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“Got it!” PG exclaimed, proudly handing him the item.
“Are you kidding me, Chica?” He snorted. “You’ve been rummaging in the drawer for 10 mins for this?”
“What? You asked whether I had a file.”
She was giving him that expression, the one that made him all warm and fuzzy on the inside. Also the one that tended to harden his cock the fastest. Fuck! She was endearing.
“I meant a metal file, not a nail file. Duh!” He chuckled, unable to resist a lil dig at her.
“Don’t you ‘Duh!’ me. You should’ve specified.” She doubled down. When he just lifted his arm, giving her an incredulous look, she took a moment to think about their predicament. “Mk-Mk give me a minute. Ohhh! You could shoot the links.”
Luke banged his head on the work top. He should’ve been mad. Furious. But all he could think of was how much he wanted to do things to her he wasn’t sure she was ready for. “Can you please keep any and all suggestions plausible?” He asked, turning his face to regard her.
“My Chocolate Thunder would’ve done it and gotten us out of this by now.” She declared.
“Really? Morgan would’ve shot at a pair of metal cuffs, in your apartment, whilst our - more specifically your - wrists are still in the bracelets?”
“Y-e-...a-h(!?!)”
“Mm-mmm-” He grumbled, letting her know he was well aware that would never have happened.
“OK, ummm- at least I’m trying to come up with a solution.” She replied affronted.
“Excuse you?” He screeched. “We’re in this mess because of you!”
“How was I supposed to know you carry a pair of handcuffs for which you have no key?”
“You must’ve heard that there was a recall on faulty handcuffs. I just forgot to leave them at work earlier. You didn’t need to cuff us together in the first place.” He noted.
“It’s your fault!” She remonstrated.
“ Of course it is! ” Luke sighed, resigned. ”I wonder. If a tree falls in the Amazon and there’s no one there to hear it. Is that still my fault?”
“That’s not the saying, and you know it. But yes, give me five minutes and I can explain how that would still be your fault!” She goaded him.
“I’d rather you explain this.” He said jiggling his hand, causing hers to move as a result.
“You refused the invite to come out tonight.”
“ And!?! ” He had to prompt her after a couple of minutes. That was not an explanation. Not even an answer really.
“We’ve had a tough week, we’re about to have one measly day off and start again on what promises to be an even worse week. Roxy is in The Bronx living it up with Tita. I know you’re gonna end up spending the day brooding in a corner in your apartment in between jogs. You won’t even eat proper meals. That’s not healthy, Newbie!” She elucidated. Her delivery and comportment oozed concern.
Oh! The fact that Garcia had thought about his well-being made him brim with joy. “I bet there wasn’t anything wrong with Esther, then?”
Glad he wasn’t mad; she mirrored his smile. “She’s well versed in faking it!” Garcia admitted.
Something else that Luke was overjoyed to pick up on.
He wondered how many times she had used her car not starting as an excuse to have him drop her off at home. Without fail, everytime that had happened, she wouldn’t let him leave straight away. Not before they would’ve had dinner, sometimes watched a movie. Or just chatted. Depending on the occasion. One thing was certain. No matter how hard a day or a case they had, Luke would always feel better once he left her place. Truth be told, he would’ve preferred to stay, but of course, she hadn’t been ready for that. Or so he had thought.
Time to reassess!?!
“C’mon, you must have ideas!?!” She prompted when he just quietly stared at her for a while.
“I guess I’ll come to O’Keefe’s after all!”
“Because the bartenders there can unlock faulty handcuffs as well as mix a mean Margarita?” She posed sarcastically.
“Haha! Very funny. Our friends, most of whom are fellow colleagues in law enforcement, are going to be there-” He began.
“Oooh, so someone there might have the right key!” She concluded.
“Bingo! Give the girl a prize!” He whooped.
She rolled her eyes at him. “I’m gonna let that slide, Newbie, cos I might bear like - 51% of the blame for this. But that’s the only one you get for the night.”
“ What you gonna do, Chica? Cuff me?” He teased her.
“You’re very cocky for someone that is that ticklish and would be unable to get out of my reach!” She threatened.
“Do your worst.” Luke invited her.
She shook her head. He was having way too much fun. Though, she wasn’t overly upset herself. “I think we better go. The sooner we get there, the sooner you get rid of me and you can leave.”
“Need to get changed?” He asked.
“I would’ve but-” She wriggled her hand.
“I don’t mind. I can probably help.” He offered cheekily.
“I’m good, thanks.” She laughed, picking up her purse as she led them out of her apartment.
____________________
“Drat! I didn’t think of this.” She said when they arrived at his truck.
“This is the easy part.” Luke stated.
“Easy!?!” She asked as he opened the passenger’s door.
“Yes, I get in first, you follow, whilst I climb over to the driver’s side.”
She narrowed her eyes inquisitively. “How are you so comfortable and knowledgeable about dealing with these issues whilst cuffed to another person?”
He wasn’t about to tell her the truth.
That he had been in worse situations whilst undercover. When he had to get himself out of tough spots whilst handcuffed to furniture, pipes etc. Nor that waking up (mostly just in his underwear) cuffed to another cadet was a ritual part of hazing he had to endure during his Rangers’ training. Left having to find a way to get himself back to base, untangled from a fellow plebe before roll call.
No, this called for some fun and ambiguity. “That might take a while to explain. However, we could stay cuffed and I could teach you.” He smirked.
“Luke Pablo Alvez!” She squawked (more than intrigued). “Just drive.” She ultimately managed to command.
___________________
“Hahaha! That’s one way to get a girl to agree to go out with you Alvez.” Tara laughed as Pen and Luke approached their table. “Though, I’ve got to tell ya bro, not sure it’s totally legal.” She winked at a smirking Alvez.
“Just blink twice if you are being held against your will, Pen.” Mocked JJ, not entirely sure her best friend wanted to be rescued.
“I’ll have you know that this-” Luke explained, lifting their hands. “-was courtesy of Miss Garcia.”
“Quit complaining, Newbie!” She huffed. “Now, please tell me that one of you has their set of faulty handcuffs on them and more importantly the key !?!”
When everyone quietened she noticed the playful look on Luke’s face. Before she could make any further enquiries, someone else spoke.
“Did I hear ya saying them are those faulty cuffs?” Asked Will, returning from the bar with the next round of drinks for the table.
“Yes, that’s right.” Pen replied with an uneasy feeling.
“D’ya mind?” He drawled pointing at the wooden skewer in Matt’s burger. When the other man shook his head no, suppressing a giggle, Will proceeded to pick up the stick. After swiftly wiping it with a tissue, he inserted it in the handcuffs’ lock and promptly released his two friends.
“How- why- whaaat !?!” Screeched Garcia, looking around her as the table exploded in roaring laughter.
“That’s why they’ve been recalled.” Explained Detective LaMontagne Jr. “Too easy to pick ‘em open. Not good when you have multiple perps in uncontrolled locations. Mind you, they’ve also caused issues at police stations-” He tried to continue when Penelope turned to face Luke.
“ You knew? ”
“Yep!” He replied smugly.
“So what was this all about? You wanted to make me suffer?” She asked.
“Nope.”
“Teach me a lesson for cuffing us together in the first place?”
“Nope.”
“Make me look like a fool?”
“Nope.”
“ What then? ” She demanded in frustration.
“Just wanted to be close to you for as long as possible.” Luke declared earnestly.
“That’s a shame.” She stated in disappointment. “ I was hoping it was because you wanted to teach me some of those hard to explain things.” She purred provocatively. Referring back to their earlier conversation.
Alvez grinned like a Cheshire cat, licking his lips. He picked up the cuffs from the table and tied himself to Garcia again. “Well then, let the lessons begin.” He declared, kissing her.
He pecked Garcia’s lips once more when he noticed her pout. Luke had kept their first kiss quite chaste, definitely brief.
“Vamos, Chica.” He hastened her. ”This is not the most favorable classroom for the first lesson.”
Alvez couldn’t quantify his jubilation at her reaction.
In lieu of a goodbye, Garcia had simply waved in the direction of her friends. Ignoring every jibe and teasing jeer. Opting to quickly walk towards the exit, pulling him along.