Chapter 4
THE MORNING SUN glistened through the window of Charlotte’s office. Raising her mug, she blew at the coffee before the ceramic cup touched her lips. The night had been filled with dreams that would make the devil blush.
Gavin’s kiss sent her mind, and body, on a mission to find satisfaction, but neither one found it. Her mind had taken her through a mirage of dreams about Gavin, his kiss, his scars, and what it might be like to be in his bed. The dreams had been so vivid that when she woke at three in the morning, her body ached for his touch.
She took a slow sip of her coffee, desperately needing the caffeine. Wiggling the mouse on her desk, her computer snapped to life. Part of her felt guilty for logging onto the dating site to seek out Sexyfirefighter, but it wasn’t like Gavin and she were dating in an exclusive way.
As soon as she logged in, she got a ping.
YourFriend: Hey. It’s me. Had to change my name.
AngelaBennett: Sexyfirefighter?
YourFriend: Yep. That’s me.
AngelaBennett: Why’d you change your name?
YourFriend: It drew in crazies.
Ping!
She clicked on the message box.
Sexyfirefighter: Good morning!
“What the fuck,” she muttered as she switched back to the other conversation. It had to be Charlie.
AngelaBennett: You’re not who you say you are.
Quickly, she closed out the messages and blocked the screen name. Checking her profile, she groaned. She might not have given her real name, but she had put in her zip code.
Sexyfirefighter: Are you there?
AngelaBennett: Yes. Sorry. How was your night?
Sexyfirefighter: Actually, it was really good.
AngelaBennett: How so?
Sexyfirefighter: I don’t know how to say this, because I enjoy talking to you, but I ended up meeting a girl last night.
She stared at the monitor, her heart hammering in her chest, bruising her ribs.
AngelaBennett: Did you meet her here?
Sexyfirefighter: No. She’s an acquaintance that I’ve admired from afar for a while. It was totally unexpected.
AngelaBennett: That’s cool.
What a lame thing to say, but she wasn’t about to come out and say, hey, my neighbor kissed me last night, and oh, by the way, he’s a firefighter too, cuz, you know, I’m crazy and have a thing for firemen.
Sexyfirefighter: It’s new and wasn’t even really a date, but I did say I’d be as honest as possible.
AngelaBennett: Thanks. I appreciate that. Did you ask her out again?
Sexyfirefighter: She sort of asked me out.
AngelaBennett: Sounds like she’s into you.
Sexyfirefighter: I’m actually not so sure about that. I’m getting mixed messages from her.
AngelaBennett: Women. We are a strange breed.
Sexyfirefighter: I’d have to agree with that statement.
AngelaBennett: I was kidding. We’re not all that hard to figure out.
Sexyfirefighter: Ha! I wish. If that were true, I wouldn’t still be single.
AngelaBennett: So, you’re the marrying type, are you?
She really should end this conversation. It wasn’t like it was going to go anywhere anyway. He’d met someone and she had a hunky fireman next door she needed to figure out how to crack. Talk about a strange breed.
Sexyfirefighter: Eventually. Don’t you want to settle down?
AngelaBennett: Sure, someday. But I’ve had shit luck with men.
Sexyfirefighter: Want to compare sob stories?
AngelaBennett: You first.
Sexyfirefighter: I had a girlfriend dump me while I was in the hospital.
Her breath hitched, remembering Gavin’s story from last night.
AngelaBennett: Why were you in the hospital?
Sexyfirefighter: I’d just had surgery and when I came to, she was like, sorry, we’re done. I heard through the grapevine she just got engaged. Not that I care.
Charlotte took a much-needed sip of her coffee before clicking on his profile again. Nothing had changed.
AngelaBennett: That blows as much as the fact that one of my ex-boyfriends married my older sister.
Sexyfirefighter: No fucking way.
AngelaBennett: Yep. At my engagement party, he told me he was in love with her. They were married three months later and with my parents blessing.
Sexyfirefighter: That really sucks. You seem like a nice girl. I’m sorry that happened.
AngelaBennett: Me too, and I have to see them at every family gathering.
Sexyfirefighter: Sounds like you might not be over him?
AngelaBennett: I’m over him, but it’s made me a little gun shy.
Sexyfirefighter: I totally get that. Why the mixed messages from this girl has me wondering if I should really be pursuing her.
AngelaBennett: We’re a pair, aren’t we? Hanging out in a dating chat room exchanging dumping stories.
Sexyfirefighter: Re-read that sentence.
She leaned in, scanning the screen.
AngelaBennett: That’s gross.
Sexyfirefighter: I’m sure there are people here who have a fetish with that.
AngelaBennett: That’s even grosser.
Sexyfirefighter: It is, but I lightened the mood, didn’t I?
AngelaBennett: Discussing tattoos on someone’s dick would have done that just as well.
Sexyfirefighter: The only effect that has on me is shrinkage.
She leaned back, shaking her head.
AngelaBennett: You’re funny.
Sexyfirefighter: I have my moments.
AngelaBennett: I hate to do this, but I’ve got to get going. I’ve got an appointment today that I have to get ready for.
Sexyfirefighter: No worries. Maybe I’ll see you later?
AngelaBennett: If not tonight, tomorrow morning.
Sexyfirefighter: Until then.
She glanced out her window and saw Gavin step from his front door wearing only a pair of jeans that rested loosely on his hips. Immediately, she noticed some kind of tattoo on his chest, but when he turned his back, she bolted upright, hurling her chair across the wood floor. As he jogged down the steps, she stared at a tattoo of the American Flag with a Bald Eagle waved in.