Chapter 127 - Best-Laid Plans

As soon as Cate walked through the armory doorway she was met by a grinning blonde rock star. Pushing the door shut behind Cate, Jon pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly. Cate giggled against his lips as she wrapped her arms around his waist, the ammo can in her hand rattling slightly as it bounced against his firm buttock.

“Mmmmm… I’ve been waiting for an hour to do that,” Jon growled after their lips parted.

“Yeah, I was thinking about that too,” Cate admitted before Jon’s lips found hers again. “But Baby…” she murmured between Jon’s kisses. “I really do… have to go to… graduation practice. And you might as well… come with me. You can see the auditorium.”

Jon sighed, pulling his face back to smile at Cate. “Okay. I just have to be back at the villa by one. I have a conference call scheduled, then I have press calls.” Jon rolled his eyes and sneered with distaste. “I fucking HATE press calls.”

“Sorry, Babe. You chose to be the rock star,” Cate chuckled without pity. “The price of fame.”

“Uh huh,” Jon sighed, releasing Cate as she gently pushed away from his grasp and walked over to the cleaning table, setting the ammo can down beside Jon’s Glock. “What time can you come back tonight?” he asked hopefully.

“Probably not ‘til around six,” Cate answered. “I have a bunch of stuff to do at the office then I need to go home and pick up some clothes, if you want me to spend the night again.”

“Of course I want you to stay tonight,” Jon replied, moving over to stand close behind Cate. “I want you to stay every night.” His hands slid around her waist, pulling her back against him.

“Tonight is every night,” Cate answered quietly, dropping her gaze to her hands as she picked up the Glock. It’s the last night. Our last night. She felt a stab of pain in her heart at the thought.

Jon read her mind. “Tonight is going to be special, Cate,” he vowed. “I have a nice, romantic dinner planned…” He trailed off, not wanting to hint at his news just yet. He would have confirmation very soon.

Cate turned in Jon’s arms and raised her eyes to his. He saw the sadness there, in the deep azure pools. Hang on, Baby, he thought. Just a little longer, then you won’t have to be sad. Promise. He gave her a gentle smile and dropped another kiss on her soft lips. “You’ll see,” he promised.

Cate nodded, returning his smile, then handed him the Glock. “Get started,” she commanded.

Cate put away the supplies and checked the locks on the weapons lockers while Jon cleaned the pistol, then they exited the armory together. Cate excused herself to return the cruiser to its space while Jon chatted and posed for pictures with Shelby, Leanne, and the crew. Once Cate had secured the cruiser and set the alarm for the armory door, she and Jon finally escaped to the solitude of Cate’s Mustang.

They held hands and chatted quietly about tomorrow’s graduation during the drive, then spent a half-hour at the auditorium. As he listened to Bobby explain the order of events, Jon was glad Cate had thought to bring him. It was always easier to perform when the conditions were known. It wasn’t like he was going to have a chance to do a soundcheck, after all.

After the practice Cate dropped Jon off next to his rental SUV in the headquarters building parking lot. Jon stole a brief kiss from her before climbing out of the Mustang and heading off to his afternoon commitments.

Cate arrived at her office to find a mailbox overflowing with paper, a full voicemail box, and over 300 e-mails awaiting her attention. After scrubbing off her thick makeup, she settled in at her desk with a cold Diet Coke and a heavy sigh. Cate tried to focus on the tasks at hand as she shuffled through her mail, sorting and discarding.

But as she worked her mind kept drifting to Jon. Little flashes of memories flitted through her brain as she tried in vain to concentrate: his gentle smile… his lips nuzzling at her neck… his voice in her ear, daring her to shed her clothes… his arms wrapped tight around her as the hammock swayed with the rhythm of their lovemaking… his soft cheek against her thigh… his lips and mouth moving over her as he brought her to ecstasy… his steel-hard cock sliding inside her, filling her so perfectly…

Realizing she was breathing hard, Cate tossed her pen on the desk and leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling. How the Hell was she going to be able to do her job next week when he was….

Gone.

The word knifed through her, ripping her apart. In a day, in a mere twenty-four hours, Jon would be gone. And she would never be the same again.

Cate angrily blinked away the tears that formed in the corners of her eyes. Stop it! she ordered herself. This was your choice. You have to let it go. You have to let HIM go. She took a deep breath, then leaned forward and took a gulp of Diet Coke.

Cate stared glumly at the pile of papers on her desk for a moment, then turned her gaze to the clock on her office wall. Ten of one. Jon would be back at the villa, preparing for his conference call. He didn’t have time for her right now anyway. She needed to get some of this work done, so next week she wasn’t behind before she even started.

Cate’s eyes traveled around her office, trying to focus on something – anything – that would distract her from thoughts of Jon. But everywhere she looked there was a reminder of him. She saw him in her doorway, on her couch, in the chair in front of her desk…. Fuck, she was going to have to move out of this office now. His ghosts were everywhere.

Cate’s eyes swept over the photos on her “I Love Me” wall. She remembered Jon’s comments about them the day they had met. It was only eleven days ago, yet somehow a lifetime. Cate’s gaze lingered on the photo of six grinning women in black police uniforms, posing proudly with their arms crossed, ready to take on the world and kick some ass. Cate smiled at the memory of that day. It had been a long damned time since she had worn those blacks. That was another lifetime ago.

Cate’s mind flashed back to the sight of Jon standing in the doorway to the bedroom, dressed in black leather and spandex and denim. She felt her pulse quicken in response to the memory. “Let me be your fantasy, Baby…” she could hear his whiskey growl in her ear, even now.

A smile crept to Cate’s lips as an idea formed. Why not? she thought. After all, it will be my last chance... and it will give him a memory.

Cate regarded the piles of work on her desk for a long moment. “Fuck it,” she finally mumbled, reaching for the phone. There was no way she was going to be able to concentrate today. Cate punched in the number from memory and waited until she heard the familiar voice on the other end of the line.

“Hey Mandy, what’re you doing for the next hour? I need a second opinion….”

*****

Cate sighed as she stood at the rack, sliding the hangers from one side to the other. This wasn’t easy at all. She had no idea what she was doing here.

How about this?” Mandy called, from the next rack over. She held up a filmy yellow nightie.

Cate wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “Looks like a banana.”

Mandy rolled her eyes, hooking the hanger back onto the rack. “Got something against fruit, do ya?” she teased.

Cate chuckled to herself, remembering Jon’s comment during their steamy shower at the office, about being willing to smell like a fruit basket if she would nibble on his berries. “Not at all,” she replied. “I just don’t look good in yellow.” She tossed her auburn ponytail and smiled.

“Good God, Woman,” Mandy replied. “Do you really think it’s going to matter? It’s not like you’re gonna be wearing it for long.” She sighed and moved over to stand beside Cate, evaluating the garments her friend had already passed over.

Mandy had gladly foregone her late lunch hour to meet Cate at the swanky little lingerie store on Sea Island. She had enjoyed having Jon in her class yesterday, even though he had been clearly distracted throughout the lesson. Mandy knew he was counting the minutes until he and Cate could be alone.

When Mandy received Cate’s call today, asking her to help pick out a “surprise” for Jon, she had fought back the urge to ask for details about Jon & Cate’s night together. Things had obviously gone well, if Cate was shopping for lingerie. Good thing; the woman seriously needed to spice up her boring underwear drawer.

“So do you have anything in mind?” Mandy asked. “I mean, shit, give me something to work with here. You going for romantic and classy? Or dirty and whorish?” She grinned. “I think I know which one Jon would prefer.”

Cate blushed slightly as she smiled back at her friend. “I’m not sure. I… I want to give him a… well, a fantasy night. Something he won’t forget.” She looked at the floor, then smirked back up at Mandy. “Like he did for me last night.”

Mandy’s brows raised as she grinned in response to Cate’s comment. “Oh? Jonny do something special?” She had a feeling she knew what it was. And how Cate had reacted.

“You mean Pirate Jonny? Hmmm. Wonder where he got that idea?” Cate asked sarcastically. She chuckled. “Thanks, by the way. My GOD, thank you!”

Mandy laughed at Cate’s answer. “You’re welcome. Just doing my part to help things along.” She dropped her voice. “So? Did he do the whole deal? Leather? Hoops? Bandana?”

“Oh, yeah. Leather laceups, skull bandana, gold hoops… and the New Jersey jacket,” Cate answered, nodding.

“Oh, Godddd….” Mandy groaned. “You lucky bitch. Good thing for you I love you so much.”

“Lucky for me,” Cate agreed. “Damned lucky.”

"And now here I am, setting you up again,” Mandy teased. “But you gotta help a Sistah out! What are we looking for here? What’s the fantasy?”

“Well… I have this idea…” Cate began, then explained to Mandy what she had in mind. When she was done, Mandy’s grin stretched ear-to-ear.

“Girlfriend, he’s NEVER gonna forget THAT!” she laughed. “And I know exactly what you need.” She grabbed Cate’s hand and pulled her toward the back of the store, to a rack filled with black and white satin and lace.

As she led the way, Mandy smiled to herself. Maybe Cate was finally realizing what Jon had been trying to tell her for the past week… that they belonged together. Maybe he was finally getting through.

*****

Danny grabbed the stack of papers and envelopes from his mailbox in the admin office, frowning at the size of the pile. He had just finished a morning on the range with the newest class of students, and he was looking forward to a quiet afternoon of paperwork. Well, not necessarily to the paperwork, but to a quiet afternoon.

As he wandered out into the hall, thumbing through the pile, Danny heard the rumbly Southern twang call from the Boss’ office.

“Hey Danny – ya got a minute?” Floyd asked.

“Sure, Boss. What’s up?” Danny stepped through the doorway into Floyd’s spacious office.

As usual, Floyd was reclining in his chair, feet propped up on his desk. He peered at Danny from over top his reading glasses, a blue folder open on his lap. He watched as Danny dropped into one of the chairs in front of his desk. Flipping the folder closed, Floyd held it out to Danny. “Take a look at this.”

Danny took the folder from Floyd’s hand, giving his boss a questioning look. Tossing his inbox stack on the empty chair next to him, Danny opened the folder, taking a moment to read the words on the top piece of paper. He glanced up at Floyd. “Cate’s promotion came through.” Floyd nodded, a serious look on his face. Danny frowned at his expression. “You were expecting this, right?”

“I was. I just wasn’t expecting the rest of it,” Floyd answered. He tipped his head toward the folder. “The other pocket.”

Danny’s brow furrowed as he pulled the document out of the left-hand pocket. He scanned the front page, then drew in a breath as he flipped to the next page. Floyd watched Danny’s eyes widen slightly as they traveled over the text. After he scanned the first three pages, Danny dropped the papers onto his lap and looked back at Floyd, his lips pressing together into a firm line.

“You didn’t know anything about this, did you?” Floyd asked, nodding again toward the folder.

“No,” Danny responded. He looked down again, at the contract in his hands.

“What do you think she’s gonna do? Floyd asked quietly.

Danny shook his head. “No idea,” he answered honestly. “Shit.”

Floyd chuckled at Danny’s reaction. “That’s what I thought.” He reached for his ever-present coffee cup and took a sip, watching as Danny flipped through the pages, his lips moving silently as he speed-read the clauses. “You can’t say anything to her,” Floyd warned Danny in his quiet drawl. “The Director wants to tell her himself.”

Danny looked up in surprise. “The Director?”

Floyd nodded. “I shouldn’t even be telling you. But I wanted to know if you had any idea about this. If Jon had said anything to you.”

Jesus, Danny thought. That ballsy sonofabitch. Jon didn’t seem interested in heeding any advice Danny had given him lately, especially about Cate’s career. And look where it had gotten him earlier this week. He blew out a long breath. “No,” he replied, shaking his head slowly. “He didn’t say a word to me.”

“Do you think he told Cate?” Floyd asked.

Danny shook his head more vigorously in response. “No. No way. She would have told me.” Hell, I would have had to scrape her off the ceiling, he thought. He was absolutely certain Cate didn’t know about this little conspiracy in which Jon had apparently been engaging with the Director.

“It would be a good thing for her,” Floyd observed calmly. “A really good thing.” His eyes met Danny’s and they exchanged a look, then a nod.

“Yeah, it would,” Danny agreed, smiling slightly for the first time despite his concern. “But you know her, Floyd. She’s cautious. Too damned cautious sometimes.”

“I know,” Floyd agreed. “That’s one reason you can’t tell her. This is a one-shot deal. She’s going to have to make up her mind quick. No time to think about it.”

Danny nodded. “If she just trusts her gut, she’ll do the right thing. It’s when she overanalyzes that she gets herself into trouble.” He was silent for a moment, then swore. “Shit. I hope to Hell Jon isn’t planning to tell her.”

“Do you think he will?” Floyd asked. He smiled slightly. He had no doubt Jon and Cate would be spending some time together tonight, his last night here at the Center.

Danny snorted. “It wouldn’t surprise me.” Since he hasn’t listened to another damned thing I’ve told him.

Floyd shook his head slightly. “He can’t do that,” he said quietly, his direct gaze telling Danny exactly what he meant.

“I’ll take care of it,” Danny replied. He slid the papers back into the folder, then handed it back to Floyd. “Right now.”

“Good Man, Danny,” Floyd rumbled. “Thanks.” He chuckled and shook his head. “Our Catie. She’s really somethin’ else, ain’t she?”

Danny smiled. “Yeah. She really is. And we’re not the only ones who noticed.” The men sat in silence for a second, then Danny picked up his papers and stood. “I’ll take care of it, Boss.” He turned and strode for the door, pulling out his phone as he walked.

*****

Jon rolled his eyes and took a drag on his cigarette as he listened to the voice emanating from the hotel phone’s speaker. This fifteen-minute conference call had been dragging on for 45 minutes now. He checked his watch again and saw that it was nearly time for him to begin his schedule of press calls. At least he would have an excuse to get off the line with the tour promotions people.

Jon almost snarled as he felt his Blackberry buzz again on his hip. He had received at least ten text messages in the last half-hour. He had purposely ignored them, not wanting to be distracted from the conference call. But now that the suits and lawyers were bogged down in mind-numbing minutiae he really didn’t care whether he was following or not.

Sliding the phone from its holster as he clenched the cigarette between his lips, he lowered his head to read the screen. He was surprised to see the last several messages were from Danny, not from Cate or from one of his kids, as he expected. Jon pushed the button to read the most recent text as his other hand pulled the cigarette from his lips. He exhaled a long stream of smoke as he read Danny’s message.

[1:48 p.m.] Tried to call but got vmail. Floyd told me about ur plan. DO NOT TELL CATE. Know u will see her 2nite. If u want to have chance in HELL, u cant tell her b4 tmrw. Let Dir do it. Call me ltr.

Jon’s eyes widened at Danny’s message, then he shook his head. Fuck. He was surprised at the commanding tone of the text. Jon felt his stomach clench at Danny’s warning. Danny knew Cate better than anyone else on the planet, and if he was worried how Cate may react to what Jon had to tell her… well, that couldn’t be good.

Damnit, Jon swore to himself. He had been looking forward to sharing his news with Cate tonight, over a romantic dinner. But maybe that wasn’t such a good idea.

“Listen, guys…” Jon announced to the voices on the other end of the conference call. “I gotta go. I have press calls in a few minutes. Figure this stuff out, then get back to me.” He listened with half-attention as the callers agreed. “Okay, bye,” Jon responded shortly before punching the button to terminate the call. A second later he was pushing the button on his Blackberry to call Danny.