CASE STUDY

"That was an interesting case," she said. "Don't you think?"

"Interesting?" he said. "I would think you would have something less favorable to say about it."

"Why's that?" she asked.

He studied her for a moment before answering. "It seems like you went through a lot for us to have actually nailed them on account of their bookkeeping."

"It wasn't that bad," she said. "Besides, I got all that money in tips."

He laughed. "Thanks again, for dinner, by the way."

"My pleasure," she answered. "I just hope they don't mind when I pay for it with all these one dollar bills."

He drank his coffee. It was her turn to study him. "You never told me exactly how you got that bookkeeper to cooperate."

"No, I suppose I left that out," he said. He stared into the coffee mug, and saw Krista's dark black eyes look back at him. Who would have guessed that the best looking woman in that flesh pot would have been a CPA working in the back office? Much less that she would be drawn to him.

"Tough job, sometimes, isn't it?" she said.

He sighed and nodded. Tougher still to see Krista in handcuffs after she had done so much to help them, after what the two of them had done together. He would never forget that hungry look on her face the way she gripped the edge of the desk as he licked her. Her arms just locked up in place, and the muscles flexed. With her shoulders pushed forward, those slender arms pushed her bare breasts together to form more beautiful cleavage than any dress or bra could manage. He never wanted to stop kissing her like that, never wanted to leave that view.

"Don't beat yourself up over it," she said. "She flipped. She'll take a plea, and probably walk with no jail time."

"I know," he said.

"You did what you had to. If we had known about it sooner, I wouldn't have gone on that stage."

"Like I said, you went through a lot. Sorry about that."

"Sorry for what? You know me better than that. I had fun. I think I might be catching cold, though. Those pasties don't provide a lot of insulation."

Instead of making a remark, he simply finished his coffee.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," he replied.

"Why didn't you watch me on stage? I mean, I'm glad you met that bookkeeper, and it was by chance when you left the show, but why?"

He thought on it for a moment. "I guess I wasn't exactly comfortable with you up there like that."

"Not comfortable?"

"Right."

"Do you think I looked silly?"

"No."

"Not good looking enough?"

"Ha! I would not expect a lack of self confidence from you."

"And I wouldn't expect you to shy away from half-naked women."

"This is different," he said with a dismissive wave of the hand.

"Why? Because you work with me?"

"Yes," he said.

"So what about the bookkeeper, then? Would you have watched her dancing on that stage in a string and smile?"

His thoughts went back to Krista. She could melt that brass pole with her legs. He knew the answer to the question. "Maybe it's not just working together," he said. "Maybe I'm a little protective."

"Protective or jealous?"

"Where is this coming from?" he asked.

"I don't know, maybe the wine. So are you jealous of me?" She bit her lip and bore her blue eyes into his.

"We made the case. We just had a nice meal. Let's stop this."

"You're just afraid to answer."

"Oh, really? Well, let me ask you: why do you care that I left, or how I flipped the witness?"

"I'm curious!"

"Curious or jealous?"

She bit her lip again, but it was more pensive than coquettish. "You're right, we should ditch this conversation. Why ruin a good thing, right?"

"My thoughts exactly," he said.

THE END