Chapter 4

4

Sofia

While my noodles boil, I cut up the veggies I'm putting in my pasta salad. Haley has invited me to a cookout at their home tomorrow. This salad is my specialty because I make the dressing from scratch.

I'm nervous about going because what if I see Rhett? Oh my God! The minute he walked up to me at the fire station I felt my insides go warm and began tingling in a highly unused body part. He is the most beautiful man I've ever seen.

He's tall, tan, lean, and has dark wavy hair that is just shy of too long. The best are his eyes and they're the color of espresso. The minute he grabbed my hand, my legs almost gave out. He touched me a lot during the tour he gave me.

The minute he slid down that pole, I swore I had a mini orgasm. I had been so scared to slide down the pole, but when I did it, I felt exhilarated. It didn't hurt that he was waiting at the bottom for me.

A man that looks like him, and a fireman, probably has women throwing themselves at him all the time. He'd never be interested in someone average looking like me.

"Ugh, what am I doing?" I whisper to myself, just as the timer goes off.

Draining the pasta, I let it cool a bit before I pour it into the bowl. I dump the veggies in, and then dump in the sauce. After I mix it all together, I cover it and stick it in the fridge. It's just me at home, Mom is out with her firm tonight. They won a big case, and the attorneys were taking the entire office out for a nice dinner.

I decide to lie in bed and read. I've always been a romance reader, but lately I've gotten into thrillers. There is just something about that big reveal toward the end of the book. The one that keeps you reading until you reach the end.

It was a busy week, so it takes no time before my eyes start to get heavy and I fall asleep.

I wake to the scent of bacon and climb out of bed. In the bathroom, I use the facilities and then after I do the rest of my morning routine, I head out to the kitchen. Mom is at the stove, cooking the bacon in one skillet and scrambling eggs in the other.

"Morning, Mom." I give her a side hug and then grab myself a cup of coffee. "This looks great."

She kisses my temple. "I have big news and since you were zonked out, I had to wait until this morning."

I lean against the counter. "What's the big news?" Picking up my cup of coffee, I blow on it before taking a sip.

"I've been offered the position of Senior Paralegal." She smiles at me.

Setting my cup down, I grab her, and we begin to jump up and down squealing. "Mom, this is great news. Congratulations."

"It comes with a nice pay raise, like I can get a new car raise. There is more responsibility and we're growing, but I'm ready for the challenge."

"Of course you are." Mom is smiling so big right now and that makes me so happy. "You are going to kick ass."

I pop some toast in the toaster and then grab some plates. Once everything's done, we carry our plates to her kitchen table. "This is so good, Mom." I cover my mouth because I have food in my mouth.

"What time are you going to Haley's?"

"She said six. Did you see I put some pasta salad in a container for you?" I reply as I take my plate to the sink.

She hands me hers. "I did. Since you're going out tonight, I'll have it for dinner."

In my bedroom, I lie on my bed. Last night I had dreams about the fire. It was the first time since it happened that I had one. I feel the heat from the flames, the sound the ceiling made as it collapsed trapping me.

This time though, Rhett and Cooper didn't rescue me. I flew up in bed, coughing and clawing at my blankets. Thankfully, I snapped out of it and was able to do it without waking my mom.

She'd just worry and that is the last thing I want. Now I'm exhausted and should try to take a nap, otherwise I won't be able to enjoy myself later if I'm tired. "Mom, I'm going to try to take a nap." I call out from my bed.

She comes to the doorway. "You just got up. Did you not sleep?"

"Not really. I woke up during the night and it took me awhile to fall back asleep. I just want to get a little more sleep."

Mom comes to the side of the bed. She reaches down and cups my face. "I'll leave you to it. Love you to the moon and back."

"Right back `atcha, Mom." She steps out of my room, closing the door behind her.

Snuggling into my pillow, it takes no time at all before I'm out.

I arrive at Haley and Cooper's and see there are cars parked up and down the street. I find a spot, park, and then climb out. Once I grab the pasta salad, I make my way toward the house. Looking around, it's a nice neighborhood and perfect for Roman to play.

I hear lots of people in their backyard so I walk to the back gate and let myself inside. I'm nervous about being around people I don't know, but I'm trying to be more sociable. Before I chicken out, I take a deep breath and walk into the yard.

There are people milling about. I freeze when a lot of the people, mostly guys, turn my way. I smile and look around. Desperate to see even one familiar face.

"Sofia, you're here." Haley skips toward me. "I'm so glad you could make it. Let's take that inside for now. I'll get you a drink and then introduce you to everyone." She loops her arm through mine and leads me into the house.

Cooper is standing at the bar, arranging burgers on a cookie sheet. "Hey, Sofia, welcome."

"Hey, C-Cooper." Oh great, I sound so dumb.

He gives me a smile and that's when I feel him. I turn my head and find Rhett, with Roman in his arms, walking toward me. "Well, look who's here." His greeting makes me blush, and I don't know why. "How are you, Sofia?"

Good God, I like the way he says my name. "I'm good, Rhett." I reach out and grab Roman's foot. "Hi, big guy."

Roman gives me a toothy grin and then buries his face in Rhett's neck. He squeals and then wiggles until he's set down. On chubby little legs, he runs around the island until he reaches Cooper.

"I'll hold you in a second, buddy." He smiles down at the little boy with so much love. That little guy will hopefully know how lucky he is to have a father who loves him so much.

I feel eyes on me and turn to look up at Rhett. I'm mesmerized by his eyes that have gone soft as he stares at me. He's wearing a navy-blue baseball cap with Station 47 stitched on it. He looks really good in the hat.

"How have you been, Rhett?" I am such a nerd.

He steps in close and grabs my hand, leading me outside. "I've been good. Just working and working." The smile he gives me makes me feel warm inside. We walk toward the huge cooler, and he opens the top. "What can I get you?"

I look inside and ask for a Coke Zero. Rhett grabs it for me and then he leads us over to a couple of chairs. Looking around, I see a lot of the other people here are staring at us.

"Just ignore them." He says the next part louder, "They're just nosy."

I turn to Rhett. "Do you work with everyone here?"

"I do. Our crew works twenty-four hours on and forty-eight off," Rhett explains. "It works and I like it. Unless someone is off or switches a shift, we work with the crew every time."

My can hisses as I open it. I take a drink and freeze when Rhett reaches out and runs his thumb along my lower lip. He holds it up and there is soda on it. My cheeks feel hot, and I know they're red right now.

He smirks at me and then takes a sip of his beer.

We both sit in silence, but it's comfortable.

A couple of guys come over to us. "Hollywood, introduce us."

"Sofia, these are a couple of my brothers, Hayes and Ghost Pepper. Guys, this is Sofia, she works with Haley, and she brought the cookies to us."

God, do all these guys look like they could be models? I am very intimidated right now, but they both give me huge smiles.

"It's nice to meet you both." I smile, which I hope isn't dorky.

The one nicknamed Ghost Pepper reaches out and grabs my hand, kissing the back of it. "Those cookies were so delicious, beautiful." He gives me a wink and then stands to his full height.

"All right, get out of here, assholes," Rhett urges.

I look at him and smile. "What is with the name Ghost Pepper?"

"We all use nicknames. It's just always been that way. Cooper's is Marchy, and Ghost Pepper's real name is Myles."

I cross my legs. "And you're Hollywood. Is it because your first name is Rhett?" Taking a drink of my pop. I am mesmerized by the slow, sexy grin that appears on his face.

"Partly, my full name is Rhett Butler Ferguson. Mom is a big Gone with the Wind fan. It also doesn't hurt that I'm very good-looking." He throws his arm around my shoulder.

I start giggling, yes giggling. "You're so full of yourself, aren't you?" I bump him with my shoulder.

Rhett pulls me into his side, and my insides go berserk. I want to wrap myself around him with my head on his shoulder and I don't understand why. I just met him. Maybe it's because he saved me, carrying me out of my apartment. I'd passed out before we were out of it. I woke up in the hospital.

"Hollywood, I need you," Cooper hollers from the grill.

"I better go." Rhett stands up and I watch him walk away.

Crap, he is so far out of my league. What is this? I'm sure it's just because he rescued me and he is just a nice person.

"Sofia?" A brunette with a smattering of freckles comes over smiling. "Hi, I'm Skye. I'm with Grayson, or as the boys call him, Hawk." She signals with her hand, pointing to a man who has bad boy written all over him. He's got dark hair, and I can't see his eyes. The guy has tattoos all over, at least what I can see.

"It's nice to meet you." I'm so awkward around new people. "What do you do?"

She smiles at me, maybe she can tell I'm nervous. "I'm a hair stylist. Your hair color is so gorgeous, don't ever dye it."

"I-I won't."

Haley calls out it's time to eat so I walk slowly toward the tables piled high in food. My stomach growls and I can't wait to eat.