Mika had great advice when it came to men, although sometimes Callie and I wished she’d follow her own suggestionswhen it came to her love life. And with Paxton. But now wasn’t the time to turn the tables on her.
And Mika was right. Tending not to give the guys I dated any reason to think I was looking for a ring because I wasn’t waiting for a knight in shining armor to sweep me off my feet. I just wanted a man who comfortably shared his feelings right from the start. And good sex. Not great or mind-blowing, just a nice orgasm from time to time would keep me happy.
“Well, I don’t have his number for one thing. And to be honest, I’m not sure if I’m disappointed he hasn’t contacted me because I really like him, or if these feelings I’m having are left over from that night?”
Callie had gone quiet, but Mika enthusiastically nodded. “That’s so close to how I feel about Paxton, it’s weird to hear you say it out loud. There are days I wish that the first time he and I met hadn’t been on the worst night of his life.” Mika had been working the late shift in the emergency room at Harmony General that night. She’d recently transferred in from the ICU. And Paxton’s partner had arrived, flanked by the entire crew, clinging to life. The ambulance they’d been transporting a patient in had been t-boned. Paxton’s partner and the patient hadn’t made it.
Sighing, she grabbed my hand and squeezed. “Let’s save that discussion for another time. Let’s figure out what and how you’re going to get through your tangled-up emotions over Austin, kay?”
“Whoa, I think this calls for another round of drinks. I don’t know about you two, but I think we’re all on the verge of some pretty big breakthroughs.” Callie raised her hand for the server, and after placing the order for drinks and our dinner choices, the man who’d been staring at our table since I arrived walked over.
“Ladies, sorry for the interruption. Hi, Mika. Stassi.” He held out his hand to Callie. “Hi, my name is Rex, and I work forPineville Fire and Rescue, and my wife Heather used to work with Mika in the ICU.”
I can’t believe I hadn’t recognized him when I came in; he’d been so nice as he’d taken my vitals the other night. Mika and Callie made small talk with Rex as I scanned the table he’d been sitting at. Was Austin here, too? The other men at the table didn’t look familiar. A pang of disappointment filled me.Get a grip, Stassi.
“I just wanted to see how you’re feeling Stassi, I know it’s against procedure, but I figured you’d told your friends all about the burnt cobbler incident.” Rex’s easy smile reminded me of Austin. No, that wasn’t right. They really didn’t look alike. I’d measured any guy I’d seen the last couple of days against the hunky firefighter who’d quickly become all I could think about.
Had I’d been secretly hoping that I’d find someone else more attractive and this growing obsession would be squashed?
“Thanks for checking. And yes, other than having to air out my house most of yesterday, I’m good. Just need to get the oven replaced…I uh, thought….”Nope, not going to ask about Austin. “Well, I thought since I really don’t cook or bake much that I’d wait a bit.”
“Wait, Austin told me he was going to help you out with getting a good deal on a new oven, right?” An awkward silence followed when I didn’t answer. But then his expression brightened. “You know, he’s been picking up some overtime hours and filling in for one of our EMS guys whose kid has the flu. He’s been putting in the extra time because he really wants the next captain's position when it opens. Hey, I could text him if you’d like?” Rex thought he was being helpful, but all his offer did was make my cheeks burn.
It was a reasonable explanation, but I couldn’t tell if it rang true or not. It hit too close to home with what I’d gone through with my ex-husband. He was always putting his buddies up tocovering for him. Thankfully, I caught on quickly and found out about his cheating. But to this day it still stung, and if a guy didn’t text when he said he would, I blocked his number. Immature? Yes. Effective at protecting my heart and my sanity? Also yes.
Besides, I wasn’t about to admit to Rex how not hearing from Austin had tied me up in knots, even if it was because he was working. It would make the moment even more embarrassing. I looked to Mika for help.
Mika came through big time. “So, how’re the kids? Growing like weeds, right? You think Heather will come back when the youngest starts school?”
Rex held my gaze for another moment. A flash of something I prayed wasn’t pity crossed his face before he turned to Mika.
They discussed his wife’s plans while I drained my second drink, desperate for a hole in the floor to swallow me up. Darn it. I was a terrible poker player, and I’m sure my flushed face gave my feelings away. Feelings of being so easily forgotten. Feelings I thought I had dealt with in my early twenties.
And why did I have a sinking feeling our conversation was going to get back to Austin?
CHAPTER THREE
AUSTIN
The piece of paper in my pocket had practically burned a hole through it. I’d kept it there as punishment for being an idiot. Sure, I’d been busy picking up extra shifts, using it as an excuse not to reach out to Stassi.
But I’d been unsuccessful in forgetting how she made me feel. Her smile, her curves, her non-stop narrative as she talked through her story. A romance writer. How had I fallen under the spell of a woman who wrote happy-ever-afters for a living?
I knew plenty of couples in successful and loving relationships, and I really shouldn’t judge Stassi’s profession. But growing up in a household full of lies and drama had done a number on me and my siblings. None of us were eager to repeat what we’d witnessed as kids.
Sitting here beating myself up about going back on my word with Stassi made for a lonely Saturday. I’d turned down going out with some guys from the station. Hell, I was usually the first one to suggest hitting up one of our go-to spots and blowing off some steam, maybe finding someone to flirt with.
Not tonight. Tonight felt too much like penance for finding myself majorly attracted to Hunter’s sister. A sister I had no clue he had, since I’d just recently transferred in from another station in Pineville. And word was he was contemplating leaving Pineville Fire & Rescue for a private outfit that did backcountry rescues now that he’d secured his pilot’s license.
So, really it shouldn’t matter if I wanted to pursue Stassi. We were adults. And now I felt even more like an idiot for letting two days go by without texting her the information I had promised. I jumped up from the couch and grabbed my jacket. Two steps from the garage door, my cell beeped.
It was a text from Rex.
Saw Stassi at Evergran’s. Do something NOW if u want 2 make up 4 being an idiot.
Then Paxton’s warning came out of nowhere, taunting me.“I wouldn’t want to be you when Hunter hears about this.”
Well, he wasn’t me, and this was happening. Just because she wrote love stories didn’t mean anything. It's not like I was planning on proposing. Maybe she’d be up for some fun? Maybe explore the attraction we both felt. And then wait for the inevitable fizzle after we’d scratched that itch. That’s how it always ended for me.
