Chapter Ten
Chloe
As I walk to the fire station the next morning, I’m carrying a bag of breakfast goodies. Rich was the ultimate gentleman the entire evening. He’d been charming, attentive, and sexy enough to eat.
Sadly, he hadn’t allowed me the opportunity to partake. When we’d reached my apartment, he’d given me a sweet kiss, and then, his cellphone beeped. Another of the firefighters had fallen ill, and Rich had to take the night shift.
After having pulled a double, he’ll be exhausted and ready for bed. My nipples tighten at the thought of tucking him in bed and then joining him. Dang, it. This isn’t real. He could have any woman in town or in the state, for that matter. Rich is hot as sin.
When I make it to the fire station, my heart flutters. He’s standing outside in a pair of fireman pants and the same black t-shirt he’d worn to dinner. His biceps bulge as he unloads gear from the back of a truck.
As if he can sense me drooling over him, he twists in my direction and smiles. “Hey.”
When he waves, my stomach dives to my feet. “Hey, Rich. I brought you breakfast.” I dodge the protective coats, hats, and gloves that littered the ground until there’s only a couple of feet between us.
“Thank you, Sweetheart.”
“You’re welcome.” I glance around to see if anyone’s outside. No one’s around. Why is he so sweet to me? What’s in it for him? He can’t want me. My breath hitches in my throat. Can he?
“Come here.” Rich motions me over with his finger. “We were interrupted before I could give you a proper goodnight kiss.”
“Yeah?” I inch into his space. When he hauls me against his firm body, I squeal with delight.
“Sorry for the sweat and dirt, but I’ve got to kiss you. I need to know if you always taste like cupcakes. ”
As his mouth claims mine, I clutch his chest. Oh. My. God. His hands thread into my hair. Then, he tugs on the strands to tilt my face upward. Holy hell’s bells. No one has ever pulled my hair. The sensation goes straight to my clit.
When he has the perfect angle, his tongue strokes along the seam of my lips and plunges into my mouth to meet me thrust for thrust.
My heart thuds as I latch my arms around his neck – the bag of baked goods crinkles as it hits his upper back. I arch against his body. When his swollen cock juts into my stomach, my eyes roll back into my head. He can’t fake that, can he?
A loud throat clearing breaks our concentration. My face floods with heat, and I unlatch myself from Rich’s grasp and stand back. My breath is ragged as I look into his eyes. The raw desire reflected in them floors me.
“Get a room.”
I jump and twist on my heel. Anthony Timmerman. “Tony? ”
“Chloe. Rich.” Tony gives Rich a pointed look as he walks from the fire department parking lot toward us.
Tony was Rich’s best friend all through school and Jenna’s secret crush. Back then, Tony had been the star tight end for our football team. Now, he’s a professional football player, and the last I knew, he was playing for a team several states away.
“When did you get back in town?” I wipe my hands on my skirt.
“I got traded to K.C. last week.”
“Wow.”
“Rich forgot to mention you two were a thing.” Tony crosses his arms.
“We’re –” Rich rubs a hand over his face.
“Umm.” They talk over each other.
Shit. How’re we supposed to answer that? We aren’t in a real relationship, but if we tell Tony, he’ll tell Jenna. Not that the two of them talk, but with this shitshow in the works, he won’t be able to keep it to himself .
“Rich, you’d better lock this thing down before someone else comes along and snatches her up.” Tony waggles his eyebrows as his gaze travels over me and lands on my hand. “What’s in the bag?”
“Breakfast.” I open the bag so Tony can look inside.
“Damn, girl. That shit smells delicious. I might snatch you up myself.”
“Stop it.” I giggle and swat at his hand. Even though he’s a total screw off, he has a heart of gold. Tony loves having a good time and being a football god.
“It’s mine.” Rich snatches the bag from my hand.
“Asshole. You should share.”
Rich’s jaw clenches. “I don’t share.”
“Testy, aren’t you?”
I roll my eyes. Their banter is typical of how they interacted with each other. “I can’t believe you moved back to town.”
Tony crosses his arms and tips out his chin. “I’m thrilled to be back home. Although I’m extremely disappointed you didn’t know. Where have you been? Living under a rock?”
I cringe. “I’ve been busy.”
Obviously, the bakery has taken more of my attention than I’d realized. When was the last time I caught a game? It had to have been during the previous season. I love football, and it’s a tad embarrassing that the season is about to begin, and I have no idea how our hometown team is expected to perform.
“Listen, Tony. Can you give Chloe and me a second before we go?”
“Sure.” Tony winks. “See ya around, Sugar.”
“Later, Tony.” Sugar had become my nickname during high school because I’d loved trying new recipes and passing them out to my friends. At first, I’d hated the label, but now, it’s a badge of honor.
After Tony saunters off, Rich sits the bag on the back of the firetruck and raises his eyebrows. “What was that about?”
“What?”
“You and Tony? ”
“What, me and Tony?” I stand motionlessly. He can’t possibly believe I have the hots for Tony. Can he? Good Lord, I practically melt in a puddle in Rich’s hands. How could he think I’m interested in someone else?
“The flirting.”
“I wasn’t flirting with Tony. For goodness sake, he’s a football player, and I’m a small-town bakery owner. Like that would ever be a thing.”
“Why not?” He shoves his hands into his pockets.
“He probably hasn’t eaten a sweet since training camp began.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“Listen, Rich. I don’t know what all the twenty questions are about, but I’m not interested in Tony. He’s a good guy, though.” I’m not about to say that Jenna has been in love with Tony since freshman year. I would never violate Jenna’s trust like that.
Of course, Jenna would break my nose after vehemently denying her interest in said football jock, but I know better. I want to be with Rich, but I can’t get up the nerve to say it. What if he doesn’t feel the same?
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t have any claim over you,” Rich sighs. “I’m tired and hungry.”
“You have a right to be. Working almost twenty-four hours straight has to be taxing.”
“It is. Thanks for breakfast.” He runs a finger along my jawline. “You want to go out tomorrow night?”
My heart races inside my chest. Please let it be ‘the night.’ Damn it. If I have sex with him, there’ll be no reason for him to see me again. He places his lips on mine again, and my knees buckle. I never want to stop kissing him.
As he ambles to the fire station, I clutch my chest. How can I seduce someone like him and blow his mind?