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“Well, thank you. It sure made the first three days go easier. I didn’t feel as isolated as I would have if you haven’t been around.”
“When I started working last year, my dad and my brothers made it worse hanging around me. They were so worried about me. I didn’t want you to feel like I was bugging you.”
“I didn’t feel that way at all,” she said, pouring water into the coffee maker. “It was a good first shift. I set a goal for myself to be a firefighter when I was a kid, and I’ve met the goal. Now I wish I could just chill out.”
“You come from a firefighting family, too. My uncle told me your dad is chief in the city.”
“Yep. My brothers are firefighters and a cop, too. I’m the only girl.”
“The Saints and the Angels.”
“Ha! That’s us.”
She pointed to the couch. “Have a seat.”
Sitting on the other end with her legs curled under her, every nerve was alert. She’d better be careful around Jake Saint. He just oozed sensuality with his long and lanky body. There was no room in her life for a romance. A one-night stand she could manage, but not with a coworker. Yes, she’d have to carefully navigate whatever this was with Jake Saint.
“This is good,” he said, sipping the coffee. “What are your plans today?”
“I guess I was going to just play it by ear. I’ve never worked three full days away from home before.”
“What did you do before this?”
“I worked the drive-thru at Der Wienerschnitzel,” she said, laughing. “That and go to school.”
“Can I give you advice? I mean, seeing as how I’ve been doing this gig for a year now.”
“You can give me advice, but I might not take it,” she replied, still laughing. “I’m known around my family as determined.”
“So you’re stubborn.”
“I guess so. What’s your advice?”
“You should play your first day off. Get back into a regular sleep pattern. Today we should do something fun, and then tonight you’ll be ready to sleep.”
“What do you consider fun?” she asked.
“I like to go to the zoo. The safari park up by the station. It’s a chance to get exercise walking around, and the animals are fun to watch. What do you like to do?”
“I haven’t had the time to play since high school. But I like the beach when the weather’s nice, and it’s almost always nice in Southern California.”
“Since it’s a little cold for the beach today, will you go to the zoo with me?”
“Okay. The zoo it is.”
The zoo was safe. She couldn’t hang around her apartment all day, not with Mr. Hottie. She was afraid he might try to hold her hand, and it would take every bit of resolve she had to behave. Out of nowhere, a visual came to her; imagining her legs wrapped around his waist almost knocked her to her knees. She quickly shook her head and the image disappeared.
He glanced at his phone. “It opened at nine. If you’re ready for breakfast, I’ll cook and we can take off.”
“I have eggs,” she said. “There’s probably bread for toast. I don’t keep a lot of food around.”
“Eggs and toast are great.” He stood up and pointed toward the kitchen. “You ready?”
She laughed out loud. “Go for it. I’ll be sure to get more food for next time.” Stammering, she quickly added, “If there’s a next time.”
“I hope there’s a next time,” he said, looking at her with those piercing blue eyes. “Sure puts a lot of pressure on the zoo.”
“Ha! The zoo will be great.”
