Chapter 7

7

Rhett

I help roll up the hose after putting the fire out at the fast food restaurant. Luckily, we're close so we were able to contain the fire to the kitchen and extinguish it quickly. No one was hurt, thankfully. It takes a few hours to get things cleaned up.

"Did Sofia get the flowers you sent?" Marchy asks as we climb into the ambulance.

Shrugging, I pull out of the parking lot and head toward the firehouse. "I don't know. I didn't get a chance to check my phone before we left. They promised me she'd get them before the end of the day."

At the station, I back into the bay and then shut it off. We hop out, and then take off our gear. One by one, we head into the locker room. Once I've got my shower supplies, I head into one of the free stalls and quickly scrub myself clean. Back in the locker room I change into a clean uniform. Only then do I check my phone.

My face immediately lights up when I see her name on my screen.

Sofia: Thank you for the flowers. They're so beautiful.

I quickly type a response, especially since she just sent the text thirty minutes ago.

Rhett: You're welcome. I happened to be walking by the florist, saw them in the window and thought of you.

Immediately the dots start bouncing and I wait on bated breath for her to respond. They stop bouncing and then begin bouncing again.

Sofia: Well, it means more than you know. Thank you.

Smiling widely, it warms something inside me to see those words. I promised myself I'd take things slow, even though everything inside me says to charge forward, and before I can stop myself, I send her another text.

Rhett: Dinner and a movie? Please??? No pressure.

Watching my phone, it feels like forever and nothing. There's chatter from the guys all around me, but I barely hear them. I've scared her off, I know it. I shouldn't have asked her so soon. It's just that it felt right.

This is all new to me, wooing a girl, but I know she's worth it. Fuck if I know how, but I do. Hell, I've started watching my brothers start to fall in love. I'm not sure if that's what I want, but I want to at least see.

The dots begin bouncing and then a text pops up.

Sofia: I'd like that.

"Fuck yeah," I cheer quietly before quickly typing out a message.

Rhett: Tomorrow night. I'll text you in the morning with the details.

Sofia: Sounds good. Have a good rest of your shift and be safe.

I smile reading her text, especially the part where she told me to be safe. I stick my phone back in my locker and head downstairs, looking forward to our date.

Pulling into the driveway at Sofia's mom's place, nerves assail me. Never in my life has this happened. It's kind of exhilarating if I'm being honest. I climb out of my Jeep and hope I'm dressed okay. I decided on jeans, a black short-sleeved Henley, and red slip-on Vans.

I walk up to the front door of a cute Craftsman-style home. After ringing the doorbell, I shove my hands in my pockets while I wait. I hear the door open and smile when it does. Sofia is in a pair of light distressed jeans, a cropped purple tee, and light gray cardigan. Her hair is down and wavy and her makeup light. "Hi," she says.

"Hey. You look beautiful." Her cheeks turn pink, and I grab her hand. "Purple is a good color on you."

Sofia looks up at me and smiles. "We obviously have the same taste in shoes." She lifts her foot and she's wearing black slip-on Vans. "Come in, I need to grab my purse. I'd introduce you to my mom, but she's having dinner with her friends."

The inside is cute and homey. The color scheme is light creams and salmon. On the wall are pictures of Sofia through the years. Fuck, she's always been beautiful. How can she not see it? She comes back out and I smile. "Ready?"

She nods, and then lets me take her hand. I take her keys from her and lock the door, and then lead her to my Jeep. Once we are on the road, I tell her that we have reservations at The Stillery. "Does that sound okay?"

"I love that place. Their mac and cheese is the best." Sofia turns to smile at me.

Once we're downtown and I find a place to park, I come around to her side and open the door for her. She takes my hand and I help her down. Hand in hand, we head down the street toward the restaurant.

Inside, once we're there, I give the hostess my name and then she leads us to our table. Live music plays from somewhere inside, but it doesn't stop me from being able to talk to her. While we wait for our server, I ask her about her job.

"I love what I do. It's not the easiest job because sometimes teaching three- and four-year-olds, but they're so eager to learn and soak it up like sponges."

Our waiter comes to take our drink orders. I order an old fashioned and Sofia surprises me by ordering a tequila neat and chilled.

"I don't know if you ever do field trips, but you should bring them to the fire station. We have this whole presentation that we do. The kids get a kick out of it." Her kiddos might be too young.

Sofia smiles. "I'll talk to our director and see what she thinks."

The waiter comes back with our drinks and we place our order.

Three hours later and I'm leading Sofia out of the movie theater. We just watched the new Jason Statham movie. The movie was really good. This whole night has been better than I could've asked for.

We sat in the back and halfway through I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her into my side. It only took her about thirty seconds before she laid her head on my shoulder. While we watched amazing fight scenes, I stroked the skin of her arm.

Her scent wrapped around me, making me want to bury my nose in her hair and inhale.

Now we're walking to my Jeep, I wrap my arm around her shoulders, and she wraps her arm around my waist. "I think this is the best first date I've ever had," I tell her quietly as we reach my Jeep.

Sofia tips her head back and smiles at me. "Same."

We reach the passenger side, but I don't open the door right away. Instead, I cage her in against the side. Her tongue peeks out, wetting her lips. I know I shouldn't do this, I don't want to spook her, but instead I lean down, brushing my lips against hers.

Fuck, hers are soft. I begin to pull away, but Sofia grabs on to the sides of my shirt. This time I deepen the kiss, forcing her lips open with mine. The minute her tongue brushes mine, I sink my fingers into her soft waves, and kiss her like a starving man.

I finally pull away when someone catcalls while they walk by. Sofia's lips are swollen and under the light of the parking lot, the blue of her eyes is sparkling. "Fuck, you're something else." She's making me lose control already.

Opening the door, I help her inside and then move around to mine and climb in. "I want to take you out again. What do you think?"

She bites her lip. "I'd say yes."

I like that. No games, just straightforward. "Awesome. What about tomorrow? Too soon?" I don't want to waste any time with this girl.

Her laugh makes my heart beat faster. "Tomorrow s-sounds good."

We're both silent as I drive her back to her mom's house, but it's a comfortable silence. I just wish I was taking her to my place, but again, that would freak her out. I'm just new to this whole "dating" thing. It's less complicated not to have attachments, especially in my line of work, but something tells me this girl could be "the one."

I pull into her driveway and don't get out right away. She turns to look at me, and I reach out, wrapping my hand around the back of her neck. I lean toward her, brushing my lips against hers. This time her tongue touches the seam of my lips. Our kiss turns heated again, and all I wanna do is pick her up and drag her onto my lap, but I don't.

We kiss for a while, and finally I pull away. "Shit, I want to do that all night." I climb out and adjust my aching cock before moving around to help her down. Hand in hand, we walk up to her front door.

"I had a great time tonight," Sofia says. "I look forward to tomorrow."

I smile down at her. "Me too." I kiss her softly. "Now, get inside." Standing on her front steps, I wait for her to go inside and don't leave until I hear the click of the locks. Only then do I head to my Jeep and head home.