I didn't get a chance to talk with Liz after my shift, so it wasn't until the next morning that we talked over breakfast.
"So, what's up with the firefighter?" Liz asked as she dug into a plate of pancakes. I watched her as she cut them into a plateful of bite-sized pieces and then, one by one, shoved them in her mouth. Liz could, and would, eat just about anything, and I was envious.
"I don't know," I shrugged as I stuck a spoon into my healthy bowl of oatmeal and fruit. "He said I was pretty, but I think it was just a come on line."
"Did you ask?" Liz said with her mouth full of pancakes. "I mean, he could have been telling the truth. You are pretty, you know."
"Give me a break," I said rolling my eyes as I stirred my oatmeal. "I'm not ugly, but I'm certainly a long way from pretty."
"We really need to work on your confidence, Pierce," Liz said as she stuffed half a slice of bacon in her mouth and chewed thoughtfully. "Let's go shopping after classes today."
"We have big exams coming up, Liz," I reminded her. "I can't afford to fail. I need to study."
"One afternoon of shopping for some cute things to brighten your look is not going to cost you your entire education," Liz said rolling her eyes. "We'll head down to State Street and hit three stores, then we'll go back to the library and study. How's that for a compromise?"
"Fine," I sighed turning my attention toward the day's lesson. "Did you finish the reading for today's anatomy lecture?"
"More skin?" Liz asked as she pulled out her book and began flipping through it as she shoveled the last of her breakfast into her mouth. “Ah yes, I’m familiar with it.”
"Liz, you can't keep doing this," I sighed again and shook my head. The problem was that she could: Liz had a photographic memory and could remember everything she'd ever seen, even if she'd only seen it once. It drove me crazy that she didn't have to study as hard as I did in order to retain the material, and even crazier to watch her squander her talent as she dabbled in everything from standup comedy to graffiti art.
"Eh, it'll be fine," she shrugged. "I'm like a cat. I always land on my feet, you know?"
I crossed my fingers under the table and hoped that was true as I tried to push the images of Cam Connor's unruly auburn curls and broad chest out of my mind so I could focus on my studies.
It was easier said than done.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Cam
After I'd finished my shift at the station, I drove home, walked Tesla, then showered, changed and headed over to see Leo. I was not looking forward to this meeting, but I knew that steering clear of it wasn't an option.
What I really wanted to be doing was driving back over to Chicago General and seeing if Alex Pierce was on duty. I hadn't been able to get her curvy figure out of my head for the duration of my shift. I cursed myself for not getting her number, but it hadn’t seemed like the best thing to do after she’d nailed me for using a pick up line, so keeping a safe distance had seemed like the smarter choice. Even if the choice meant I didn’t know how to contact Alex.
"Sometimes we have to do what we don't want to do; isn't that right, girl?" I said to Tesla as I stood at the counter finishing my breakfast. She looked up at me and thumped her t
ail on the marble floor, hoping that I'd toss her a bit of the bacon I'd made to go with my eggs.
"All right, fine," I said as I tossed a piece in the air and watched as she gracefully leapt up and caught it in her open mouth. She chewed it quickly and then sat back down waiting for more. I laughed, "Nope, that's it. No more."
Tesla wagged her tail a few times and, when it became obvious that I meant what I'd said, she sighed loudly and dropped to the floor resting her chin between her paws as she gave me a mournful look. I smiled as I shook my head then went back to scanning the headlines on the iPad I kept in the kitchen.
"It looks like we've got the usual mash up of things going on in the city, girl," I said as I read the headlines out loud to her. "I see that the Mayor is pushing a new education program, the Governor is trying to cut the budget down to a manageable level, and the South Side is still going to hell in a hand basket. Looks like business as usual!"
I set my dishes in the sink, pulled on my coat, grabbed my keys and sunglasses, and headed out to meet with Leo. The office was down in the Loop, which usually meant not being able to find a parking spot, but we'd contracted with a local valet service at one of the restaurants and they'd agreed to let us use two spots for Chicago Security Corporation when we needed it, so I was able to park and get up to the fourteenth floor quickly.
"Mr. Connor," Becky said surprised to see me. "Was Mr. Marini expecting you this morning?"
"I certainly hope so," I smiled. "He sent me a message yesterday requesting a meeting."
"Will you be in your office, sir?" she asked as she picked up the phone and dialed Leo's extension.
"Nah, I'll just head back to Leo's office and see what he wants," I said as I headed down the hallway. I could hear her telling Leo I was on my way in a hushed whisper.
"So, what's up with this contract, Leo?" I said as I pushed his office door open and entered. Inside, I found a somewhat flustered Leo buttoning his shirt as a lovely young woman folded up a massage table.
"I thought you'd call first," he said as I gave him the once over. "I didn't know you'd be this early."