Fire In Their Hearts

by Lilly Wilder

  She got up and retrieved a couple of plates from the china cabinet. “Are you sure this has nothing to do with the fact that you used to like him?”

  I whipped around so fast that my vision blurred. “I did not like that guy.”

  “Oh yeah?” She raised an eyebrow. “I think you’re lying.”

  “I’m not lying. Why would I ever like that guy? He doesn’t know the first thing about manners. All he cares about is himself.”

  “I don’t know…” she taunted. “I used to remember you staring at him all the time. And you have to admit that he was pretty damn cute.”

  I snatched up a cookie and tore into it. “Well, either way, I’m not taking the job.”

  “I thought you really needed one.”

  “I do, but…”

  “You’re going to let this guy get in your way?” She asked. “Aren’t you just letting him win that way?”

  I sighed and joined her at the table. “I guess you’re right but I doubt he would even want to hire me. He said I wasn’t qualified and then he showed me this big ol’ stack of papers from all the other applicants. Realistically, I don’t stand a chance.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure.” She said. “Back when we were teenagers, he used to stare at you too.”

  Chapter 7: Vern

  The following morning.

  I searched the park, looking for her. So far, I hadn’t spotted her yet.

  The power walkers passed me for the third time. Geraldine didn’t forget to offer a scandalous little wink as she went by. I winked back and heard her giggle all the way down the path.

  Perhaps Ari wasn’t planning on jogging today. But it was such a beautiful day. It almost seemed like a crime to be cooped up inside.

  I walked over to the water fountain and had myself a drink. When I looked up, there she was. “Geraldine tipped me off that you were waiting for me,”she said with her arms crossed against her chest. “Do you make it a habit of stalking girls you’ve only just met?”

  “Stalking? I hardly consider this stalking. Wait until I start hiding in your shrubbery.”

  Her eyes widened. “Wait, you’re not actually going to do that, are you?”

  “Of course…” I trailed off. “…not.” I grinned. “What kind of hooligan do you take me for?”

  “I don’t know. You look like a pretty big one to me.”

  I feigned offense. “I’ll have you know that I work out five times a week!”

  “Do you now?” I didn’t miss the sweep of her eyes over my body. Clearly, I had her interested. Good. “Anyway, have you eaten lunch yet?”

  “It’s only eleven.”

  “Yeah, well, I thought we could have ourselves a little picnic before we get super sweaty. I made cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches.”

  Ari furrowed her brows together. “You made what now?”

  “Cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches.”

  “What kind of combination is that?” She shook her head.

  “Plenty of people eat them. It’s quite common in England. They have them with their afternoon tea.”

  “But we’re not in England. Around here most people eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”

  I screwed up my face. “I hate jelly.”

  “That’s it. You must be an alien.” She threw her hands into the air and said, “And I don’t think I can enjoy a picnic with an alien.”

  “Won’t you at least try?” I grabbed her by the arm and towed her toward the shade of the closest tree. “I promise you will not regret it.”

  Once we were by the tree, I removed a blanket from the basket and laid it down.

  “You really thought this through, didn’t you?”

  “It takes a fair bit of work and consideration to impress a girl, especially one as pretty as you.” I flashed her a smile before unpacking our lunch.

  She avoided looking directly at me as she sat down, legs crossed one of the other. Her cheeks were a lovely shade of pink. It seemed she was the sort of girl who was prone to blushing. Man, could this girl get any cuter?

  “You know, these aren’t so bad,” she said as she nibbled on the end of a sandwich. “But still a fairly weird combination.”

  I leaned back and looked up at the clouds. “So, how did the interview go? I asked my roommate about it but he’s not exactly one for conversations.”

  “How do you stand living with that guy? I’m sorry but he’s a pretty big jerk,” she said, lying down beside me. The skin of our arms rubbed together. A tingling sensation crawled into my muscles and invigorated them with a newfound strength. This was my dragon speaking, telling me that I had to protect this woman at all times.

  “Well, he’s not home very often. Most of the time, he’s working and when he’s not working, he’s reading and you wouldn’t want to disturb him when he’s reading.”

  “I wouldn’t peg him as a book worm.”

  “Neither would most people.” I agreed as I sat up and reached across her to grab the thermos. By doing so, I was nearly laying on top of her. Time seemed to stop as our faces came dangerously close. The warmth of her breath teased the top of my lips, tempting me to make a move. But this was Lyle’s girl. To have her without his consent would be a crime against my alpha. And pity on those that deny their alpha.

  I pulled away and poured us both some iced tea. “Here.”

  “Thanks.” She took a sip and gazed into the distance.

  I admired her out of the corner of my eye, wondering what was going on in that head of hers. “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it is. I wouldn’t mind sitting underneath this tree all day long.”

  “Does that mean you’re finally starting to enjoy my company?”

  “I wouldn’t go that far –” Her words were interrupted by a rogue soccer ball flying her way. She screamed and braced herself but didn’t think to get out of the way. Luckily, I stuck out my hand at just the right moment, blocking its path.

  The palm of my hand stung with the impact but I didn’t mind it so long as Ari’s beautiful face was safe and sound.

  “Sorry!” A kid wearing a jersey grabbed his ball and ran off.

  Ari breathed a sigh of relief. “Phew. That was a close one.” She looked over at me. “Those are some killer reflexes you got there. Are you sure you’re not some kind of alien?”

  I laughed. “That’s some way you have of thanking me. I should be insulted that you keep thinking I’m some sort of slimy alien.”

  “That’s not –”

  I reached forward and cupped her cheek against my hand. It must have taken her by surprise because she stopped talking. “I’m just glad you’re okay.” Again, her lips tempted me with their silkiness. It was torture to keep my distance.

  “Right…” she whispered as if in a daze. Slowly, she leaned forward, eyes shut.

  I dropped my hand and reached into my back pocket. “Now that you owe me a favor, I think it’s a good time to ask you.”

  “Ask me what?” She raised an eyebrow in question.

  “Well, you see, Lyle invited me to this gala. It’s hosted by the company. It’s sort of this annual thing they have every year –”

  “Hence, annual,” she interjected with a sly grin.

  “Yeah, right.” I didn’t know why but there were beads of sweat running down the back of my neck. I felt like a young dragon asking out a girl for the first time. “Well, he got me two tickets in case I wanted to bring a date.”

  “And you want me to go with you?”

  “Only if you want to, that is. I would never make you go but I can promise you that it’s actually a lot of fun. And, there’s a lot of food.”

  She laughed. “If there’s any cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches then you can count me in.”

  “And I know you don’t like my roommate very much but I figured this would be a good opportunity for you to get his attention.”

  “What do you me
an?”

  “The green-eyed monster.”

  “You want to make your own roommate jealous? Why?”

  I tore at some grass and sprinkled it on the blanket. “Because he always gets what he wants. It’s about time I get what I want.”

  Chapter 8: Ari

  I stood in front of my closet, desperately searching for something to wear. After spending all my spare cash on business attire, I was forced to choose from what I already owned. I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth, disappointed by my selection.

  “Jeez…” I groaned aloud as I pulled out a sequin mini skirt. When did I think it was okay to wear such a dastardly thing?

  How was I supposed to make Lyle jealous when I would most certainly arrive at this gala looking like a slob?

  Why was I even trying so hard to make him jealous in the first place?

  Because, deep down, you like him, came that voice in the back of my head.

  I shook it away and kept searching. It was then that I heard a knock at the front door. My eyes widened with panic. Was that Vern already? I tightened the sash of my bathrobe. I hadn’t even bothered to throw on underwear yet. With this thought, I dashed towards the dresser and grabbed the first pair I got my hands on. In my attempt to put them on, I fell, crashing onto the ground.

  “What in the world…?” Becky was standing at the doorway to my bedroom, covering her eyes against my indecency. “Do you want to explain what you’re doing right now.”

  My whole face felt like it was going to melt off with embarrassment. “Becky! I thought I told you to stop barging into my apartment!”

  “Well, if you really want me to stop then you should really consider moving the location of your spare key where I can’t find it.” She peeked through her fingers. “Looking good, by the way.”

  “Becky!” I forced my robe shut and sprung to my feet. As a result, my panties fell back to the ground. I yanked them up my legs and huffed.

  “Someone’s a little wound up.” Becky stepped forward when it was safe to do so.

  “What are you doing here, anyway?”

  “I figured you might need some help getting ready for this gala.” She dropped a few garment bags onto my bed. “I picked these up from the shop. Consider it an early Christmas present.”

  “It’s July.”

  She shrugged and unzipped the topmost bag. I expected it to be some gaudy prom dress but what she revealed surpassed my wildest expectations. It was a lovely shade of burgundy with an exposed back and subtle flowers stitched into the skirt. “Wow…”

  “That’s what I’m saying.” Becky grinned. “I was tempted to keep it for myself but I think it would suit you much better. You have the body for it.”

  I didn’t know whether to take her words as a compliment or a backhanded insult.

  “Try it on!” she said, practically pushing me into the bathroom.

  Thud.

  Once the door was shut, I hung up the dress. It was even more beautiful in my bathroom’s brightness. Small gemstones added a bit of sparkle.

  I ran my fingers over the soft fabric. Sometimes I wondered how I had managed to snag a friend as good as Becky. She was always looking out for me.

  Finally, I dropped my robe to the ground. The cool air caressed my sensitive skin, causing goosebumps to prickle along my breasts. I covered them with my hands. My nipples poked against my hands with excitement. That excitement wasn’t due to the dress but the thought of what it might feel like to have Vern take it off my body.

  I wanted to feel his hot breath against the side of my neck. Or better yet, the heat of his body pressed against mine as he reached around to take my breasts into his hands. Mmm, oh yes, that’s what I wanted. Consumed by this fantasy, I leaned against the sink, hips thrusting forward as if to greet an invisible lover.

  “Is everything alright in there?” Becky tried the doorknob. The rattling startled me back into reality.

  “Yes, just a minute,” I answered. My cheeks were flushed with the thought of Vern. I washed it away with some cold tap water before dawning the dress.

  It almost felt like it was made for me. The fabric had a bit of stretch to it which meant it hugged every part of my body but it was thick enough to conceal all those troubled areas.

  Using the mirror, I tied the halter top around my neck. Doing so, my breasts were lifted and accentuated to the perfect degree. In fact, it was perhaps a little more revealing than I was comfortable with but, at the same time, I had to admit that it looked pretty damn good.

  I did a little twirl so I could get a better view of my backside.

  Damn.

  “Did you fall in or something?” Becky called through the door.

  With a wild grin, I unlocked it and posed.

  “Whoa…”

  “You’re a genius,” I said. “I’ve never looked this good.”

  She clapped her hands together. “And I’m not even done with you yet. I still have to do your make-up and hair.”

  “Jeez. This isn’t my wedding, you know.”

  She took me by the shoulders and sat me down in front of my vanity. “I decided to do a little research and this gala is one of the biggest events in town. Anyone who is anyone is going to be there.”

  “So?”

  “So?” She repeated. “This is your chance to prove to Lyle that you’re not the dorky girl you used to be.”

  “Hey!”

  “No offense babe but you used to wear tie-dye shirts.” Becky sorted through my cosmetics. “Tonight, you’re going to show him exactly what he’s missing out on.”

  While it was true that I wanted to get my revenge, I didn’t know if it was worth all the trouble. It didn’t matter what I did, Lyle was never going to notice me. He would always think he was better than me. But, then again, there was nothing stopping me from using all this glitz and glam to impress Vern. He would never know what hit him.

  “I’ve seen that look in your eye before. What are you thinking?”

  “I’m thinking, screw Lyle. He isn’t worth my time.”

  “Oh?”

  “But Vern…”

  “You mean that guy who keeps stalking you in the park?” Becky paused and considered the eyeshadow palette in her hands. “You haven’t talked about it much but, by the looks of it, you’re smitten.”

  “I didn’t think so at first. He’s a little odd but I think I like it. He’s different.”

  “So long as he makes you happy then I’m happy too.” Becky handed me a tube of lipstick. “Try that on for me. I think it’ll match the dress quite nicely.

  I turned to look in the mirror. When I saw my reflection, I froze in place. I could barely recognize myself. “How did you learn how to do this?”

  “I’ve been doing it as a side gig at my local saloon. Turns out I’m pretty good at it,” she said with a smile. I was about to touch my face when she slapped my hands away. “Don’t you dare.”

  “Sorry,” I mumbled. Before I could get myself into further trouble, I applied the lipstick. It really completed the look.

  “Knock ‘em dead tonight, you hear me?”

  “Oh, I don’t think that’ll be a problem,” I said with a grin, my self-confidence hitting through the roof.

  Chapter 9: Ari

  “Well, I should get going. I’ve got a cat to feed.”

  “Thank you so much for coming over and helping me out,” I said as I encased her in a tight, rib-crushing hug.

  “Hug me any tighter and you’ll lose your best friend,” she groaned in a dramatic wheeze.

  I eased my grip and chuckled. “Sorry.”

  “And be careful.” She circled behind me and gave the neck straps a soft tug. “It wouldn’t take much to undo these. I would hate for you to have a wardrobe malfunction.” She was already packing up her things when she looked up and caught my eye. “Unless, of course, that’s your intention.”

  “No!” I said in my defense. “D
id you really think I’d want to flash a whole room of people?”

  “Maybe not a whole room but someone in particular.” Her lips curled into a knowing smirk. “And I think his name is Vern.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I barely know the guy. I wouldn’t fall into bed that quickly.”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. Sometimes these sorts of things just happen and you can’t stop it when the temperature of the room starts to rise higher and higher.”

  “Stop it,” I grumbled.

  “Alright, alright. I think I’ve teased you enough for one night.” She held up her hands in her innocence. “But I want to hear all about it tomorrow.”

  “Okay.” I agreed.

  “I’ll be awaiting that phone call,” she said as she carried the unused garments to the front door.

  I waved her off and watched as her car cruised down the street. It disappeared around the bend just as a pair of headlights shone in my direction. I was blinded by their brightness. I held up an arm against my eyes to shield them but even so, I wasn’t able to see past the light.

  It got brighter and brighter as the car made its way down the street. I expected it to keep going but it pulled into my driveway. Only then did the headlights become dim.

  I blinked and to my surprise, Vern was sitting behind the wheel of a shiny new Jaguar. The sleek black paint nearly blended into the night.

  My jaw hung ajar as he emerged wearing a fitted suit. The satin lapels and cuff links really screamed luxury.

  “My, my, you look lovely,” he said with a voice as smooth as whiskey.

  “Wait.” I shook my head. “You can’t possibly be the same guy.”

  He laughed.

  “I thought you were a bartender.”

  “I am.”

  “Then how on Earth can you afford all this?” I asked as I continued to stare at my date. I really hadn’t expected him to look this attractive. With his dark hair swept back and his facial hair gone, he looked like some sort of movie star.