by Sierra Rose
I tried not to blush. “Well, thanks, but I’ll be fine.”
“Where’s your phone?” he asked. “I’ll give you my number in case you run into problems.”
I reached into my purse and handed him my cell phone, feeling a rush of warmth when our fingers brushed. “Thanks,” I said, as he entered a number into my cell phone and then pressed the call button.
“No problem,” he said, as his phone began to ring. “Now I have yours as well. You know what the means?”
“What?”
He grinned. “Your panties are safe.”
I stared at him. “Er… what?
“I’ll just call you when your clothes are done in the future and you can unload the dryer yourself.”
I blushed. “Oh, yeah, sure.”
“Not that I have a problem with removing your panties,” he grinned devilishly. “I’ll be more than happy to assist with that if needed.”
I felt a surge of heat between my legs as I pictured him doing it with his teeth. Pushing the wanton thoughts out of my head, I reached over and slugged him, playfully. “Enough, morphine-boy. Let’s look for your sister.”
“Morphine boy?”
“Obviously the drugs are making you a little delirious.”
“Right,” he laughed. “They’ve pretty much worn off, sweetheart.”
“Oh.”
“Okay,” he said, looking around. “I’ll call you if I find her, you do the same.”
“Okay.”
I turned away and began walking towards one of the other fires, thinking about Chase and the way he’d obviously been flirting with me. I had to admit, I liked the way it felt, and now that I knew he didn’t have a girlfriend, I was a more than just a little intrigued with him. As I dissected our conversation, trying to figure out if he really was serious or just being funny, a tall you man started walking towards me with two other guys following, all of them holding beers. “Hey, I need a nurse,” he said. “And it looks like you’re just what the doctor ordered.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah, is that right?”
He stopped in front of me and looked down from his six-foot-four frame. He had sandy brown hair and puppy-dog eyes that probably helped him score with plenty of college girls. Either he was trying looking for a challenge tonight, or there really was some kind of emergency.
“Do you know C.P.R., Nurse Emma Daniels?” he asked, looking at my nametag and then at my chest.
“Why? Does someone need help?”
He gave me a lopsided grin and raised his eyes to mine. “I do because watching you takes my breath away, honey.”
His buddies roared with laughter.
“Original,” I mumbled, turning away.
“No, wait,” he said, grabbing my arm. “Seriously, though, I’d like to talk to you for a minute.”
I pulled my arm away and scowled. “Look, I’m busy searching for my friend’s sister and don’t have time for games.”
“I take it you don’t know who I am?” he asked looking smug. “Or who’s hosting this party?”
I put my hands on my hips. “Unless your name is Gemma with a big brother named Chase, who is also a cop and in this crowd, I don’t care who the hell you are. Although,” I smirked, “if this is your party and you’re offering alcohol to minors, then Chase might want to talk to you.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Gemma Williams?”
“Yeah, do you know where she is?”
“Probably passed out in his bed,” chuckled one of his friends, a bald guy with tattoos covering both of his arms.
“Fuck you, Bruce,” he snapped, not looking so cocky anymore. He turned back to me and sighed. “Look, she’s in the house, sleeping it off. She had a couple shots of Jägermeister followed by a few beers and needed to lie down right before the fireworks earlier.” He pointed towards the massive cabin on the other side of the beach. “She’s in the guestroom of my parents’ house, probably still sleeping it off.”
I grabbed my phone and dialed Chase.
“Find her?”
“No, but I know where she is,” I replied.
I told him what I’d learned and he sighed. “Don’t move, I’m heading back your way. Don’t let that guy leave, either.”
“Okay,” I said, hanging up. “Don’t move, her brother’s on his way. What’s your name?”
“Damen,” he replied, now looking irritated. “Look, I can’t walk away from this party. Why don’t I just have my sister go get Gemma?”
“Let’s just wait and see what Chase wants to do.”
“Your call.”
Damen’s friends soon left us and Chase showed up a minute later. “Damen, I’ve been looking all over for you. Where’s Gemma?”
“You know this guy?” I asked.
“Yeah, he’s Chris’s brother. I met him last week.”
“Oh.”
“Damen,” he said, snapping his fingers in front of his face. “Come on man, quit staring at Emma and answer the question.”
He backed up. “Calm down, man. She’s at my parents’ cabin with Chris.”
“Why?” asked Chase, turning towards the lake home. “Did something happen?”
“Why don’t you tell him, Damen?” I said, crossing my arms under my chest. I hardly knew these people but was already feeling pretty involved in their drama.
“She’s tired and needed a place to crash.”
Chase’s cell phone started ringing before he could respond.
It was Gemma.
“Why aren’t you answering your phone?” he barked into his. She spoke and his lips grew tight as he listened to her. After a while, he put a hand to his forehead and closed his eyes. “Fine. I wish you would have called to let me know so that I wouldn’t have had to drag our neighbor out with me out into the middle of the night looking for your ass.” She said something and then he looked at me and his eyes softened. “Yeah, I know, I’ll definitely take advantage of that.”
I wasn’t sure what that meant, but his smile gave me goose bumps.
“Oh, and I’m fine, by the way,” he said sarcastically, turning away. “Thanks for being so concerned.”
Just then, Damen moved closer to me. His breath reeked of booze as he whispered into my ear. “I’m going to check on some of my friends. If you’re interested in hooking up later, I’ll keep myself available.”
I snorted. “Honey, you’re a little too young for me.”
He smiled. “It’s all good… I’m really into older women.”
“I’m not that much older,” I replied stiffly. He was starting to make me feel like I was a cougar or something, and I wasn’t even twenty-eight yet.
Just then Chase hung up the phone and got into Damen’s face. “Look, punk, first of all, you’re lucky I don’t bust your ass for serving alcohol to minors, secondly –”
Damen raised his hands into the air. “Whoa, dude, I have done no such thing. If there’s a minor drinking, I had no part in serving him or her any alcohol.”
“What’ about Gemma?” I interrupted. “You told me she was drinking.”
“She arrived at the party with her own booze,” said Damen. “That’s the honest to God truth, and I have no idea how she got it.”
Chase grabbed him by the front of the shirt. “That’s funny because she just told me that you gave her some Jagermeister.”
“I… she… that’s bullshit. Chris must have.”
Chase winced and released him. “Oh hell… whatever is done is done and I’m in no mood to argue. You ever give my sister booze again, or I find out you’re contributing to kids, I’ll make sure you spend some time in jail where you’ll find plenty of people who’ll be interested in hooking up with you. Got that, Romeo?”
“Whatever,” mumbled Damen, walking away.
“Are you okay?” I asked, noticing how pale he’d become. “Do you need more pain medicine?”
“No, I’m good.”
“You don’t look good.”
“I’m fine.
Gemma’s staying at the cabin tonight with Chris, so we can get the hell out of here.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Look, I’m sorry for dragging you into all of this. In fact, I’d like to make it up to you.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”
“No, I want to.”
“Seriously, it’s okay. Besides, I had nothing else going on at one o’clock in the morning.” I chuckled. “So this gave me something to do.”
“Still, I appreciate your help. I’m sure you had a long day in the E.R. and the last thing in the world you probably wanted was to get stuck driving me around.”
“It was a long day, but I don’t mind helping out a neighbor, especially one who happens to be a cop.”
Plus he was a good-looking one who cared enough about his sister to drop everything and go search for her, even as wounded as he was. I seriously respected that.
“Well, I owe you one.”
I smiled. “Just keep your hands off of my panties and we’ll call it even.”
He smiled. “I’ve never heard a woman complain about me touching their panties as much as you, Emma.”
“I’m not your average woman.”
“Believe me, I’ve noticed.”
I wasn’t sure if that was meant as a compliment or not and I didn’t ask. In fact, we were both silent as we walked to my car. When we got inside and I started the engine, he cleared his throat.
“Are you doing anything later tonight, around seven o’clock?”
“Uh, not that I know of. Why?”
“Gemma is making her famous lasagna and told me that I should invite you over.”
“She did, huh?”
“Yeah, to say thanks.”
I backed out of the parking spot. “You don’t have to. Really.”
“I know, but it would be nice if you could join us. Just a little dinner and then you can escape if we get on your nerves too much or if you have somewhere else to go to watch the fireworks.”
“That’s right. It’s the Fourth of July.”
“That it is,” he replied with a grimace as he adjusted his seat. “Damn this shoulder. I guess I am going to need something for the pain if I plan on getting any sleep when I get back.”
“Definitely.”
“So, what do you say?” he asked, laying his head back against the seat. “Dinner tonight?”
Oh hell, he was my neighbor and it was just dinner with him and his sister. “You talked me into it. Can I bring anything?” I asked, glancing at him.
His lips curled up in the darkness as he closed his eyes. “Just yourself.”
Chapter Four
I knocked on Chase’s door promptly at six o’clock, still kicking myself for spending so much time on my makeup and hair. I didn’t want him to think I was dressing for a date, but after blow-drying my hair, curling it, and applying liner and mascara to my eyes, I definitely looked like I was ready for something more than a casual dinner.
“Wow, you look great,” said Gemma, opening the door to his apartment. She stared down at my red silk tank and white cargo pants and nodded. “You’re going to knock Chase on his ass when he sees you. Who would have thought you were hiding that body under those scrubs?”
“Oh,” I said, blushing slightly. “I… uh, thank you?”
She threw her head back and laughed. “For someone older than me, you sure are easily embarrassed.”
“I’m not embarrassed,” I protested.
“Right. Come on in, Emma,” she said, grabbing my arm and pulling me inside.
“Oh, it smells awesome in here,” I said, walking into their entryway, which smelled of Italian sausage and garlic.
“Thanks. I just pulled the lasagna out of the oven. There’s going to be garlic bread and salad, too, so I hope you’re hungry.”
“I’m famished,” I said, which wasn’t a lie. I hadn’t eaten since this morning, and now with the smell of real food in the air, my stomach was beginning to growl.
“Good.”
“So, where’s is your brother?” I asked, as she led me into the living room, which housed nothing more than a large flat-screen television, an oversized brown leather sofa a matching chair-and-a-half recliner and an oak coffee table. It was definitely a bachelor’s pad.
“He went out to the liquor store. He’ll be right back. Listen, I have to finish getting ready,” she said, motioning towards her hair. “I have a date tonight.”
I stared at her in surprise. “Oh, aren’t you joining us for dinner?”
“Are you kidding? My brother wants you all to himself.”
My eyes widened. “What?”
She smiled in amusement. “Come on, Emma, he’s been panting like a dog ever since he’s laid eyes on you. It’s ‘Emma this’ and ‘Emma that.’ I’ve never seen him so excited about having dinner with anyone in my life.”
I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face. “Really?”
“Yeah, really. But don’t tell him I told you.”
“Hah, I won’t say a word.”
“Okay, well he should be back in a minute, so just sit down and relax for a while. Here’s his most sacred television remote,” she said, handing it to me. “If you’d like to watch television or something, go for it.”
I put the remote down. “Thanks, but I’ll just wait and enjoy the peace and quiet.”
“Suit yourself,” she said, walking towards the bathroom.
I sat down on the couch and thought about what she said. I had to admit, I was happy that it was just going to be the two of us tonight, but I was also a little nervous, especially now that I knew he was interested in me.
Just then, the front door opened and I could hear Chase talking to someone. “Yeah, I can’t wait to see you either. I’m looking forward to it. Why don’t I call you tomorrow and maybe we can meet? Don’t worry, you’ll feel amazing when I’m finished with that body of yours”
Um….What?!
Obviously I wasn’t the only woman he was excited about.
“Okay,” he continued, laughing. “I’ll hold you to it, Kelly. Talk to you soon.”
Chill out, I told myself. He never mentioned this being a date anyway. This was dinner among neighbors, and nothing more. There was no time in my life for men, let alone guys who were making appointments just to hook up.
When he entered the living room, he stopped abruptly and stared at me. A look of approval flashed through his blue eyes. “Emma, wow, you look stunning,” he said.
I blushed in spite of myself. “Thanks.”
He licked his lips. “So, I uh, picked up some red wine, would you like a glass? I have a Merlot and a Pinot Noir. Or, if you prefer beer, I have some in the fridge.”
“Do you have water?” I asked, not wanting to get tipsy. With my luck, I’d drink a glass of wine and the moment he said anything dirty, I’d be dragging his irritating ass into his bedroom.
“I’m sure there’s plenty in the wine,” he replied with a lopsided grin. “Come on, just have a little glass. It will go good with the food that Gemma’s cooked. That’s what the guy at the liquor store told me, at least. I’m more of a beer guy, don’t know much about wine.”
“Okay,” I relented. “I’ll take a small glass. The Pinot Noir sounds great.”
His face lit up. “Excellent. You’re not driving anywhere tonight, anyway, right?”
“I hope not.”
“I’ll bring this to the kitchen and pour you a glass,” he said, holding up a brown paper bag. “Just make yourself comfortable. Is Gemma still here?”
“Yes, apparently she’s going out on a date?”
“Last minute thing,” he replied, walking towards the kitchen. “I’m not going to complain, however.” He turned around and smiled devilishly. “Now I’ve got you all to myself.”
I had to admit, he was looking fine in a pair of low-riding faded blue jeans and a white Harley Davidson T-shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders and dark tan. If I hadn’t overheard his conversation with Kel
ly only seconds before, I’d have been more than pleased with his comment. Now I was just irritated by it.
“You know, I can’t stay too long,” I said, wanting to thwart any plans he might have of trying to seduce me. “I have to work early in the morning. A double shift.”
His face fell. “Oh. Damn. I was hoping we could go watch the fireworks together. The ones over in Central Park. I think they start at ten.”
Central Park was less than two blocks away and even I had to admit that they always put on an awesome show.
“I think I can still make that,” I said. At least we wouldn’t be alone and my holiday wouldn’t be wasted completely.
“Awesome. Okay, I’ll be back in a moment.”
Great, I thought, still feeling let down now that I knew he was just like most hot-looking single men, one who was already planning out his sex life in the next couple of days with someone named Kelly.
As he went into the kitchen, Gemma stepped out of the bathroom wearing a skin-tight white dress with stars and stripes going down both sides.
“Wow, you look very festive,” I said.
She sat down next to me and started putting on a pair of white sandals. “I have a date with the son of the guy who owns Club Cancun in Minneapolis. Chase loves him because he doesn’t drink, smoke, or party. I love him because he’s cute, rich, and has gigantic feet.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Gigantic feet?”
She stood up. “Yeah and I’m hoping to find out if that old wives tale is really true tonight. It’s our third date and I’ve been holding him off. But a girl can only go without it for so long, you know?”
Did I ever. It had been many months and several sets of batteries since I’d been with a real man. I started thinking about my pitiful sex life and felt even more depressed. Obviously, I wasn’t giving anything away tonight. Not with someone who’d be changing his sheets in the morning for Kelly’s arrival.
“Well, have fun tonight.”
She smiled. “You, too. And go easy on my brother, I’m pretty sure it’s been awhile for him.”
Right.
“Don’t worry, your brother is safe with me.”
“What was that?” asked Chase, stepping out of the kitchen carrying a glass of wine and a bottle of beer.
