I've been a cop for about five years. The pay is lousy. Plus, guys generally find a woman in uniform intimidating. That means I've been involuntarily celibate almost as long as I've had the badge.
The beam of light on my graveyard shift is Chris, a medic who usually works the same hours I do. He's hot, but never seems the slightest bit aware of it. He's also taller than I am, with a body you can only get from lifting lots of heavy people onto gurneys. So, every time I call EMS out to a scene, I pray that he comes.
The work place being what it is, I'd never let on that I had the hots for him. Besides, the risk wasn't just about sexual harassment. The cutie in question is also Captain Montgomery's nephew. Even asking him out could end my career. That's why I've always done my best to hide my lust.
I must have overcompensated because a few weeks ago, Captain called me into his office for a pre-shift "chat." Apparently, Chris told his dear uncle that I had been rude on scene. With the threat of punishment dangling over my head, I took down Chris' cell number and jumped in my cruiser with the promise to make a peace offering.
I didn't really want to call him. He'd probably see right through my charade and I'd become the topic of discussion between the guys he worked with. That poor, butch cop Julianne. Besides, what do you say to someone that you've been masturbating to the thought of for a few years?
When I was almost out of time, I flipped open my cell phone and dialed his number. As it rang, I fought the urge to hang up and take my chances with Captain.
"Hello?" His voice was husky and softer than I'd heard it before, almost as if I'd woke him from a good dream.
"Uh...Hi...Um...I"
"I think we have a bad connection."
I cleared my throat and tried not to sound like a complete moron again. It was just lunch, after all. "I'm sorry. Is this any better?"
"Yeah. Yeah, it is. Who is this?"
"Julianne from theโ"
"Julianne. Yeah. Hi. I know who you are. What's up?"
He knew my voice? My heart began to pound in my ears. I took another deep breath, and tried not to sound like a swooning schoolgirl. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for being rude. Also, I hope that you'll let me buy you lunch to make it up to you."
"Mmmmm. Well, I am hungry. Have you got a break soon?"
"Yes. In about thirty minutes."
"Okay. Let me drop this one off, and I'll meet you."
My hands shook and my palms were sweating buckets. "Where would you like to meet?"
"How about the mall parking lot? We park there a lot because it's central, and this time of night it's abandoned."
"Alright. Burgers okay with you?"
"Sure. Extra pickles, too."
"Okay. See you there."
****
I pulled into the parking lot to see Chris propped casually against the ambulance, his arms folded across his chest and one knee bent so that his foot could rest against the front driver's tire. I smiled and pulled in beside him. After radioing dispatch with my status, I grabbed the burgers and started to open the door.
My seat belt grabbed me, stopping me and cutting into my neck. I groaned. It was like I lost I.Q. points around him. I quickly unlatched the seat belt and hoped he hadn't seen. When I stepped out, I spoke first to avoid the topic, just in case he did notice. "Where's your partner?"
"I dropped him off for lunch." He smiled as I rounded the trunk, and motioned toward the back of his vehicle. "I thought we could eat here. There's more room, a decent radio, and air conditioning."
"Sure. That's fine with me." He opened the door and motioned me in. When I was in, he hopped in effortlessly and shut the door behind us. "Had a busy night?"