Sean was tracking down a lead he’d gotten about the mayor’s office having ghost employees. Carla would be going to a press conference at the Department of Transportation to unveil the new state of the art plow machines, though the story they were hoping to get would be where the money came from since the city insisted funds were too tight to help with more pressing needs in some of the poorest neighborhoods. When she left, there were still two holes in the rundown that needed to be filled with stories, but that would be Rich’s problem, not hers.
Fourteen hours of work had drained her of energy, yet her nerves still thrummed through her as she checked the time. Just a few minutes before noon. She laid her phone down in her lap, staring at it as if it might sprout legs and start dancing right there on her thigh.
Would he really call?
Her normally regimented life suddenly had been flipped into complete disarray. Michelle wanted her to step outside the carefully constructed box she had been living in for years. Her coworkers wanted her to hang out, have a girls’ night. A man she’d spoken with twice showed interest in her as more than a journalist. This couldn’t be her life.
At noon on the dot, Charlotte’s phone rang in her hand.
The number came up with no contact information attached to it. Trey, it had to be. But none of this made sense. Why would a beautiful fireman, one who posed in calendars, was awesome with kids, and saved people from burning buildings, why on earth would he be interested in a mousey assignment editor?
Continuing to talk with him would do her no good. She’d let hope grow inside her until he decided she wasn’t worth the effort. And it would take effort on his part. He’d have to work so hard just to get her into bed, because the thought of taking clothes off in front of such a perfect beautiful human specimen literally made her sick to her stomach.
Determined to not let things get that far, Charlotte swiped her finger across the screen, silencing the ringing and rejecting the call. It was better this way. Keeping things as they were would be best for her sanity. She might be able to take Michelle up on her offer of a promotion, she could keep her friendships with coworkers as they were, friendly in the newsroom; she could keep her one amazing friend that accommodated her fears.
That was enough for her.
Shifting her car into reverse, Charlotte exited the parking lot and made the turn to head back to her apartment. The phone laid blank on her passenger side seat, and disappointment filled her that Trey hadn’t even left a message. For the best.
For the best.
But then it rang again. The same number. The shrill beeping of her ringtone filled the car. But she ignored it. In the twelve minutes it took to drive to her place, the phone rang eight times. Honestly, she was kind of flattered that he had given it that much effort. Most guys would have given up after two or three attempts, right? The thought made her smile a little.
Just as she pulled into her parking spot, a text dinged its arrival. No one she knew texted. Her mom thought texting was lazy. Michelle would have called if she needed her to come back. And her one and only friend would message her through Facebook or the message boards.
The thin phone felt heavy in her palm. Her nerves zinged with anticipation as she swiped it open and tapped on the text message from the number she knew could only be Trey’s.
Hi. This is Trey Martin from the Pittsburgh Fire Department Station 814. I’m not giving up until you answer, so you should probably just save us both the time.
Heat flooded Charlotte’s face and body. He wanted to speak with her that badly? The phone started ringing again. A shaking finger hovered over the ignore button. So many emotions tumbled over in her stomach, making her breath come fast and sweat trickle down her spine.
Faking this wouldn’t be possible. You couldn’t fake it or make it through a relationship with a man like that. Could you? If she just acted like a girl who dated, who kissed and touched men, could she eventually become one? It had worked for her in her career.
The thoughts and questions took up so much room in her mind, the ringing stopped before her mind even came close to quieting.
Disappointment rushed out of her in a sigh. She wanted to talk to him again. Denying it was silly and pointless.
The phone sprang to life once again as she trekked from her car to her front door. Before she could debate or talk herself out of it, Charlotte accepted the call and pressed the phone to her ear, her breath stalled in her lungs.
“You have a man already?” That low gruff voice, combined with the most ridiculous opening question forced the breath from her lungs and a smile on her face.
“No.” The word came out weak, unconvincing. She cleared her throat, searched herself for strength she could never find before. “No, there is no man in my life.” There, better. Not perfect, but better.
“I know I can be pushy. Is it turning you off? Do I need to dial it back a notch?”
Turn her off? No just the opposite. Part of her thought maybe she needed him to push a little. It might be the only way she ever left her comfort zone.
“Doesn’t turn me off, at all.” Ignoring her burning cheeks, Charlotte pushed her door open, a giant orange blur nearly tripping her as she stepped into her home. “Okay, okay, I’m home now, chill out.”
“I’m chill, don’t worry, good to know you are home though.” The offense in Trey’s voice made her laugh as she rushed to correct him.
“Sorry, I was talking to Weasley. My cat. He gets a little bossy when I get home later than normal.” Charlotte stroked the soft fur on Weasley’s back, taking comfort in his presence. “So now you know. I’m a crazy lady who talks to her cat.”
“If talking to your pet is your biggest flaw, I think you’re okay. Okay, so we established you don’t have a man, other than Weasley, and you aren’t turned off by my bull in a china shop personality. So why were you ignoring my calls?”
Silence hung on the line between them, increasing the racing of her heart and mind. What could she tell him that wouldn’t have red flags flashing in front of his face that she was more work than she was worth? Charlotte might fake her way through most of her life, but she didn’t want to out right lie to Trey.
“Hey, still there sugar?” God, his voice did things to her. Made her panties wet, her blood sing, and lips tingle.
