A few years later...
"I'll find those guys for you if you marry my daughter."
Blake Alexander quirked a brow at the suggestion. His face remained expressionless. His current boss, Peter Greene, looked hopeful. For the past two and a half years, Blake worked for the man. This was the eighth marriage proposal and would be the eighth rejection.
"I'm too busy to be married." Blake replied.
"You could at least humor me." Peter grumbled.
"I'm a good bounty hunter, therefore can afford not to kiss your ass."
"Yes, you're one of my best workers. I'm glad I had the good sense to invest in you that day you came into my office looking starved and dirty." Peter tried to joke.
That only caused Blake to inwardly cringe. His reply was dry. "Our recollections seem to differ. I recall being turned away day after day until you got so annoyed with me you gave me a shot...hoping I would mess up so you could fire me and get rid of me permanently."
Peter grinned. "I was testing your tenacity."
Blake changed the subject. "What's up with the next case?"
A long time ago, Peter and Blake had struck a deal. Blake would do a third of his work for free if he could use the company's connections for his own investigative purposes. Peter had agreed and two and a half years later, was damn glad he did. Blake Alexander had appeared with no identification or papers, but the determination Peter saw in Blake's eyes were able to overcome Blake's lack of solid ID.
Peter himself couldn't find anything on Blake Alexander. But he helped Blake create his new identity. Peter didn't know anything of Blake's past other than Blake was obsessed with finding the partners of the infamous Clifford Richardson. The scandal of that had died down, but everyone knew who Clifford Richardson was. Peter could only assume Blake had been somehow involved in Richardson's 'business'.
Peter watched Blake follow the faintest trails that usually led to a dead end. And as frustrated as Peter knew Blake must be, Blake never expressed his anger. Well, Blake never expressed much of any emotion.
Looking over the file he was about to hand over to Blake, Peter wondered if it was time for Blake to take a much need vacation. Unfortunately, it was known that Blake would then just use that free time to look for more dead end trails to follow. After a defeated sigh, Peter handed over the file. Scanning the file, Blake closed it with a snap and then he stood to leave since it was the end of the work day.
"Join me for dinner. CPK at seven. My daughter is back from Milan. I want to introduce the two of you to each other."
"I'll be busy." Was Blake's quick reply.
"See you at seven sharp!" Peter told Blake's back.
----
Blake finished the paperwork he had to do for his last case. Casting a glance at his Timex watch, Blake could still make it to CPK and be on time even in the Vegas traffic. With a look at the picture in his drawer, an ache stared in Blake's chest. He had been staring at a picture of a four month pregnant Alexia for the last half hour. The picture was taken at a charity function for children with leukemia. Alexia was surrounded by a bunch of children who obviously adored her as much as she adored them.
The picture was just too painful to look at and Blake often told himself to get rid of it. He had printed it out nearly three years ago after discovering it on the web. So Blake slowly closed his desk drawer, knowing he'd never be able to throw the picture out. It would do him some good to get out and away from his beautiful Alexia, even if it was just a picture.
Maybe Blake would go out and meet Peter's daughter. It would at least get his boss off his ass about one thing. Peter had been hounding Blake to meet Piper for over a year. But both Blake and Piper were too busy. Blake could only hope he'd annoy her enough so Piper would be just as enthusiastic as Blake to meet again.
Shrugging into a leather jacket, Blake grabbed his car keys and left the small home he was renting. When Blake arrived, Peter had instantly flagged him down. Surprisingly, Peter was alone at the table. But there was an oversized bag covered in black sequence and gold chains on the chair beside Peter.
"So you decided to show." Peter grinned happily.
"I wouldn't pass up on a free meal." Blake half-joked. He was pretty hungry, but his monies had been drained into finding the three men involved with Richardson. So eating was something Blake had learned to usually go without.
"Piper just went to the bathroom." Peter explained, as if Blake might have been curious. He motioned for Blake to take a seat.
"I'm not staying long." Blake replied as he took off his leather jacket before taking the offered seat. "Still gotta write up that Sanchez case."
The waitress came back to the table and put down two drinks. A cold beer and an iced tea. Blake put in a to-go order and returned his attention to Peter. Glancing down at his watch, Blake wondered if it would be rude to leave the moment his food was done. The two men talked for about twenty minutes before Peter commented on his daughter's extended absence. Just then Blake noticed long tanned legs come into view beside him.
"Sorry daddy. You wouldn't believe the line!" Came a cheerful voice. A very attractive brunette with big blue eyes stood at their table. Her four inch heels put her just at six feet. Her smile slipped a bit as she became aware of Blake. Her rosebud lips pursed in question as she stared at Blake and waited for an introduction.
Blake observed the practically non-existent outfit covering her body. She was beautiful in his impartial opinion. Though he found her beauty to be lacking in someway. Almost as if she pretended to be unaware of her beauty, when in actuality, she knew full well that any straight man would find her desirable.
As he observed her, Blake found to his amusement that she definitely knew how to work with her looks. She must have practiced faces in the mirror all the time. It was obvious she knew just how to pout and the right amount of furrow to her brow so it didn't mar her smooth skin with the possibility of wrinkles.
"This is Blake Alexander. I mentioned him before." Peter introduced the two. "Blake, my daughter Piper Greene."
Piper broke into another perfected smile. "Mr. Alexander," She began, taking a seat. "My father tells me that you want to marry me." It was meant as a joke, but obviously Peter had forgotten to mention the bit that Blake wanted nothing to do with marriage and it was Peter who was pushing for a wedding.
As Peter choked on his beer, Blake gave Piper a strained smile. "Please, call me Blake. And your father is mistaken. He is the one persistent on our nuptials."
"Interesting." Piper finally said. She frowned a bit and Blake noted it was the first real and untrained emotion he saw on her face thus far.
Interesting indeed, Piper thought. Blake was actually talking to her face and with enough coldness to make the freaking Antarctic seem like the Vegas weather. That was definitely not the usual response she got from men...heterosexual men.
