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The rumors didn’t prepare the pseudo psychic for what was coming. He knew nobody at the police station wanted to allow the head detective in on a case where he went undercover. Everyone said he was bad at it. Shawn should have done more research before giving the man an opportunity to go undercover for Psych.
The man wasn’t bad in the sense that people could spot an undercover cop from a mile away. He was bad in the sense that once given a character to play, he became that character. Morning, noon, night. The ultimate method actor! Which would have been nice to know before having him take on the role of waiter at a swanky Victorian themed cafe.
Psych’s client was the owner of said cafe. She’d been having complaints about money going missing from one of her managers and wanted Psych to figure out who was doing the stealing. Shawn thought this was an excellent reason to call on Carlton who’d been been forced to take a week off work because of all the overtime he’d pulled in the last month for no other reason than not having a life outside of work. Shawn was clearly doing the man a favor. If he just wanted to see Lassie in the outfits the staff wore, well, that was his business.
Thankfully, the cafe didn’t have a dress code for the patrons. The staff were butlers and maids who treated each guest as their personal master or mistress! The rich browns and creams of the uniforms made the blue in Carlton’s eyes that much bluer. Where did that man learn to be this suave? The half-smiles and slight head tilts were doing a number on Shawn even if he wasn’t the direct recipient of them. He’d be falling in love with the head detective of the SBPD if he weren’t already there. More than once he caught himself watching Lassie with his tables.
First day of the undercover operation had the owner introducing a new part-timer, Kerry, and showing him the ropes. Kerry, Lassie, was a quick study on mannerisms expected and easily added his own flair which proved useful in making himself a popular waiter. Older staff members were impressed with him. The culprit of the crime had been careless when getting change for her table that day. Shawn wouldn’t deprive himself of this sight by outing her just yet.
That was when things got interesting.
Carlton was oddly particular in how he ate his dinner, drank his single scotch, and even got dressed for bed. It couldn’t possibly count as spying if the man didn’t close all his curtains, right? ‘Kerry’ gave the house a rather proper once over before turning in for the night. This was not how Carlton did things so Shawn definitely started thinking of him as Kerry.
Over the next few days Shawn noticed a couple of the patrons were regulars and had a preferred waiter or waitress. Each gave Kerry a chance in the afternoon when he came in. The general consensus was that he should be upgraded to full time and take more shifts. On the fourth day of watching, his own waitress, Luisa, who was the one stealing money by removing multiple bills ‘stuck together’, had given him an odd look when he ordered another pineapple cupcake. It was only his second that day! They were delicious and he had to give the owner the impression he was psychicly reading the staff since he had a different staff member each time he entered. He’d had Sarah deliver his first cupcake that morning. Most of the staff had changed from the morning crew an hour ago.
Luisa was not the one who delivered the requested cupcake despite being his waitress. It was none other than Kerry! And there was a hot tea he hadn’t ordered accompanying it.
“Good afternoon, Sir. Luisa apologizes for her departure but I promise to take excellent care of you. My name is Kerry. Is there anything else you require?” There was that sight head tilt and Carlton had directed it at him.
“A date with you.” The words slipped out before Shawn’s brain could comprehend what his mouth was saying. His face was warmer after the words registered.
“I’m off at 7.” Carlton bowed his head. “If that will be all.” Kerry moved on to another table leaving Shawn to stare in shock after him. Had Kerry accepted the date or was it Carlton? This case was never going to end if he could help it. Call Shawn selfish but he wanted this version of Lassie to stick around.
The owner managed to talk to him before he left this time. Shawn accidentally spilled how Luisa had been stealing money and why it was difficult for anyone to pin it down before. The newest butler didn’t need to be let go any time soon seeing as he was bringing in business. Granted they both knew the undercover head detective would need to go back to his real job in a couple more days.
She informed the older man that his partner in justice had solved the case when he clocked out that night. Kerry wasn’t needed any longer but was more than welcome to come back.
***
Shawn was equally surprised and pleased to see Carlton in a t-shirt and jeans when the man opened the door. He had honestly expected a suit.
“Is this okay?” Carlton gestured to his choice of clothing. The poor man didn’t seem to know what to do now that he was back to being himself.
Adorable! Lassie was nervous for their date that he didn’t back out of? “Wow. I didn’t know you even owned jeans!” Shawn gave the man a once over and whistled. “Only one gun? Dangerous, Lassie.” He was a little shocked that there was only a gun strapped to the right ankle.
This earned the fake psychic a genuine smile. “I didn’t think we should be completely without protection. You have a habit of bringing trouble with you. Shall we?”
There was one thing missing from this image. It needed to be perfect. “Bring the shoulder rig. I think you’ll like what I have planned.” Shawn couldn’t pass up a chance to see the leather straps hugging Carlton’s body over a non-button down shirt. Something far removed from his work clothes.
Carlton complied. He grabbed another accessory Shawn hadn’t expected, a slightly worn but obviously cared for leather jacket, after slipping on his usual holster. Lassie somehow managed to hide his smirk when he ushered the younger man out. Tonight was going to be fun with other potential surprises he had in store.
Looking back, Shawn recognized the amusement sparked in those blue eyes he wanted to do canon balls into just before he turned his attention to the road when Lassie joined him on the back of his Norton Commando 750. Dinner at a gun range just made sense for their first date.