She shook her head. The cold water must have knocked more than a few circuits loose. Sure it had been a while since she'd had a boyfriend--okay, more like an eternity--but she didn't usually have an erotic fantasy while awake and facing a life-altering emergency.
She looked away from his face and noticed the rest of him, outlined perfectly in his wet suit. Oh, my, she thought.
His body was hard and leanly muscled as if he had been carved from stone. If his hair hadn't been so military short, he'd have been a dead ringer for the actor Eric Bana in the movie Troy. Abby felt like every speck of saliva in her mouth was drooling from her lips. She swallowed and tried to get her tongue to do something besides pant.
"Thank you for rescuing Billy and helping me." She finally managed to form coherent words.
"You're welcome. But, lady, that was an incredibly stupid thing to do. Don't ever jump in after somebody like that again. You could've both drowned."
"You're right. Thank you again for being there for us," she said.
* * * *
Abby watched as her boat took her back ashore. Her hero and the other members of the U.S.S. Comfort were still onboard their boat. It looked as if the Coast Guard was going to tow the Belle back to shore. Probably to be inspected or whatever it was the Coast Guard did after incidents like this. She turned her back and looked at the shoreline. The deputy from the sheriff's department told her they would be returning her to the dock where the tour had started. She was glad. She needed to reassure the rest of the children she was fine, as well as make sure they were all returned safely to their parents.
After that, she would go to Children's Hospital, where Billy had been taken, to check on him and talk to his parents. She looked back over her shoulder. She really should forget all about her hero. She'd probably never see him again. Women like her didn't come in contact with heroes often, though, and she couldn't stop thinking about him. Nor could she pass up the chance to look at him one more time as the boat sped her further away from him. She just wished she knew his name.
* * * *
Oliver cruised the narrow parking lot behind the apartment building looking for an empty spot. According to the guys at the station he was fortunate to have found an apartment with off-street parking because, when the snow started flying next winter, he'd be happy to get his car off the streets. He shivered a little and pulled the collar of his USCG-issue parka higher on his neck. The guys had said the worm had turned here weather-wise and that summer was around the corner. He didn't know about that. He felt like he was freezing and it was the middle of May. His last shift in Miami had been early April and it had already been a sultry eighty degrees. He bet it hadn't even reached fifty here today.
When he saw an opening a few feet ahead of him, he punched the accelerator and eased into the spot, with inches to spare. Well, Buffalo may not have been on his top ten garden duty spots for transfer six weeks ago, but he guessed it could've been worse. Here he'd only been on watch for four days and he had already had a rescue. Some of the Group Buffalo veterans predicted that, shortly after Memorial Day, things would really get hopping as all the recreational boaters would be out in force.
As he put the car into park and turned it off, he thought about the rescue yesterday. Truth told he had been a little shaky going into it. He hadn't really known how well his shoulder would hold up to the stress of rescue work. The surgeons had said all the major muscle masses in his shoulder and upper arms were healed, but he figured that was easy for them to say since they weren't the ones using them. Now he knew he could handle anything.
As he reached behind him for his seabag he felt a little pull and amended that thought. Well, maybe not anything. His thoughts returned to the round woman who'd showed more guts than brains when she'd jumped into the water after that little boy. The boy was fine. Oliver had checked with the hospital before leaving the station. He hadn't dropped by the hospital--he'd had more than enough of hospitals lately--but it was good to know the kid was fine. So was the woman.
He whistled softly thinking about her. Oh man, she was a package all right. After the too-thin bodies that seemed to be everywhere in Miami, this woman had been a sight for his hungry eyes. And, after taking the dive into a river, her figure had been clearly outlined in the pants and blouse she'd worn. He'd never seen a fully-clothed person who actually looked good wearing a regulation P.F.D., but this woman had been close. When he'd boosted her up on the deck of the Comfort, he'd had his hands full of the softest, roundest piece of ass he'd seen in years. Even now, nearly forty-eight hours after the incident, just thinking about it almost gave him a hard-on.
If that was the kind of action awaiting him here in Buffalo, he could see how this duty was going to be no hardship at all.
* * * *
Abby opened her apartment door and stomped out into the entrance hall of her building. What a truly shitty forty-eight hours. First she got wet and cold trying to rescue one of her children, and now it seemed she was on the verge of losing her job.
One of the parents was threatening to sue the school district over the incident on the boat. It wasn't Billy's parents. They had been more than thankful and grateful for Abby's actions. Even after she told them that she didn't actually rescue Billy--the real hero was the dreamy Coast Guard swimmer--the Borrellis had insisted on playing up her part of the rescue.
That's what made the lawsuit threat so disheartening. The parents filing the suit claimed they hadn't given permission for their son to go on the trip, and neither had they signed a permission slip. Abby had double and triple-checked the sheets to make sure all the children had signed permission forms, but now those forms couldn't be found. Abby was uncertain if they were still on board the Belle, which was being held for investigation by the Coast Guard, or if they had fallen out of her trip folder on the bus.
The school board was worried other parents would be jumping on the litigation bandwagon, and Abby knew the board would be meeting tomorrow night in a closed session to discuss the issue. If she'd had a few more years' teaching experience, she could probably weather this storm. But she hadn't been tenured yet, so she didn't have much say in the whole thing.
It just wasn't fair. She was a great teacher and she loved her job. She'd just been trying to do what was right. She really needed a hero now, but she knew the likelihood of finding one was small. She'd had her brush with true bravery and she still didn't know his name.
She stepped across the small hall to where the building's mail boxes were and sighed. Maybe there was a way to least learn her hero's name. What would it hurt to call the Coast Guard and see if they'd tell her who he'd was? She had her key in the lock when she felt and heard the swoosh of the outside door opening, followed by the inside foyer's door.
The man that came in was not one of regular neighbors. Perhaps her prayers would be answered after all.
It was her Coast Guard hero in the flesh, and he looked even better dry than he had wet. Abby tried to smile and hoped he wouldn't realize she was creaming her panties.
"It's you!" she said. She hoped he wouldn't think the grin she knew was on her face was sappy.
He stood strong, tall, proud and, Abby felt like she was two seconds away from being a puddle at his feet.
"Yes," he said. "I just got up off my shift. We work four days on and four off."
Abby nodded. She felt she had to say something. But what could she say? She didn't think it would be a good idea to ask him to marry her. Not yet anyway.
"Do you live here?"
"I'm 1C," he said, shifting the duffle bag he was carrying and setting it on the floor. He was wearing a parka, which he unzipped now he was inside. She thought it weird to be wearing such a heavy coat in May. It reinforced her thought that his tan didn't look like he had been living here very long. "Moved in last week, but then I reported immediately to the station. This will be my first night actually staying here."
"Oh, 1C is right next to me. I'm 1B," she added.
He smi
led and Abby felt her as if her insides were not melting now, but were molten lava rushing down the inside of her body like magma moves to the sea. "Now that's handy, isn't it? B being next to C and all."
"Yes. Welcome to the building then and thanks for rescuing us yesterday," she said, even as she thought she sounded like such a ditz. Heroes probably would be bored stiff within minutes with a ditz, so she needed to rally her thoughts and start acting like she had a clue.
She didn't want to seem too much like Lois Lane in the presence of Superman. Although, if Superman looked half as good as her hero, Abby could understand how Lois felt.
"Hey, you're welcome," he replied. "I called the hospital. They said the little boy is going to be fine."
"Yes." Abby smiled and started to relax. She could do this--have an intelligent conversation with a god and sound coherent. "Billy is going to be fine. Perfect in fact."
"That's good. We always worry when there are children involved." He held out his hand. "By the way, I don't think we were ever introduced. I'm Oliver."
She placed her hand inside his and felt like she was touching a live wire as the heat from his contact raced up her arms, telegraphed itself down the nerves of her spine and straight into her pussy.
She looked up into his beautiful, dark eyes and it was the same body-engulfing feeling she'd just experienced when she'd dove into the cold waters of the Niagara River after Billy. The biggest difference this time was that she didn't feel one bit cold. This time she felt like she was diving into a river of that molten lava burning through her blood.
"I'm Abby," she replied.
"Well, nice to officially met you, Abby. And even nicer to learn we're neighbors." His smile lit up his eyes.
She felt his pull and knew she could easily stand there looking at him for the rest of her life.
"Nice meeting you and welcome to the building," she said, finally pulling her hand from his. She started to turn back to her door when he stopped her.
"Hey, I know it's short notice, but I'm really not all that tired. Would you like to go out for dinner or something?" he asked. "I mean I only just moved to Buffalo, but I can probably find someplace around here that's decent for dinner."
Abby smiled. "Well, since I'm a native, I can definitely recommend a good place or two. Besides, I'd like to do something for you since you came to the rescue with Billy."
"Aw, shucks, just doing my job, ma'am," Oliver said. "I'll let you pick the place, but I insist on it being my treat."
Abby chewed on her bottom lip and thought quickly. She wasn't sure if she should do this since they'd just met, but she needed a change. Playing it safe hadn't gotten her anywhere except possibly out of work, so she decided to wing it. Until the moment she'd jumped into the river after Billy, she'd played it safe her entire life.
"Give me an hour and come over to my apartment. Deal?"
He smiled and it stole her breath again. "Deal, neighbor."
As she turned to head into her apartment, she heard the sound of a soft whistle. Even if it wasn't safe, Abby had an idea it was going to be a lot of fun.
* * * *
Oliver finished shaving and whistled as some classic rock and roll played in the background. The first thing he'd done when he'd walked into his apartment was hook up his stereo. He'd left the rest of his stuff, what there was of it, in the boxes. The apartment was furnished, which was good because he didn't own any of his own furnishings. Besides, things like furniture slowed a guy down.
Who'd have thunk on his first night off in Buffalo he'd be going on a date with one of the hottest women he'd met in years. He'd been so tired after his shift that he'd turned down an offer to go with some of his boat crew members to their favorite watering hole. Once he'd walked into the building, though, and found out who his neighbor was, all thoughts of exhaustion had fled. Sleep and unpacking were the last priorities on his mind now. He was feeling ready to rock the night away.
He wondered where the sexy elementary school teacher would take him. It would probably be somewhere loaded with atmosphere, a place they could quietly get to know each other. He sighed. He could do quiet. Especially if this place had a small dance floor that would give him a chance to get her in his arms again.
He felt himself harden at that thought and looked down at the way his erection was already straining the fabric of his skivvies. He frowned. He probably should have never asked Little Miss Schoolteacher out. She had ivory trellises and forever-after written all over her. She was a woman who needed a hero, like those in a romance novel. She probably had a bookcase full of romances and dreamed of heroes every night.
Once, before Miami, he'd thought of himself as a hero. Now he knew better.
He frowned when he thought back to the discussion he'd had with the Group Commander that morning. At one point Oliver had been a poster Guardsman. That was before Miami. The commander had reminded him of what the Guard's motto, Semper Paratus meant. Always Ready. Though the official stance was they didn't want heroes, they wanted well-trained men and women ready to do a job and save lives. But the perception of the public, especially after well-publicized rescues during recent hurricanes, was that hero and USCG were synonymous.
Well, he wasn't ready for it any more. He was weary. He was tired. He just wasn't cut out of the hero cloth.
As for the other...well, he wasn't a forever kind of guy. In fact, he couldn't even say if he was a six-week kind of a guy.
He sighed and turned away from the mirror. He wouldn't think about what he saw in there now. He'd concentrate on having a good time with a woman. It didn't matter what she wanted in the future, as long as she understood he only came for the night.
* * * *
The knock sounded on her door exactly one hour later. Abby smoothed down the line of her black mini skirt and tugged at the red Jacarda silk jacket. The jacket covered a barely-there tank top. Abby hoped she wouldn't have to worry about being cold for long, but just in case, she pulled her fall coat out of the closet, then took one last deep breath to calm herself. Tonight, she was determined to forget everything and just have fun!
She opened the door and smiled at her flesh and blood hero. "Hi. Right on time. Let's go."
Chapter 2
* * *
Oliver set his drink down and tried to keep from jumping over the table and climbing on Abby. She looked delectable. The restaurant she had directed him to was a place full of people dancing and talking, and she was the hottest looking woman there. Since they'd been here, he'd had to give several guys a back-off stare. All because the witchy outfit she was wearing nearly screamed, "Fuck me." Oliver glared at another guy leering at Abby. This was his demure elementary school teacher?
"Let's dance," he said, taking her hand in his.
He pulled her behind him and made a spot for them on the crowded floor. When he pulled her into his arms, she smiled up at him.
"I thought you'd never ask. If you'd kept quiet for ninety more seconds, I'd have dragged you out here myself."
"Well, if you hadn't worn that outfit that's driving every man in here insane, I wouldn't have had to spend the last hour protecting my turf," he replied.
Her head rested perfectly against his chest and her arms were entwined around his neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against his body. She was soft and her curves were like holding heaven in his arms. He knew she could feel the way his erection was growing, but he wasn't trying to hide it.
"Sorry," she said.
He could tell from the way her eyes glinted that she wasn't sorry at all.
"I don't usually dress like this. In fact, I never come here. But tonight I just felt like doing something dangerous."
"Ah. Well, I'm glad you allowed me to be part of it. I can do danger as long as you're involved." He moved his mouth so it hovered over her lips, letting her feel his words as well as hear them.
She shivered a bit and he hoped he was correctly reading the desire she was feeling by the way her body moved si
nuously against his. He pulled her tighter against him and kissed her. He tried to keep it slow, sensuous, even though every inch of him was demanding hard and hot. She gasped and opened her lips, allowing him to sweep his tongue inside her mouth. He could taste the remnants of her dinner and the sweetness of the after-dinner cocktail she'd been sipping. When the tip of her tongue tangled with his, he forgot everything, including where they were and what they were doing.
Long moments later he finally came up for air and realized the music had stopped. Her lips were glistening, red and juicy like sweet cherries. It took all of his control not to swoop back in for another taste of heaven, but he didn't think getting arrested for public indecency his first night off in town would look good.
"Can we leave?" he asked instead, hearing the unsteady need in his voice.
"Yes."
He kept one of her hands in his as he led her back to their table. They picked up their coats and he threw some cash on the table to cover the bill and tip. He followed her from the restaurant and he looked up. The moon was so bright and the night sky was a perfect ink black. He could feel the bite of a chill in the air, but otherwise it was a beautiful night. The restaurant she had chosen was one that sat on a pier overlooking the Niagara River just north of where the Belle had been rescued. The wind had died and he could see the moonlight laying a blanket of white light across the glassy calm water.
"Well, it isn't Miami, but we like it," she said softly as she stood on the pier and looked at out the river and Lake Erie in the distance.
"Not being Miami is a good thing," he replied. The air had cooled his desire somewhat. He still wanted her, but he also wanted to spend some time in the welcome quiet of the pier after the frenetic party scene inside. He followed when she walked over to the rail and leaned against it. He stood behind her and placed one arm on either side of her. She leaned back against him and he felt a sense of something deeper than simple desire wash over him.
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