After dropping Jon off at his SUV in the FTB parking lot, Cate pointed her Mustang toward home. Fifteen minutes later she pulled into her garage and climbed out of the car.
She grabbed her bag and carried it into the house, kicking off her flip-flops just inside the door. She walked into the kitchen and spied a piece of paper lying on the island. Cate smiled as she read the note from Mandy.
“Jovi is at my house. Pick her up whenever you want. Call me with ALL the details! Love Ya - M.”
Cate chuckled, imagining her collie frolicking with Mandy’s big black lab, Mattie. She dropped the note into the trash can. She would call her friends later. First she needed a shower and some dinner.
She grabbed her bag and carried it into the house, kicking off her flip-flops just inside the door. She walked into the kitchen and spied a piece of paper lying on the island. Cate smiled as she read the note from Mandy.
“Jovi is at my house. Pick her up whenever you want. Call me with ALL the details! Love Ya - M.”
Cate chuckled, imagining her collie frolicking with Mandy’s big black lab, Mattie. She dropped the note into the trash can. She would call her friends later. First she needed a shower and some dinner.
Grabbing a Diet Coke from the fridge, Cate carried her duffel into the bedroom and tossed it onto the bed, then headed into the bathroom to start the water.
*****
Jon took a sip from his wine glass and smiled politely at his hostess. Man, Cate wasn’t kidding, he thought. This one is a piece of work.
From the second he had stepped into the huge house on Sea Island, he had been at the mercy of Dina, the Center Director’s wife. At the moment she had her arm linked through his and was chattering merrily to another guest, as they stood next to the shimmering backyard pool.
She was a nice enough woman, attractive for her mid-fiftyish age thanks to her plastic surgeon, with a thick, brassy drawl and a ringing laugh. Dina was a true Southern Belle, a former debutante who had earned her M.R.S. degree at the University of Georgia and happily settled into her duties as a wife, mother, hostess, and socialite.
Tonight she was giddy with excitement as she led Jon through the crowd of twenty-four, introducing him as “Paul’s Special Friend.” Jon was charming and gracious, bussing the ladies’ cheeks and shaking hands with the men, though he struggled to keep from rolling his eyes at Dina’s airheaded babbling. And she wouldn’t stop touching him.
Jon sighed under his breath. He hadn’t expected such a large gathering. In fact, he was pretty sure Dina’s husband was a little taken aback by the size of the dinner party. It was apparent that, though Paul ran a massive federal facility, Dina ran their household and social life. And tonight she was holding court, showing off the Rock Star Who Came to Dinner.
Jon felt a private little smile curl his lips as he thought about Cate. If she could see him now…well, she’d probably laugh her ass off.
Spying Paul on the other side of the pool, Jon excused himself and gently extracted himself from Dina’s grasp. He made his way around the pool and over to the Center Director. Extending his hand, Jon once again thanked Paul for the invitation to his home.
“Glad you could come,” the Director smiled. “It’s an honor to have you here.” He took a sip of wine. “So, how goes the training? Are my people giving you what you need?”
Jon strangled a chuckle at his choice of words. Almost… if I can just get Cate naked… he thought, a little dirtily. “Yes, sir. Everyone’s been fantastic. I’m learning so much more than I imagined. Your training programs are impressive.” Jon answered diplomatically. One thing he had learned over the past two decades in the entertainment business was how to stroke an ego. He could be as smooth as a politician, when he wanted to be.
“Excellent. It’s always fun for us to have celebrities on the Center, and it actually helps us with recruiting and public relations when a well-done law enforcement movie hits the theaters.” Paul answered. “Who does Floyd have you working with?”
“Cate Sullivan,” Jon answered. “She’s incredible. Absolutely fantastic.” He was careful not to let emotion creep into his voice, though he wanted to talk Cate up to her boss.
“Ah, yes, Cate. She’s one of our superstars,” Paul smiled. “A great instructor, and a wonderful ambassador for the Center. Pretty tough gal, too.”
“That she certainly is!” Jon laughed sincerely. “She’s been pretty much kicking my ass all over the place in defensive tactics and firearms training.”
Paul chuckled. “That’s good. I’m glad she’s giving you the ‘real deal,’ training-wise. We’re lucky to have her. She had quite a distinguished field career, and has a great breadth of knowledge. She’s one of a handful of instructors I like to use for special projects.” Paul gave Jon a wink. “It doesn’t hurt to have an attractive female agent as a spokesperson, either.”
“Not at all,” Jon agreed. He paused for a moment. “You know, Paul, there’s something I’ve been thinking about. As you know, I am involved in several charitable projects, with my foundation and in partnership with some other organizations. We work mostly with affordable housing and services for the needy, but I’ve always had a deep admiration for cops. I’d like to do something for the Center. You mentioned recruiting and publicity; maybe I can help in some way with those efforts.”
Paul gave Jon a surprised look, then smiled widely. “We’d love that! It’s getting harder and harder to recruit young people into federal law enforcement. It’s pretty tough just to meet the eligibility requirements, and like all agencies we are always trying to bring in more minorities and women.” Paul chuckled. “Having you as a poster boy would definitely get us more attention from the female demographic.”
Jon laughed. “Yeah, well, I think we can come up with something.” He sipped his wine and thought for a minute. “So, how does this partnership between the Center and the entertainment industry work?” he asked, curious as to how the studio had set up his training.
Jon narrowed his eyes slightly, focusing his attention on the Director’s words as Paul explained how the public affairs department worked with entertainment production companies and studios to help them develop realistic law enforcement-themed shows and movies.
Hmmm…. Jon thought as the wheels started turning in his mind. He felt the little jolt of excitement he got when he had a new idea. Maybe this dinner party isn’t going to be a waste of time after all…
*****
Jon took a sip from his wine glass and smiled politely at his hostess. Man, Cate wasn’t kidding, he thought. This one is a piece of work.
From the second he had stepped into the huge house on Sea Island, he had been at the mercy of Dina, the Center Director’s wife. At the moment she had her arm linked through his and was chattering merrily to another guest, as they stood next to the shimmering backyard pool.
She was a nice enough woman, attractive for her mid-fiftyish age thanks to her plastic surgeon, with a thick, brassy drawl and a ringing laugh. Dina was a true Southern Belle, a former debutante who had earned her M.R.S. degree at the University of Georgia and happily settled into her duties as a wife, mother, hostess, and socialite.
Tonight she was giddy with excitement as she led Jon through the crowd of twenty-four, introducing him as “Paul’s Special Friend.” Jon was charming and gracious, bussing the ladies’ cheeks and shaking hands with the men, though he struggled to keep from rolling his eyes at Dina’s airheaded babbling. And she wouldn’t stop touching him.
Jon sighed under his breath. He hadn’t expected such a large gathering. In fact, he was pretty sure Dina’s husband was a little taken aback by the size of the dinner party. It was apparent that, though Paul ran a massive federal facility, Dina ran their household and social life. And tonight she was holding court, showing off the Rock Star Who Came to Dinner.
Jon felt a private little smile curl his lips as he thought about Cate. If she could see him now…well, she’d probably laugh her ass off.
Spying Paul on the other side of the pool, Jon excused himself and gently extracted himself from Dina’s grasp. He made his way around the pool and over to the Center Director. Extending his hand, Jon once again thanked Paul for the invitation to his home.
“Glad you could come,” the Director smiled. “It’s an honor to have you here.” He took a sip of wine. “So, how goes the training? Are my people giving you what you need?”
Jon strangled a chuckle at his choice of words. Almost… if I can just get Cate naked… he thought, a little dirtily. “Yes, sir. Everyone’s been fantastic. I’m learning so much more than I imagined. Your training programs are impressive.” Jon answered diplomatically. One thing he had learned over the past two decades in the entertainment business was how to stroke an ego. He could be as smooth as a politician, when he wanted to be.
“Excellent. It’s always fun for us to have celebrities on the Center, and it actually helps us with recruiting and public relations when a well-done law enforcement movie hits the theaters.” Paul answered. “Who does Floyd have you working with?”
“Cate Sullivan,” Jon answered. “She’s incredible. Absolutely fantastic.” He was careful not to let emotion creep into his voice, though he wanted to talk Cate up to her boss.
“Ah, yes, Cate. She’s one of our superstars,” Paul smiled. “A great instructor, and a wonderful ambassador for the Center. Pretty tough gal, too.”
“That she certainly is!” Jon laughed sincerely. “She’s been pretty much kicking my ass all over the place in defensive tactics and firearms training.”
Paul chuckled. “That’s good. I’m glad she’s giving you the ‘real deal,’ training-wise. We’re lucky to have her. She had quite a distinguished field career, and has a great breadth of knowledge. She’s one of a handful of instructors I like to use for special projects.” Paul gave Jon a wink. “It doesn’t hurt to have an attractive female agent as a spokesperson, either.”
“Not at all,” Jon agreed. He paused for a moment. “You know, Paul, there’s something I’ve been thinking about. As you know, I am involved in several charitable projects, with my foundation and in partnership with some other organizations. We work mostly with affordable housing and services for the needy, but I’ve always had a deep admiration for cops. I’d like to do something for the Center. You mentioned recruiting and publicity; maybe I can help in some way with those efforts.”
Paul gave Jon a surprised look, then smiled widely. “We’d love that! It’s getting harder and harder to recruit young people into federal law enforcement. It’s pretty tough just to meet the eligibility requirements, and like all agencies we are always trying to bring in more minorities and women.” Paul chuckled. “Having you as a poster boy would definitely get us more attention from the female demographic.”
Jon laughed. “Yeah, well, I think we can come up with something.” He sipped his wine and thought for a minute. “So, how does this partnership between the Center and the entertainment industry work?” he asked, curious as to how the studio had set up his training.
Jon narrowed his eyes slightly, focusing his attention on the Director’s words as Paul explained how the public affairs department worked with entertainment production companies and studios to help them develop realistic law enforcement-themed shows and movies.
Hmmm…. Jon thought as the wheels started turning in his mind. He felt the little jolt of excitement he got when he had a new idea. Maybe this dinner party isn’t going to be a waste of time after all…
What's going on in that pretty little head of yours Jon? I'm thinking it has something to do with Cate and maybe a way for you to stay there longer and be with her. At least, that's what I'm hoping for.
ReplyDeleteBeth