by Alex Strong
“Do we know where he is now?” asked Aaron.
Rollins shook her head. “We’re not even sure if he’s left Mexico yet, though I doubt he would have stuck around.”
“Where does that leave us?” Reid wondered.
Rollins’ expression soured. “As much as I hate to say this, there’s nothing we can do but wait for him to resurface. But we kept the codes out of his hands, and the Davies family is safe again thanks to you gentlemen. I think we can still count this as a win.”
Aaron and Reid nodded reluctantly.
“Now go finish up your mission logs. Dismissed.”
Reid and Aaron were still doing paperwork when Rollins walked up and threw down a pair of tickets.
“Good job, men,” she announced.
“What are these?” asked Aaron.
“Tickets to the Mariners’ game tomorrow night against the Texas Rangers. You guys deserve a night out.”
Reid shrugged and looked at Aaron.
“Should be fun,” he said and Aaron nodded.
“Thanks, Director,” said Aaron.
Rollins strode off and Aaron scribbled his signature at the bottom of the page and stood up.
“You want to meet me at the Pyramid Alehouse before the game?” he asked.
“Beer garden sounds good,” said Reid.
“Are you still on the Vicodin?”
“Nah. It makes my head fuzzy. Maybe tonight, but just doing ibuprofen for now.”
“You are one bad ass,” said Aaron.
“Whatever. Four o’clock at the beer garden?”
“Four it is. Later, Jackson.”
Aaron walked out and Reid finished up his own report. He grabbed his keys from the drawer and was headed out when Rollins caught up to him.
“Maxwell isn’t going to be able to use his ticket,” she said. “Do you know anyone who might want it?”
Reid was about to say no, but then thought of Jillian. He owed her big time.
“Sure, I know someone who might like it.”
“Great.” Rollins handed him the extra ticket and left Reid standing there wondering how Aaron was going to react when he brought her along.
The doorbell rang and when Jillian saw Reid through the peephole, she found herself with mixed emotions. After no word from him for three days, she was relieved to see he hadn’t forgotten her completely. But she was still sore after being sent home halfway through their last date.
She did her best to appear blasé about his arrival before she opened the door. When she did, his face broke into a grin, and she felt her facade crumbling fast.
“Yes?” she asked.
Reid’s smile faltered slightly at her icy tone.
“Hey,” he said. “I just got home and wanted to apologize again for the other night.”
Jillian crossed her arms. “Yes, you apologized the other night as well. You know, when you were pushing me into the cab.”
His smile disappeared completely. As much as Jillian enjoyed seeing him squirm, she was a bit sad to see it go.
“I know. It was a disaster,” he said, “but I was hoping to make it up to you.” She raised a brow and he continued. “I have tickets to the baseball game tomorrow night and I was hoping you would come with me.”
Inside, Jillian was jumping for joy that Reid was asking her out again. But a small part of her didn’t know if it was such a good idea. The part that remembered the heartache of not so long ago.
“What do you say?” Reid asked when she hadn’t responded.
“If I were to say yes,” she said, and Reid’s smile started to return, “should I drive my own car? You know, in case I need to find a ride home.”
He frowned and Jillian had to admit it was almost as sexy as his smile.
“I deserve that,” he said. “But I promise that I’m not on-call tomorrow. I’d be all yours. Although that is a rare thing,” he added with caution in his voice, and Jillian understood completely. He was warning her, and she knew she had a decision to make.
“I suppose,” she said slowly, and Reid’s face lit up, “we could give it one more try.”
“Great. I thought we’d go to the beer garden. It will take a while to find parking. Do you want to meet at my house at three?”
“I have to work until three,” she said, shaking her head. “How about three-thirty so I can run home and change?”
“I can do three-thirty,” he said. “See you tomorrow.”
Jillian nodded and watched him walk back across the street before closing the door, hoping she wasn’t making a big mistake. As eager as she was to get out there again, the truth was her heart was still very fragile.
Just after three there was a knock on the front door, and Reid opened it to find Jillian on his porch wearing a long causal cotton skirt and tank top with a sweater in her hand.
“Hello,” he said.
“I was able to leave work a little early,” she told him, smiling. “I knew you were hoping to head out sooner.”
Reid grabbed his own jacket from a nearby closet. “I was all right with the later time, but this is great. You all ready then?”
She nodded.
“So where exactly did you have to take off to when we were at dinner?” Jillian asked as they pulled onto the freeway.
“New York,” he replied with the ready answer.
“How long were you gone for?”
“The whole five days,” he said. “I just got back yesterday morning. How was work today?” he asked in an effort to turn the conversation in a different direction.
She shrugged. “The usual. A lot of people that were going to the game as well. Or getting ready to watch it from home.”
“I probably should have asked this before, but are you a baseball fan?”
“I can’t stand baseball,” she said.
Reid’s head snapped in her direction and caught the playful grin on her face.
“I’m teasing,” she said. “I don’t normally follow baseball, but I always enjoy going to Safeco Field.”
Reid turned his attention back to the road.
“You should have seen your face,” she said, laughing. “Do you really think I would have agreed to come if I hated it so much?”
He couldn’t help laughing with her. “I would hope not.”
“Football is a different story though. I’m getting excited for the upcoming season.”
“Have you been to any Seahawk games?”
“Loads,” she said. “My dad has season tickets.”
“I heard there was a waiting list for those.”
“Now, but he’s had his for years.”
Reid noticed she didn’t mention her mother and thought back to the pictures on her dresser.
“How about you?” she asked.
“I’ve been to a couple of games,” he said. “I try to watch them if I’m home.”
“Well, if my dad ever can’t make it to a game, maybe I’ll invite you.”
Reid glanced over to catch her smile again. He liked it a lot better than the frown she was wearing at the end of their last attempt at a date. At least this time there wasn’t any chance of him getting called in, so the odds were already improved.
Reid managed to find parking only a few blocks from the stadium, and they joined the throngs of people stepping off the buses nearby and migrating towards Safeco Field. Reid took Jillian’s hand as they waited to cross an intersection, and she gave him a shy smile. His grip was sure and solid, and she couldn’t help but imagine how those hands might feel…elsewhere. When the walk signal changed, he led her across the street to the Pyramid Alehouse beer garden where they waited to be carded before entering.
“I hope you don’t mind,” he said with a frown, “but I have a friend meeting us here.”
“Oh.” Jillian tried to hide her disappointment.
“The tickets were handed out at work so there will be other people in the stands I know, but Aaron and I made plans to meet here before the game.”
; She forced a smile. “That’s fine.”
They made it past the entrance and she scanned the crowd with Reid, not really knowing who they were looking for. But then she saw a man with chestnut-colored hair wave at them and Reid pulled her in that direction.
Maybe it was her imagination, but this man did not look happy to see her at all.
“Jillian,” said Reid, “I’d like to introduce you to Aaron Wells. Wells, this is Jillian.”
“Nice to meet you,” Aaron said without any hint of a smile, but Jillian offered her hand nonetheless and he took it.
“Nice to meet you too,” she said. “Reid just told me outside,” she pointed over her shoulder, “that we would be meeting you.”
“That’s okay. He didn’t tell me you would be here either.” The two men exchanged a look.
“As I was headed out, the boss offered me an extra ticket. So I thought I would invite Jillian.”
“Did you, now?” Aaron asked.
“Um, I’m going to go grab a beer,” Jillian interrupted. “Can I get you anything?”
“I’ll come with you,” said Reid. “Be right back.”
“I’ll be waiting.” Aaron said, taking a gulp of his own beer.
“What was that about?” Jillian asked while they waited in line.
“Sorry. Wells isn’t exactly the warmest person. I had hoped he would be a bit more polite, but obviously I was asking too much.”
“Is he going to be like this the whole time?” She frowned, envisioning an evening of Aaron’s icy personality.
“Nah,” said Reid. “I’m sure he’ll warm up. Especially after a few beers.”
“Can’t wait,” she muttered.
By the time the three of them found their seats at the ball field, Aaron’s demeanor had not improved, despite the several beers he had downed. If Jillian hadn’t been watching him drink them, she would have guessed him stone-cold sober. Or at least stone-cold. Reid was trying his best to pull them into joined conversation, even brought up football, but Aaron just shrugged or grunted his answers.
The second inning had just started when Reid, who had been sitting between them, left to go to the bathroom. She and Aaron sat in silence watching the game, which was even slower than usual, when Jillian couldn’t take it any longer.
“Did I do something to you?” she asked, looking right at him. He was leaning forward with an elbow on his knee and chin in his hand.
“No. Why?” he asked, still staring straight ahead.
“So you’re just always this rude.”
He ran his thumb along his square jaw. “Yep.”
“How did you and Reid ever become friends?”
Aaron sat up and put an arm over the back of Reid’s empty chair.
“Oh, I’m not this rude to my friends,” he said, watching the second baseman catch a grounder.
Jillian’s jaw dropped. “What the hell did I do to piss you off like this?”
He finally looked at her. “Listen, it’s nothing personal. I just know that whatever is going on between you and Reid will never work. So I don’t see any point in trying to get chummy with you. You seem like a nice girl, in all honesty. But if you haven’t noticed yet that Reid’s job isn’t exactly conducive to dating, you will soon enough.”
“Don’t you think you should let me and perhaps Reid be the judge of that?”
Aaron shrugged.
“I need a beer,” she said, standing up. Jillian could not bear to be around this man a second longer.
Reid passed her in the aisle.
“Where you going?” he asked.
“I need a beer,” she said a little louder this time and stomped down the stairs to the nearest concession stand and got in line. God, she was tired of lines.
Someone stepped in behind her and she didn’t think anything of it, until she heard the whisper in her ear.
“Do you miss me yet?”
She spun around, hoping it was her imagination.
“Cameron,” she seethed, coming face to face with her ex-boyfriend.
CHAPTER FIVE
Reid sat back down in his seat, unable to shake the feeling Jillian was upset. Did he do or say something wrong? He glanced over at Wells, who happened to be looking very smug.
“What did you do?” Reid asked.
“What are you talking about?”
“You know what I’m talking about. Why did Jillian just stomp off?”
“Why did you bring her, Jackson?”
“I told you. Rollins gave me an extra ticket. I figured I owed her after the shitty date last time.”
“That shitty date was a perfect example of why you two shouldn’t be dating.”
“What the hell did you say to her?” Reid asked.
“I told her that you two were never going to work.”
“Christ, Wells. Couldn’t you just leave your mouth shut for one day?” Reid got up and went to find Jillian.
“You’re welcome,” Aaron shouted.
“How’s it going, Jillian?” Cameron asked.
“What the hell are you doing here?” God she wanted to wipe that smug look off his face.
“Thousands of people are here.” Cameron waved his hand around the stadium. “Why shouldn’t I be one of them?”
She turned back around to the line that wasn’t making much progress.
“So what have you been up to lately?” Cameron wasn’t taking the hint.
“Not much, seeing as how nobody will hire me.” She rounded on him again. “But you already knew that.”
Cameron frowned, but he couldn’t hide the amusement in his eyes. “Pity. You could always come work for me again.”
Jillian slapped him, surprising herself.
“Damn, Jillian.” His hand went to the reddening cheek. “I never knew you had it in you. Maybe if you’d shown this kind of passion in the bedroom, I wouldn’t have slept with Tina.”
Maybe it was all the pent up anger. Maybe it was her recent interaction with Aaron. Perhaps she’d even had too many beers. Jillian started wailing on Cameron.
“You…little…piece…of…shit,” she said between punches. Everything else around her blurred, and she ignored his yells for her to stop.
Then someone’s arms were around her, pulling her off of Cameron.
“Let me go!” she screamed, straining against whoever was trying to stop her. “The asshole deserves it.”
“Jillian!”
She stopped, realizing it was Reid who was holding her. She tried to catch her breath before facing him and saw the crowd that had gathered around them and security not far off running in their direction.
Cameron’s face peeked out from behind his arms. “Jeez, Jillian. What the fuck was that for?”
Jillian tried to lunge for him again, but Reid tightened his grip on her.
“What’s going on here?” said the yellow-jacketed gentleman.
“I’ll tell you what happened,” said Cameron, “this bitch attacked me for no reason.”
She sucked in a breath and felt Reid prepare for her to pull away again, but she resisted the urge this time.
“Ma’am, is this true?”
“I wouldn’t say for no reason. This man is my ex,” she could hear Reid gasp from behind her, “and the reason I can’t find a job anymore.”
Cameron said nothing, but she could see the twisted amusement in his eyes again.
“Be that as it may,” said the security guard, “you can’t attack people. I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“What?”
Reid’s arms finally released her. “Sir, is that really necessary?” he said.
The gentleman nodded. “We have a zero tolerance policy on fighting.”
“But what about him?” Jillian asked, gesturing to Cameron.
“Was he hitting you as well?”
“Well, no.”
He shrugged. Unbelievable. First Cameron cost her her job, and now he was getting her kicked out of the ball park. And life
continued to go on as usual for him.
“Ma’am.” He gestured towards the exit.
“Can I at least grab my stuff?” she asked.
“Yes. I’ll escort you.”
Reid said nothing, but followed them both back up to the seat. How embarrassing. Their second date was being cut short, and this time it was entirely her fault. It must be a sign.
Aaron shot a glance at Jillian as she made her way down the row and did a double take, noticing the guy in the big yellow jacket following her.
“What’s going on, Jackson?” It only added to her irritation that he was not addressing her.
“I’m afraid Jillian and I are going to have to duck out early,” said Reid.
“You don’t have to leave because of me.” Jillian muttered, picking up her bag and sweater. “I’m sure I can catch a cab home. Again.”
Reid caught her arm when she stepped back into the aisle.
“I’m not letting you take a taxi home.”
She looked over her shoulder at Aaron. “What about Mr. Sunshine over there?”
Reid smiled at her jab. “I’m sure he’ll be fine. I’ll call you later, Wells.”
Aaron looked confused, and then pissed, as he waved good-bye. Jillian didn’t really care.
Security walked the two of them to the nearest exit and confiscated their tickets before sending them on their way.
Reid kept step with Jillian, who was walking with her arms crossed and eyes focused on the sidewalk.
“You didn’t have to leave,” she said without looking up.
“I wasn’t going to stay without you.”
They walked another block in silence before Reid asked, “Are you going to tell me what that was all about? Or should I worry about being attacked on random outings.”
She looked at him in shock and he smiled. “I was only joking. I don’t really think you’re going to attack me.” Reid put an arm around her. “Plus, unlike that poor loser back there, I think I could take you.”