A Firefighter in Her Stocking

“Starved,” she confessed, telling the truth. “I didn’t eat much earlier. I was nervous about tonight.”

“Your nerves have settled now?”

“Now my nerves are so electrified from that amazing show that everything else pales in comparison,” she gushed, not caring he probably thought she was silly for being so excited. “I have such a rush from the show I’m surprised I even notice I’m hungry.”

He laughed and the sound reverberated through her chest and mind, setting off happy bells.

“Just you wait,” he promised. “The best is yet to come.”

“No food is going to compare to what we just witnessed.”

* * *

“I take it back,” Sarah recanted an hour later as her lips closed around her spoon. The most delightful sugary concoction melted in her mouth and sent pleasure through her from head to toe. “Pretty sure this

stuff is straight from heaven.”

“Like it?”

Rather than answer him, she took another bite and slowly withdrew her spoon from her mouth. “I’m positive it’s illegal and some type of mind-altering goodness that makes the whole world seem absolutely euphoric.”

He chuckled. “I assure you it’s perfectly legal.”

“I know,” she admitted, meeting his gaze. “I didn’t mean to imply you’d drug me. I don’t think that at all.”

“I never thought that’s what you meant.” His eyes twinkled. “Neither would I ever do that to you.”

“You wouldn’t have to.

Her admission had Jude swallowing hard and her mouth watering. Not because of the dessert.

He’d been the perfect date. Kind, thoughtful, generous, attentive, sweet.

“I’ve enjoyed myself tonight, Sarah.”

“You make it sound as if you don’t usually enjoy yourself and we both know better than that,” she reminded him, as much for herself as him. She might not do this kind of thing often—ever—but Jude did.

“You’re referring to sex. I’m not.”

She didn’t bother to hide her disbelief. “You’re saying sex isn’t enjoyable?”

“Sex is extremely enjoyable,” he clarified. “That’s why it’s so popular. But I was referring to a different kind of enjoying myself.”

Her heart pounded, the beat echoing through her head. “Does that mean we’re friends?”

“No, Sarah, I don’t think that’s what that means.”

“I’m confused.” She took another pleasurable bite, trying not to let the fact that he’d stopped eating altogether and was just watching her do so bother her.

“No need for confusion. I meant I enjoyed your company in ways that have nothing to do with sex.”

She wasn’t sure whether to be insulted or complimented. What was she thinking? Wasn’t she the girl who always claimed to want to be appreciated for her mind? For her personality? For what was inside rather than her physical appearance? For her brain rather than her body? Wasn’t that why she downplayed her physical appearance to keep from attracting the wrong kind of attention?

The wrong kind? She hadn’t attracted any attention in a long time. Not that she’d been trying. She hadn’t. The opposite, actually, because she didn’t want a relationship.

Her efforts had worked. No one had noticed her. Not her brain or her personality or anything about her.

Not until Jude.