Hearts on Fire 7: Claiming Catalina(4)
“Well, when an opportunity presents itself, you should at least consider it, talk it over with them, and perhaps see if now is a good time to move. You know you already have a lot of friends here, never mind professional connections and relationships. You’d all fit in just fine.”
“Well, it’s something to consider, and I guess Don and I have some things to discuss since the job offer was for both of us. We’ll let you know,” Cooper told Ice.
Ice raised his beer bottle. “To hoping you’ll join the family here in Treasure Town.”
They clicked bottles and smiled as Cooper wondered if maybe it truly was the right time to move out of New York, slow down the pace a bit. But as he glanced back toward Catalina, he wondered if he was just dreaming, being hopeful, maybe even desperate to achieve their dreams of being one family. He hardly even knew the woman, but she was the first one he’d met that ever made his mind fast-forward to a serious commitment. That in itself was definitely something he needed to explore further.
As he felt a hand slap on his back and a group of young firefighters join them, offering beers, he had to put all thoughts on hold and talk shop with the locals. Tomorrow would be a different story.
Chapter 1
“So, spill the beans, missy. What the heck happened between you, Don, and Cooper last night at the Station?” Serefina asked as Catalina sat in the break room, trying to drink a cup of coffee as she spoke on the phone.
“What are you talking about? There are no beans to spill.” Catalina rubbed her temple on her right side, as she used her shoulder to hold the phone, since her other hand held the cup of coffee. Instantly, her neck ached.
“Come on, really? I’ve known you forever. You were immediately attracted to the four of them.”
“They don’t live in New Jersey, never mind anywhere near Treasure Town. It would never work out. Plus, only Cooper and Don were at the Station last night. We talked, and I’m on nights all week.”
“Well, that didn’t stop you from kissing Cooper, from what I heard.”
“Jeesh! Did everyone see the man kiss me?”
“Oh my God, you like him. I knew it. So when are you going to see them?”
“Duh. I’m not going to. It’s a waste of time. I can’t get involved with some one-night stand or some free-for-all sexcapade.”
“Catalina, you like them, and they like you. Maybe it can work. Ice told me that Cooper and Don were offered these great jobs with the county running the fire training facility and programs for every fire house. It’s a pretty great opportunity. They might move here, then what?”
“Well, I’m happy for them, but considering that they both asked me to go home with them last night, and I hardly know them, I’d say they weren’t looking for the commitment-type of woman.”
“Damn, they asked you that straight out? It must have been a hell of a kiss,” Serefina said, and Catalina exhaled as she leaned back against the small couch.
“It was freaking incredible. I swear if I were easy, or didn’t think I would ever see them again, I would have said yes.”
“Damn, that’s amazing, but maybe it’s not what you think. Maybe he just blurted it out because he was so very attracted to you.”
“But then Don came over and added the same thing. It just seemed like that’s what they do—like a woman, feel an attraction, and then take her home to screw her. I’m not like that and never have been. I want more, Serefina, and it’s starting to feel like I’m never going to get that around here.”
“Hey, don’t say that. When the time is right, you’ll meet the right guy or guys. Just hold steady. How is work going, anyway?”
“Well, I heard about this new position. It would mean no more night shifts. I could actually get a tan.” She chuckled.
“Is it in the hospital or elsewhere?” Serefina asked, and Catalina could tell she was worried. As much as Catalina thought about moving and starting fresh somewhere, she loved the town and the people too much.
“It’s here and with the ER still, and entails a lot of responsibility, but the benefits seem awesome.”
“So you’re going to apply for it?”
“Maybe. I’ll decide soon.”
“You should go for it. Maybe this is the change you need, and it can free up your nights so you can go out more.”
“I’m thinking about it. A change could be a really good thing right now. We’ll see. I’d better get going. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“You bet. Be safe.”
“Always,” Catalina said and then disconnected the call.
The second she did, the door pushed open.
“We just got a call. Five victims, multiple-car pileup, on their way now,” one of the other nurses told her. She immediately stood up, tossed her half-full coffee cup into the garbage, and headed out the door to the ER. Time to go back to work. Her fifteen-minute break was now over.
* * * *
The phone rang several times, but no voice message came on. Don looked at Cooper. “Are you sure she gave us her real cell number?”
“Bro, she was right there when it went off. It’s hers. Maybe the voicemail is full,” Cooper said as they both sat at the table in the kitchen.
“Or she’s avoiding our call again. It’s been a week. Last night should have been her last night shift.”
“Maybe if we go to the Station tonight, we’ll see her there with her friends?”
“Maybe. I guess we’ll head out to Sullivan’s for lunch and then check out those two houses for sale. If we’re seriously going to consider moving, I want to have a nice place and all the details planned out so that when we talk to Cody and Jeremy, they can’t say they’re not interested.”
“Sounds like a plan. Let’s go.”
As they headed down the road in their Jeep, Don thought about why Catalina was avoiding them. Sure, if things got serious, it would be hard to have a long-distance relationship, but the woman wasn’t even giving them a chance. Why was that? Had something happened to her to make her decline their interest? Maybe he was reading into things. Or maybe he felt a bit off-kilter and insulted because not once in his life had a woman declined an offer of coming home with him, a date, or even a kiss. Shit. She wasn’t even their woman, and she was making his head spin.
As Cooper pulled along the curb and into an open parking spot, Don spotted some guys talking to a blonde. Her back was toward him, but he could tell she had a great figure in the slim-fitting blue sundress she wore, and she was carrying a large bag on her shoulder. When she turned away from the one guy closest to her, Don caught sight of the low V of the dress and how her breasts nearly poured from the top, yet the outfit looked stylish and classy, like something a model would wear.
“Holy shit.” He took in the full sight of her and then her face. Despite the dark black sunglasses she wore, he could tell right away that it was Catalina.
“Is that Catalina?” Cooper asked as he got out of the Jeep.
“Sure as shit is.”
“Who the fuck is she with?”
“I don’t know, but looks like she’s not with them. She’s trying to pass by them,” Don said, and he and Cooper made their way closer.
From Don’s perspective, Catalina appeared annoyed as she placed her hand on her hip and started raising her voice.
“I said I’m not interested, so take a hike.”
“That’s our cue,” Don said. “Hey, baby, we’ve been looking all over for you. We were worried.” Don moved right between the guys there, practically knocking them over. Cooper stood with his arms crossed in a mean, protective stance.
“Are you bothering our woman?” he barked.
Catalina gasped, but Don pulled her close and squeezed her hip as he wrapped an arm around her waist, bringing her closer to Cooper and him.
“Your woman? Shit. If she were mine, she would never be left alone,” one guy said, and he sounded a little drunk.
“Well, she isn’t yours, so get lost. The lady isn’t interested.”
The four men looked at Catalina.
“See you around, doll, when your muscle-head boyfriends aren’t around,” one of them stated.
“Hey, you fucking ever come near her again and you’ll answer to me. Got it?” Cooper stated firmly as he stepped toward them, ready to fight.
The one drunk guy raised his hands up. “Whatever. We’re out of here.”
They started walking away, and Don couldn’t help but to pull Catalina close and hug her. “Are you okay?” he asked, and she nodded.
“I was just coming from the phone store. I was walking out, and these guys followed me and starting bothering me. It was so weird. I’m sorry that you had to get involved.” She began to pull away.
He held her by her hips and stared down into her eyes. “We were pissed when we saw you talking to those guys.”
“Yeah, especially since we called and left multiple messages on your cell phone asking about getting together,” Don added.
“You did? Oh God, I’m so sorry. My stupid phone got broken on Tuesday night at work. The ER was super busy, and when multiple victims of a car accident came in at once, it was pandemonium to get to everyone in a timely manner. As we were working, one of the new nurses hadn’t locked the gurney and it started to collapse. I grabbed onto the corner as the others helped, but my cell phone popped out of my back pocket and broke. Working all these night shifts all week, I hadn’t had time during the day to bring it to get fixed because I was sleeping. So, sorry.” She finally exhaled.