Unforgettable You (Starlight Hill Series Book 4)

by Bell, Heatherly

  “Really? What happened?”

  “He developed high blood pressure but he lived. I figured I was going to have to get through law school, not him.”

  “I wish I could do that.”

  “You can,” Diana said. “Just tell him how you feel.”

  Sophia fondled the cash register and wrinkled her nose. “I don’t want to let him down. Things are different for me.”

  “I doubt it. My father tried to make me feel like I’d let him down. Maybe it’s true that I did, but you know what? Would it have been better to flunk out of law school? Or graduate and be miserable? I don’t think so.”

  Sophia stared at Diana. For a moment it occurred to her she might have said too much, and was about to take it all back. Diana didn’t know Sophia’s situation, and everyone had to arrive at their grown-up conclusions in their own time. At their own pace. She was about to tell her that, but some more customers came in and Sophia gave all her attention to them. Diana waved goodbye and Sophia gave a half-hearted wave back.

  After her shift at the bakery, Diana took Gran to Sitercize at the Senior Center, to the drugstore for her medications, then back home to box up more of Gran’s treasures and organize them in the garage. By the end of the day Diana just wanted a shower, sleep and chocolate. Definitely no running tonight. She’d miss Scott pushing her around the track, but Diana might have burned ten pounds at work this morning. The best thing about the job was she had no time to sample any of the sweets.

  She opened the door to her studio, and sucked in a breath when she saw Scott standing in her kitchen. Naturally it was warm in her tiny studio, and he didn’t have a shirt on. He was stirring an amazing smelling sauce. The smells of garlic and sauce swept over her, teasing out a familiar longing. Comfort food. The man had great timing.

  “That smells amazing. How did you get in?”

  “Way too easy. Tomorrow I’m buying you a deadbolt.”

  She was strangely turned on by all that effort on his part. The idea of Scott breaking into her place reminded her that he had a not so stellar past she didn’t know much about. More than that, she was searching her brain to remember the last time any guy had cooked for her. Ever. And coming up with big a fat zero.

  “You can cook?”

  “You’ll rarely meet a firefighter that can’t.”

  She came closer, and the tomato sauce smells became more enticing. She spied basil and fresh cut tomatoes on a cutting board and her empty stomach quivered. Not to be left out, her womb contracted when she got a good look at Scott’s naked back, tapering down to his long legs covered by jeans sitting low on his hips.

  “I’m exhausted. A baker’s life is no piece of cake.”

  “That’s funny.”

  Diana kicked off her shoes. “I wasn’t trying to be.”

  “Hope you’re hungry.”

  While working hard to ignore the man’s hotness factor, currently at dangerous levels, Diana nodded. How would he react if she jumped him right now?

  “Go take a shower. By the time you come out, dinner will be ready.”

  “So this is just you, being friendly?”

  “And hungry.”

  “Good thing I am hungry. But I should take that shower first,” she said and removed her top in the kitchen.

  She didn’t know what the hell she was doing, but tonight seemed like as good a time as any for session number three. Diana might be in brand new territory, but Scott made her feel sexy. And also, maybe a little bit crazy. To his credit, he didn’t say a word but also kept his eyes riveted to her as she next pulled off her jeans and kicked them out of the way. Watching her, he continued to half-heartedly stir the sauce.

  She removed her bra. He smiled, dipped his finger in the sauce and licked it off.

  “It’s dangerous to be naked near an open flame.” His gaze took a slow slide down the length of her body and he set the spoon down.

  “Says the man cooking without his shirt on.” She slid the panties off.

  His control seemed to snap in half, and he shut the stove off. “Okay, let’s go.”

  “Where are we going?” she laughed as he picked her up and swung her into his arms.

  “The shower. You obviously need help getting there.”

  “You’re coming?”

  “Oh hell yeah. I’m coming. And you’re going to come too.”

  ***

  This time Scott wouldn’t be rushed.

  Even if Diana never failed to surprise him, the strip tease by the stovetop was a whole new level. Part of him had wondered if he should stop her, but another more significant part was too mesmerized to try. If he’d made so much as one false move, she might change her mind. But she hadn’t, not until every piece of her clothing had been removed. It was all he could do not to take her right there by his spaghetti sauce.

  He carried her into the tiny bathroom, and turned the water on in the shower stall. It didn’t seem large enough for him let alone the two of them. But where there was a will, he’d find a way.

  Diana was busy trying to take his pants off from behind him, so he turned around and gave her a hand. He shrugged his jeans and boxers off, then eased her into the hot shower.

  “So hot! Get in here!” She reached for his hand and pulled him in.

  He ducked as he stepped inside so the shower head wouldn’t hit him in the head. That move put him nearly eye-level with her breasts, so he took full advantage by drawing one soft nipple into his mouth. Diana moaned and arched against him. Not wanting the other nipple to get jealous, he switched sides.

  In the close confines of the stall, there was not room for much between them but somehow Diana had her hand between his legs, making an already hard situation more like granite.

  And damn he loved the way she touched him in just the right way, with the right strokes like she understood him far better than she should. He had to slow this down because he wanted more than anything to make it last, so he reached behind her for the soft sponge he’d noticed and poured some flowery smelling soap on it. He trailed the soapy sponge down one breast in a circle, turned so the shower head water would hit her directly and washed off the soap, then he licked the splash of water off with his tongue. Rinse and repeat.

  He lifted his face to hers and kissed her wet and willing lips, enjoying the way she opened up to him, tongue sliding and tangling with his over and over again. She acted like she was desperate to get him closer even in this tightly confined space.

  That made two of them.

  He turned her away from him to get her back, and she moaned.

  “I want you inside me.”

  “In a minute, babe. We need to slow down.”

  “No. We don’t,” she protested.

  He chuckled because he would make her wait, like it or not. He washed her back, coming down from her neck and trailing down to her beautiful ass. Like she anticipated him, she braced her hands on the wall and backed into him. Her eagerness worked for him, but didn’t make it any easier to slow things down when she rubbed against him. Just a few more angled inches and she’d be the one to make the decision for him. He groaned at the sensation of all that softness against him, teasing and gyrating, then reached his hand around her in what little space he could find between her and the shower wall. His fingers found her soft folds and he flicked in and out as she wriggled and squirmed against him, moaning his name and begging him to take her.

  “Come first,” he whispered near her temple. “I want to feel you come on my fingers.”

  A few seconds later she arched and moaned his name, shuddering against him. Her knees almost buckled and he held her up.

  Now. Now she was ready for him.

  He reached for the condom he’d brought inside, slipped it on then lifted her slightly to his erection, and with the hot water pounding on his back, entered her slowly, inch by inch. He didn’t allow his mind to go anywhere else, to places and times when she, and this, might be a daily occurrence. Right now all he wanted to do was feel her, e
njoy how right he felt inside her, and stop wondering why this—with her—was so different.

  When she cried out again and came in his arms, he wasn’t far behind her. One more thrust and he came so hard his knees did buckle. He fell to the ground, pulling her down with him. Somehow he managed to get them both up a moment later, and out of the now lukewarm shower. He dried her off first, next himself. She stood in front of him, hair wet and wild all around her flushed face. He’d dated a lot of beautiful woman in his life, including a beauty queen. Diana wasn’t classically beautiful in that sense, but he wished he understood why she excited him so much. Why his heart beat faster whenever she was close.

  “For the record, that’s the best shower I ever had,” she said.

  “Same here.”

  “And you are the best friend I ever had.” She smiled, tugging her towel over those delicious breasts.

  “Right back at you.”

  A while later, they’d easily slid back into the friends part of their relationship. They’d sat down to eat his dinner on the floor of the living room on a couple of pillows, watching as Harry Potter fought a battle with Tom Riddle.

  “One of my favorite book series of all time.” Diana said about the movie as she wound another strand of pasta on her fork.

  She’d dressed again, but this time for comfort, as she’d claimed she did most of the time. An oversized long and faded Mizzou t-shirt. Plain and unassuming, and yet stealing away his last brain cell. Fortunately, he’d brought utensils and plates over, worried she didn’t yet have everything she needed for her new place. Good call on his part.

  “What made you decide to be a writer?”

  “To Kill a Mockingbird and Gran, who thought being a writer was the best thing anyone could ever aspire to be. But Harry Potter made me realize that authors could actually make money. Some authors, just not me.”

  “Not yet, anyway.”

  She shrugged. “Maybe not ever.”

  “Hey.” He nudged her elbow. “Stop it.”

  “It’s true.”

  “Give yourself some time.”

  “I’m not even enjoying it anymore. Maybe it’s time to do something else for a while. Like teach.”

  “But you’re not giving up. Right?”

  “I wouldn’t call it giving up. I’m re-thinking. Re-tooling.”

  “As long as you’re not giving up.”

  “Some of us change paths a few times before we find where we belong. Except I get the sense that being a firefighter is what you’ve always wanted to be.”

  “Close. I wanted to be Batman and fight crime with a super cool cape and the Batmobile but that job was taken. So firefighter seemed like a close second.”

  She laughed. “It must be nice to have already achieved what you wanted to do in your life and still be so young.”

  “Yeah, it’s all gravy from here on.” It sounded good, and for a moment he almost fooled himself into believing it.

  He should be happier with his life. It hadn’t been that easy to become a firefighter since the competition was stiff. Every year hundreds of recruits straight out of high school were turned away. Going to EMT and paramedic school had given him the edge, and he assumed some of his military experience. But he’d be lying if he said he was completely satisfied.

  For one, he hadn’t saved Jake.

  Scott hadn’t done enough. Hadn’t saved enough people, hadn’t taken enough risks, and hadn’t given it all. He probably should have taken a job in any other part of the country, maybe a larger city where he could make more of a difference.

  “I sometimes think about transferring to a bigger city.”

  “Tired of rescuing puppies?”

  “Yeah, but realistically this is where I’ll stay. This is home. Billy’s having a kid, and I need to be the first to buy the annoying and very loud toy. And hey, we had seven pies delivered to the fire station after that puppy rescue.”

  “She’s grateful.” She smiled at him. “And so am I. For this dinner. You didn’t have to but I love it.”

  “Maybe I’m just trying to make it all up to you.”

  She tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “Forget about that. We were kids and it was one night of my life.”

  He doubted that. She’d been trying to fit into this town, even twelve years ago. That time, he’d been the one to make her feel like she didn’t matter. He’d tell her the truth about that night now, but he still didn’t feel like he could.

  “You’re going back home at the end of summer. Something waiting for you back there?” Yes, he was curious. He was a guy. A sometimes jealous guy.

  “Yes. My mother. I’ve got to go back and tell her in person that I’m done working in her bridal shop.”

  “Too many Bridezillas?”

  “You have no idea. I’m so sick of listening to the brides come in, worried more about a dress they’ll wear once in their life than whether or not they’ve got the right guy. And then there’s the women who come in to try on dresses before they’ve even got a fiancée.”

  “Women do that?”

  Diana nodded. “It’s sad. Want to know what’s sadder? One of these women, Tiffany, found her future husband at my mom’s bridal shop.”

  “Why is that sad?”

  “Because he was my fiancée.”

  The words stopped him cold. “I’m sorry. Guy sounds like an idiot.”

  “He was.” Diana waved it off like it was no big deal. “Anyway, that’s kind of why my mom had mercy on me and let me have the summer off to come and help Gran. Except, as you know, I’m supposed to be finding her a nursing home while I’m here.”

  “Right. And how’s that going?”

  Her grin made him smile back. “I wouldn’t know. We won’t be needing one.”

  He squeezed her hand. “I never want you to forget that if you ever need anything—whatever it is—you can come to me.”

  “What if I need an orgasm?” she teased, licking sauce from one of her fingers.

  “Especially then.”

  Pushing her plate away, she crawled into his lap, and then put her forehead against his. She brushed a soft kiss across his lips. “This friends-with-benefits thing. It’s new to me.”

  Not surprised, he tipped her chin. “But you’re okay?”

  The truth was it would kill him to think for one second that he might hurt her. He’d walk away right now from the best sex he’d ever experienced if that’s what she needed from him.

  “I’m good. You?”

  He wondered if there was a man on the face of the earth who wouldn’t be happy hanging out with a beautiful smart woman, a good friend who didn’t insist on commitments and demand exclusivity. Not that he wasn’t giving that to her anyway, for the simple reason that she was the only one he wanted. But it felt freeing to give it without someone asking. Urging. Demanding. Insisting. Clinging.

  Rather than answer, he showed her. He flipped her so he was on top then kissed her over and over again, tasting spaghetti sauce and red wine and that special sweet flavor that was pure Diana. When he was with her he tended to forget about the pain and the guilt those emails from Megan brought back. Yeah, he was good. Better than good.

  Chapter 15

  As a former sniper, Scott understood waiting. He understood patience. Timing. But dammit, the spreading wildfires raging out of control made him feel helpless.

  He didn’t like helpless.

  The fires were all in the national forest and not in Cal Fire areas, but the need was so great that many Cal Fire squads had already been called in for relief.

  Scott and the crew had just returned from another call. Timmy White’s second car accident this year, in case anyone else was counting, which meant that someone should take away the fool’s keys. The positive news was that it appeared everyone, including the elderly couple involved in the accident, would be all right. Scott would take his good news when and where he could find it.

  “You sign up as a volunteer yet?” Mike asked.

&nb
sp; “Yeah,” Scott answered from the couch, where he stared at the television. In Auburn, two different squads from the area had already been called in to relieve the regular crew who at times were in the field for days.

  Two firefighters had recently lost their lives battling the fires. And here he sat, watching it all unfold on TV. Pathetic.

  “The way things are going, we’ll get called up.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Calm down, soldier. You’ll get your chance at the enemy.”

  True enough. The enemy was fire, and uncontrolled and unharnessed it was just as real and deadly to him as war. At the moment the enemy was a raging beast making its way across the forest and destroying everything in its path, hundreds of acres of pine and oak.

  But like any beast, it could be contained. It only needed to be cut off at the knees like any bully.

  “Hey, Sophia’s here,” Benny said.

  He stood up. Family visits for him at the station were unusual, but especially from Sophia. “She coming in?”

  “She wants you to meet her outside. Maybe she’s not into all the X-rated looks she gets from Rookie over here.”

  “What? Who me?” Rookie protested. “Not me, man. She’s just a kid. Right?”

  “Twenty.” She happened to be about the same age as Rookie, so Scott slid him a dangerous look, just to be on the safe side. The last thing Sophia needed right now was the complication of a relationship with a firefighter.

  Scott found Sophia outside, pacing. Not a good sign. “Hey, what’s up?”

  “I’m in trouble.” Those words didn’t match her eyes, because in them he saw a spark of life for the first time in weeks. Encouraging, and he’d take it.

  “What kind?” He steeled himself. His mind ran through all the options and came up with only one likely one. Pregnant?

  “I’m flunking out of school.”

  “Shit. Why didn’t you say something?”

  She threw up her hands. “It’s not like you can help me with this.”

  “You’ve been keeping this inside all this time?” No wonder she’d been distracted and depressed.