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[2 Broke Girls] Ch: 188 [Date with Chloe pt2]
🕑 Added 2025-09-13 22:45:48 +0000 UTCThe waiter returned with their plates balanced expertly on his arms. Chloe's lamb chops were laid over a bed of rosemary potatoes, rich with aroma, while Alex's seared salmon rested beside a drizzle of saffron sauce and roasted vegetables. He set the dishes down carefully, offered a polite smile, and disappeared with quiet efficiency.
Chloe leaned forward slightly, letting the candlelight catch the rim of her glass. "Looks even better than it smelled coming from the kitchen," she said, running her knife gently across the meat.
"Trust me," Alex replied, cutting into his salmon with practiced ease, "the taste matches the look. This place doesn't disappoint."
They ate in silence for a few minutes, the hum of the piano filling the air around them. Chloe's eyes wandered the restaurant once or twice before finally settling back on him.
"You know," she began, her tone shifting into something more curious, "I don't usually admit this to authors in person, but… I've read a few of your books. More than a few, actually."
Alex lifted his eyes from his plate, brows raised in faint surprise. "Really? And here I thought most people only pretended to read them so they could drop the titles at dinner parties."
Chloe smirked. "Silent Hill: City of Ashes. That one stuck with me. Dark, brutal, and somehow beautiful. It kept me awake for a week." She took a sip of her wine, pausing before adding, "And American Beauty. That was the one that convinced me you weren't just writing genre fiction. It had layers."
Alex's lips curved into a small, amused smile. "I'll take the compliment. But I'll admit, I didn't expect you to be one of my readers."
"Why not?" she asked, tilting her head.
"You strike me as someone who doesn't have time to wander through fiction," Alex replied, swirling his wine before taking a sip. "Law, procedure, truth. That's your arena. My stories are… well, something else entirely."
Chloe gave a soft laugh. "Maybe that's why I liked them. I live in a world where everything has to make sense on paper. Reading your books was the one time I got to escape from that. I still remember the line from City of Ashes… what was it? About monsters being more honest than people?"
Alex's eyes lit faintly. "Yes. Monsters don't lie about what they are."
"Exactly," Chloe said, pointing her fork slightly toward him. "That one hit hard. It felt true."
Alex nodded slowly. "I suppose I underestimated you, Detective. I'll have to be more careful around you."
Her smirk returned, sharper this time. "You should always be careful around me."
For a moment, the silence between them was charged with something unsaid. Chloe finally broke it by setting down her fork and leaning back in her chair. "So, are you working on something new? Or are you too busy playing mogul and movie star to pick up a pen anymore?"
Alex's grin softened into something genuine. "I've been busy, yes. But I never stopped writing. My new books are hitting the market this week, actually. This time it's fantasy, adventure, and somewhat politics."
Her brows rose in interest. "This week? You don't waste time, do you?"
"I try not to," he said simply, then added, "Since you loved my earlier work, I'll send you the early copies. Consider it a personal delivery."
Chloe lifted her glass, her eyes gleaming above the rim. "Now that's an offer I won't turn down. I expect a signature too. Don't think you can hand me one straight from the box."
Alex chuckled. "Deal. I'll even add a dedication if you promise not to frame it and embarrass me later."
"No promises," she said, smiling faintly before taking a sip.
Their food continued, both plates gradually emptying between conversation and laughter. Chloe surprised him with her sharpness, her humor slipping in at unexpected moments. It was like seeing a completely different Chloe Decker than he expected. She seemed more comfortable than on their previous date.
At one point, she asked, "What about movies? You've been on every side of that industry now. Do you still enjoy watching them, or has it all become work?"
Alex thought for a moment, cutting into his salmon. "Depends on the movie. The classics still work for me. There's something timeless about the way they were made. The simplicity, the focus on characters rather than spectacle."
Chloe leaned in, her elbow on the table. "Titanic, for example. Still one of my favorites. It's grand but intimate. I cry every time. Thank you for making that movie."
"Thanks," Alex said with a small smile. "That one never dies."
"Forrest Gump too," she continued. "I could watch that forever. It feels like a piece of life itself. And it also made me cry. The ending was sad but perfect."
"Wow! You loved two of my movies. Then what about Lost in Translation?" Alex asked.
Over the next few minutes, they talked about different things while eating.
Alex set his fork down, a sly grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You know, speaking of movies… I did catch your debut once. Hot Tub High School. Quite the performance. Especially that topless scene."
Chloe nearly choked on her wine. She covered her mouth, stifling a laugh as her cheeks colored. "Oh my god. You did not just bring that up." She shook her head, still smiling. "I was nineteen. Nineteen and trying way too hard to prove I could be an actress. I did some pretty stupid stuff back then."
Alex leaned back slightly, clearly entertained. "I wouldn't call it stupid. Bold, maybe. Memorable, definitely."
She pointed her fork at him with mock warning. "Don't you dare try to spin that into a compliment. I've spent years trying to bury that movie."
He raised both hands in mock surrender, though the smile never left his face. "Hey, I'm not judging. Everyone starts somewhere. Besides, it shows how far you've come. From Hot Tub High School to Detective Chloe Decker—pretty solid leap."
Chloe groaned softly, but the smile on her face gave her away. "You're enjoying this way too much."
"Only because you're taking it so well," he said. "Most people would've denied it. You owned it instead. That's rare."
She smirked. "Maybe I just don't care what you think."
"Or maybe," Alex said smoothly, "you care enough to make sure I know the real you, not just the one on screen."
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, her smile softening before she took another sip. "Maybe."
The waiter came by to refill their glasses and clear the plates, leaving them with only the half-empty bottle of Cabernet and the lingering warmth of conversation.
Chloe leaned back, her posture relaxed, one hand cradling her glass. Her eyes were locked with his. She said, "By the way, you do remember that promise you made, right?"
Alex tilted his head, his lips curving into a slow grin. "You mean the promise about me giving you a strip show and you cuffing me later on the bed?"
Chloe almost choked on her wine again, but this time she didn't bother hiding the laugh that slipped out. She set her glass down, shaking her head as her eyes narrowed at him. "You remember the details a little too well."
"I have an excellent memory," He said smoothly, leaning forward just enough to let his voice drop lower. "Especially when it comes to promises worth keeping."
Her smirk returned, playful and edged with curiosity. "So you're actually willing to go through with it? Strip dance and all?"
He raised a brow, feigning mock offense. "Willing? Chloe, if I commit to something, I deliver. The real question is whether you're ready for it. Because once I start, I don't hold back."
She rested her chin lightly on her hand, eyes locked with his. "Confident. I like that. But don't think I'll go easy just because you're… you. If the performance is weak, I'll have no problem telling you."
Alex chuckled under his breath, swirling what was left in his glass. "Critics are nothing new to me. I've handled worse reviews than anything you could throw my way. But zero complaints so far when it comes to this body."
"Don't tempt me," Chloe warned with a faint smile. She leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other. "But… I'll admit, I am curious. The writer, the mogul, the movie star—how do you plan to top all that with a strip dance? That's a pretty high bar you set for yourself."
Alex tilted his glass toward her in a small toast. "That's the fun part. I always find a way to raise the bar."
Her laugh was softer this time, more genuine. She touched her glass to his and took a slow sip, her eyes never leaving his. "Then I guess we'll just have to see if you live up to your own hype."
...
[30 minutes later] [Chloe's apartment]
Chloe lay on the bed on her side with her right arm balancing her head, the red lingerie clinging to every curve, lace tracing patterns across her skin. Her hair was loose, tumbling over her shoulders in a way that looked effortlessly perfect. And her long legs in those transparent red fishnet stockings... Well, she was looking freaking hot.
Alex stepped in, towel around his waist, after a quick shower. Taking a shower before intimacy is like a ritual to him. He froze for a moment, taking in the view before him.
'Damn. That's temptation laid out on silk sheets. She looks like sin itself.'
Chloe's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile as his gaze lingered on her.
'God, the way he looks at me… like I'm the only thing that exists. I want him to drop that towel and show me everything. I want him pressed against me, his hands everywhere as we kiss. And when he's done teasing, I'm going to cuff him to this bed and ride him until he begs. Shit! Chloe, you dirty girl. Don't hold back tonight.'
Her hand brushed the small remote beside her. She pressed the button, and slow, sensual music filled the room.
She arched one leg slightly. "Well," she said softly, her voice a purr that melted into the rhythm of the song. "Show me if that promise was worth the wait."
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Daniel
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