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The firehouse was not quite empty, but close enough to suit Captain Nash. Chimney was in the loft, cleaning up after dinner.
Hen had taken a moment to talk to Bobby and make certain that her captain was all right. Hen often fielded jokes about the shortening of her name and her tendency to protect the family the 118 had become. But she took the well being of her team seriously; Bobby in particular since that time she and Buck had found Bobby unconscious in an apartment that was not even a home. She remembered supporting his dead weight with Buck and wrestling him into the shower. Hen had made him tea. Buck had hovered, uncertain, while their Captain tried to deflect, deny, diffuse. Bobby made jokes in response to her concern, until she, fighting exasperation, said “there's nothing wrong with asking for help.”
Her captain, capable and strong, fearless and commanding, had taken a short, considering look at his two firefighters. Then his stoic smile had fallen, his blue eyes had filled with tears and his voice, normally so calm and assured, had broken on the single word, “Help.”
It was rare Hen saw a call affect him so much his conduct faltered. But when she stopped at his office to check, Bobby seemed himself again. His shoulders were rounded without tension, and his eyes, blue and bright, skimmed with alertness across his computer as he keyed in his report. No shake in his hands. Hen had been satisfied and wished him a good night.
Buck was in the gym, working on his physique. So the firehouse was as close to peaceful as it ever got; breathing easy in the familiar calm between calls.
So it was a surprise as Bobby's voice cut through the silence. “Awwww, for crying out loud!”
Chimney turned to glance at the window separating the office from the rest of the loft. “Cap?”
“I'm good, Chim. Just realized something I meant to do slipped my mind,” Bobby raised his right hand from the mouse to wave an assurance.
Internally Bobby was deciding whether to laugh or kick himself. It had just popped into his head while working that he had asked Athena out but he had completely forgotten to ask her for her number!
As Chim returned to cleaning the kitchen, Bobby entered the few remaining keystrokes to complete his report. Free to think now, he let himself ponder and explore the best ways to resolve his small but welcome problem.
He knew Athena and Hen were close, so he could just ask for her number. Bobby discarded that thought at once. Hen would have questions, and she'd ask them. He wasn't ready yet to reveal he found Athena interesting on a more personal level. The reactions he had gotten when Chimney had revealed Bobby's attempt to set up a profile on Romancing The Uniform still stung, just a little. Bobby was not ready to become the topic of gossip again.
There were official channels through which he could obtain Athena's number, but Bobby felt dishonorable using LA resources in that manner. He also had more than an inkling that Athena would not appreciate becoming gossip fodder any more than Bobby had. He was sure that would crash and burn any chance he had with her.
“I'm just going to have to be creative,” Bobby decided.
It didn't take much creativity, as it turned out. Bobby had Athena’s business card along with her work and cell numbers in his Rolodex.
Chimney had laughed at length and made archaeology jokes about having the ancient relic in his office. Bobby, unruffled, had simply told him it was a good idea to have old school analogue versions of important contacts. Power failures happened. Cell towers went down. He knew with painful recall that emergencies could kill communication.
It had been a long time since he had asked a woman for a date. Bobby wanted to impress Athena, the way she had impressed him with her multifaceted personality. He wanted to see that sparkle in her eyes again. He wanted to watch her guarded, professional smile blossom into her sincere one.
“In for a penny, in for a pound,” Bobby breathed, and opened his browser. “Athena Grant, prepare to be dazzled.” He laced his fingers, cracked his knuckles, and began to type with a single purpose in mind.
By the time 9 pm rolled around, Bobby had selected a variety of restaurants he thought were sufficiently elegant: Michelin three stars. Five stars, Bobby decided, would make him look vulgarly pretentious. Choosing the cuisine would come off patriarchal and his gut told him Athena would not take well to that sort of overture.
So he started the ball rolling by texting her cell:
Hello, Athena. Regarding that dinner invitation,
what kind of cuisine do you enjoy? – Bobby
*****
Athena had wrapped up her shift for the day, and done her reports. She had cleared with her Lieutenant the conversation with the captain of the 118. It was a little off the book, but Athena had taken classes about supporting her colleagues in moments of crisis. Being a good cop was more than handcuffs, guns, and high speed chases, even in LA. Especially in LA.
She had just showered and changed into something to lounge around the house when her cellphone buzzed with the ringtone that told her it wasn't family.
She thumbed open her messaging app and tapped the unread message. Brow lifting as she read, Athena found herself pleasantly surprised. He was starting off with his best foot forward, asking what she liked. “Well. That's nice.”
Athena's last date had been with a younger man whose enthusiasm had been admirable, but who had not turned out to be someone she felt like building a relationship with. The sex had been mind-blowing, with the exception of that one occasion Hen would never let her live down.
In the end after a few weeks, Athena had chosen to let Aaron down gently. But Aaron had taken the correct approach: he had wined and dined her. She didn't think the bar he had set there was too high.
“Well, Mr. Nash,” murmured Athena, tapping a reply, “Let's see you bring it.”
Bobby, nice of you to ask. LA has such
variety. Since we're getting to know each other
better, someplace where the music won't
drown out the conversation. And someplace with
a view. As for cuisine? Surprise me. – AG
“Let's see how he handles a challenge.”
*****
Bobby tapped the screen on his dash. Siri read him Athena's text.
“Someplace nice where we can talk with a view.” Bobby, despite his distancing efforts, was a people person and he chose to read between the lines. She wanted someplace off the beaten path, both for novelty and so they were unlikely to run into anyone from work. That suited Bobby. It would be awkward to run into any of his colleagues, particularly if Athena shot him down.
“I can work with that, Ms. Grant,” Bobby said to himself, already beginning to rearrange his restaurant choices in his head.
He waited until he was back in his apartment and comfortable in his bed before texting her back.
Yes ma'am. I'm sure I can find a place that
will meet with your approval. – Bobby
That was a nice note to end the night on, and Bobby found imagining Athena's gentle expression was calming in memory as it had been in real-time. Sleep came easily for once, guilt failing to show up and scrape away at his mind.
*****
Athena thought of Bobby over her morning coffee. Harry was finally starting to grasp getting ready for school without making a production out of it, so it was quiet. It had been quiet since Michael moved out. It was nice to have something other than that to think about before she put her game face on for work.
Some part of her wanted to call Hen; to squeal like a teen over the good looking, well mannered fire captain having asked her out. But she held back.
Aaron had been younger. An indulgence of her long denied appetites. Athena had stopped and gone back to a celibate existence because while sex scratched an itch, she had quickly realized it wasn't the only thing she wanted out of a relationship with a man.
Something about Bobby was tentative. He was modest and humble, almost to a fault. He would talk to her with animation in one breath, then draw back almost self consciously, as if he were afraid he was giving away too much. She found herself reminded of that fish from that movie: come out, then back away again.
She smiled again. Keeping it her little secret would be fun in its own way. There would be time later for revelations and introductions.
What Athena didn't expect was her mind to be drawn back to that text again and again. She'd given him hints of what she'd liked and he had promptly responded like he was ready to rise to the challenge.
Little thoughts began creeping into her head that she hadn't had since her college days. What would she do with her hair, her makeup? Would she, should she go subtle, or drop like a bombshell to leave him speechless?
This wasn't some chance meeting in a bar. She wasn't planning an outfit meant for easy access to her lingerie. This was a first date that she found was growing more important to her.
It was an effort to keep from checking her cell to see if Bobby provided any more clues to pique her curiosity.
*****
Bobby enlisted Buck, Hen, and Chimney in his plan. On Monday, he ordered in from a number of different restaurants all over LA, sampling a number of dishes from varying cuisines with them.
The delectable aromas wafted through the firehouse, drawing his people close. Thankfully, no calls interrupted, so they were able to take their time and savor every bite.
“Mmm, smells fantastic! Our chef taking a break?” Buck asked through a mouthful of prime rib.
“Nah, just got something coming up,” Bobby said, eyes on their plates to see which entrees vanished fastest. “You guys get to be my guinea pigs.”
“Don't need to tell me twice. This is too fancy for what you normally feed us…You found somebody you like on Romancing The Uniform!” Chimney guessed, pointing accusingly at Bobby with a potato speared on the end of his fork. “Even with that stiff assed selfie that makes you look like an android.”
Bobby smirked and blushed slightly, remembering his awkward selfie session in the bathroom. “Yeah, something like that. Trying to decide which restaurant is going to really delight the lady. What do you think?”
The crew threw themselves into assisting Bobby with his selections now that they understood what he was going for. They bantered back and forth, comparing notes and opinions on texture and flavor. Buck found those observations over his head, so instead he looked up reviews, traffic patterns, and the best times to make their reservations.
They seemed to pick up that Bobby was a little nervous about returning to the dating scene. Everyone but Chimney kept the playful needling to a minimum.
Bobby watched as they came to their conclusions. They had narrowed it down to two finalists. He left at the end of the shift and texted Athena.
Good evening. Does your schedule permit
for our evening out on Friday?
Yes.
There was a pause followed by another text a second later.
Looking forward.
Bobby couldn't help the grin.
*****
Athena arrived at her desk the next morning to find an envelope, linen paper just the faintest hint of gold in the paper. It was addressed to her in fancy calligraphy with shimmering wine colored ink.
She looked around dubiously, but all anyone could tell her was that someone had dropped it off early by messenger.
Athena flipped over the envelope. A wax seal matching the ink held it closed. Inside was a card with the date and time to meet Robert Nash, and the name of the restaurant where she should meet him.
Athena nodded, pleased, holding the note to her chest. Bobby wasn't quite pulling out the stops but neither was he treating this date as a slam dunk. She could see he was making an effort and it felt good. It felt even better when she Googled the name of the restaurant and found it was not only Michelin rated, but well reviewed.
She was thankful this shift turned out to be mild. She had plenty of time to consider her outfit and how best to spend the day in anticipation of what Friday evening held in store for the two of them.
“Game on,” Athena declared, opening the Neiman Marcus website immediately after getting home.
*****
Athena called him back!
“Hello, Mr. Nash. I'm calling to thank you for your gracious invitation. I accept and will see you Friday evening at eight.” Her voice warmed him, even coming through the phone speaker. It was clear his whimsical approach had pleased her, maybe even charmed her as Bobby had hoped.
“I am elated,” Bobby replied truthfully. “I'll send a car and see you there.” She said goodbye, and ended the call. Bobby felt the warmth her voice always brought him.
Lord, how am I gonna make it to Friday? Give me strength.
Bobby had to smile. The Lord was listening. The rest of the week was filled with call after call so he had no time to dwell, anticipate, or worry. Fires big and small. Cats in trees, women in labor, potential gas leaks, broken furnaces, cars in lakes, and several that simply defied easy description.
Twice he glimpsed Athena: once she stood directing traffic away from a school wherein some mischievous 8th graders had set off stink bombs in the air vents.
The other time was during a rare rainstorm as the LAPD and LAFD worked in tandem to rescue people caught in a flash flood.
Athena was completely drenched, and she looked like the goddess she was named for; standing atop her car and shouting orders through a megaphone from her high vantage point. He was on the radio coordinating with the 136, and shouting to his team, so it was a struggle to keep his eyes off her.
*****
Finally Friday arrived.
Athena had the shift off and once May and Harry were off, she took herself for a spa day. She treated herself to the works – a facial, a mani-pedi, an herbal wrap and a ninety minute massage. It was an indulgence to be sure. Athena allowed herself the rationalization that if the date flopped, she would at least have had the most enjoyable date possible.
She came home for a long shower, carefully protecting her hair. She took her time dressing. She had splurged on the outfit, everything brand new. Athena let herself luxuriate in the sensations as the smooth black silk whispered across her skin: stockings, panties, and lace. She studied herself in the mirror. “Remember. It doesn't have to go anywhere,” Athena chided herself. “There's already an attraction. Get to know the man first.”
With her resolve firmly in place she stepped into the black dress, trying to avoid imagining the response she hoped for. “Let what happens, happen,” she told herself one more time as her phone alerted Athena the car had arrived. She was hungry for a meal, and that would help keep her mind right.
She locked the door, took a deep breath and stepped into the Uber Luxe, draping the gown around her.
*****
“You look like a lawyer.”
Bobby's face fell. Those were not the words he wanted to hear.
“Lose the tie,” advised Chimney.
Bobby was uncertain, but he also knew that Han was more familiar with making a good impression on a date than he was, so he took the younger man's advice.
Off came the tie, leaving his blue shirt buttoned up. Chimney inspected him for a second and undid the button, adjusted the collar. He nodded with approval and wished his Captain good luck.
The drive to the restaurant was easy. His own Uber had no trouble navigating the route Buck had not only picked out, but driven with Bobby himself on a dry run.
The maitre'd recognized his reservation and led him to a table for two with a breathtaking view of the city.
Bobby sat at the table, nervously adjusting his silverware, his water glass. He glanced at the window, checking his reflection, then glancing into the twilight descending. After their texting back and forth, she wouldn't stand him up, would she? He swallowed the urge for a drink. It was just nerves and he knew it. He remembered Hen's box breathing technique. In for four, hold for four, out for four. Begone, butterflies.
“Just listen to the music. Play it cool,” Bobby murmured to himself.
The pianist faltered.
Bobby looked up and his breath caught in his chest.
Athena stepped into view, casting the entire restaurant into the shade. The polished black tips of her shoes brought tantalizing glimpses of her legs as she strode forward, head held high and regal. Her dress was one shouldered, showing off her toned arms and Bobby suddenly felt a strong desire for her to embrace him.
Distantly, Bobby noticed heads turning as she approached. He stood and turned to greet her.
“You look beautiful,” he breathed.
Athena's answering smile lit the room and something in his heart. “I like how that shirt brings out your eyes,” she told him and his knees felt like they turned to water.
The world began to turn again as he held her chair. The piano player resumed and began to play At Last.
Bobby asked how she liked the restaurant. Athena's response made his week. Her sultry voice replied, “Excellent selection. It's perfect.”
Once again, it was like two old friends were reunited.
Conversation flowed easily and that warmth she had bestowed on him returned, doubled now that they were relaxed and had nothing ahead but time with each other.
It was going to be a beautiful night.