Firefighter's Virgin

I neglected to mention that I’d used those kinds of lines myself, or that they actually worked most of the time. I had no doubt it wouldn’t work on a girl like her, but not all women were like her. I hadn’t actually met one like her before, not that I could remember. And I have a great memory.

She mulled over my words, the flush on her cheeks deepening. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I guess there are lots of men, and women, out there who operate like that.”

“You’re giving up your assumptions that easily?” It was hard to believe. Everything I’d seen from her so far had pointed to a seriously stubborn, headstrong woman.

She met my gaze and held it. The flickering from the candle on the table reflected in her eyes, making it look like ocean waves rolled in them. It was intriguing. Almost as intriguing as the fact that she wasn’t succumbing to my charm and was actually engaging in real conversation with me.

“I’m a big enough person to admit when I’ve made a mistake. I may have miscalculated. With you, at least. I’m not letting go of my assumptions altogether.” She smiled, then clapped her hands together in delight as the server entered the room and set our sizzling plates down on the table.

The heavenly aroma filled the room in a way that made my taste buds tingle. I had lived off shitty meals, fast food, and health shakes for long enough to appreciate good food. It was one of the reasons why I paid Mrs. W. as well as I did.

Gabrielle tucked into her meal with gusto. It surprised me from a girl with a body like hers, but her eyes actually sparkled. Then, she moaned when she took her first bite.

The moan shot like a bolt of lightning straight to my cock.

Down boy.

We were both quiet as we ate, but it wasn’t an awkward silence. It was comfortable, like we’d done it a million times before. It was kind of weird how easy things were with her. I’d never been in a serious relationship, but being with Gabrielle was how I imagined it would feel to sit down with a girlfriend, or God forbid, a wife.

Now that was one thing I never intended to do. Just the thought of marriage made me shudder. Nope, not for me. Harper was my happily ever after. Settling down with a girl like her mother was my darkest nightmare.

I briefly wondered if I should tell Gabrielle about Harper, but I decided against it. I’d known her all of a couple of days, and we weren’t even on a date, not really.

“That was amazing,” Gabrielle exclaimed when the server removed our plates. She twirled the stem of her wine glass between her thumb and forefinger, pausing to take a long sip.

“It was. They even remembered the garlic.” I smirked. “Probably only to avoid your wrath if they dared forget it.”

“Oh, ha!” she replied dryly. “I wasn’t the one who threw that tantrum, remember? Speaking of which, you never answered my question properly. What more is there to you?”

She leaned back in her chair and seemed to really listen to my answer, interrupting every now and then to ask another question or throw in a witty comment. We talked for hours, until the server came to tell us it was last call and they would be closing soon. I glanced down at my watch. It was nearly midnight.

Where the hell had the time gone?

Gabrielle stifled a yawn as she realized the time, but her eyes were still alert. We’d polished off the bottle of wine, but she didn’t look like she was even slightly tipsy. It seemed she could handle her liquor as well as I could. It was a welcome change.

“We should probably get going,” she said hesitantly, almost regrettably. “You know, my dad would kill us if he found out we’d had dinner. And that dinner had kept us out this late.”

“Yeah, let’s go. And I don’t think he’d kill us. He’s always liked me.” I settled the check, despite Gabrielle’s protests that she could pay for herself, and held the door for her, watching the sway of her hips for a second before following her into the main dining room.

Most of the tables had cleared, but there were a couple of people still hanging around. Gabrielle came to a complete stop ahead of me, her eyes fixed on a familiar blond man with his back towards us.

“Shit,” she breathed and took a few steps back. Right into my chest. I reached a hand out to steady her as I searched out an escape route that wouldn’t involve passing Richard, who was settling his check at the front desk. It didn’t seem like the right time to find out what his feelings about our dinner actually were.

I grasped Gabrielle’s hand and pulled her through a door nearby marked “staff only.” The owner didn’t bat an eye as I explained that we needed an alternative exit. She led us through the kitchen to the service entrance and waved us out.

“Thank you for a lovely evening,” I told the owner. “Everything was great. I’ll definitely recommend this place.” We stepped into a dark alley off the side of the restaurant.

“Much appreciated, Mr. Skye. Don’t be a stranger.” She let the door swing closed behind her, and I could see her hurrying back to the kitchen through a foggy window in the door.

Gabrielle crashed into my side, shaking uncontrollably.

Shit, what the hell? I wrapped an arm around her and drew her tight into my body. My eyes dropped to her face, and my hand already rose to wipe away tears. I hated it when girls cried.

Only, Gabrielle wasn’t crying. She was laughing so hard that no sound came out of her mouth.

“Shit, that was close,” she sputtered when her laughter subsided. “Quick thinking on the escape.”

She was still standing under my arm, pressed to my side where’d she’d stayed as we laughed. When she looked up at me again, something in her eyes had changed. Before I could say another word, she leaned up and kissed me. Claiming my mouth with hers. Hard.