Chapter 41 - Booze, Babes, and Boobs

“That was fantastic!” Jon exclaimed. He pulled out Cate’s chair for her and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “You too, Mandy!” he leaned over the table to buss Mandy before she sat.

He sat and grinned at Cate. “You’ve been holding out on me! You never said you could sing… and DAMN Woman, you sang the HELL out of that song!” Jon raised his eyebrows and cocked his head. “So, what other secrets do you have?”

“I’ll never tell,” Cate responded dramatically, taking a long drink of her beer. “I’m a woman of mystery.” She saw Danny grinning like a fool, over Jon’s shoulder. “But Danny always seems to dime me out.”

“Not this time, Slick!” he laughed, shaking his head and holding up his hands. “You should have seen Rock Star’s face! It was priceless.”

Jon shook his head, still grinning. “Seriously, you were great. Did you study? Danny said you did musical theater in college.”

Cate took another swallow of beer and shook her head. “Nope, never studied, never took a lesson. Just grew up singing along to the radio.” She smiled. “I don’t even consider myself a singer – I’m more of a mimic. I have zero creativity, but when I hear something I can usually repeat it. That’s why I’m a Karaoke Diva, not a vocalist.”

Cate looked into Jon’s sparkling baby blues. “But I’m glad you liked it. That means a lot to me.” she said gently. Holy shit, I just SANG to Jon Bon Jovi! She felt a little shiver run down her spine.

“I did like it. Very much.” Jon replied, holding her gaze. “Will you do another one?” He glanced hopefully at the stage, where a pair of young women were mangling a Taylor Swift song.

Cate shook her head. “I don’t think so, not tonight. I just wanna relax and hang out, maybe dance a little, maybe play some darts.” Cate winked at Danny. “It’s been awhile.”

“Yes, it has.” Danny agreed. “Jon, you shoot darts?” he asked, sharing a secretive grin with Cate.

“Every now and then,” Jon answered. “Sounds like fun.” He looked warily at Cate, seeing the mischievous twinkle in her eye. “Why?”

“Careful, Jon…” Mandy warned. “Whatever you do, don’t play for money. They’ll suck you dry!” She snickered, realizing how dirty that sounded. “Cate and Danny used to shoot darts competitively in college,” she explained. “We don’t ever let them play on the same team. It’s totally unfair.”

“Aaahhh. You are a woman of many talents,” Jon said to Cate, raising his eyebrows and tipping his head toward her. “More than just a pretty face with a badge and a gun. And handcuffs. Who can kick my ass. And who knows more about sports than any woman I’ve ever met.” Jon grinned. She’s damn near perfect, he thought.

“Yep, I’m the total package,” she answered smugly, then laughed.

“I’ll drink to that.” Jon raised his glass in a toast. Danny, Cate, and Mandy all joined in, clinking their glasses together, then taking long gulps of their beers.

The group settled back to watch the karaoke performers for another half hour, until the deejay announced a break. He put on an old Alabama tune and several couples moved to the dance floor.

Floyd stood and said his goodnights, giving Cate’s shoulder a gentle squeeze as he walked by her on his way to the door. Troy followed him out to fulfill the first round of his designated driver duties. Bobby, George, Steve and Brandon excused themselves and headed into the game room to find an open pool table, leaving Jon, Cate, Danny, and Mandy at the table.

“So, ladies…which gentleman will be your pleasure tonight?” Danny asked, leaning forward to grin at Cate and Mandy. Jon gave him a confused look. Danny chuckled. “They have four favorite men. And no, I don’t mean Jon, Richie, Dave, and Tico.” He rolled his eyes. “I mean Jack, Jim, Johnny, and Jose’.”

“I think I’m in the mood for Jack tonight,” Mandy grinned. “Straight up, please.”

“Is there any other way?” Danny asked.

“Hell no!” Mandy shot back. Danny nodded and headed for the bar to retrieve a round of Jack Daniels shots.

Cate watched her friend as he leaned against the bar, waiting for the bartender to fill his order. Danny’s eyes locked on a striking brunette sitting several chairs down the bar, and shot her an irresistible little grin.

“Uh oh. Man-whore alert!” Cate announced, pointing at Danny as he moved over to chat up the brunette.

Mandy checked her watch. “He’s early tonight,” she observed. “Usually he waits until after the second round of karaoke. By then they’re usually drunk enough to be easy to catch.”

“Jeez, tough crowd!” Jon laughed. “Cut the poor guy some slack! He’s just tryin’ to have a good time!” He knew Cate and Mandy’s teasing was all in good fun, but he felt like he had to stick up for Danny. After all, Danny had been his ally all week long.

“Yeah, the way she’s reacting, he’ll probably be having a good time… oh, about three o'clock, I’m guessing.” Cate observed. “At least this one’s pretty.”

“Yeah,” Mandy agreed. “That last blonde was pretty scary. Her tits were uneven. Seriously, if you’re gonna get fake ones, at least be sure they match! Right Jon?”

“Oh, no! You’re not dragging me into this!” Jon protested, holding up his hands. He took a drink and grinned at Mandy. “But yeah, if you’re gonna spend the money, at least be sure they match.”

“Now see, there’s an expert opinion!” Mandy exclaimed. “Who better to comment on breast symmetry than an international rock star? I’m sure you’ve had plenty of tits unleashed at you over the course of your career, so you have a wealth of experience to draw from. Am I right?” She grinned at Jon, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Cate laughed at Mandy as she tried to push Jon’s buttons. Jon just gave Mandy the panty-dampening grin and nodded. “You’re absolutely right, Darlin',” he drawled. “I do have a wealth of experience. But I’ll let you in on a secret…” He leaned forward and dropped his voice to a stage whisper. “You gotta feel ‘em to be sure.”

“Ahhh.” Mandy nodded sagely as she considered Jon’s revelation, playing along.

Thinking he had gotten the better of Mandy, Jon smiled smugly and took a big gulp of his beer, leaning back in his chair. Then he almost choked as Mandy looked down and raised her hands to her chest. She squeezed both of her breasts as if she was testing their firmness.

Jon covered his mouth with his hand and tried in vain not to spit out his beer as his body shook with laughter. Cate was in hysterics beside him, laughing loudly at Jon’s reaction as Mandy turned her hands this way and that, measuring her boobs.

Mandy paused, her hands still over her breasts, and gave Jon a serious look. “I think they’re real,” she deadpanned.

Cate almost fell off her chair at that. She gasped for breath in between her peals of laughter, and she leaned sideways, bumping against Jon’s shoulder. Jon managed to swallow his beer and laughed out loud at Mandy’s antics. He managed to calm himself enough to reply to her observation. “Yeah, Baby…and they’re Spectacular!” he added dramatically, teasing her with yet another swoon-inducing grin.

Mandy broke into a fit of giggles and the three of them laughed themselves silly, until Danny returned with the shots.

“What the hell did I miss?” he asked, raising his eyebrows at the loopy bunch.

“Mandy was feeling herself up for me,” Jon replied, giving Mandy a wink.

“Just trying to make you feel at home, Rock Star,” Mandy shot back.

“Speaking of feeling women up, who’s the brunette?” Cate asked Danny, raising an eyebrow and giving him a saucy grin. “Or should I say, what time is the brunette?”

Danny grinned back at his best friend. “That’s Charity. She’s a forensic accountant with IRS-CID,” he answered smoothly.

Cate guffawed. “Her name is Charity, and she works for the IRS? Well ain’t that appropriate! Let me guess, you’re gonna make a… donation? “ Cate asked dirtily.

“I don’t know, Danny…better not piss her off, or she’ll audit your ass!” Mandy giggled.

Danny smirked at the women. “Hey, don’t talk that way about my future ex-wife,” he teased.

“Just be sure you get a receipt so you can claim her when you itemize.” Cate joked. She gave Jon a sassy grin as he laughed aloud at her remark.

“Yeah, yeah. Alright Shecky…” Danny chuckled. He set the four shot glasses on the table and dropped into the seat beside Mandy. He slid a glass over to Cate, one to Mandy, then one to Jon. Cate noticed he had ordered doubles, and she made a mental note to slow down on the beer. She didn’t want to get stupid drunk in front of Jon…just comfortably silly.

Danny raised his glass, and the others followed suit. “To fast cars, hot lead, and cold steel. And to the brothers and sisters in blue.” He repeated the traditional toast.

“Hear, hear,” Jon echoed as the four clinked their glasses together. Cate watched him as he raised the shot glass to his lips and sucked the amber liquid into his mouth. As he tipped his head back to swallow the shot, his soft honey hair glistened in the dim light. Cate felt her pulse race. Jon licked his lips and looked at her, waiting for her to down her whiskey.

Her eyes locked with Jon’s, then Cate tossed back the shot. She felt the whiskey burn a fiery trail down her throat as she inverted the glass and set it on the table. Jon pursed his lips slightly in a silent “oooh,” then grinned. Cate felt the warmth spread all over her body… but it wasn’t from the whiskey.

Danny and Mandy exchanged a smile. They had both seen the same thing. The chemistry between Jon and Cate was undeniable. Danny glanced back at Cate, catching her eye and giving her a little wink. He stood and gathered up the shot glasses and an empty pitcher. “Be right back,” he said. “Gotta check on Charity – be sure she’s having fun.”

“What are you, the official Welcome Wagon?” Cate teased.

“Hey, I take my job as an Ambassador for the Center very seriously,” Danny answered. “Can’t have people going away from here complaining about what an awful place this is to do training. Especially beautiful, young, single women.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I shall return shortly.”

Cate shook her head and chuckled as he walked away. She felt Jon slide his hand onto her knee, under the table. She gave him a little smile, then leaned forward to talk to Mandy.

The three of them watched the couples on the dance floor two-step around in a circle, Mandy and Cate pointing out to Jon the people they knew and telling him where they worked on the Center or in local law enforcement.

Jon was struck again by the fact that he really was in small-town America, even though the sprawling federal complex just down the road hosted so many people from so many places. Everybody here knew everybody else. He nodded and grinned to himself for the hundredth time tonight. I like this place…

Danny returned two songs later, bearing another pitcher of cold beer. “C’mon, Slick!” he exclaimed as he set the pitcher on the table. “Let’s go!” He gestured to the dance floor as an uptempo Dierks Bentley song started to play. “Gotta impress Charity with my moves!”

“You are truly deranged,” Cate laughed, but she pushed back her chair. “Be back in a few,” she said to Jon, wincing regretfully as he moved his hand off her leg. “Gotta go make Danny look good.”

Jon nodded and stood, pulling out Cate’s chair for her as she rose. He shot Danny a grin as Danny again rolled his eyes at his chivalry. “Have fun,” he said as Cate moved around the table to take Danny’s hand and follow him to the dance floor.

Jon watched as Cate and Danny began to swing dance, twirling and two-stepping around the floor with the other couples. They moved together as one, like the long-time partners they were.

“Is there anything she can’t do?” he asked Mandy, nodding toward Cate. “She shoots, she catches bad guys, she can kick my ass, she sings, she dances, she plays darts, she can probably drink me under the table…” he stopped and grinned at Mandy. “Please tell me she has at least one weakness.”

Mandy gave Jon a saucy grin back. “Oh, she has a weakness, all right. You.”