Page 3 of Consumed By Fire

I go to say hello in the kitchen when I hear applause and whistles from the bar. I return, curious, and see that a new guy has joined the firefighters' table.

"The table is yours, Charlie," Lacey says with a mischievous grin.

"Pfff, as if I’m impressed by muscles and zero brains," I reply, shaking my head as I approach the table.

"I know I'm late, guys. Sorry about that, but a water pipe broke and flooded the kitchen,” says the new guy. He has taken off his jacket and his back is to me. I can see his muscles through his shirt and I agree with Lacey. Boy, he is quite hot.

"Hey, Charlie! We haven't seen you here in a while. How are you?" says Jake.

"Hi, guys. I'm okay. I missed you, too,” I say, winking and unleashing their laughter. "What can I get you?" I ask, looking at them one by one as I write down their orders. Finally, I turn to the new guy. "And you? What can I bring?" His eyes keep me imprisoned. Tum-tum, tum-tum. My heart is beating so hard, it almost hurts.

"A beer, please,” he says, smiling.

"Charlie, this is our new/not-so-new colleague, Dylan,” says Aide, waking me up from my thoughts.

"Hi, I'm Charlotte, Charlie for friends. Welcome to Armstrong."

"Thanks, Charlotte," he answers. Hearing him saying my name makes me melt. Tum-tum, tum-tum.

"New/not so new, huh?" I ask, amused.

"He was in and out of town for a few months," replies Jake.

"Oh, right."

"But I'm ready to be a local, too," says Dylan, winking at me.

"Hey, we're not so bad," I reply, smiling. I shake my head and walk away, going to prepare orders as Lacey approaches me.

"So?"

"So what?"

"What did you think?” she asks.

"About who?"

"What do you mean who, Charlie? Dylan Cooper?"

"Oh, he's cute and so hot. He seems like a good guy."

"And he is. He's a former Marine, you know."

I roll my eyes. She loves the uniform. Yes, I know it might seem like a cliché but the uniform has its own charm.

"So you'll be in his bed tonight."

"Oh no, although I'd like to,” she says, turning toward the table, "but apparently you made an impression. He hasn’t taken his eyes off you.”

"He’ll be disappointed like everyone else,” I say, taking the tray with the boys' beers.

The evening goes well and the place fills up. I catch him looking at me, and his unique smile, oh gosh, it makes me catch on fire.

After a couple of hours, the bar starts to empty when I feel someone touch my shoulder.

I turn around and see Dylan, almost embarrassed.

"Hey, why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like what you're about to say?"