Chapter Text
Bits of red flashed up before DS Kristin Sims' eyes, a startling disruption of the glow of the computer screen that made her blink rapidly until the pieces of paper and the familiar hand came into focus.
"For you," DSS Mike Shepherd said.
"And it's not even my birthday," Kristin said, aiming for sarcastic and indifferent but hearing the twinge of excitement in her voice nonetheless as she plucked what appeared to be tickets out of her boss's fingers, throwing a smug glance at her colleague sitting across from her, interest clearly piqued as his gaze lifted from his own work.
It all felt a little 'Look who daddy likes best!' competitive, but she couldn't help but tease DC Daniel Chalmers. It was the basis of what was actually a very solid working relationship, and good friendship, too, if she was honest.
But of course, the 'having something to lord over her friend' superiority didn't last when she looked back at Mike, who was sporting a face with what she'd come to recognize as his 'attempting to cover teasing' expression. Trying to hide his amusement as he continued to watch her in an all too neutral manner. Very sus…
She slowly turned her attention to the tickets, and rotated one to read the printing.
"Cupid's Court…" She cleared her throat, choking on the next words, pretending not to notice Daniel's raised eyebrows and impending snicker. "Matchmaking Services?"
"Mm…" Mike said, the complete bastard, finding way too much amusement in this. But it wasn't like him to comment on his colleague-friends' love lives, let alone meddle. "Keep reading… It's for a specific event."
Daniel had pushed his chair away from his desk, sliding to the side to get a better view, and Kristin summoned all her willpower to control her reaction. She wouldn't give either of them the satisfaction of being shocked and horrified by the,
"Speed Dating Night." There. She could manage not to laugh or throw up. "Where the Lonely Learn to Love Again…" Okay, maybe she couldn't keep the disdain out her voice, though. "On Lovers' Day."
She frowned and held the tickets away from her by one corner between her finger and thumb.
"What is Lovers' Day?" Daniel asked, picking the least confusing part of this whole surreal scenario where her boss was trying to send her to a hokey matchmaking event because she was so terminally single apparently it had disturbed even the man who was generally oblivious to, and reluctant to even touch on, the subject of his friends' personal lives.
"Valentine's Day," she said at the same time as Mike, making Daniel throw his hands up in surrender.
"Of course," he said, sarcasm thick in his voice. "That's so obvious to the two people here who haven't gone on a date in what, year…sss?"
Kristin scowled, and was actively searching for something to throw at her so-called friend before realizing they were still in the workplace. Best not risk an interview with Health & Safety, or worse, Darlene from HR.
Mike plucked one of the tickets from her extremely disinterested grasp and presented it to Daniel, making her first gasp in protest and then grin impishly at the man who'd also become their boss's target.
"You're going, too."
"But I-"
"It's for work," he announced, finally seeming to have gleaned enough entertainment from their reactions. But still he grinned broadly when they looked at each other with extreme skeptical confusion and then turned their confounded looks upon their boss. Kristin was going to have to figure out a way to get him back.
"You'll never guess what our assault and robbery victims have in common…"
"Speed Dating?" Kristin said, unable to believe it.
"Are they all from 2005?" Daniel asked.
Kristin snickered. And then pressed her lips together when Mike gave them a 'playtime is over' admonishing look. Because apparently he was the only one who could get some laughs out of inflicting this upon his subordinates.
"According to Cupid's Court's social media pages, Speed Dating has made a comeback, offering 'genuine interaction in a world of digital indifference.'"
Kristin couldn't suppress the laugh from exiting her nose in a derisive scoff.
"And why do you need us to participate in this… humiliation?"she asked.
"Because the owners of Cupid's Court haven't been forthcoming with their client list."
"Don't we have warrants for that sort of thing?" Daniel said.
"Yes, but they take time and effort. And narrowing down through extensive background checks and interviews." Mike gave them a disconcerting smile. "Or I can utilize the honed skills of two experienced detectives to identify any persons of interest."
"It's in Riverstone," Kristin pointed out. "There will probably be people from Brokenwood there, who know who we are."
Mike shrugged it off. "And there will be a lot of people who don't." He grinned again. "Besides, I have a… uh.. informant attending, as well."
"Then why do you need us?" Daniel voiced Kristin's protest before she could.
"You may not have faith in your abilities, but I do."
Daniel huffed. "Thanks, boss. I guess."
"I really think this sort of thing is more suited to DC Chalmers' skills." Kristin knew it wasn't going to fly, but god, she did not want to be subjected to not just one horrendous blind date, but a dozen or more in rapid succession.
"While true, I am more charming and sociable…" he agreed, flashing her a smug smile and making her role her eyes. "As you like to point out, I'm only a Detective Constable. And as a Detective Sergeant, you would be much more qualified for detecting suspicious behavior. So I would only be a hindrance."
Mike shook his head, chuckling but also clearly not buying either of their attempts to get out of the assignment. And it was an assignment, as he made clear, ending their creative protests with, "You're both going. Report back tomorrow morning on your findings."
And then he headed straight back to his office, leaving Kristin to stare at her friend, shocked as the reality of her evening plans of drinking a glass of wine and doomscrolling streaming services for something engaging but not overly emotionally challenging to watch as she unwound from the week being blown to hell.
She groaned, tossing the ticket onto her desk in disdain.
Daniel grimaced, but seemed to have resigned himself to their fate.
"Look at the bright side," he said, teasing smile lighting his handsome face once more. "At least you can tell people you have plans for Valentine's Day, and not look like a complete loser."
"You're the loser," she bit back, too caught up in self-pity and dread to come up with a witty reply.
Daniel chuckled. She'd get him back later.
Actually… If they both attended, doubtless one of their speed dates would have them face to face, and she was certain she could come up with some way to-
"Oh, and don't forget to get on to their website and complete the pre-event matchmaking questionnaire," Mike announced, popping his head out of his office and startling her from her machinations of revenge and torture. "Who knows, maybe you two will meet your soulmates."
He chuckled at her scowl, and the likely put-out expression adorning Daniel's face as well.
…
Kristin believed in preparing for the worst. Because if you set expectations low, you might be pleasantly surprised, rather than disappointed.
Still, she fought back all the miserable thoughts that were pushing her to wallow, to cross her arms and pout even, because faking not-hating this event the whole time would be difficult if she let herself get worked into a mood. So she tried to find some positives.
People weren't always annoying. In fact, she found people interesting, didn't she? It was one of the reasons psychology had appealed to her at uni, and police work, specifically detective work, interested her afterward, and still interested her.
And people who were lonely, but probably not desperate, not despairing and surrendering anyway, must have some kind of hope for finding a romantic partner to attend a matchmaking event… They could be interesting.
This was just an opportunity for intensive people-watching… Well, there would have to be some interacting but… Hmm… She scanned the room as she sipped at her specialty cocktail at the 'social hour' before the event. Which didn't that sort of undermine the whole 'speed dating' concept… like if they already got to know the dates before the short little 5 minute interval speed dates… That wasn't a speed date.
But she supposed it was more to get a couple drinks into the clients to loosen them up, considering there wasn't much mingling going on in the rather upscale bar that had been reserved entirely for the event, judging by the lack of patrons without cheesy name tags sporting little cupids and hearts (Christ, someone shoot her with an arrow, preferably a knock-out dart).
She debated approaching Daniel to have a chat… about… well, anything to make this hour progress more quickly. But since they were low-key undercover, she probably shouldn't give any hint that they already knew each other…
Oh, and he had company anyway. But of course he would attract attention with his unassuming charm and subtle hotness. Well, not so subtle when not hidden beneath his work suits. The black trousers he wore were a little more snug fit than his work ones. And he'd gone with his ocean blue shirt like she'd suggested, the top button undone to reveal just a hint more of his golden brown skin. But probably what had gained the two women's attention the most was how the short sleeves strained around his biceps.
Was he flexing?
Hmph. No. He wasn't. Unfortunately, she knew him too well to allow herself to come to that conclusion, knew that he was in a relaxed state where he stood near the bar, slowly working on a pint of whatever craft beer they had on tap, smiling and chatting to the women who were downing their French Kiss cocktails at a much more alarming rate.
The smile on his face was warm, but it didn't reach his eyes.
Kristin wasn't sure why she found that so satisfying but smiled smugly to herself and took another sip of her own supposedly Valentine-themed cocktail, that she'd picked out of pure irony rather than its contents description: Love & Murder.
It was actually surprisingly herbaceous rather than sickly-sweet. So she took another small sip and resisted the urge to glare at the not-actually-bad-looking man whose gaze she accidentally caught while surveying the tap room.
His appealing features didn't prevent her from muttering, "Oh, no. Please don't come over. Shit. He's coming ov-"
"Hi," he greeted, proving he might perhaps be more on the himbo side of the male personality scale.
"Hi," she returned with an ironic smile that he did not seem to pick up on.
"I'm Jake." He grinned. He was pretty, uncommonly tall and well built, but didn't seem to have any further conversational starters.
Yup. Just a little dumber. And a little hotter… And he'd be textbook himbo. Although, that required a sweetness of character to really fulfill the honorific, that she couldn't attribute or disattribute without further study of the subject- And boy, had that cocktail gone to her head?
"What's your name?" he finally seemed to come up with, proving himself to be very much dumb enough for the title he was unwittingly competing for.
"Uh… Kristin…" She couldn't keep the laugh from her voice as she pointed at her garish name tag.
"Oh, right." He nodded, laughed, but clearly didn't get the irony.
But was still smiling. It was a nice smile, she supposed. It softened the classically handsome features of his face from being roman marble to adorable human. And she'd say it reached his blue eyes, but there wasn't the same level of clever playfulness she'd grown accustomed to seeing, sparkling, in rich, brown ones.
A sparkle apparently not bestowed on random women flirting with him at the bar. Daniel's posture read as open, his body language relaxed, his attention focused, a warm expression on his face. But it still wasn't in his eyes.
"Mm?" she said, realizing Jake the Himbo's brain had finally cranked another gear and he'd proffered some other dazzling conversational morsel while she'd been… um… Definitely not staring at Daniel and those women too hard.
"You from, uh, Riverstone?" he repeated, his cheeks turning a little pink.
Aw, hell. Had she hurt his feelings by not paying attention? Not so oblivious as he appeared.
"No, Brokenwood actually," she said, feeling guilty and focusing her attention on the admittedly kind of cute galoot. "And where are you from?"
He grinned at the faintest hint of interest, bless his poor dumb, likely gargantuan, heart. Christ, he was rather large. Did she like that…? She wasn't sure.
"Riverstone."
"Hmm." She took another gulp of Love & Murder feeling the rush of alcohol sweep through her, but unfortunately not carry her away from this conversa-
A bell chimed. A tinkly bell.
"Alright, everyone!" the MC, Cupid Court's Head Matchmaker, Amara Darling -a fake name if Kristin ever heard one- announced in her suspiciously cheery voice. "Ladies to your assigned seats. Gentleman will line up here for instructions."
Despite sort of being on the job, Kristin downed the rest of her cocktail. She was going to need it.
…
When they inevitably had to report their findings to Mike the following day, he was going to frown in epic disappointment. Because Kristin would confidently announce they were all sus. Every last man at the event a weirdo, and potential crim.
She sighed, catching the sound of Daniel's laugh through the loud susurration of voices filling the space.
Not every last one.
Probably not Big, Dumb & Handsome Himbo Jake, either.
And Frodo, of course. How they'd ever suspected him of criminal behavior, of murder no less, she couldn't quite wrap her brain around at this point. The man clearly couldn't hurt anyone, except maybe himself. And poor guy was apparently lonely, his usual awkward energy extra agitated. Kristin had done her best to try to distract and calm him on their 'date'. And also shush him about blabbing that she was a detective. But if he'd been Mike's secret undercover spy, then he wouldn't have been so surprised that she was there-
Her next 'date' appeared, taking her completely by surprise.
"Jared?!" Kristin said, her voice a little louder and higher with the shock of seeing the familiar but also, well, long-lost smiling face of the man who slid into the seat opposite her on Date Round#7.
"Kristin Sims," he greeted.
"When did you get back into town?" she asked.
Jared Morehu shrugged. For such a seemingly open, friendly sort of person, he somehow cultivated an air of mystery about himself, as well.
"If you mean Brokenwood… Technically, I'm in Riverstone, so…"
"So you're avoiding Brokenwood?" Kristin leaned in despite herself, tantalized by potentially amazingly juicy gossip of the returned prodigal son. "Any reason why?"
"Nah. Nothing like that, eh." Jared laughed nervously and brushed her loaded inquiry off.
Hmm… Mark Jared Morehu down in the Suspicious column.
"But apparently Mike knows you're in town," she said, certain she had found her boss's civilian plant. "Because this…" She leaned back and gestured around at the red crepe and paper heart festooned decorations that clashed heartily with the understated, upscale pub decor that had definitely been aiming for a more industrial look than kitsch cherubs lent. "Doesn't seem your style."
"Hey, you never know, dete-Kristin. Maybe I have a penchant for speed dating, eh?"
She scoffed, chuckling, but then catching the speculative gaze of the bubbly drill master running the proceeding, promptly picked up the question card, briefly scanning the trite prompts and asking, "What's your most important life goal?" while somehow maintaining a straight face.
Jared reflected her mock serious face.
"Same as everyone, I reckon. To be happy."
"Cop out," Kristin accused but smiled, getting a chuckle out of Jared.
"Or it's profound," he defended. "Depends on who you ask."
She shook her head in mock disapproval, still in disbelief that she was sitting with the long-absent Brokenwood local who had honestly been woven into the heart of the small town at one time. Maybe still was…
Fearing scolding from Ms. Darling who was prowling about the event like a lioness keeping her cubs in line, Kristin went back to the card. Even though it was kind of misogynistic to give only the women the question cards and with them, the burden of starting and carrying the conversation, as if women weren't already always expected to be the facilitators of communication.
But, oh perfect. "What does 'home' mean to you?"
Jared shook his head. "Real subtle-like, detective."
She shrugged, but exchanged a friendly grin with Brokenwood's mysterious wayward son.
…
The lights in the pub flickered and there was the tinny, recorded sound of thunder. Kristin sighed and rolled her eyes. Daniel, damn him, just appeared amused. Surely, he found this as annoying as she did?
Ms. Darling announced the next Lightning Round… They'd been subjected to three cooky challenges already. Clearly, she didn't understand what 'lightning rounds' actual meant, or Greek mythology in general. Zeus was the one associated with lightning, not Cupid. And Zeus, well, was not a model for romantic relationships.
Daniel set his hand on the table in between them, palm up, following the demon-lady-matchmaker's instructions for the "quiet connection" challenge. She caught his gaze, rolled her eyes again to comply with the silent mandate while also telling him exactly what she thought of this dumb event, but slid her hand into his anyway.
His palm was surprisingly soft, with calluses at the bases of his fingers, and on his fingers themselves, just enough to make his hand intriguingly touchable. But she refrained from stroking her own fingers along his supine, relaxed hand in an attempt to determine if it was shooting practice or gym equipment or some other hobby that had given him the calluses, and just settled her own hand into his as if she couldn't care less.
She met his gaze as instructed, his dark eyes playful and amused as he looked at her, into her, clearly able to read her as easily as a book. But it's not like she was hiding her feelings about this torture Mike had sent them to endure. She widened her eyes, shaking her head slightly in disapproval, challenging his good-humored amusement at the dreadful experience.
His lips twitched, and the corners of his eyes crinkled.
She glared.
He trembled a little with a suppressed chuckle.
She kicked his shin lightly beneath the table.
His eyes widened then narrowed and he shook his head in faux admonishment. His eyes still had that playful edge, an almost sparkle in their rich brown depths.
She gave him an over-exaggerated innocent look, fluttering her eyelashes a little and tilting her head slightly. The devilish smile probably betrayed her, though.
His lips pursed and twitched again, and she could feel the chuckle trying to escape him, dancing in his eyes, trying to break free.
As always with Daniel, his good humor was catching… At least for her. Accompanied by the ridiculousness of the situation, she felt laughter building in her own chest and throat, the giddy, uncontrollable sort.
She squeezed his hand in an attempt to gain control of the laugh bubbling inside her. Or maybe to warn him, because staring into his eyes as instructed was just pushing her further and further into the giddy amusement over the ridiculous situation.
It didn't help that is own eyes and mouth, and shoulders, and entire body reflected the silly humor stirring itself up and slipping out of her control.
Or how Amara Darling was explaining the significance of eye contact for romantic connection. "…nonverbal affiliative expressiveness…"
Kristin pressed her lips together hard, bit her bottom lip, but the pop psychology pushed her over the edge, and laughter escaped her. Not a chuckle. Not a single laugh. But full-on laughter. Loud and echoing in the otherwise silent space. But it was too uncontrollably hilarious for her to stop, somehow feeling a blush of embarrassment as well, but only for a second, because her laughter apparently broke Daniel's own restraint and he joined her.
She couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed so hard that her ribs began to ache and her eyes water, ebbing somewhat until she made the mistake of glancing at Daniel, catching his eye, and then it burst from her in an even more raucous manner.
Actually, she could remember the last time she'd laughed so hard. It had been with Daniel, as well. A supposed missing person case (later to be revealed she'd just gone off on vacation without telling anyone and the weird sets of prints were some adventurous neighborhood kids dragging a makeshift reti down to the river behind her house) that had the detectives following tracks until they were knee deep in mud, stuck, and after an epic struggle to free themselves resulting in them abandoning their muck boots to crawl to the safety of firmer ground, collapsing in gasping, giggling hilarity.
They'd never been defeated by a murderer. But mud had thoroughly won that round.
The memory of Daniel covered in mud, it smeared even across his nose, but his eyes as light and merry as they were now, propelled her further laughter until she was clutching her side with her free hand.
Daniel still had hold of her other hand even as he shook with laughter, In the attempt to keep a grip on her -and possibly reality- his fingers hadn't just curled around hers but entwined with them.
She had to look away. Daniel was an instigator, just by the fact of his natural charm and the way his open good humor could just suck a person right in. Like a deceptively thick bed of mud.
Kristin caught the stare of the Demon-Lady-Matchmaker, stood with a hand on her hip, glaring, like An Extremely Disappointed Primary School Teacher.
She half-expected her to say 'Do I have to separate you two?' when Kristin finally found her self-control and stifled her laughter with a few awkward last hiccuping laughs, squeezing Daniel's hand for dear life, as he also sobered.
"I'm glad you two enjoyed this round," she said with an unexpected shift in demeanor. In fact, she seemed to now be giving them a smug, knowing smile.
Did she know they were detectives? No, that would probably piss her off. And she seemed pleased with herself.
"But it's time for your next date." She looked pointedly at their still joined hands, and Kristin only then realized everyone else had parted ways, men rising from their seats to move to the next. "You can… continue your… chat in the post-event mixer."
Kristin hastily released Daniel's hand and he withdrew it, but looked amused rather than the embarrassment that was heating her own cheeks. Ms. Matchmaker thought they'd been flirting.
As Daniel excused himself with a teasing wink, bugger him, Kristin realized that not only had the 'quiet connection' round robbed her of her plan to mess with and embarrass Daniel a little -just a little- but she'd been the one left feeling exposed and embarrassed.
Stupid bloody speed dating event.
…
Kristin leaned her face into her hand, elbow drilling into the hard wood surface of the table as she struggled not to groan like a teen complaining they were going to die of boredom. Because unfortunately, the speed dating wasn't the end of the event. First announcements and prizes. Then another mixer, which she hoped was optional.
"And something very exciting this session… The winners of The Most Perfect Match prize -and we've never seen this before, a 100% match on Cupid's Court's Compatibility Questionnaire- Daniel C. and Kristin S.!"
What?!
She found him almost instantly in the crowd, instinctively keeping track of his precise location at the venue the entire evening, like any good partner in an undercover situation would do. He wasn't hiding in a corner, but neither was he fully in the melee of socializing individuals. Just standing there, leaning slightly on a tall bar table, mostly full pint in his hand, relaxed and looking so comfortable in his own skin that Kristin was often jealous of his ease and confidence. But not quite so relaxed now. Now, his eyes widened, his full lips parted, his expression as surprised as she felt. Because… How had they matched on the survey?
His eyes went to her, apparently as alert to her location as she was his, and his shocked expression reflected her own confusion, with just a hint of horror. Because if they had matched…
She had picked the most ridiculous answers she could for the 'quiz' that belonged in the pages of a racy teen magazine.
"Come on up, you two. Don't be shy!"
Bugger.
Daniel raised his eyebrows, doubtless catching her ashamed blush from across the room. She sighed and jerked her head in the direction of the Matchmaker-MC, and watched him move to follow her up to the 'stage' at the venue.
"Our Compatibility Assessment has a track record of predicting relationship success higher than any other system, even those used by the big matchmaking companies…" Amara Darling hawked her company's wares as she waited for them to come up to stand on either side of her. "And it basically guarantees that you two will have a very good future together!"
How bloody embarrassing! Although, maybe it was Daniel who should be embarrassed. Those stupid answers on that stupid quiz. Had they been his serious choices?
She glanced at him.
Nope.
He was looking at her with increasing horror and judgment. She returned the expression, pursing her lips. Then realization and laughter sparkled in his eyes and crinkled at their corners, but he managed not to chuckle aloud. Kristin pressed her lips together to contain her own laughter -not wanting a repeat of earlier while the matchmaker continued to expound on the merits of Cupid's Court matchmaking agency- as she thought about some of the questions… and the answers she'd chosen to try to tank the survey.
How many kids did she want… 10 or more.
Her biggest turn on… Sex in public spaces.
Dream Vacation… Climbing Mt. Everest.
Choose a dessert…
Choose a cocktail…
Describe what you find physically attractive in a partner…
Bugger. She didn't have a type per se… But Daniel had been there, sitting across from her, looking as attractive as ever with an intent yet soft look on his handsome face as he worked on his own survey… So she'd just described Daniel…
"And your prize." Oh thank god, get this mortification over with. "A gift certificate for a romantic dinner at The Charmed Spoon."
She offered the certificate to Daniel, but Kristin was sick of the subtle sexism of the evening and reached across to pluck the piece of paper out of her hand, making Daniel chuckle and scattered laughter reverberate through the crowd of attendees as she shot Demon-Lady-Matchmaker a smug smile daring her to say something.
…
Daniel reappeared with their complimentary drinks for the 'extended date' that Ms. Amara Darling, Head Matchmaker of Cupid's Court, insist they have, setting the earthy-green glazed mug in front of her. They'd forced them to take a cozy private table away from the main bar where the post-event mixer was happening. But honestly, thank god. She couldn't take much more of this.
It was quieter, and next to a large window, which let her space out and try to unwind slightly as she watched dusk descend onto the street of shops with interesting plays of light and shadow in stark contrasts, painting the people in sunset colors as they walked home from work, or to grab something for dinner, or to meet someone for a date. A regular sort of date, not the insanity she'd just been subjected to. The kind of normal, happening every day, date she hadn't had herself in a while… a long while…
"Thanks," she said when Daniel settled into the seat opposite hers with his own mug, the steam rolling it off it a little more intensely than hers, since his clearly was black but hers obviously had a splash of a milk product of some sort tempering it.
She was pretty sure that the Matchmaker had meant for them to have drinks as in alcoholic beverages, but Daniel had brought coffee, doubtless knowing she wanted to escape as soon as possible, and having more alcohol would delay that possibility since she had to drive home. Carpooling had been out of the question for their cover.
She sipped her coffee.
Mmm… Perfect. He knew she didn't want as much caffeine as strong black coffee would dose her with this late. Only if they'd been called to respond to a case and she was likely to be up for another 6 or more hours. But she definitely planned to be in bed asleep in less than two (please, god).
It was non-dairy milk, too… She thought almond maybe. Perfect to combat the acidity of coffee that admittedly had started upsetting her stomach if she drank straight coffee before bed, ever since she'd hit her mid-thirties. Oh, and just a hint of sweetness.
Not the same cup of coffee she drank first thing in the morning, that Daniel would get up and pour for her if she came into the office after him (which yes, was more likely than not). And not the same cup of coffee that she would order from Frodo's coffee cart or a cafe in the middle of the day, the one Daniel would bring back from a coffee run without even needing to ask her what she wanted. The way he'd bring her back a double-chocolate macadamia nut muffin whenever the Kiwi Cafe had them fresh, without asking.
Christ, did anyone else in the world know her coffee preferences? Had anyone else ever bothered to learn them?
Not any of her boyfriends, that was for sure. Self-centered, every last one of them.
She watched Daniel, who was also gazing out at the street and the sunset as he sipped his coffee, biceps bulging against the sleeve of his shirt as he raised the mug to his full lips, his golden brown skin caressed equally warmly by the soft yellow of the Edison bulbs hanging from the ceiling in the bar and the light of the setting sun coming through the window.
He was an attractive man.
And observant. More than just observant, thoughtful.
Why couldn't she ever find someone like him to date?
"So… how did we get a 100% match on that stupid relationship quiz?" she asked, taking another drink of her perfectly prepared coffee.
Daniel's attention turned to her, and she had to glance away, obviously predisposed from her contemplations to be struck by how very pretty he was, with his cheeks dimpling with his good humor that also sparkled in his eyes.
"You mean, since we were both trying to tank it?" He chuckled.
"Uh, yeah. You know, since I have a much more sophisticated sense of humor than you." She relaxed into the familiar teasing banter with her friend, feeling the tension release that she hadn't realized she'd had from being exposed to so many other people socially with expectations, and being forced to delve further than surface conversations like small chat.
Daniel chuckled and shook his head, taking another drink of his coffee, his biceps and muscular forearm bulging like a plump…uh… Kristin didn't know what, other than the random stray intrusive thought of sinking her teeth into either bit of him flashed through her mind and made her wet her lips and swallow.
"Clearly, we found the same answers amusing," he said as way of playful accusation.
But…
Kristin shifted in her seat as another nigglesome thought that had been flittering about the periphery shot forward.
She bit her lip, wrestling with voicing it, but her curiosity won out.
"Not all the answers were multiple choice," she pointed out.
"Maybe they only run the multiple choice for matching," he said, furrow forming between his brow, before he shrugged and smiled again. But there was something in his eyes, his body language… He didn't believe it.
"But statistically, if they've had as many as they say complete the survey, 100% matches wouldn't be so improbable." She got into playing Devil's Advocate before she could realize it might just burn her own ass. "They must take the ones that match on the scoring and then look at the free-form answers."
Daniel suddenly appeared uncomfortable. An ever so slight change in his posture, and the way his mouth was still curved in a smile, but his dimples disappeared. And his eyes were not playful as much as guarded. Kristin was certain no one else in the bar, or even most people in his life would clock it, but she spent the majority of almost every single day with him, had done, for years now.
"What did you put for the last question?" she asked, knowing she was potentially walking into a trap herself, but not caring, too curious, needing to know if she was right. "The one asking you to describe what you find attra-"
He uttered her name in an intimidating, warning way she'd heard him address others in, but never her, telling her to back down, to not do something that would force him to do something unpleasant. But heaven help her, and he should know, that wasn't something she could or would do.
"You described me, didn't you?" She poked the bear, one that wasn't sleeping but had in fact warned her not to poke him.
Rarely had she seen Daniel blush, but his cheeks flushed, warming his lovely brown skin further. Her fair skin just got all blotchy when she blushed, but Daniel just got prettier.
"You were the closest woman in sight," he defended, literally shaking off his embarrassment, then crossing his impressive arms in front of his chest.
Kristin couldn't decide if she wanted him to wear more short-sleeve shirts to work or less. The distraction might be worth the treat.
"Likely excuse," she teased, suddenly realizing that if she gave her not-stupid colleague time to think, he would-
"What about you, then?" His arms uncrossed and he leaned forward, placing one arm on the small table that she swore creaked beneath the muscular weight of him.
"What about me…? Being your ideal woman?" she deflected, but if they at least kept this light and teasing, it wouldn't be so bad to be called out on-
"You must have at least vaguely described me for them to look at our profiles and count that as a match." He was grinning now, and she had to concede it was a little bit ego-boosting to know your colleague-friend thought you were attractive enough to use as an 'ideal' partner's physical characteristics.
"You were sitting right there across from me." She shrugged it off, but exchanged a light, playful grin with him, feeling herself blush a little, but oddly not mortified.
When she thought about it, actually, she wasn't sure that she could ever feel so uncomfortably embarrassed around Daniel. He just… He… was comfortable to be around, never judged her, not in a serious way anyway.
They drank the rest of their coffees in genial, easy silence.
Why couldn't she ever find someone like him to date?