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In an intentionally condescending tone Rielly said, "Why don't you start from the beginning?"
"Well, I wore my gray three-button suit and that tie you bought me for Father's Day." Rapp stopped and looked at her with a shitty grin. "Why did you buy me a tie for Father's Day, by the way? We never discussed that. Was it wishful thinking on your part, or were you trying to imply that I may have some children that I-don't know about?"
"I've got all night, Mitchell, my darling. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. You can just tell me, or I can wear you down hour by hour."
Rapp smiled as he took another drink. "I can hold out."
"Oh I'm sure you can. But two can play at that game." Rielly gave him a devilish smile and turned her attention to the fire.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Rapp with a little more eagerness han he would have liked to show.
"No sex."
Rapp groaned, "Oh God. Don't you pay any attention to all of those stupid relationship books that you and your friends read? They all say the same thing. Never, And I repeat, never use sex as a weapon."
"I'm not using it as a weapon." Rielly shook her head. "If I decide to abstain I will do it on religious grounds."
"And what would those be?" Rapp laughed.
"That I shouldn't be giving myself so freely to a man who I am not married to, much less engaged." Rielly quickl
y took a drink of beer to hide the smile that was spreading across her face.
Rapp watched her for a second and said, "So you want to become some sort of born-again virgin?"
"Yeah, something like that."
Rapp laughed. "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Only a sexually repressed Irish Catholic girl from Chicago could come up with something so ludicrous."
"We'll see how ludicrous you think it is after a couple of weeks of cuddling and nothing else."
Still laughing, Rapp held up his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay. You win. What would you like to know?"
Rielly smiled triumphantly. "What was the new job offer?"
"Come to work in the Counterterrorism Center. She hasn't decided on a title yet. I'd be attached to the Middle East desk in some form or another. Either as a senior analyst or a special assistant to the DCI on Islamic terrorism."
Rielly raised her eyebrows in exaggerated excitement. "I like the second one. It sounds very important." With a grimace Rapp said, "I'm not sure I like either of them."
"Why?"
"I don't know, honey. I don't know if I can go to work in that damn puzzle palace."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not used to punching the clock, and as you know, taking orders is not my strong suit."
"Yeah, but what else are you going to do?"
Staring into the fire Rapp said, "I don't know. I'll stay home and raise the brood."
"Oh no, you won't." Rielly shook her head. "The last thing I want is a brooding husband raising the brood. You go nuts, Mitchell. You need challenge in your life. Don't get me wrong. I think you'll be a great father, but a Mr. Mom you're not."
"Yeah, I know, but-" Rapp stopped and took a drink.
"But what?"
"I don't think I'm cut out to play all of the Mickey Mouse games they make you play at Langley."