Fired Up By the Mountain Man (Hot Mountain Nights 2 #12)

Chapter 1

“Girl, if I see one more firefighter come out of that fire station half naked, I think I'll have a heart attack.”

Chloe was Maeve Henderson’s best friend and had always been a bit over dramatic.

A diva more times than not but in this case, she was spot on.

The guys across the street from their sandwich shop were all hot and ran around only half dressed most of the time, except when the fire alarm went off.

It made Maeve think it might be fun to take down the sign in the shop window that said “No shirt, No shoes, No service” just to see who might come in only half dressed.

The downside to that and probably a really bad decision for their lunch crowd; it might also encourage the not-so-hot guys and she wouldn't intentionally want to ruin anyone's appetite.

They value all of their customers so guess she and Chloe would have to continue admiring and drooling from afar.

The two best friends have jointly owned the quaint little beach front sandwich shop in Brystal Bay Texas for a good couple of years now but have remained dedicated friends since the third grade.

When they were shopping for the perfect location, their intention was to be as close to the beach as possible.

As luck would have it, close turned out to be a measly walk across the street.

The only downfall or benefit, depending how you looked at it, was the fire station that stood between them and the beach.

“Oh Maeve, there he is!”

Her partner was screaming like a mad woman, drawing out Maeve’s name as if taunting her. Unfortunately, she knew exactly who Chloe was referring to and she didn't want to look, it depressed her.

“No thanks, I'm good.”

She didn't even turn around. She’d already watched him too many times, like literally hundreds.

The he Maeve’s friend was referring to was literally her undoing, a weakness to all her senses and she wanted to plaster herself to the front window all day long everyday but it would do no good.

He was probably the only firefighter who hadn't been to their shop for lunch. She’d seen him outside countless times, but she never had the nerve to say anything to him and anyone that witnessed would think she looked like an idiot hollering across the street if she ever tried.

“Are you nuts woman? That's your dream guy. And should I add the part where he happens to be coming our way?”

“Ha-ha, nice try.” How dare she joke about such a thing. “He never comes here Chloe and it's not nice to tease.”

“Okay whatever, stay oblivious. I'm bugging out for a while though so he's all yours.”

She heard the bell jingle, signaling Chloe's exit. Once she turned around, she knew there would be major groveling later to her best friend. A nauseating grumble erupted in her stomach as she watched the object of all her fantasies cross the street.

“Oh shit.”

***

“Today’s the day.”

Cole repeated the words as he waited for traffic to clear.

The Sand Bucket was in his sights, but today he'd actually found the balls to do more than just stare at the building.

He was going over to ask the hot little brunette out, even if it killed him.

He'd been on the day shift the last month, so he watched that shop every day and knew their routine like the back of his hand.

They opened early morning, stayed steadily busy throughout the day, and locked the doors at three o’clock to do whatever they did at closing time.

Then they both walked out the door at four.

Made him sound a little like a stalker but he wasn’t.

He just wanted her. Before today he'd been too chicken to do anything about his infatuation, but he couldn't take any more ribbing from his buddies.

It was apparent that he wore his feelings right out there on his sleeve for everyone to see, and just for spite, one of his friends even threatened to ask her out himself.

Not that that was any small surprise; Kyle Booker was his best friend Kamryn’s twin but was also the black sheep of their family and the biggest troublemaker he knew.

No way would Cole let him or anyone else close to her, at least until he got turned down.

Even then it still wouldn't matter; he couldn't handle seeing anybody else dating her and especially not sleeping with her.

He'd have to move out of the damn country.

“Hey bud, you actually have to cross the street to get to her shop.” Kamryn was mocking him from behind.

“Thanks a lot, you ass, I was waiting for traffic to clear.”

“What...the traffic from next week? You already stood through two red lights buddy. Go already.”

“Alright, alright, I'm going, damn.” Now that Cole’s best friend knew where he was headed, Kamryn wouldn’t waste any time spreading the gossip clear through the station.

Cole had no clue what the hell his problem was lately.

There were plenty of women in his sorted past and plenty more where they came from.

He was a fire fighter for Chrissake, he could probably walk into any bar and find someone willing without too much effort.

And he wasn’t just saying that because he was full of himself.

For some reason, girls were ridiculous for firefighters.

So, what made this girl different? And what made him different with this girl?

He'd been practically obsessed with her for months now, didn't even find other women the least bit appealing.

It just wasn't normal for a healthy red blooded American man and bad for his reputation as a firefighter, not that he cared much what others thought.

He was generally at the top of his game but not since her. Shit...he'd lost his mojo.

As he crossed the empty intersection, he could hear Kamryn and Kyle calling out all the other guys to witness a fool in the making.

Those assholes could think what they wanted.

It wasn't like he couldn't get a woman; he just didn't want anyone else. Despite the constant teasing, Kamryn was all talk, he understood better than anyone. He was in a bit of a dry spell himself, but it wasn’t quite the same because he was married, he just wasn’t getting any regularly.

With his pregnant hormonal wife at home alone every day with a toddler, he might as well sleep full time in the bunkhouse.

Cole reached the sidewalk just in time to hold the door open for an elderly woman. Great. He’d rather not have a witness in case he really did make a fool of himself. He could hope maybe she was hard of hearing.