"Overrated," Juliet mutters, throwing her almost-full cup of latte in a trash can before entering the large brown building only decorated with two flags.

After only two sips of the warm drink, she can't erase the bitter taste it has left on her tongue, and she is still as tired and grumpy. Now, she can even add 'late' to the list.

All of this wouldn't have happened if she had bought her latte at her usual coffee shop, but as she has passed by it during her morning jogging, she has glimpsed the cute waiter flirting and giving his number to at least three women through her round trip. Let's say that it has put her off the sweet sugar-coated lattes.

That's why she has gone to the other side of the town for a cup of coffee, which has made her end up late and with a bitter taste in the back of her mouth. How is it possible for a latte to taste that bad? 

This really hasn't been her best idea, especially because she hasn't expected to find such a heavy traffic at 6 p.m. on a Sunday. In her journey around the town, she has seen more people with bouquets of flowers, red gift bags, and foolish wide smiles than she can tolerate without a sweet coffee in her stomach. 

It's like the whole town is going out to celebrate Valentine's Day, mocking her and her lonely plans.

It's even worse when she enters the wide room, and the eggshell walls and bright neon lights remind her that she has a long night of shift ahead.

"Hey, Juliet, buddy, I was looking for you!"

She is once again forced to freeze in her tracks of rushed steps and gloomy thoughts when someone appears in front of her. She blinks a few times at the improbable sight that looks like a dream, her gaze flickering between the big brown eyes and the fluffy white teddy bear covered with little red hearts.

"Here, can you take this?"

The teddy bear is shoved in her arms, and thankfully, she has thrown her cup away because Juliet can't imagine the disaster of latte it would have created on the white teddy bear and on her navy shirt. 

This Valentine's gift may be slightly harsh, but it's still cute, and she won't complain when she's already given up Valentine's day and anything romantic a few hours ago.

Besides, Bryan is handsome, maybe not the most sophisticated man, but he has a nice smoldering gaze, glowing dark skin, and an easy smile that makes him look younger than his 36-or-so years old. 10 years of difference isn't that much, is it?

"I'm glad you here!" Bryan adds, his smile stretching to let appear a perfect row of pearly white teeth.

10 years is nothing, Juliet is already concluding as a rush of warmth spreads on her cheeks, and she can only stammer a 'oh... er...'.

She tends to lose her composure when handsome men show her interest, mainly because she isn't used to it. All her training skills and unflinching demeanor are generally thrown out the window, and luckily, there aren't a lot of sexy criminals out there, contrary to what TV makes people believe, otherwise, she wouldn't be one of the best field officers of the station.

"The old Rob played up again!" Bryan shakes his head, while Juliet blinks at him again, searching what this Rob has to do with Bryan's declaration. "He received this teddy bear and thought it was a bomb again!"

So that's the link between this old paranoid man and the teddy bear! But as for the declaration, it suddenly appears far away.

"I already checked it, but can you record the information because I don't want to be late for my hot date?" He wiggles his eyebrows in a way that makes his smoldering gaze way less smoldering, unless it is just Juliet's disappointment.

Her little infatuation comes down as fast as her comeback to reality. Her hopeless heart really has to stop getting carried away in front of fluffy toys, flowers, gentle smiles, or anything Valentine's Day-related. She is becoming ridiculous, though Bryan doesn't seem to notice, already offering her a 'thank you, buddy'.

"Sure," she mutters through the clenched teeth of a tight smile that Bryan doesn't even see. 

It doesn't stop her from mumbling to herself, though. Between her 'overrated' rant and prayers for this day to end quickly, she crosses the wide room full of empty desks without even noticing.

She is heading for the break room anyway; she doesn't have time to lose, and that's where they usually do the night shift because it's smaller and more comfortable with the couch, which Juliet will surely need, since she doesn't have caffeine in her body and the only thing keeping her awake are her anger and frustration. 

Although they still have work, starting with the teddy bear in her hands, and she becomes extremely aware of her surroundings when she reaches the aforesaid room.

It isn't the darker walls, the rows of lockers, the worn-out black couch, the simple kitchenette, or even the large metallic table in the center that catch her attention. It is the man sitting at this table behind a laptop.

"What are you doing here?! You're not Ines," she exclaims abruptly, but she realizes how rude she's sounding when she meets the steel-blue gaze lifting from the laptop screen. "I mean..."

"I'm replacing her. She was... busy," Amory mutters, already focusing back on his laptop.

"Oh, um..." Juliet gives up finding the words to make it up, swallowing them with her nerves as Amory doesn't pay attention to her anymore.

She drops the teddy bear on the table along with her bag, adding to the mess of an empty box of chocolates, magazines, walkie-talkies, and handcuffs that her colleagues must have forgotten to tidy.

It's gonna be a long night. She has already expected that. Yet she has prepared mentally to be with Ines and her endless stories about her latest hot dates, reminding Juliet how empty her life is. 

But apparently, Ines has so many offers of hot dates that of course, she has one on Valentine's day too; Juliet can guess it and imagine how she'll talk about her 'hot' night of wild sex.

While Juliet is stuck here with Amory. 

She has nothing against Amory. But the thought of being alone with him all night sends an uneasy shiver down her spine. He makes her uneasy, not in a bad way though. He is just unsettling, always quiet and observing. However, Juliet can't really criticize because she doesn't talk much either. They say it makes us uncomfortable to be around people who remind us of ourselves, so that's surely why.

They must resemble each other a little too much because more than two hours go by without any word being spoken. 

"It's already 9?!" Juliet lifts up her gaze from her laptop's screen, realizing she's got lost in work once again.

"Oh, yeah?" Amory blinks his own eyes at the clock in front of him.

"It's weird we didn't get any call or alarm..." She glances at the station phone sitting on the center of the large table, making sure it's still working.

"I guess even criminals celebrate Valentine's day." He shrugs, stretching his neck before going back to stare at his laptop.

"Of course... everyone..." she mutters under her breath, the sour annoyance coming back. No matter how much she tries to distract herself with work, it always sneaks back in like the loneliness.

Even criminals have a more interesting love life than her! Everyone has romantic plans tonight, and she is stuck in front of never-ending police reports to check, not even watching a romantic comedy like every year.

She closes abruptly her laptop on that revolting thought.

"Um... I think it's time for dinner break," she tries to justify as Amory's blue eyes shoot up at her.

She gets up to avoid them and their questioning glint, but even as she busies her hands, grabbing her lunch box and setting the microwave, she still senses his glances every few seconds on her. 

It's... unsettling; she can't find any other word to describe it, and in the silence of the small room, only filled with the background noise of an old radio playing romantic songs and the whir of the microwave, she feels like he can hear her thoughts. 

She doesn't even dare to look up, trying to focus on her thumbs twiddling together, while all her senses are hyper-aware of each of his glances and their unsettling intensity.

Amory doesn't tell much about himself, but his steel blue, magnetizing gaze has a way to pierce through your soul like he sees your deepest secret. He would be an excellent questioner if he wasn't more interested in the computer stuff.

Though maybe it's something completely different making her senses on edge because even behind his glasses and laptop, she has noticed long ago how handsome he is, an intimidating kind of handsome with his sharp gaze, messy brown hair, strong jaw, and clear lips that she has never witnessed stretch in a genuine smile.

'DING', the microwave stops the wandering of her thoughts, and she is sure her cheeks are more cooked than her one-pot pasta. 

She doesn't even know why her mind has taken this path. It's surely just the loneliness and frustration of the day because Amory isn't her type, being too unsettling, and it's clear that he doesn't particularly appreciate her. 

Now, he must even think she is crazy as she is staring with wide eyes at the microwave still containing her plate of pasta and tomato that are undoubtedly less red than she is. 

She shakes her head to try to cool down and make those thoughts dissipate completely, just in case he can read her mind because his blue eyes are still on her, flickering between her and the dinging microwave, and she is careful with her movements as she takes the hot lunch box, not needing to look even more crazy or foolish. 

Though she still feels as awkward as she sets thoroughly her cutlery, plate, and glass on the table. She always has the need to make a beautiful table setting no matter where she eats. Even during her field shifts, she installs everything in her car for just a simple sandwich. It's a habit for her, but seeing Amory's lifted eyebrows, it must look weird and crazy for him.

He's still focused on his laptop when Juliet's table is finally perfectly set, and she is the one staring at him like an alien now.

"You don't eat?"

"Um, yes... um, I haven't brought anything since I didn't know I'd have a double shift, but I'll order a take-away." He shrugs and pulls out his phone as if the thought of eating hadn't crossed his mind before.

"No! Those things are horrible, they're so unhealthy. I can give you some of my meal if you want?" She points to the Tupperware box still containing more than half of its content.

"No, thanks. I eat takeaway almost every day, and I'm perfectly fine. They're really good," Amory replies, already searching through his contact list, where there are as many, or maybe even more, take-away and fast-food restaurants than actual people.

"Oh, um... Okay, if you don't want..." Juliet looks down at her plate, starting to spin her fork in the tagliatelle.

"No, I don't mean... yours are not..." He stops, searching for the right words to say as her light pout lets him know he's floundering.

He's used to people not listening to what he says, but Juliet is catching each of his words, and always in the wrong way. 

He doesn't usually work with her, since they're not in the same fields. Yet in the few hours they've been together tonight, and the few words they have spoken, there have already been more misunderstandings than he can count. It's easy to see, as every time, it pulls out a cute pout on her plump lips. 

He can read her like an open book, yet he doesn't have the translation to know what to reply. Every time he has replied her, from her question about why is here to why there's no call, and now, the food, her pout has become more prominent. 

Maybe he's too rude. She has been offering nicely, and he's been acting like everything but a sweetheart.

"Your meal looks really... delicious." This word comes out easily as his gaze follows the journey of the pasta from her plate to the luscious curve of her lower lips, where her tongue slips out to lick the tempting red sauce. It whets his appetite, yet he isn't sure for what. "But I don't want to take your dinner, it's yours."

"Come on, there's enough!" Her pout finally disappears in a smile, and this is enough to make him surrender.

"Okay, um, thank you." He gets up to grab a plate as she pushes the lunch box closer to him. 

"Mmmh... That's indeed really delicious." His first mouthful pulls immediately the words out of his lips that he is licking. He doesn't know how he's been able to eat all those tasteless takeaways before. But now that the savors are exploding in his mouth in a warm mix of spices, vegetables, and pasta, he fears he'll never taste something as flavorful. That's why he quickly takes another mouthful.

"Er... thank you," Juliet whispers quietly before the silence comes back.

This is surely the longest and most normal conversation they've ever shared. Maybe he's just been hungry? 

She doubts it as his piercing gaze comes back glancing at her again. She even fears that she has some tomato sauce on her face, wiping her mouth in her paper napkin several times before concluding that Amory is just unsettling, and she's getting used to the agitation in her nerves under his gaze. 

The silence is at least less awkward, maybe slightly warmer now that it's filled with the clinks of forks and the humming of the radio, humming that catches her attention as she recognizes a particular melody.

Amory jumps as she gets up abruptly, just when he's been staring at the small stain of sauce at the corner of her plump lips for a little too long. 

He's just tried to decipher her; that's all, and he's been about to before she has done another incomprehensible move.

He's startled again as the comfortable silence is interrupted.

"Sorry... I love this song..." she explains, probably noticing his wide stare. 

He just can't help it. He's always reading people so easily; that's why he prefers computers. Yet Juliet is more complex and intriguing than any technology. He's even abandoned his laptop to try to understand her. It must be the first time in forever that he takes a meal without looking at a screen.

"But I can turn it down if it bothers you?" Her slim fingers are already going back to the round button of the radio.

"No! I love this song too, it's one of my favorites actually."

"Really?!" It's her turn to widen her eyes, apparently as surprised as he is that they have a thing in common.

"Yeah, it's not Marvin Gaye's most famous song, but I think it's..."

"Underrated," she finishes with exactly what he's been thinking. Can she read his thoughts?

"Yes." He offers her a smile, the first real, genuine smile she's ever seen him wear, and god, maybe it's better that he doesn't smile often because it's breath-taking with his eyes crinkling lightly and the hint of a dimple forming on his right cheek; it illuminates the whole plain room. "I think you're the first person who agrees with this!"

She turns the volume slightly louder in reply, the uneasiness now replaced with the catchy melody as she goes back to grab her empty plate, bobbing her head to the music.

"No, let me do it." He gets up, taking his own plate and the lunch box that are regrettably already empty too. "That's the least I can do!" He smiles again, putting down the dishes in the small sink and glancing back to watch her hum to the lyrics that he knows by heart.

"Do you want a coffee?" She is stopped mid yawning and swaying her head to the song, and she quickly puts her hand over her mouth after a second of hesitation, her gaze slowly lifting to find Amory's cocked eyebrow again.

How has he even seen her? He's had his back turned to her the last time she's checked.

"No, thanks, I can't drink this bitter black coffee." She winces, remembering her latte misadventure from a few hours ago.

"You don't drink black coffee?!"

There, Amory goes back to look at her like she's an alien.

"No." She pulls her lips together nervously as she avoids his piercing gaze.

She isn't surprised that they have another difference of opinion, and even less that he's a black coffee type of guy. It's easy to see. He's serious, unsettling, and strong like those kinds of drinks.

"How about a tea then? Or I think there's some of Bryan's Nesquik too?"

"Hot chocolate? It sounds interesting if there's marshmallows!" She's already on her feet. She's been sure that her stomach has been full with the pasta, yet it's now fluttering for more – more what? She can't tell.

She focuses on searching for something sweet in the small white cupboard before her mind wanders too far.

"Oh no, there's only chocolate-covered ones." She pouts at the half-empty pink packet of heart-shaped marshmallows.

"It's even better!" Amory takes the packet from her hand, his fingers brushing hers ever so lightly, and this simple contact of his warm skin against hers reawakens this same craving deep inside her stomach that sweets could never reach. It's as unsettling as him, yet for once, he averts his gaze down. Could he have felt it too?

"The chocolate melts in the milk," he explains, rubbing his hands together as if trying to get rid of a lost feeling. "Not a lot of people know this, but it's–"

"Underrated?" She smiles, grabbing a marshmallow from the now-opened packet. "You have good taste in music, so I'll trust you."

"Thanks." He chuckles lightly, the sound in perfect harmony with the end of the song she likes so much.

Maybe he can be sweet finally. He's kinda like those heart-shaped sweets: crisp and unsettling as the dark chocolate on the outside, but sweet and soft on the inside. At least, that's what she guesses as she observes him preparing the hot chocolates. 

Her gaze is lingering on the sharp angle of his jaw and how his lower lip is tucked between his teeth as his long fingers are carefully adding the teaspoons of cocoa powder in the hot milk. Why does this simple movement of the spoon is stirring a wave of warmth inside her core? 

She isn't used to seeing him from this angle, as he's always seated being his computer. So now, her eyes are following the moves of his large shoulders down to his back hugged in his navy shirt and lower...

"It was 'You' by the famous and steamy Marvin Gaye, and now to stay in the sexy mood that will hopefully get you to score before the end of this romantic night, if you haven't already..."

Her heart jumps in realization, pumping all the blood to her face in a burning rush. Marvin Gaye's songs have a sexy connotation, and she's just turned the volume up on a work night on the 14th of February. This is so awkward, and she has only given Amory more reasons to look at her weirdly.

They're here for work, and they still have long hours ahead of them; adding more awkwardness on top would make it longer, and she doesn't need another Valentine's disillusion.

So she rushes to turn down the radio as she vaguely hears the words 'sexy', 'love', and 'first move' from the radio announcer over the loud protests of her heart.

Yet in the precipitation, she doesn't think she can do even worse until she crashes into something hard and firm.

"Sorry! I just wanted t– Oh my god!" She freezes as she takes in the huge dark stain on the navy fabric right in the middle of Amory's shirt, her gaze flickering between the cups in his hands and the smear to quickly conclude she's ruined everything again. 

 He's been sweet, preparing hot chocolates for her, and if he didn't hate her before, now he has every reason to.

"Are you burned? I'm so sorry!" Her hands fly instinctively to the stain, her fingers fiddling with the slits between the buttons and rushing to try to make things right. 

But when one button pops open, and she comes in contact with the hot skin and the firm muscles under, the awkwardness hits her as hard as she's run into him.

She removes her hands as if burned, and well, her cheeks are definitely on fire. 

However, the universe – or just her bad luck and awkwardness – decides it isn't enough, and with the sharp move of her hands, she collides with the cup again, making the rest of its content splash on her own shirt and up her neck. It almost follows the same path as the rush of her boiling blood.

"Oh my god! No! Shit!" she rambles frantically, looking down at the disaster.

"Are you okay?" Amory asks, his unsettling gaze scanning her face and neck, but she has barely felt the hot liquid as the embarrassment is blazing under her skin.

"I'm so sorry!" she repeats, not daring to look up and meet his steel-blue eyes. Instead, she focuses on the dark blue of her shirt that is now turning into an indefinite color, and the sight is as frightening. "Oh no, shit! I don't have any spare shirt." Her lower lip pulls out a little bit more as her mind replays the moment she's thought it's been a good idea to change at home instead of the station like she always does.

"Don't worry, I have one. You can take it."

She lifts up her gaze slowly in hope, though she stops when she glimpses his own stained shirt. "But you, what will you wear? It's my fault, I'm sorry."

"Juliet." He tries to catch her attention, yet she doesn't hear it more than the radio still playing.

"I should've–"

"Juliet!" he repeats, his voice sounding louder, more intimidating, and sending a shiver down her spine, though what really stops her rambling is the electricity rushing to the same place when he grasps her arms. 

His touch is warm and firm as he's just trying to stop her frantic movements and calm her with his hands holding her upper arms, and it works because she's paralyzed, forgetting all the burning disasters and awkwardness. All she feels is the sizzling sensation his strong grip is creating and the closeness of their bodies that she takes in a little bit more with each of her shallow breaths.

Her gaze lifts up from his hard chest that she can glimpse through the opened button up to his prominent Adam's apple just at the height of her nose and higher until she meets his unsettling blue gaze. 

'Unsettling' isn't even enough to describe his eyes right now. The steel blue is taking a darker shade, turning it even more magnetizing, and not even his glasses can stop the attraction pulling her in; actually, they're amplifying the hypnotic power as his eyes are getting closer. 

Is he inching closer or is she leaning in? Is she dreaming? Isn't it inappropriate since they're supposed to work? Will it also end in another disillusion and more awkwardness? All those questions are rushing with the fast beats of her heart, and she's sure she sees them reflecting in his blue gaze.

However, they all disappear with a simple answer coming from the radio, 'Let's Marvin Gaye and get it on'.

 'Let's Marvin Gaye and get it on' 😏 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY MY LITTLE RAYS OF SUNSHINE!! I hope you're spending a lovely day either you're single or taken! Remember that this day is about all forms of love, so celebrate all the people you love today 😍❤ And of course, the final part of this story is coming later for a special X-Rated Valentine's gift 😉🔥

What do you think of Juliet and Amory's unsettling awkwardness so far? They're so funny and cute, aren't they? 😂😊 Will they 'Marvin Gaye and get it on'? Let me know in the comments and vote ⭐ if you like this story so far!

I LOVE YOU ALL!! 😘❤