Text Me

Text Me

By Anne Armstrong

Where are you? Reese shifted in her seat, clutching her phone. She shot off the text again. Her hands started to shake. She hadn’t eaten in hours. She’d been too anxious to scarf down anything at her tiny apartment.

Sorry. Late. The text was short. Abrupt. It reminded her of his picture on Hotfix, which she never should’ve swiped on. He had a sharp, square jaw. Hooded hazel eyes. Dark brows and thick black hair. Why hadn’t she gone for a guy with a good-natured grin? Perhaps because she’d been depressed lately, and didn’t want him to expect her to throw on a peppy smile in turn. She twisted a strand of her auburn hair and turned her green eyes round the restaurant again, hating the pitying glances she received from other diners.

How long? She typed back, trying not to sound desperate. Reese was on edge and embarrassed. She was alone in the fancy Italian restaurant Milo’s. There were flowers and candles on the tables. This date that had seemed so amazing was turning into a disaster. She’d put on a dress and spanx and heels just for the occasion, containing her plush belly and thighs. Her bra and panties even matched. She’d been far too hopeful.

Soon. Reese rolled her eyes. What the hell did that mean? She tapped her high heeled shoe she shouldn’t have worn under the table and resisted the urge to bite her nails.

The waiter stopped by with a sympathetic glance and refilled her water. “Would you like something to drink?” She shook her head.

Reese thought about sending back a stinging text, like Don’t bother or Forget it or even Screw you. Instead she drank her water and sent Ok. It’d been so long since she’d had a date. She was curious and needed this to work out badly. And something in Pierce’s eyes drew her in. She wanted to know more about him. It didn’t hurt that he was a cat lover who’d just lost his cat. She was a sucker for sob stories. His Hotfix page had a picture of him holding his glorious Siamese Mafdet. The cat’s eyes were just as startling, a magical golden green.

Look Up. Reese blinked and jerked up her head. There was Pierce, striding toward her with a little quirk to his lips, as if he was fighting back a wicked smile.

Reese laughed and waved at him, holding up her phone. “You’re here.”

Pierce sat down. “Thank you for waiting for me. I got hung up in traffic.”

She inclined her head. “Do you live far away?”

“Port Angeles.” He told her, which explained a lot. The restaurant was in Olympia, Washington. Port Angeles was two and half hours away on a lovely scenic stretch of highway 101.

“Oh my gosh, I had no idea.”

Pierce shrugged. “It’s alright. I like the drive. Do you live close by?”

“Yes, I just live in Lacey with my roommate. And my cat Hobbes.”

He did grin then. “Is he a tiger?”

“As much as any orange tabby cat can be.” Reese said fondly.

Pierce’s phone buzzed. “Damn, I gotta take this. I’ll be right back.” He lifted his phone to his ear and hurried off.

Reese sighed and sank into her chair. She’d really thought they were hitting it off. He had a great smile. It was crooked and he had dimples. His eyes crinkled when he smiled. She wanted to hear more about his life. How was that going to happen if he wasn’t even there? He couldn’t be that much into her if he was taking a phone call, could he?

Pierce returned, looking harried. “I’ve gotta go. Can we try this again another time?”

Reese stared at him with wide eyes. She didn’t know what to say. She knew she should say no, and was opening up her mouth to say so, but he spoke first.

“Please, I’m really enjoying getting to know you. If it wasn’t important, I would stay right here with you. Please let me try again. Tomorrow. I swear I’ll be all yours tomorrow.” Pierce said fervently.

Her heart leapt. She really wanted to get to know him too. She nodded wordlessly. Pierce left and she swore he took a tiny bit of her heart with him. She packed up her purse and stood, fluffing out her skirt. So much for all her hard work dressing up, she thought glumly. Her phone buzzed. Reese frowned and checked it. It was a text from Pierce.

Come outside. Now. The text seemed like an order. Her frown grew. She looked around, unsure of what to do. She suddenly wanted to curl back into her seat and pretend she didn’t have a phone. Then she remembered Pierce’s charming words and wondered if maybe he’d decided he wanted to kiss her goodnight. Hopes high, she headed to the front of the restaurant.

Coming. She sent back. Outside she saw Pierce crouched by a Black Porsche 911. Her heart raced. What was he doing? She raced over to him. “What’s going on?”

He grabbed her hand and dragged her down with him. “Quiet.” The unmistakable thunder clap of gunfire cut off her objection. Reese fell back against his car with a gasp.

She hissed, clutching at him. “Who’s shooting at us?”

Pierce chuckled. “Does it matter? Just keep your head down.”

“Why did you tell me to come out here?” She demanded in a furious whisper. A hail storm of gunfire rained over their heads. Pierce pulled a revolver out of a shoulder holster from his suit jacket. Reese’s eyes widened in shock.

“Because they saw us together. They think you’re important to me. I can’t leave you alone.” Pierce explained.

“Who are you?” She asked in a hushed whisper after he returned fire.

Pierce met her eyes. “I’m undercover.”

“You’re a cop!” She breathed in awe and fear.

“Detective!” He corrected in a harsh whisper.

“What does this have to do with me?” Reese hissed.

Pierce rolled his eyes. “Nothing. My sister set my profile up. I told her it was a bad time but she hounded me. I couldn’t get her off my back unless I tried it once. Then I met you…” He trailed off.

Reese blushed. Then she jumped as bullets blasted his car door and threw up gravel at their feet. Pierce shot back, swearing under his breath. He wrapped an arm around her and held her closer, covering her from the maelstrom of bullets. She stayed next to the hard heat of his chest, breathing in his musky scent, trying to stay calm. Her date had taken a dramatic turn for the worse. She’d hoped for a kiss and now she feared for her life. “How do we get out of this?”

“First we get in the car…” Pierce said, as if it was simple.

Reese rolled her eyes. “How?”

Pierce fired off another round of bullets. They heard someone groan and crash to the ground. He threw open the car door and tossed her inside. Jumping in after her, he thrust her head down between her knees and jammed his key in the ignition. Reese screamed as the car roared to life and tore out of the parking lot.

Pierce held Reese’s head down, keeping an eye on their pursuers. The pretty brunette beside him shook and held her hands over her head, but otherwise kept calm under pressure. He admired that in a woman. He wished his date had gone down as he’d planned it, with dinner, conversation, and cuddling while watching a movie at her place. He hadn’t hoped for more, not wanting to rush things with such a nice girl.

Now thanks to his sister’s nagging, his personal life and professional life were clashing in the worst way imaginable. He had put an innocent civilian in the line of fire. Jaxon’s goons wouldn’t stop until he was dead or caught, then tortured to death. He didn’t know who had tipped them off, but his cover was blown. There was no hope of putting this chop shop and sex traffic ring away now. Not this time.

His phone buzzed. Give up. It was from Jaxon.

Pierce typed back. The girl goes free?

Give up. Now. Jaxon repeated.

Pierce groaned and tossed the phone to the side. He shouldn’t be texting and driving anyway. He was too busy driving and shooting. Throwing the steering wheel around he jerked the car onto an off ramp and exited the freeway, causing his pursuers to make a screeching u-turn and several cars to crash. They didn’t manage to escape the last one, totalling their BMW X7. Pierce grinned and told Reese. “You can get up now. We’re clear.”

Reese rose, craning her head to look. She whistled. “You sure showed them.”

Pierce laughed. “I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.”

“Where are we going now?”

“As far away as we can. Then I gotta call this in.” Pierce said uncomfortably, bracing for her reaction.

She shrieked. “What! You can’t just take me for a ride and not tell me where we’re going!”

Pierce shrugged. “Somewhere safe, that’s all I can promise.”

“I’m not sure you can promise that.” Reese said suspiciously.

He chuckled. “Neither am I.”

“This is kidnapping, you know that.” Reese grumbled.

“No, this is just one hell of a first date.” Pierce clarified with a crooked smile.

She rolled her eyes and sank back into the seat, shaking her head. “This is not a date.”

“Sure it is. We’re just going for a drive. We can have a nice long talk. Tell me about yourself.”

Reese crossed her arms. “I’m not sure I should.”

“Why not?”

“You’re not who you said you were. You said you were a data analyst.”

“Well, that’s part of my job. Just a very small part.”

“I pictured you sitting at home with your cat in your lap, typing on your computer.” Reese muttered.

Pierce laughed. “Yeah, I don’t do much sitting around. But when I was home Maf loved to be in my lap, or hang out on my shoulder. Or tell me all about his day. He was a talker, that one.”

“Hobbes is a talker too.” Reese offered, giving him a small smile.

Pierce’s smile broadened. “Does he get into lots of trouble?”

“Oh yes, he opens doors and loves to knock over glasses and figurines. He has to play and yowls if he doesn’t get his dinner on time.”

Pierce laughed. “Sounds like my cat Maf. Man, I miss him.”

“How long has he been gone?”

“Almost a year. Feels like it was yesterday.” He said sadly.

“Why haven’t you gotten another cat?”

“I’ve been so busy with this case. I thought it wouldn’t be fair to get another animal when I don’t have the time to take care of it.”

“Oh, but you should get another cat. They’re very independent. You could get two and they could keep each other company.”

Pierce chuckled. “Two would be a lot of work.”

“And a lot of joy.” Reese said warmly.

“True.”

After hours of driving and talking, Reese drifted off. Some time later, Pierce shook her awake. Reese struggled to let go of the dream she was having. In it she was walking along, holding Pierce’s hand, their cats walking with them. It was very peaceful. She blinked up at him. He gave her a slow smile. “We’re here.”

She asked with a little frown. “Where’s here?”

He laughed. “You don’t need to know that.” Pierce jumped out of the car.

Reese hopped out of the car after him and hurried to follow him to the outside door of the little rundown Inn. “We’re staying here?” The ocean roared nearby and shore pines covered the cliffside. She guessed they’d traveled somewhere along the Oregon Coast.

“Yup. Don’t worry. There’s two beds.”

Reese followed him into the bedroom, where there were indeed two twin mattresses. The walls were dingy. There were little paintings of the ocean on the walls. There was a bureau, two nightstands, a couple of lamps, a chipped painted bathroom, and a rattling thermostat. “This is…” She trailed off, not knowing what to say.

“It’s cheap.” Pierce finished for her.

Reese laughed. “Yeah.”

“It’s the last place they’d expect me to stay.” Pierce explained.

Reese rolled her eyes. “It’s a dump.”

Pierce lifted his hands. “Would you rather stay in a dump or be dead?”

She put her hands on her hips. “Are those my only choices?”

He sighed. “I’m gonna go call my boss. Hopefully we won’t be here long.”

Reese shook her head and set her purse down. She sat on the shabby twin mattress near the door and kicked her feet. She wondered what there was to eat around here. They hadn’t had dinner and she was hungry. Pierce picked up his phone and disappeared into the bathroom. Reese sighed and laid back on the bed. What was she supposed to do now?

Pierce came back after a long discussion with Captain Wilson and found Reese lying on her stomach on the bed, with her feet in the air behind her, watching the tiny television on low volume. He smiled to himself and walked over and sat beside her. “Anything good?”

“CSI.” She said with a shrug.

“You’re into true crime?”

“Who isn’t?”

Pierce laughed. “I usually need a break from it after work.” He took the remote and flipped off the television. “My boss says it’s safe to take you home. He’s put a warrant out for Jaxon’s arrest.”

Reese beamed. “Really? We can go back?”

He laughed. “Has it been that bad?”

She sighed. “No, it hasn’t. I’m just worried about my cat.”

Pierce nodded in understanding. “Let’s get you back.”

“Can we get something to eat first?” Reese asked, biting her lip. “I’m starving.”

“Sure.”

Around Midnight, Pierce finally dropped her off at the steps outside her apartment. She was dead on her feet, and Pierce had to wrap an arm around her side and help her up the stairs. He reached her porch and asked. “Do you need help getting inside?”

Reese shook her head. “No. I can manage. Thank you.”

Pierce gazed down into her eyes. He reached up and cupped her cheek. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you, Reese.”

Reese met his stare, breath caught in her throat. His hazel gaze was intent. Whatever he had planned next for them, she wanted to find out. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you too, Pierce.”

He lowered his head and claimed her lips. Reese gripped his shirt front. Her toes curled in her shoes. She didn’t want the kiss to end, but Pierce abruptly withdrew. “You’d better get some sleep.”

Reese blushed. “I will. Goodnight.” She fumbled for her keys and got the door open. She waved goodbye, heart pounding as Pierce left.

“Goodnight.”

She leaned against the door holding her hands to her chest. Her phone buzzed in her purse. Reese scrambled to get it. Pierce had texted her. Friday 7:30. She threw back her head and laughed. With joy she texted back and decided to up the ante.

I’ll be there. Next time, I pick where.