It was only a hand full of days and another market trip after she had wondered about how to find Brad that Jessica was in enough luck to run into him. 

The sun was endeavoring to shine through a partially clouded sky, everything was still wet from that mornings rain, and the Farmers market was slow due to the chill in the air and unfavorable weather.

Looking to her watch Jessica sighed," it is getting close to lunch. I think I'm going to get a bite to eat. You boys want anything?"

Alex had just finished selling some cheese to two older ladies with a charming smile and shook his head, "No thank you, May and I will be having lunch together."

"Wow your one lucky guy," she raised a brow at him and he chuckled.

"Ma'm. With a woman like May I would be blessed to be in her company anytime, "his smile became softer and more sincere. 

Jessica was surprised-she had never seen him like this before. Perhaps this went beyond some casual flirting?

She turned to George," Well Romeo is out-you want something?"

"Nah it's all cool," he grinned and waggled his eyebrows," unless you're asking me to take you out that is."

She rolled her eyes smacking him over the head," Better watch it or I'll let your mom know how your acting. Alex is being a bad example."

"I am nothing but an honorary gentleman," retorted the charmer with a grin ignoring the look of annoyance the younger man sent his way, "The boys got a great role model if he's lookin' up to me."

Standing up she walked around the booth and shook her head," okay I need to get out of this haze of testosterone before I drown."

Jessica continued to walk, over to a thai food booth ignoring the laughter from the boys and trying to pretend she wasn't smiling.

Stopping at the empty booth she smiled to the woman standing on the other end ready to take her order," Hey Pat. Can I have the chicken pad thai and a coffee please?"

"Of course," Pat had straight black hair that went down her back and dark olive skin with large coal eyes surrounded by thick lashes. Despite her pretty looks Pat was quite and didn't speak much, being somewhat shy compared to her louder outgoing family, "That will be 5 dollars please."

"I would love to pay for that if you could make it 2 please," Jessica jumped to see Brad standing next to her and she blinked in surprise.

Before she could argue he was handing the cash over murmuring to keep the change before turning to her. Pat blinked curiously, but said nothing going into the back to cook the meals herself. It seemed the slow day meant she was working alone.

"You didn't need to do that," she paused before crossing her arms her lips quirked up into a small smile, "Brad."

"Oh," he held his heart," you got me now!"

"Kinda hard to erase that annoying face from my memory, "she said in a mock deadpanned tone.

Grinning he shrugged and Jess honestly wasn't watching the roll of his muscles. 

Honestly.

"What have you been up to?" He took the two coffees from Pat with a nod of thanks and she returned it before continuing finishing up their Pad Thai.

She nodded her head to the stall with the two boys catching Georges curious gaze," Got my farm up and goin'. Was easier land to get here than back home which is why I hopped over."

"Good job," he looked truly impressed and she felt a small swell of pride in her chest," I know you were trying to do that for years."

"Thank you, "her cheeks heated up before she looked him up and down eyeing the badge and dark blue uniform," I didn't know you wanted to be a cop.. . thought you were interested in office work."

He shrugged, "I did an accounting job for a while after college. Ended up it just wasn't for me," he laughed in an empty sort of way, "so much for that degree huh?"

Smiling lightly, she awkwardly knocked his shoulder, "Hey now it's not so bad. Least you get to say you graduated."

Pat interrupted them quietly with the arrival of their Pad Thai. They thanked her and slowly made their way to some free chairs under the eve of the main building considering the weather conditions seemed to be turning for the worst.

They spoke more than they ate.

Their food grew cold, but Jess didn't even notice.

 Brad had just transferred after being stationed in Seattle for two years and was happy to be in a warmer environment. He was enjoying being a police officer yet was not sure if he could see himself doing this his whole life- he had always wanted to help people but as an officer all he did was apprehend criminals that surely would be released from custody just to repeat a crime again. 

It felt like little he did was "help" at times. Especially since in this town he couldn't direct himself as much and things-such as her complaints- were being ignored. It frustrated him how he had no way of fighting an overhaul to a whole department.

She was also happy to see he also listened to her. 

Her annoyances at government involvement in some areas of the agricultural industry but lack of therefor in others.

It was in the middle of her description on tomato varieties that she was surprised Brad was humoring her with, not with fringed interest but a genuine look of curiosity crossing his features, that her employees found her.

"Well that's where you are," she blinked up at Alex and blushed before standing up while he grinned before putting his hands up much like he did with a frightened horse," Woh woh girl easy there."

"Alex," she warned hand on hip.

"Sorry," he chuckled," George and I noticed you had been gone a lot longer than your normal lunch and that it was an hour from closing time. We just wanted to make sure you whern't apprehended by some fiend," He nodded a grin over to Brad who gave a small nod in turn while curiously watching the exchange," Though I will be sure to let him know we don't need to go calling the cops or anything."

"Gosh I'm sorry Alex I got sidetracked."

"No worries. There were some questions of where you made off to, but I think I handled the customers well enough. We have the booth if you are not finished,' he glanced down at her cold food she had barely touched.

"I can eat over there," she flapped an annoyed hand at him," just give me a few moments."

He walked off with a," take your time sweetheart," she turned sheepishly to Brad.

"Brad, well, gosh it has been nice to catch up," she began, and he stood.

With a smile he took out his cell, "Well considering we just had the equivalent of a lunch date, is it too bold to ask for a number? I would love to meet back up with you."

"No yes of course," she said taking out her flip phone, a bit embarrassed at her clunky dinosaur next to his sleek touchscreen. 

They exchanged numbers; he even sent her a smile face through text that had her rolling her eyes.

"Hey all the kids are doing it these days," he said grinning.

Flipping her phone shut she shook her head," Riiiight. Now I have reason to worry about a giant man child wielding a smart phone and gun with sirens on his big vroom vroom machine."

"Vroom vroom machine?" Brad laughed

"Hey! I never said I was very eloquent with my words, "she smacked him lightly.

He chuckled again, "Well I will let you get back to it. It's about time I be going. Talk to you later Jess. This was nice."

She nodded a smile stuck to her face on her way back to her booth that had Alex teasing her.

 George was silent but he also turned to help a few customers. Always such a good worker, she felt bad for leaving him with Alex.

"Yeah yeah alright stop it you - or I will start telling May about when I first found your stinky butt with that sign, she would not be able to look at you for a week had she heard you went about just as long without a shower," he stopped hands up in defeat though his smile didn't faulter.

"I am just saying, by what May has been telling me and I have seen since working for you, this is good! Healthy even! It's okay if you get around, even hard-working strong women go on dates!"

She groaned, "I should have left you in a dumpster."

"You love me," he said turning to a man who was eyeing some tomatoes," and you know it."

Jessica was worried a part of her was beginning to care too deeply for Alex, in a sisterly sort of way, and for someone like Alex that was trouble. She still had a lot to straighten out of him before he was considered 'safe heart' material, him having ran away so suddenly to the South with little spoken about his intentions to stay or not, and even less spoken of his life before.

It was a mystery he kept silent, and the obvious secrecy was what worried Jessica.

What was he hiding?