FIRE & BLOOD • EVAN 'BUCK' BUCKLEY / 9-1-1

9.

Friday night.

Victor was true to his word when he said he'd be outside my apartment at 7:00p.m. Not a minute early, not a minute late. He's punctual. I like that.

There are no hints as to where he is taking me so I played it safe tonight by wearing a nice black dress that isn't too overdressed but also not too simple. The dress hugs my curves tightly showing them off. It's a go to outfit for dinner.

I find him waiting by the passenger side, opening the door for me. He is dressed in a gray suit. Suits are his thing. I wouldn't mind if he wore them more often at work.

"Thank you" I smile at him as I settle myself into his passenger seat. I'm in awe at how neat the inside of his car is. Here I am sitting inside of my residents expensive ass mustang. The good girl Stella wants to rush out of this car and apologize to Victor for wasting his time. But the wild girl side of me tends to win in situations like these, the ones where I know it shouldn't happen but she can't help but want to be risky and have a little fun while doing so. Plus this mustang is pulling me in not wanting to get out the car.

It is just dinner after all. Nothing wrong with eating out with someone you work with. I try to make the situation more appropriate. Two adults can have dinner together.

We are pulling into valet parking of a restaurant known to be one of the fanciest in Los Angeles: Le lieu. I believe it is French for the place. It is the place where people with money come to eat. A little too expensive for my taste but who knows, maybe I'll enjoy the food.

Victor hands over his keys to valet boy along with a $50 bill as a tip. The boy thanks Victor, he pats him softly on the back. Generous man. The valet boy seems young. Possibly 18/20. I can imagine the kind of tips they get here at Le lieu.

"Dr. Russell! How lovely seeing you here tonight. Table for one?" A lady with fire red hair pulled into a ponytail greets Victor, a smile showing off her dimples. Her silver eyes beam at Victor with such admiration.

"Two actually" he nervously fixes his tie. I stand shyly behind him, she must have not seen me as I am slightly shorter than Victor and his shoulders are very broad. The red head gives him a confused look. Her eyes wander around until they fall on me.

"Oh" a small breathe, "right this way." Two menus in her hand as she guides us into the dim restaurant, giving us a table with a nice view of the ocean. Los Angeles is pretty at night but I'm a Siesta Key girl at heart. Nothing will compare to their beaches at night, the calmness that washes over me listening to the waves crashing against the shore. The Siesta Key beaches beat California ones in my opinion.

"Would we like to start the night off with a glass of wine?" Her eyes bounce back and forth between Victor and I. My shoulders shrug when Victor looks over at me for an answer.

"I'll be fine with a glass of water please" I say.

"And we will do a bottle of wine please" he grins. She leaves us for a minute before returning with a bottle of white wine and two empty glasses. She pours our glasses half full. Victor reaches for his glass and lifts his up to me. I giggle as I do the same.

"I'll get that water right out for you. Any appetizers tonight?" The redhead asks, I nearly forgot she was still here. I shake my head.

"I think we'll do without some" Victor says.

"Okay. Take your time looking over the menu" the redhead says directly to me, "and Victor will we be having our usual? Steak and Lobster?" her body faces him. Why am I not surprised that is his usual? He seems like the kind of guy who enjoys eating a well cooked steak with expensive lobster. Nothing wrong with that but typical. Stop being judgey. The voice in my head sounds a little too much like Gigi.