I decline

"I'm sorry Cassey, but if we are going to be working so close together for the foreseeable future I don't think we should get romantically involved."

A slightly amused look passes over her face and she says, "Whisper, I didn't mean anything romantic, I just meant for the two of use to talk over the case in a more relaxed atmosphere. I know I said I’d taken up enough of your time, but I really would like to get as much done as quickly as possible. I'm not sure, but I think you may have jumped to a conclusion that tells a little more about you than you may have wanted to let on."

Immediately I feel mortified. Looking back on it, she really gave me no signs that she was interested in me. I was the one who instigated anything that could be even remotely called flirting. “I’m…I’m sorry…I just…I mean…I…”

Cassey laughs and says, “Maybe we can have a drink some other time. Have a pleasant evening ‘Mr. Clark’.” She shuts the door on the way out.

I bury my face in my hands and curse myself for being a fool. Why did I think that a woman of class and dignity like her would be interested in a guy like me? The next time I see her it’s going to be very awkward for me.

I grab my coat and head down to the a little jazz bar down the street. The cozy room is lit mostly by the neon on the walls and has a very intimate feel to the place. I like it because it’s usually very quiet this time of night. I sit in a corner booth. The waitress, Janet, a busty redhead with full lips, bright green eyes, and a face full of adorable freckles comes over to me.

“Hey, Whisper, long time no see, where you been hiding yourself lately.”

“Hi Janet, you know how it goes, a lot of work, a little abject humiliation. Same old, same old.”

“What’s the matter? You aren’t the type to be embarrassed about anything. I remember when you pulled your gun on that nun because you thought she was sneaking up behind you. You just said you were sorry and that was it.”

“That was an honest mistake, tonight I…hell…I don’t even know what I really did. You ever been with someone who you just felt like an oaf around? You know, like you couldn’t even walk right in front of them.”

Janet smiled, “Yeah, there was this guy back in high school. He was so gorgeous that whenever I tried to talk to him I just babbled on and on about the dumbest stuff. I just felt like he was so high above me that I had to try to impress him or something. Why? Have you met someone like that?”

I nodded, “A client from England. She's smart, beautiful, classy, elegant…She offered to have a drink with me and I said something stupid about not wanting to get romantically involved. She just laughed and…” I shake my head.

“Poor Whisper,” Janet lays a comforting hand on my shoulder, “You want something to drink or something?”