Bleed Blue 69: Twenty-Five Authors…One Sexy Police Station Read online

  When I arrived at the precinct, Dev was in a meeting, so I left the mug at the front desk. He worked so hard to get to where he was, I wanted him to know I was thinking of him.

  Flattening against the wall, I inched toward the door as an irate woman entered shouting about her son being arrested for murder.

  Outside, I escaped the woman’s depressing sobs.

  “Fiona!” April shouted my name as she ran across the street, waving frantically.

  “April,” I squealed in return, dropping my bag as she tackle-hugged me.

  People were staring but neither of us cared. We hadn’t seen each other in weeks. She stayed busy working in the emergency room at Bellevue Hospital.

  “Fifi, I have big news. I think Randy is going to pop the question.”

  We shouted, “Eek,” in unison dancing like fools. She embraced me again before leading me to her car.

  “Where is he taking you, you never said in your email.” I fiddled with the radio as she navigated us into the midday rush.

  “He says it’s a surprise. Oh, Fi, I am so happy.” She smiled brightly, cooing about Randy and how wonderful he was, warming me with her excitement.

  “I'm happy for you April. I hope Randy and you get married, and fuck like rabbits, and give me lots of babies to spoil. If I ever get a decent job,” I teased.

  She grinned. “Leave it to you to put things so tastefully.”

  I winked as she switched lanes preparing to pull into her parking garage.

  “So, how are things?”

  Rolling my eyes, I made the “kill me now” face.

  “That bad?”

  “You have no idea. I don't want to spoil your excitement with my depressing, fucked up shit.”

  She gave me a sympathetic pout but didn’t press me. April knew how horrible my luck was. She’d helped me out of a few jams too, but nowhere near as many as Dev. April was my opposite. She had her life together and mine was scattered into pieces.

  “Randy said that this interview with Lukas Cross is just a formality. You basically have the job already.”

  I smiled in relief.

  Randy, April’s longtime lover, set up an interview for an assistant position for one of his clients at his firm. Randy was a shark in the courtroom. Lukas Cross was filthy rich and happened to own several night clubs in the city. I was so underqualified for the position, but Randy thought I’d be a perfect fit.

  Randy waited upstairs for us. When we stepped off the elevator, he paced in the hall, wearing holes in the tile flooring. April showed me inside, hastily grabbing a few last-minute toiletries she forgot to pack.

  “April, we have to go, babe,” Randy called nervously.

  Oh, he was definitely going to propose. About damn time too.

  “Go beat off, she'll be out in a few,” I said with a slight snicker.

  “I’m leaving you the keys to my car. I know you will need it. I have the perfect outfit for your interview. Wear my little black dress, the matching shoes and clutch are marked in their boxes under my bed. Love you Fifi. Make yourself at home.” She hugged me with tears in her eyes. Then squatted down to Milo, her pug who was being his little lazy self, lounging in his doggie bed. “Be a good boy for Auntie Fiona.”

  He licked her hand and went back to sleep.

  “Go get your ring.” I swatted her on the rear playfully as she stood with a yelp, rushing out the door.

  April's apartment was perfect. Located in a great neighborhood that was quiet, clean, and close enough to the popular local attractions. The apartment I was about to get booted from was livable at best and far from the good stuff. April made great money working as the head nurse in the Emergency Room at Bellevue Hospital. She was so put together while I was a walking disaster.

  My friends were real adults while I was meandering about as though I was still enrolled in college and undecided in a major. April said some of us just took longer than others to find their calling. She always knew what to say, unlike me.

  Thankfully April and I were similar in height and build, but other than that we were complete opposites. Where she had blonde bob cut hair and blue eyes, I had long auburn curls and muddy brown eyes. Dev said my eyes were like melted M&Ms.

  Scouring her clothes rack, my eyes landed on the black dress. It was perfect. My hands ran over the contouring panels under the bust line. My curves were going to be banging. Taking it from the closet, I lay it across the bed and went down to my knees to find the coordinating shoes and clutch.

  I nearly knocked myself out when the ringing of my phone jarred me while I was under the bed.

  Chase, my loser ex-boyfriend who left me high and dry when I lost my job, kept trying to call me. I couldn't deal with him. I switched my cell to vibrate and tucked it in my bag so I could get ready in absolute peace.

  He thought he was hot shit because he played in a band with a bunch of drunken potheads. I might’ve been inclined to feel differently if their music was decent, but it was terrible.

  Intent on making an impression that night, I tuned Chase and my shitty morning out.

  Sunk down in April's tub with cucumber slices resting on my eyes, I felt relaxed—finally, with my favorite conditioner pampering my hair. It had the most intoxicating scent—cherry, white almond, and vanilla.

  I hoped Randy was making all of April's fantasies come true. She deserved the best. We met in second grade when we ended up in a hair-pulling match over Todd Crisp. He had promised us both a teddy bear for Valentine's Day. Needless to say, he only produced one bear. I laughed silently at the memory. We were put into detention together where we concluded neither of us liked Todd. I ripped the bear's head off and gave the brown fluff to her as a peace offering. We had been besties ever since.

  My skin eventually began to prune and my water had turned cold.

  After toweling off and going through my beauty regimen, I was all set to meet Lukas Cross. Our email exchanges had been brief, but I’d gathered he was quite a flirt. I hoped he toned down the innuendo for my interview.

  With nothing to do until my meeting, I fired up my laptop and logged into my cloud to go over my notes. Milo hopped up on the couch curling against my side. I stroked his soft, warm head while I waited for my page to load.

  I’d never been a personal assistant, but I was sure I could manage.

  My phone was already buzzing with more messages from Chase. I’d have to talk to him at some point, but I didn’t have the energy to listen to him.

  Turning my cell off vibrate, I grabbed April's keys stepping into my borrowed heels feeling like a million bucks. I made sure Milo had everything he’d need and headed out for the evening ahead.

  April's Lexus drove like a dream. Much better than hailing a cab, taking the bus, or the subway. I left an hour early just in case I met the evening rush.

  It took me a half an hour to drive six blocks. Parking in the designated lot, I stole a glance at the time to see I was still a good ten minutes early. Good. This gave me time to go into the bathroom and make sure I looked good and felt great.

  The bathroom in the bar was dark with very poor track lighting. Not that I expected much better. I decided to check my phone and send Chase a text to at least let him know we would talk later.

  Hovering over the commode while trying to text may not have been the best idea. Just as I was typing out my message, asking Chase what was so important, I lost my grasp on my phone, and my life plopped in the porcelain bowl to my horror. My jaw hit the floor as I scrambled to decide my best course of action there, but then the unthinkable happened.

  The self-flush sensor sensed my movement and proceeded to take my phone out with my pee! Why me? Why did this shit always happen to me? Chase would totally think I was avoiding him, which I was, but my phone was my life line. He would have to deal until I got back to April's place.

  Tears threatened to ruin my makeup. “I won't cry,” I whispered to myself. Biting my lip, I tried not to freak out over my phone. I had only gotten it thr
ee months ago. I was sure my cell phone carrier wouldn’t find my story amusing.

  Fluffing my hair once over in the dimly lit mirror, I mentally prepared myself for the night ahead. “You are a vixen in a sultry dress and you can do anything,” I told myself with full conviction. “You've got this, Fifi Grey. That leprechaun will not stand in your way tonight.” Just as I uttered the words, putting on my favorite mango lipstick, my tube broke off. I threw my hands up. “Fan-fucking-tastic!”

  Exiting the restroom quickly, I was afraid of what else the night was going to throw at me.

  The Cask and Barrel was a bar located near Devlyn’s apartment and frequented often by his police buddies. That fact alone made me feel better about meeting a stranger, even if he was a wealthy acquaintance of Randy’s.

  Taking a deep breath, I walked over to the bar, capturing the attention of the bartender. “I’m meeting a Mr. Cross.”

  Her eyes scanned over me, silently judging me as if I were a call girl or the like. I shook her off telling myself she’s only jealous. Lukas Cross was incredibly gorgeous, wealthy, and single. I’m sure women dropped at his feet for a chance with him.

  I was not interested in him romantically, however. I was only interested in a paycheck.

  “He’s over there.” She pointed to a table then moved down the bar to serve a customer. Her long blonde hair didn’t move as she walked, stick straight, no personality, much like herself. I guess I was being mean, but I didn’t appreciate the way she’d stared at me.

  The bar was what one might expect, a few tables and a stage for live acts.

  Approaching the table, I hoped Randy wasn’t trying to play matchmaker. I desperately needed the job.

  Arriving at a table secluded in the back of the room, Lukas Cross looked all too sexy. Clad in a white dress shirt and black slacks that fit him like a second skin. He stood to greet me and pulled out my chair.

  His dark eyes glittered with a flicker of mischievousness. “Fiona, please sit. I’ve taken the liberty of ordering for you. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all. Thank you.” I smiled. He seemed relaxed and easygoing. Part of me was prepared to meet a very domineering man.

  From what I’d read about him online, he came off hard and cold, however, his emails were the exact opposite.

  Once I was seated, he returned to his seat next to me.

  “Hope you don’t mind, but I prefer a more intimate setting, and being able to talk without screaming across the table at one another.” He smirked as my cheeks flushed pink.

  He was much more attractive in person. I couldn’t deny his closeness was overwhelming.

  I grinned, my smile dying as my lips met the cool rim of my wineglass. My mind flashed to Dev. I hoped his first day went smoothly.

  “Randy tells me you have experience in sales.”

  “Only retail,” I mumbled, unsure of what he had in mind.

  The rest of the interview went horribly wrong.

  The next thing I knew his hand was on my thigh, trying to inch up my dress.

  I smiled weakly and grabbed his hand to remove it, but he took it as an invitation to lean in close and lick the shell of my ear.

  I jerked sideways nearly tumbling to the floor.

  “Listen buddy, I don’t know what Randy told you, but I’m only interested in a job!”

  “He told me you were desperate for a job,” he said with a smug smile.

  I was desperate for work, but not that hard up.

  And being the take no shit woman the city had turned me into, I splashed the wine in his face.

  Appalled, a man at the next table, kept the incident from escalating any further than my being called a bitch and firm grab of my arm.

  “Let go of the woman,” a strong voice demanded full of authority, while flashing a badge in the face of Mr. Cross. When I looked up it was then I recognized Officer Aiden Genovese, a friend of Devlyn.

  Affronted, Lukas Cross bolted for the door after paying his tab.

  “Thank you.”

  “No problem. You okay?”

  “Fine,” I answered rubbing my wrist.

  Aiden escorted me to my car, and I couldn’t drive to Devlyn’s place fast enough.

  Devlyn

  Married to my job. Check. Nonexistent social life. Check. Though if I counted my upstairs neighbor Mecca's cat hanging outside my window on the fire escape, then I had a gorgeous pussy purring for me.

  Thursday would be my first official day with my new unit. I was the newest member of the Elite Emergency Services Unit. I was proud to be a part of New York’s finest. I was prepared. I’d be patrolling Central Park West in street clothes, checking for suspicious behavior. After the recent attacks in Chelsea, the city was doubling our efforts to thwart any potential danger. I did a walkthrough of my route earlier that day. It wasn’t as cold as I thought it would be, since the sun was peeking through the clouds. Tomorrow, other members of my unit would be spread throughout the span of the parade route. Some ready to take down any threat from the rooftops armed with their sniper rifles. Others armed with radars to detect bombs as they swept the streets. The cool autumn air was heavy in my throat as I breathed in my surroundings, reminding me of what I protected.

  A heavy knock sounded at my door, breaking me from thoughts of the job. Glancing at the clock, whoever it was they were an hour early. Opening the door, I came face to face with a teary-eyed Fiona.

  “Hey,” I said pulling her into a hug, rubbing my hand across her back.

  My nose brushed against her hair, she smelled so good.

  “I’ve had the worst day ever,” she cried into my shoulder.

  Kicking the door shut behind her, I lead her to the couch. “Sit, I’ll pour while you talk.”

  She sniffled and smiled meekly. “You know I don’t drink.”

  “You do tonight, no ifs or buts about it. We’re celebrating, remember?” I winked as she wiped away her tears.

  After grabbing our shots and the bottle from the freezer, I sat next to her. Fiona kicked her heels off and curled her legs under her.

  “Drink,” I ordered thrusting the glass into her hands.

  She tossed it back making a sour face.

  “Whoo! That packs a punch.” Her face was still all twisted and contorted as she spoke.

  “So, tell me about your day from hell.”

  “Where do I start…let’s see my car battery was stolen, I flushed my phone down a toilet, and my potential boss tried to feel me up over a drink. Oh, and let’s not forget my electric was shut off, and I will be kicked out of my apartment any day now.”

  “Fiona,” I said shaking my head, reaching for the whole bottle. “All fixable things,” I told her.

  She groaned. “You’re always saving me.”

  “It’s what I do. I serve and protect,” I joked.

  “Is that what you tell the damsels in distress you save?” She mocked.

  I started to tell Fiona she was the only damsel worth saving but thought better of it. We slept together once, and it was a disaster. She puked in my bed, and I spent the night taking care of her.

  “Tell you what. Your car is a piece of shit. Slap a for sale sign on it. You don’t really need it. Take that money and save it. As for your apartment…you can move in with me.”

  “Live with you.” Her doe eyes widened.

  “Sure, I work a lot and you need a place until you get back on track. We’ll make a pact. A roommate pact to keep things from getting awkward.”

  “Dev, you’re too good to me. I can’t, you’ll get sick of me,” she argued.

  “Terribly sick, but I can suffer it, if you agree to cook for me. Starting tomorrow.”

  “But tomorrow’s Thanksgiving. Aren’t you going to your mom’s?”

  “Yes and so are you now. You can give her a hand in the kitchen.”

  “I don’t cook.”

  I knew she didn’t. However, I also knew she wouldn’t agree to stay unless she felt she was doing something f
or me in return. I’d loved Fiona since the moment I first laid eyes on her. She was a walking disaster, but she was gorgeous.

  She tucked an auburn curl behind her ear and grinned, before sitting the bottle on the side table. “We need rules., if you’re serious about this.”

  “I’m serious,” I agreed. I could live temporarily with a woman, a woman I was in love with…couldn’t I?

  “Okay, no having sex or beating one off while the other is home.”

  I laughed at her rule.

  “I beat it in the shower, so how will you know,” I said with an evil grin.

  “Eww, Dev. No. Just no. I don’t need to know that. I don’t want to know that.” Her cheeks flushed as she averted her eyes from mine.

  “Oh, come on Fifi. Don’t tell me you’ve never…in the shower.”

  Her hand shot out. “Stop, I am not discussing this with you.”

  Grabbing her outstretched hand in mine, I told her, “We’re adults who’ve slept together. We can talk about masturbation. Do you have toys?” I asked raising my brow.

  Jerking her hand back, she punched me. “You’re terrible. You promised you’d never bring that up again.”

  “I lied. Sue me.”

  “This is serious,” she pled.

  “You’re right. I’m sorry.” I laughed.

  Looking around my one-bedroom apartment, she said, “Where will I sleep? I’m not sharing a bed with you.”

  “Who said I want to share my bed with you? You snore,” I reminded her, half kidding. She really did snore.

  “I d-d-do not!” She slurred.

  Shit, how much did she drink?

  I looked to the now half empty bottle.

  Hell.

  Grabbing the bottle, I took a swig before placing it back in the freezer.

  Fiona was about five minutes from passing out or puking. I fired off a mass text, canceling my party.

  Not that I had many guest coming over, just a few guys from my former unit—Lucian and Andrew.

  “I’ll sleep on the couch; we can rotate nights or something.” I shrugged, and when I glanced at her she was already snoring.

  Picking her up, I carried her to my bed, tucked her in for the night with a trash can and a glass of water.