me come again."

"I'm going to come!" he sneered in return while plunging into her hard and fast. "I can't hold it! You're so fucking tight! You're going to make me come so fucking hard! Shit!" She couldn't reply as she teetered on the edge of a colossal orgasm. "Fuck! I'm coming!" he snarled just as she tipped into the abyss.

She held Buzz tightly to her bean as she mewled softly. "Fuck... fuck... fuck... fuck, fuck, fuck... fuck!"

The pleasure was so great it touched on pain, her rapture swelling higher and higher until it collapsed over her with terrifying force. She dropped Buzz as she jerked one time, very hard, before rolling to her side with her hand clamped between her legs as she gripped her pussy. Her legs shivering as she moaned softly, she waited... waited... waited... for the devastation of her climax to end. Finally, after a minute, an hour, an eternity, she let out a long, cleansing breath as she relaxed out of her orgasm.

"Jesus," she murmured as she rolled to her back and patted around until she found Buzz. With fingers sure from long practice, she snapped him off and dropped him back to the bed. Smiling, she let out another long cleansing breath. "You're a good boy, Buzz," she sighed.

She lay unmoving, still adrift in the aftermath of her orgasm. She smiled again, her eyes closed with her arm flung across them. Jesus, I really need to get laid, her mind whispered as she smiled. She continued to lay there, unmoving, relaxed and sleepy, knowing she needed to get up and clean Buzz. She had to take care of him since he always took such good care of her.

Her last lucid thought before sleep took her was that she'd do it as soon as she rested a moment.

.

.

.

TWELVE

Dan sat on the edge of his bed, his head resting in his hands, feeling haggard as he tried to wake up. He hadn't slept well the previous night, tossing and turning in his bed as he waffled between believing he screwed up with Shay, and that he hadn't. It wasn't the actual kiss... he didn't regret that at all, but the fear that she'd think he was exactly what the rumors said he was, a playboy that couldn't keep his hands to himself, or his cock in his pants. At least a half-dozen times last night, he'd picked up his phone with the intention of calling Shay to apologize, only to put the device down again. He'd apologized for his conduct at the time, and while he didn't precisely regret the kiss, he was worried over how she might have perceived it.

With a huff, he rose and staggard to the shower. As he stood under the spray, he turned the kiss over in his mind for what felt like the millionth time. It was just a good night kiss. People did it millions of times every day, even on first dates. He hadn't been handy with her, and hadn't tried to seduce her. It was just a kiss good night. So why was he so worried about it? He didn't know. He sniffed at his self-deception. He did know. He needed her to believe he wasn't the person the rumors said he was, to help him professionally, but that was only part of the reason. He also wanted her to believe he wasn't that person for him, personally. He liked her and didn't want her to think less of him for the rumors, and he hoped she'd realize the facts didn't support that narrative, despite what he'd done the night before.

Growling in frustration, he grabbed the soap and began to scrub. He was starting down the same rabbit hole that'd tormented his sleep last night. As he bathed, he decided he was going to stop worrying about it. He'd see how she reacted to him when he took her to get her rental. If she seemed upset, or rejected his offer of a ride, he'd apologize again, otherwise he was going to let it drop. He growled silently as he furiously scrubbed his hair. He'd made the same decision at least a dozen times last night, for all the good it had done him. Finished with his shower, he dressed before opening his computer.

His lips thinned as he saw his feeds on Facebook and X. Another accusation had popped up late last night after he went to bed. It was another one of those a-friend-told-me-about-a-friend rumors, just like all the others. In this one, the supposed victim had been at one of his fitness centers when he'd stopped in and offered to give her private lessons. The rumor said the woman claimed he'd taken her into one of the rooms where classes were held, and had gotten touchy. She didn't outright accuse him of attempted rape, but the implication was the woman thought it was leading there before she'd managed to slip away.

He hated this shit! He didn't understand how anyone could believe the rumors, especially since they were always third hand information with no details. Supposedly he'd all but tried to rape a woman, but there was no date, time, or location where the attempted rape had occurred. He couldn't prove his innocence by showing he was somewhere else at the time, and had it actually happened, why hadn't she gone to the police and filed a report? It was maddening! With everything going on in Hollywood right now, and with so many big stars and executives being accused of sexual harassment, people were apparently willing to believe anything without a shred of proof. Worse, the rumors were starting to get traction, and they were being spread as fact.

He roughly closed his laptop. If it was indeed Gail behind the rumors, he was going to fucking bury her for it, and he didn't care what it cost. She wanted him to fuck her? He'd fuck her, but not in the way she wanted him too. He placed the computer aside and took a deep breath as he tried to let go of the anger. He had no proof Gail had anything to do with his problems, and blaming her without proof was no different than what people were doing to him.

"Shit!" he growled, drawing the word out slightly when he noticed the time. He didn't have time for breakfast, and was going to be late as it was if he didn't haul ass.

After hurrying down to his car, he drove as quickly as possible through LA traffic, taking advantage of the Porsche's speed and maneuverability as he pushed every light and shot through every hole in traffic. By the time he turned into Kate Drury's driveway, with only minutes to spare, his fast blast across town had allowed him to release his anger. Kate was in her late sixties, overweight, smoked like a chimney, and lived in a modest home in Placentia with her three Corgis. She was the ghostwriter for his upcoming book, and she wanted to talk to him about some point he'd attributed to two different people in two different locations. They'd tried to talk it out over the phone yesterday evening as he drove home from Shay's, but his explanation hadn't been clear to her, so they'd agreed to meet and work through the confusion in person.

He didn't enjoy sitting in Kate's smelly, smoke-filled house, so he was always all business when he met with her. After reading the section she'd written about the details of his time on the Olympic team, he marked it up with corrections using a red pencil. She'd gotten crossed up because one of his team members was named William, Will for short, and one of the coaches who was also named William, Bill for short. He could understand her confusion. The team had often mixed-up Bill and Will since they sounded so much alike when spoken in a noisy arena.

They were sitting in her office, talking about her progress, when his phone rang. "Excuse me," he said as he pulled his phone from his pocket and saw Shay's name. "I need to take this."

"Go right ahead, dear," she said as she lit another cigarette from the one she'd just smoked, her voice like rocks grinding together.

"Hey," he said as he walked outside so he could get some fresh air.

"Hey! That offer still on to take me to get a rental?"

He almost sighed in relief. She didn't sound upset. "Of course! I'm in Placentia talking to the writer, but I can be there in about an hour, maybe ninety minutes. Can you wait that long?"

She sighed, but he could hear the teasing in her voice. "If I must."

"Let me make sure Kate's got what she needs, and then I'll be there as quick as I can."

"You remember where I live?"

"Yeah."

"See you when you get here," she said, and then was gone.

He stared at the phone a moment, feeling like a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Bracing himself for the smoke, he returned to Kate's office, trying to keep his distance without looking like he was keeping his distance.

"Kate, I need to bolt. Something has come up. I answered all your questions?"

She took a hard pull on her cigarette and nodded as she blew smoke at the ceiling. "For now. I'll call you if anything else comes up."

"Please do," he said as he backed away.

He quickly trotted down her steps and hurried to his car. It was about an hour from Placentia to Shay's home in Inglewood, but he drove a year-old 911, and he was pretty sure he could do it faster.

He didn't drive like a madman, not even as hard as he had on his way to Kate's, but forty-eight minutes later he was pulling into Shay's driveway. He'd debated with himself the entire way and had decided he needed to clear the air with her. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the button beside the door and smiled as the old-fashioned bell buzzed inside.

He was bouncing on his toes, his nerves making him fidgety, when she opened the door. His eyes opened wide. He'd never seen her in anything other than a suit, so seeing her dressed in faded tight jeans, black, calf-high boots with a two-inch heel and buckles on the sides, and a breezy, pale-yellow blouse opened enough to show the swell of her breasts, was a bit of a surprise. She wasn't as heavy breasted as some women, but her petiteness caused her breasts to look amazing.

"That was fast! You must have put your foot down."

"Porsche, baby!" he teased. "You ready?"

She stepped out and locked her door in way of answer. When she turned from the door he caught her arm, holding it just long enough to get her attention.

"I want to apologize for last night. I shouldn't have done that."

"Why?"

"It wasn't very professional of me."

"What about me?"

He shrugged. "You didn't kiss me, I kissed you, and I'm sorry."

She smiled. "You really don't have anything to apologize for, but if it makes you feel better, you're forgiven."

"Thank you. It won't happen again."

"What if I want it to?" she asked before turning and quick-stepped down the four steps from the porch to leave him briefly stunned.

"What?" he asked after he recovered and followed.

She smiled at him over the top of the car. "You're right. It wasn't very professional, of either one of us, but to be honest, I didn't mind. Maybe, when this is over, you can do it again." Her eyes twinkled with mischief. "If you want to, that is."

He was totally flummoxed by her comment. Of all the scenarios that had run through his mind on the drive over, this wasn't one of them. "Maybe I will."

She flashed him a smile before disappearing as she dropped into the car. He sat down beside her. "This is a new look for you," he said as he nodded at her.

"I'm taking the day off to get my car problem sorted out."

"Well, I like it."

She smiled as she pulled her aviator sunglasses out of her purse and slipped them on. He'd seen her wearing them before, but with her new, more relaxed look, they fit her even better.

"Thanks." She continued to watch him a moment. "Are we going, or should I get out and push?"

He snickered and started the car. "Where too?"

"LAX. I have a car reserved."

He nodded and backed down the drive. Shay lived on the north end of Inglewood, so he took the 405 south to the 105. It was an easy twenty-minute drive, even with the typical LA traffic.

As they motored along, he noticed her looking at him. "What?"

"Have you taken up smoking?"

He rolled his eyes. "No. Kate... Jesus... I don't know how she's still alive. She has to be at least a hundred pounds overweight, and those old-fashioned steam trains don't smoke as much as she does. Bad?"

"Not great, but I've smelled worse."

"Sorry."

She waved the apology away. "Don't worry about it. I'm just glad it isn't your cologne."

He snickered. "Maybe I'll go into male fragrances... I could call it Smokestack by Beckette."

She grinned in return. "I think you better stick to what you know."

They chatted about nothing until they rolled to a stop at the Hertz lot at the airport. "Want me to wait?"

"No, that's fine."

"What if there's a screw up?"

"Then I'll call."

She started to open the door. "Shay! Wait!" She paused. "Dinner tonight?"

"Why?"

"Because I want to. I want to talk to you about our next step." She seemed hesitant. "I'll keep my hands to myself, I promise."

She grinned. "Okay. I'll call you in a few hours when I get myself sorted."

"I'll pick you up."

She nodded, opened the car's door, and walked into the small office without a look back.

-oOo-

Daniel was sitting at home, staring at his computer, trying to write his Health Minute segments for next week, but he was having a hard time focusing. He'd write a bit and get stuck when he found himself thinking about how good Shay's ass looked in those jeans, or her comment about kissing her again. He wasn't entirely sure he knew what was happening, but he liked how it made him feel all the same.

He shook off the distraction of his memory of her in those ass hugging jeans, and frowned at the screen. He read what he'd typed, then started pecking at the keyboard again. He didn't type using the Jesus Christ method---seek and ye shall find---but he was no Kate Drury either. That woman could almost type faster than the computer could go.

He'd just finished his third segment, and was staring at another blank screen, trying to think of something to say that he hadn't already said, or at least come up with a new way of saying it, when his phone rang. He glanced at the phone and smiled upon seeing Shay's name.

"Have your car?"

"Yeah. My Camry is seriously screwed. It's going to be at least five weeks before it'll be repaired because the rear suspension is knackered. That's the technical term, according to the repair guy. Knackered."

"Are we still on for dinner?"

"Sure. Are you sure you don't want me to meet you somewhere?"

"No, I'll pick you up. A dress, or one of your suits, would be appropriate."

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

She paused for a moment. "Answer something honestly for me."

"If I can."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why dinner?"

He shrugged even though she wouldn't see. "I want to. I figure you've about burned through my deposit. I want to know our next step."

"I don't know if there is one."

"Did you see Facebook and X this morning?"

"No, why?"

"Another rumor is going around. This time I groped some woman in one of my fitness centers."

"Shit."

"Exactly. I want you to keep digging. I have to know if it's Gail, and if it's not her, who it is."

"I may not be able to find out. It was a longshot from the beginning."

"I know. But you found that thing with Gail. I have confidence that if you keep digging, you'll eventually find something."

"If you're sure, but I have other things I need to spend time on, too."

"I'm not surprised, but that's what I want to talk to you about."

"You don't have to take me out to dinner for that, especially one that I have to dress up for. You could come by the office."

"I know, but I want to. It gets me out of my apartment, and I've been wanting to try this new place that has been getting great reviews for its seafood, but I didn't want to go by myself. I'd invite you here and cook for you, but I thought that'd be a little too much like a date."

"I don't know. I can't remember the last time anyone cooked for me."

"You want to come here?" he asked, his heart speeding up at the thought.

She paused. "No, that's probably not a good idea. At least not right now."

"Yeah, I didn't think so either. So, dinner at this place I want to try, we'll figure out our game plan, then I'll drop you back home. It's business."

"What time?"

"I'll pick you up at six. We have reservations for seven."

"I'll be ready."

"See you then."

He hung up and placed the phone on the table before staring at the blank screen, the cursor mocking his lack of progress. He had an hour before he needed to shower, so he should be able to knock out these last two segments in that length of time, easy. He just needed to focus. He stared at the screen, waiting for the words to come, the cursor mocking him.

-oOo-

Dan rolled to a stop in Shay's driveway. He'd told himself he couldn't go to dinner until he finished the last two segments. Properly motivated, he knocked them out in record time. One was on selecting the proper clothing for your type of workout, the other about hydration. After he'd finished writing the segments, he'd taken a quick shower, dressed, and hit the road.

He rang the bell, again smiling as it buzzed inside. It sounded just like a small school bell, the buzzing ring reminding him of the bells in school back home in South Dakota. He'd dressed up, even adding a tie, which he despised, but he wanted to make a good impression, and where they were going, a tie was mandatory.

Shay opened the door and stepped back. "Come in. I'll be ready in two minutes."

She was dressed in a black, sleeveless dress that hugged her curves perfectly. The dress stopped at her knees, and the angled pleats from the belted waist drew his gaze to the sensuous curve of her hips. The neckline was high and arced gracefully around her throat, but there was a small diamond shaped plunge in the center that hinted at the V of her breasts. The top of the diamond was clasped with a small silver band that matched the silver of the wide buckle that attached the belt and pleats.

She was stunning in the dress, and he was severely outclassed in his navy blazer, tan pants, white shirt, and bright red tie for a splash of color. Dan didn't feel too bad about himself, however, because James Bond himself would be outclassed by Shay in that dress.

"You look great!" he said as she swayed back to her bedroom.

She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled, and he wondered if she'd caught him staring at her oh so lovely ass. "You look nice too. I like the tie," she said before she disappeared. "Want to come back?" she called.

He paused in the door to her bedroom. Like the rest of her house, it was small but didn't feel cramped. He smiled at the queen size bed that dominated the room. Shay seemed to prefer muted, pastel colors, the bed covered with a taupe comforter with celery green pillows and accents. Like the rest of her house, it was feminine without going overboard with ruffles and frills. Keeping his face carefully neutral, he wondered what it'd be like to destroy it in their passion.

"Snap?" she asked, handing him a silver necklace before turning her back to him. "Thanks." She slipped into some heels and smiled up at him. "How do I look?"

"Stunning."

Her smile widened. "This is by far the most dressed up for a business meeting I've ever been."

"You dress like that, you can charge whatever you want, and your clients will pay it."

She picked up a small clutch from her dresser before giving him a teasing smile while patting his chest as she passed. "I'm ready."

She led him to her door, and after locking her house, he escorted her to his car before opening the door for her. During the drive, they talked about the latest post on Facebook and X concerning him, and the repair of her car, until they arrived at Fins. He again opened her door and escorted her inside.

"Beckette," he said as they approached the maitre d'. "We have a reservation."

The woman checked her list and then smiled at them. "Right this way, Mr. Beckette."

He'd heard the place was upscale, and it was, the tables gleaming with thick, white tablecloths, accented by black cloth napkins folded so they stood like crowns at each place. The chairs were heavy, covered in thickly padded, dark grey fabric, and their thick wooden frames matched the richly polished wood on the walls. The lighting was low, the music soft and soothing, and the conversation of the diners hushed.

"Wow!" Shay whispered as they sat down. "This is some place." The waiter placed menus in front of them before stepping back and waiting. "Holy shit, Daniel," she hissed. "Are you sure about this?"

He was shocked by the prices. He could easily afford it, but at between $185 and $325 a plate, this wasn't a place he was going to be popping into for a quick bite. In for a penny, in for a pound he decided. They'd dressed up, they were there, and he did want to try the food.

"Sure," he said as if he knew how expensive the place was all along.

The menu was small, so they quickly ordered. When their food arrived, the meal was fantastic. It was one of the typically overpriced places where the portions were tiny and the presentation was everything, but he couldn't fault the quality of the food, the wine, or the companionship.

As they enjoyed their courses, they talked softly about her next step. She wanted to call it quits, at least for a while. She'd tried to get someone at Gail's company to comment on the case they'd won against Clearsky Effects, the company they'd sued, but everyone was completely closed-lipped. Because she had no clear path forward, she wanted to wait until she had something more to work with. Dan finally convinced her, over a delicious whole pear that had been soaked in spiced red wine and apple juice, to give him another forty hours, though he had to agree that she'd work the case between other, more pressing, commitments.

Meal over, he drove her home and walked her to her door, not wanting the evening to end. She unlocked her door and then turned to face him.

"You're not coming in, but give me a good night kiss?"

He smiled. "You sure? What about our mutual professionalism?"

Her lips twisted into that sideways grin she had that he found so appealing. "Screw it. It's just a good night kiss, and after a meal like that, you deserve one."

"Then forget it. You don't owe me anything... except another forty hours of investigation."

Her smile spread. "Okay, how about because I want one?"

"Better."

He stepped in, took her face gently into his hands, and kissed her with a slow, soft, taking of her lips, much like the kiss last night, but slightly longer. His desire began spooling up, but he'd kept the kiss intentionally innocent. He slowly pulled back from the kiss and smiled as he gradually released her face.

"Nice," she whispered.

"Very," he agreed as he took a half-step back.

"I'll keep you updated on what I find, if I find anything. Are you sure you want to waste your money on this?"

He didn't want to talk about work. "It's mine to waste. At least if you're working on it, I'll feel like I'm doing something and not just sitting around twiddling my thumbs."

She held his gaze a moment. He wanted to kiss her again, wanted to kiss her badly, but he kept his distance.

"Goodnight," she finally said. "I had a lovely evening. Thank you."

He smiled and nodded. "So did I."

She didn't move, and neither did he. She slowly licked her lips and then smiled. "I'm still not inviting you in, but one more kiss like the last one, then you have to go."

His smile joined hers as he again took her face into his hands and kissed her. For this kiss, he added a little more heat than he had during the first one, and held it until she started to pull away.

"That's enough," she whispered, "or I'll change my mind."

"Good night," he said as he took a step back. "Sleep well," he added before turning and walking back to his car.

She watched him walk away, remembering the warmth of his kiss and the bulge in his pants. "Not likely," she whispered softly so he wouldn't hear.

She was still standing on her tiny porch as he dropped into his car, so he gave her a small wave as he shut the door. He was forcing himself to act like he wasn't disappointed that he was leaving, but he was. He wanted her, wanted her like he hadn't wanted a woman in a long, long time.