Crois wasn’t someone who was easily bullied or cowed by people’s words.
He was, however, a man who liked to meet a challenge.
He nodded his head but didn’t say a word.
Baldwin stood there waiting for… something.
When nothing happened, he shifted from one foot to the other and then cleared his throat.
“What about you, Officer St. Cyr? Would you like to volunteer?”
Crois raised a brow at that question.
“Is there a reason why you’re picking on me?”
Baldwin smiled like he was paid to do it. Given that he worked for the Public Relations office, he was probably paid to smile.
“Well,” the public relations officer grinned at him, “since you’re so popular online, it would be great for ticket sales.”
“Ticket sales?”
Crois looked at PIlar and saw her wide eyes.
She gave him a look and continued talking. “Where does the money from the ticket sales go?”
Baldwin looked like he smelled blood in the water. “Local charities. This year the lions share of the money will go to the Center City Central Pantry Food Bank.”
Pilar smiled at him and reached out to smack his arm.
“There’s something to the idea,” she gave him a pointed look. “You are famous online right now. Think of the ticket sales.”
The Public Relations officer looked like he was salivating at the idea. “I like this more and more.”
Crois sank down in his chair. “I don’t like it at all.”
Kate smiled at Crois, her eyes narrowing like a bird of prey. “You know,” she grinned at him and Crois felt like she was about to hit him square between the eyes, “I seem to remember that you have past experience in boxing.”
Crois barely managed to hold back a groan. “It was a long time ago.”
Kate shook her head. “Not according to your files.”
Pilar leaned toward him and grinned like she was baring fangs. “Unless you want her to continue this like an interrogation you should just go ahead and give in.”
Crois turned toward her on his chair. “I thought you wanted me to be your best man. Do you want me to show up at the church battered and bruised?”
“First,” Pilar held up one finger, “the boxing thing is after the wedding. And two, if you show up battered and bruised to my wedding, I’m going to kick your ass.”
“Uhhh, careful, Officer Bravo.”
The warning was from Kate, but Crois could see that Public Relations officer Baldwin was wide-eyed and likely curious about Pilar’s comments.
“I’ll consider it,” he looked straight at Baldwin, “give me the details and I’ll… I’ll consider it.”
It galled Crois to see the man light up like a kid at Christmas.
“Well, it looks like we’ll stand some kind of chance at the tournament. I’d hate for the CCPD to lose to the FD.”
Crois had been through similar challenges before.
