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“I like the way you look at things. It’s wise and refreshing.”
Our gazes lock together in an intense stare-down that lasts until the waiter returns to take our drink orders. “That’s me, wise and refreshing,” I say, a playful challenge in my tone.
The waiter arrives, clearing his throat to get our attention. We give him our food and drink orders all at once, both of us seemingly eager to get on with the getting-to-know-you portion of the date.
“So, Francesca, tell me about your job. How did you become a police officer?”
“Damien, please. Call me Frankie.”
He cracks a grin. “I’m sorry. I know you’ve told me before. I’ll do my best. Please continue, Frankie.”
I smile, feeling a flutter of excitement. “Thank you. Francesca sounds so harsh.” I take a sip of water from the crystal glass. “So, my dad, Franklin DeMarco, was also a cop, well, a detective. I wanted to be just like him for as long as I can remember.” It’s mostly the truth, but the entire truth isn’t exactly first-date material. Or second date.
Or third.
He leans forward, and a slow smile lights up his eyes. “Have you ever caught a serial killer before?”
I stare back for a moment, weighing how I want to answer the question. I lean in and Damien does the same, unconsciously mimicking my body language. “You shouldn’t believe everything you see or read on the internet.”
His smile grows. “What shouldn’t I believe?”
I sit back when our waiter places my cocktail in front of me. “As a general rule, you shouldn’t believe anything, but that’s just my opinion.”
His brows arch up in amused curiosity. “Not a fan of the press?”
I shake my head slightly. “Can’t say I am. But I do respect the journalists who report the facts without resorting to hype and clickbait. The media companies are businesses, after all, so they need to captivate their audience with every new twist and turn. Higher ratings equal higher profits.”
“But isn’t that how you receive tips that help in cracking the case? News media and the internet as you say?”
“Hardly,” I snort dismissively. “But when people are scared, they do really stupid things that complicate my work. And it puts them at greater risk.” I give my head a shake and tell him an old police story about foolish leads, running in circles, and an additional casualty. “It’s a catch-22 situation. I want the public to be vigilant, but I also want them safe.”
He nods slowly, his gaze never leaving my face. “You’re not just tough, Frankie. You’ve got a hard shell with a marshmallow interior.”
I jab a finger in his direction. “Zip it, wise guy, or I’ll spread the word that you’re not actually the brilliant mastermind you claim to be.”
His eyes go wide. “You wouldn’t.”
“I might. Don’t test me.” I take a sip of my cocktail, laughing when he holds up his hands in a defensive gesture. “How about you, genius? How does one get into the tech genius field?”
He gives me a deep laugh. It’s a little smooth, like really good booze.
“I created an app, and it did well, so I created another one. It also did well, and they kept doing well, so I kept going until I had a building with my name on the front.”
That much I know. “But you don’t just create games and calendars and stuff like that, do you?”
Surprise flashes in his eyes, and his smile gets bigger. “No, I don’t. You’re right. My company has evolved way beyond apps. We’re now delving into cutting-edge fields like AI and neurofeedback technology. In fact, I’ve partnered with a brilliant neuroengineer to push the boundaries of what’s possible in those areas.”
“Wow. That’s impressive,” I say. “So, you really are a big deal?”
He shrugs. “In some circles. Same as you.”
My laugh is louder this time, drawing eyes from the nearby diners. “I’m not a big deal in any circles. Sorry to tell you.”
Damien shakes his head, leans in, swirls the amber liquid in his glass, and hypnotizes me with his smile.
“That’s where your powers of deductive reasoning fail you, Frankie. People are completely intrigued by you. It’s not just your beauty, which is the kind of beauty that men fight over. It’s also your strength. Everything about you screams, don’t fuck with me. But your femininity and grace are unmatched.”
If he only knew…
