Divine Chaos (#wattys2017)

Chapter 4 - Soft as Silk

*AN: Hi guys! So when I just checked the stats, I saw that Devine Chaos has a whole 55 reads!!! Considering it's less than a week old, and that this is my VERY FIRST attempt at a novel, I would say that it's definitely not a bad start!!! Please remember to COMMENT (I would like to hear your input on chapters), VOTE and SHARE this story. Have fun!!!*

Detective Ceronio was woken up during the early morning hours on this 'lovely' Monday morning... Well... not that lovely exactly, considering that he would've like to have still been fast asleep in his glorious King-sized bed with the down pillows and duvet (an extremely expensive buy, but worth every single cent). 

He stared at his watch for the third time in the last 5 minutes as he waited for the cruiser's tank to fill up with gas. His partner, Detective Sean Reynolds, was inside the all-hours Quick Stop café, getting them each a cup of coffee since they hadn't had any as of yet this morning.

Quite a few gallons later, the tank was filled to the brim and Luke headed inside to pay - Sean still hadn't returned. As he entered the café, Luke saw Sean leaning on the till counter. Sean appeared to be deep in conversation with the lovely cashier as he paid for their coffee and Luke wondered - not for the first time - how women seemed to instantaneously divulge all kind of personal details to Sean that would otherwise remain secret, unless asked for by a close and personal friend.

Sean most definitely had a way with people... He could set them at ease (because most people ARE intimidated when they introduce themselves as Detectives Ceronio and Reynolds) and have the person in question talking to him as if he were a long lost friend they have known since childhood... It's a trait that Luke has much admiration for - and possibly a considerable amount of envy, too - Sean's eloquence...

As Luke came within earshot of Sean (which Sean realized when the sight of Luke interrupted the cashier's story) Sean introduced her "Luke, this is Grace Jenkins. Grace, meet my partner, Detective Luke Ceronio." Grace offered him a friendly smile, and Luke nodded in return. "So this is what's taking so long, huh." Luke teased, with a timid, cool smile towards Grace.

"You know we have official business to attend to, right Sean?" Luke reminded his partner, slightly agitated at the obvious cause for Sean's delayed return. "Yeah, man..." Sean mumbled, rubbing both hands over his face in a hopeless 'whatever' gesture before retrieving the coffee from the counter, and then headed towards the cruiser.

"Tank 3, thanks." Luke said to Grace. "Anything else?" Grace enquired as she tapped purposefully at the cash register. "No thanks." was Luke's reply. "But if YOU ever need anything, give me a call..." he said as he handed her 2 cards with a mischievous smile. One with his number on it, the other to pay for the gas.

She took it, and smiled a little too widely - obviously flattered - when she saw his business card. Is she blushing??? Luke thought to himself - very amused - and maybe even a little taken aback at how easily she took it, without wavering for even a second. No wonder these young girls disappear so easily these days - they're too hungry for attention... Okay, woah now - she DOES already know you're a detective... Luke quickly reminds himself.

Grace asked him to enter his pin, and while she waited for the transaction to process, she asked "But how will you know it's me if I DID end up using this?" She enquired, waving the card just in front of her. Luke again smiled mischievously as she held his debit card toward him, and as he took it, he quickly took a firm hold of her wrist with his other hand... He stared up into her big, beautiful eyes the colour of an azure sky, and kissed her wrist. He felt her quiver slightly, and in a very low husky voice, he replied: "Trust me. I'll know..." before exiting the café as quickly as he entered.