Page 3 of Cop Blocked

Rachel gives me a hard stare. I should probably be a little bit scared, maybe, but instead - I’m turned on. Another time, another place, I think I’d enjoy the hell out of her spunky attitude. Who am I kidding? I am enjoying it.

“I thought we agreed?” she grumbles. “I can handle this myself, ya know.”

“I have no doubts. Let me be the gentleman here.”

Kasey slides back over and laughs. “It’s too late, anyway. Logan scares me more than you do. I already ran his card for both tabs.” He hands me receipts for both, and I quickly sign, leaving him with a hefty tip as well.

“Unbelievable.” Rachel throws her hands up with a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

“Bros before hoes,” Kasey adds.

My eyes widen. “Did you just call her…”

Rachel’s hand on my arm instantly stops me in my tracks. “Relax, it’s an inside joke. He wasn’t calling me a ho, and you don’t have to defend my honor.”

I look at Kasey, who nods. “She’s right. Only a joke, some other time, I’ll explain. Don’t go trying to beat my ass, Hulk.”

It’s my turn to laugh now. “Okay, fucker. You’re lucky.”

Rachel pats me on the shoulder and sighs. “Well, Logan, it’s been fun. Thanks for the company, but now I’ve got to get home.”

I refuse to miss out on the chance to see her again, so I take a leap of faith and ask for her number.

“Thought you said no strings attached, Mister.”

“I did. And I meant it. I’d love to get to know you and take you on a proper date sometime. If you’re not interested, that’s okay too.” Instinctively, I reach out and brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear, “There was no way I was going to let you walk away without at least trying.”

She hesitates but only for a moment.

Oh yeah, luck ended up on my side tonight.

TWO

Rachel

“Soooo, how’d last night go?” my co-worker and friend, Tori, asks over lunch the next day. “Ohhh, don’t think I don’t notice that grin. Was he hot? Did you invite him back to your place?” She bounces in her chair like a child. “I want all the steamy details.”

My mind drifts to Logan’s smile and his mocha-colored eyes. “Well, my date - didn’t show up.”

Tori points her fork at me. “That does not look like the face of a person who was stood up.”

“Oh, he stood me up. But then I met this guy at the bar, and we ended up having dinner together. And he asked for my number.”

“What?” Her mouth drops open. “You…had dinner…with some guy at the bar? Now I know you’re lying.”

I mock offense. “Why is this so hard for you to believe? And really, what’s the difference between a blind date that didn’t show up and dinner with a stranger who happened to be in the same place at the same time?”

“The difference is you, my dear friend. One, I barely convinced you to go out with Peter, and the Rachel I know would have bailed when he didn’t show.”

“Okay, okay. You have a point. I would have bailed. Except, the guy at the bar was rather intriguing, and I figured I already had a sitter for the evening, I should at least grab a drink and a burger or something before I went home alone.”

“I’m proud of you. Yay for getting back out there.” Tori raises her bottle of water and grins. “So, did you get his number too?”

“Mayyyybe.”

“YES! Oh, this is totally epic. Wait until I tell Frank about this, well, after I tell him that his buddy Peter stood you up. That fucker.”

“We do not need to discuss any of this with Frank.”

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