Breath taking

It was a Friday evening, Tim had taken his date he had been talking to for a few weeks to the most expensive restaurant in LA. Tim and his date were mangled in their conversation, Tim wearing a full suit as it was a chic restaurant, he had been eyeing a table at the other end of the room for a few minutes now as he had a good full view of it.

There were 5 men sitting, also dressed casually in white dress shirts and blue dress pants, they were speaking a different language that Tim just couldn't put his finger on. When their appetizers arrived a sixth man sat at that table, leaving only one chair open. Tim wasn't really looking at the men itself, just more about who they were and why they were there, he found them suspicious, until their seventh member arrived.

Tim's breath caught in his throat as he turned to see Lucy walking in. At first, he didn't recognize her; she looked so different from the tough, no-nonsense cop he was used to seeing every day. Her hair, normally pulled back, was styled half in braids, with the rest cascading down in soft, voluminous curls.

The navy dress she wore hugged her curves perfectly, the high slit revealing just a hint of her toned leg as she moved. She was wearing a lot of jewelry, gold bracelets, earrings and necklaces. Tim's eyes followed her as she made her way across the room, and he couldn't help but stare. She was always pretty to him, but tonight, she was breathtaking. For a moment, he was completely lost in the sight of her, until his date cleared her throat, clearly uncomfortable and Tim apologized.

"Hey Robert," Lucy greeted the host with a warm smile, accepting the hug he offered. "Lucy, you always say these things about not being a model, but just look at you," Robert replied, his eyes sparkling with admiration. Lucy chuckled softly as she slipped off her coat, fully revealing the stunning dress underneath. "You're gorgeous, as always," Robert added sincerely, causing Lucy to tilt her head slightly, her cheeks flushing with a touch of color.

"Thank you," she replied with a genuine smile, feeling a bit shy under his praise. Robert extended his hand, to help her walk to the table. The heels she wore added to her height but also made navigating the room a bit trickier. Lucy accepted his hand as they walked over to the table with Tim's 'unidentified' males. Tim watched and frowned as each one of them greeted her with a kiss to her cheek and a hug she returned warmly, joining the conversations in the language he couldn't point out.

Tim's unease grew as he observed the ease with which Lucy interacted with these men. The comfort and familiarity she shared with them were undeniable, and the fluidity of her speech in a language he didn't understand only added to his discomfort. Lucy sat down at the head of the table, three men on each side as they continued their conversation. "I—I'm so sorry, I know her." Tim suddenly said to his date.

He hesitated, seeing the worry in the woman's eyes deepen. "Do you mind if I speak to her for a second?" "Go ahead," she murmured, her voice barely audible as she leaned back in her chair, clearly annoyed. Tim stood up, his mind racing as he walked toward Lucy's table. The men at the table noticed him first, their eyes narrowing slightly as they exchanged glances. Lucy looked up, her head tilting in surprise as she saw Tim walking over. He was wearing a suit, an uncommon sight outside of work, and it seemed to catch her off guard. Tim bent down slightly and gently grasped her arm, his voice low and urgent.

"Can I talk to you?" he whispered, trying not to draw too much attention. But the man sitting to Lucy's right, clearly not appreciating the touch, immediately stood up and grabbed Tim's arm in a firm grip. Tim straightened up, locking eyes with the man, the air between them thick with unspoken challenges. The rest of the men at the table were watching him like a predator sizing up its prey, their protective stance unmistakable. Before the situation could escalate, Lucy intervened, her voice calm but commanding. "Noah, I know him. Sit down."