“I heard your team was amazing with the fed’s witness. Congratulations.”
Hart’s shy smile was endearing. Instead of saying thank you, he nudged Free with his shoulder as he grabbed a couple of Irish cream creamers from beside him. Hart’s deodorant made him want to bury his nose in his pit. Free shook his head, needing to calm his thoughts before the entire break room noticed just how turned on he was by Ivan Hart.
“So, how’ve you been doing?” Hart continued.
“I’m good. Really good. Doing good.” Free wanted to roll his eyes. Bloody hell. Stop saying good. “Um, fine.”
Hart smiled at him as he filled his large mug. “That’s really good to hear, then.”
Free could feel his face warming. He stood like an idiot with his tongue caught in his throat while Hart casually added a couple of packets of Splenda to his coffee. Ask him now. No one’s paying attention. Free took a large swallow of his steaming hot tea instead, practically scalding his lip, since he’d somehow forgotten to add his milk. Ouch, shit! Fuck!
“You okay over there?” Hart asked, chuckling behind his cup.
“Sure. I just need a touch of cream. It’s kind of bitter.” Free tried to keep the pain out of his voice. But what he really needed to do was place an ice cube directly on his tongue. “After hunting down the Cornelia gang all week I can use something stronger than this measly cup of black tea.”
“Right. Congratulations to you, too. I heard you guys caught up with them.” Hart’s blue eyes shone like ice. “God told me you were instrumental in tracking them down.”
“God told you that…when?” Free gave Hart his full attention. He stalled as if he’d stuck his foot in his mouth. Hart’s gaze roamed all over Free’s face before landing on a spot over his shoulder.
“Yesterday.”
“You spoke to God yesterday, about me?”
Hart didn’t answer or try to stutter his way through an excuse. He stared at him for a few seconds then asked, “My team and I are going out tonight to the Pub to unwind after the last couple weeks. God and Day are coming, and I think a few of your guys. I’m pretty sure you can get that stronger drink there.”
This was close enough for him. He’d take what Hart was throwing out there.
“Unless you have other plans,” Hart amended.
“No. I’ll be there.”
“Good. First round is on me,” Hart said and left the break room.
Free may not have been the one to ask Hart out for a drink, but regardless, they were gonna have one together. This would be their first time hanging out since the bachelor party. Hopefully, by the end of the night he’d know if he had a fighting chance at more than friendship.
Free left the break room feeling like nothing could ruin his mood and the evening was only going to get better from there. He turned the corner and his smile fell from his lips and hit the floor when he locked eyes with Officer Vasquez, at the end of hall. He was speaking with another detective, however the moment he spotted Free over his shoulder, he mumbled something, then made for him.
Free reversed and hurried back the way he’d came. He jabbed at the button for the elevator, glad there was a car already on his floor. The doors eased closed just as Vasquez rounded the corner, lunging to catch them before they did. Too late. Free breathed a sigh of relief.
He’d managed to avoid Officer Vasquez since God and Day’s bachelor party, but he’d been persistent in trying to catch Free to explain his behavior. He wasn’t interested. He knew men like that…men who didn’t know how to keep their fucking hands to themselves.
“You ready in there or what? I been banging for an hour.” Tech complained as soon as Free opened the door to his small RV home. His best friend had been kind enough to let him park it at his apartment complex and use his bathroom as long as no one complained. He was pretty sure it was illegal to store it in a residential complex, but he’d take the gamble since Tech’s apartment was only a couple of streets from the precinct.
“Where’d all your patience go? You knocked twice.” Free closed and locked his door, then got into the passenger seat of his friend’s truck.
“No Steele tonight?” Free frowned. Tech and his lover, the ex-RECON marine, were almost inseparable, so it was unusual to see either of them alone.
“Nope. His uncle is having some kind of game night at his house.”
“His uncle’s a councilman, right?”
“Yeah. Real nice guy. He loves his nephew like he’s his own son.” Tech said, already turning into the crowded Pub parking lot five minutes later. If it hadn’t been so muggy and humid they probably would’ve walked.