When Batman and I arrive at Blake’s, I sit in my truck and study the establishment. It hasn’t changed much in the eight years since high school and memories of hanging out after football games with my homies always hit me. We had a lot of fun times here. It is still a hangout for teenagers, but on Christmas Eve it’s dead. Blake, the owner, and I are friends. He gives me a discount on pizza because I’m a cop, and I ride by here after the football games whether or not I’m on duty to make sure there isn’t anything bad going down. I rarely go inside to eat though. I typically call my order in and have it delivered to my door.

But tonight, I’m meeting the hot chick here. I grin. I’m a devious bastard. Blake will surely recognize her and give up her identity to me without her ever knowing I didn’t know.

I unbuckle, open my door and exit the truck, stuff my gun in the back of my pants, hook the leash on Bruce Wayne and head in.

The parking lot is empty except for a red Ford Fusion parked at the door. That must be her car. I glance in the windows looking for a name or a clue, but nothing. I make sure to check the front for a name tag too, but it’s a bust.

When we enter the front door, Blake shouts from the rear. "No dogs!"

"Bah Humbug, you old bastard!" I shout back as we come in anyway. Scanning the place out of habit, there is no one here. Then I see her seeing in the corner booth where the lights are dim. The one I used to sit at with my bros.

"Zane!" Blake smiles as he comes out of the kitchen, wiping his hands in a towel. He speaks to Bruce Wayne. "You know I’m making an exception for you because it’s Christmas and who your partner is here." He sticks his hand out and I shake it. "To what do I owe this inside visit?"

"I’m meeting her." I nod my head at the beautiful brunette and she waves.

"Oh! Sweet! A date with destiny."

I laugh, "I guess you know her."

He smiles. "She’s a special one, that one. Bloomed late, like a rose, but wow, did she ever bloom. She’s doing alright for her self too." Then he asks me, "Your usual?"

"Sure, and I’ll take a carry out too. I don’t intend to leave my pad for a couple of days once I make it to bed."

He laughs and I know he knows I intend to tap that sweet thing. "I’ll put in a few extras slices incase you have overnight company." He winks and turns to walk away.

"Hey man," He turns back to face me, so I walk up and lean in close to whisper. "Do you know her?"

He nods, then grins. "You don’t?"

"No, but I think I’m supposed to."

His grin spreads even wider. "Yes, you are." Then he spins around and swaggers off leaving me no closer to knowing who she is than when I walked in.

"Dammit," I say under my breath. I showed my cards and he won’t help me now. He’ll enjoy the game of "guess who" from a distance.

His voice calls from the kitchen. "Come here, Pup. I have a Christmas hambone you can enjoy."

I unleash Bruce Wayne and his nose leads him back to his treat. Then I walk over to the dark corner where the beautiful mystery woman sits waiting.

I start to slide into the seat across from her, but she pats the space beside her. I slide in and put my arm casually across the back. If she wants to be close, I’m going to give her every opportunity.

"Have you ordered?" I ask her.

"No, I was waiting for you."

Damn, her voice does something to me. "Do you know what you’ll have?"

"Meat-Lovers. Same as you."

This girl remembers my pizza preference? Who the fuck is she? She’s familiar, but I can’t place her. My brain is reeling, trying to find the connection.

"So tell me how you came to dance at the best nightclub in Vegas?" I ask, knowing if I’m leading the questions putting my detective skills to good use, I’ll discover her identity.

"They held tryouts a couple of years ago and I walked in, auditioned, and made the cut. How did you decide to be a policeman? I was totally surprised when I recognized you tonight in uniform. I would never have guessed being a cop would be your career choice. You were such a badass in school."

I laugh and push a piece of stray hair out of her face, wanting to see her beautiful eyes in the dim light. "Sweetheart, cops are badasses."

She smirks and says, "I’ll give you that."

I hear my own voice in my head respond with 'you’ll give me that, alright. In a couple hours, I’ll be owning that.' But instead, I tell her. "Being a cop has its advantages. We have excellent benefits."

"Really? What kind of benefits does being a cop have?"

I take her chin and turn her face to mine. "I’m talking the kind of benefits that gets a date with a beautiful woman on Christmas Eve."

"Oh, those benefits!" She licks her lips and the wetness glistens.

I see myself pouring oil over her prone body later and I lean down for a kiss. When my lips touch hers, the softness is like velvet and the taste of her is sweeter than honey. An emotional connection rushes in unguarded and flies past my barriers. I know I should withdraw my kiss and regroup, but she is just too perfect to pull away from. My tongue slides inside to touch hers, but I hear Blake approaching and she gently pushes us apart.

* * *