Ruth answered. “We both just finished a glass of Shiraz.”
Dante rose. “Two more glasses of Shiraz it is. Ruth, would you like to come with me? I’ll need someone to carry Noah’s and my Coronas.”
“I’m getting a Corona, I guess,” Noah said to Kizzy.
“It’s Cinco de Mayo. Would you rather have a margarita?”
“Nah. You had it right the first time.”
Dante shook his head. “He’s not usually this much of a smart-ass,” he said to Kizzy. “You must bring out the worst in him.”
He aimed a teasing grin at Noah. But before Noah could think of a comeback, Dante had slid out of the booth, taken Ruth’s hand, and helped her out as well. Then they disappeared, and Noah was alone with Kizzy.
Her eyes had him mesmerized. They were almond-shaped, enhanced by thick black lashes and eyebrows. Her irises were such a dark brown that they appeared almost as black as her pupils.
Suddenly, he was tongue-tied, and she lowered her gaze shyly.
Oh no. Here comes one of those awkward silences.
At last, she looked up. “I’ve never had a handsome firefighter fall into my lap before.”
He chuckled. “I wasn’t really expecting to meet someone that way either.” He nodded toward the bar. “I was hoping my brother might find someone to hit it off with.”
Kizzy sighed. “My sister is taken, and my future brother-in-law really wouldn’t like the competition.”
“Oh well. He’s kind of stuck on Mallory anyway. It probably wouldn’t have been fair to your sister, now that I think about it.”
“I understand. You had hoped to find him someone who wasn’t hallucinating. Is that it?”
“Exactly.”
“You’re a good brother. I don’t know if you can really influence someone else’s choices. I’ve tried without a lot of success.”
“You don’t like your sister’s choice?”
“Oh, no. He’s fine. I’m sure he’ll be good to her. She’s an L&D nurse, as I mentioned, and he’s a surgeon. They have a lot in common. But surgeons… Well, some of them have a god complex.”
He had heard that, but hadn’t experienced it. “So, another family member in medicine. Anyone else?”
“Yeah. My father. He’s a cardiologist.”
“Wow. You have a highly successful family.” Suddenly, Noah wondered if he was good enough for Kizzy. Sure, he was an EMT as well as a firefighter, but was that enough? If not, that would be a shame. He liked this Kizzy Samuels.Reallyliked her.
* * *
Kizzy was enjoying the Fierros’ company, but too soon, Dante wanted to head home. Noah bid them a reluctant farewell, and Kizzy wondered if she’d ever hear from him again. She hoped so. He didn’t ask for her phone number, but at least he knew where she worked.
“He’s cute!” Ruth said as the guys walked away.
“Which one?”
“Both of them…but I was talking about the guy sitting next to you. Noah. He seemed—well, after the initial reaction—really into you. Do you think he fell in your lap on purpose?”
She laughed. “No. I’m sure he didn’t. He landed pretty hard, and considering how our first meeting went, I’m surprised he didn’t run off as soon as he recognized me.”
“Yeah, what was that about?”
Kizzy just waved away the question. “Nothing. Just a triage decision he didn’t like.”
