Hearts on Fire 7: Claiming Catalina(5)

Don leaned forward and softly kissed her lips. “You’re forgiven,” he whispered after he pulled away.

She pulled back. “Don, I told you guys that this wasn’t a good idea.” She was obviously taken aback that he’d kissed her like that.

“We think otherwise. Besides, it’s fate us meeting like this again.” He winked then released her from around the waist and took her hand.

“I agree, and we missed a whole week we could have spent getting to know you. We’re headed to Sullivan’s for lunch. Want to join us?” Don asked as Cooper took up position on her other side.

“I really shouldn’t.”

“Oh, yes, you should,” Don said as he looked over her breasts in the dress she wore and then moved his gaze to her lips and eyes.

“Please? It’s our treat,” Cooper added and winked.

“You two are definitely persistent, and you did just save me from getting into a confrontation with four drunk guys.”

“That we are. Just wait,” Cooper teased, and the three of them headed to Sullivan’s to eat lunch.



* * * *



Catalina was a bit embarrassed as they entered the restaurant and saw so many of her friends and, of course, Cooper and Don’s new friends, now that they had been teaching and training at the fire training building. Everyone said hello and shook hands, gave hugs, and, of course, assumed they were an item. Truth was, she didn’t mind fantasizing it was true at all. Cooper and Don were gorgeous and extralarge. Their muscles had muscles, and they were seriously attractive. Being this close as they sat at a small table and the men flanked her on either side, she saw the deep similarities in them.

“Are you two twins?” she asked them. Both of them smiled at the same time and exactly the same. She chuckled. “That is very cool.”

“Yep, I’m older,” Cooper told her as he reached up and pressed a strand of hair away from her neck and her breasts. He looked her over and then pulled his bottom lip between his teeth as if looking at her was driving him wild. Well, looking at him and Don, feeling them this close, was pretty damn arousing, too.

“By two minutes, Cooper. That’s nothing,” Don said as he placed his arm over the back of her chair.

“Two minutes is a lot of time,” Cooper added.

Catalina chuckled. “So, do you two tend to fight a lot?” she asked as the waitress came over to take their drink orders. They all ordered sweet tea and then continued talking.

Catalina was laughing a lot. She was so surprised at how comfortable she was talking with Cooper and Don. They ate their lunches continuing to talk non-stop.

“How is the fire training program you both are running, going?” She took a sip from her sweet tea, leaning back against Don’s arm. He caressed her shoulder, and she didn’t mind one bit. In fact, she felt that tingling sensation move along her spine and even between her legs.

“It’s been going very well. There’s a lot of information and techniques to teach, but everyone seems really diligent and focused,” Cooper stated.

“Well, almost everyone,” Don said, then took a sip from his glass. She looked at him, at his dark brown eyes and the serious expression on his face.

“Oh no, that sounds like you have a few students who aren’t quite listening,” she said to him.

“We have a handful of rookies and some seasoned firemen who think they know everything, but we’ve been taking them down a small notch at a time,” Cooper said.

“Well, believe me, in every profession we have our share of the weaker links or people who think they know more than anyone else, and that actual experience matters. Like the story I told you guys earlier about my cell phone. This one particular nurse really thinks she knows it all. Another nurse and I have both told her to check the locks on the tables multiple times. She waved us off and, of course, nearly caused an accident that could have hurt a patient worse.”

“Never mind your phone, which led us to believe you were blowing us off.” Cooper reached up, cupped her chin, moved his lips closer to hers, and then kissed her lips softly.

Her eyes were still closed when their lips parted, and when she opened them, she caught him staring at her.

“God, Catalina, you’re so beautiful and sweet. I’m so sorry if I came on too strong last week at the Station. I just, well, I never felt so much so instantly, and I let my stupid mouth say what flashed through my mind,” Cooper admitted.

“We did, but we know you’re not some easy woman or just some fling. We want to get to know you better. Today has been a lot of fun, and we feel comfortable,” Don said as she looked at him.

He used his thumb to caress her lower lip, held her gaze, and began to lean closer. It was a moment of pull back or just let go and feel to see where this led. She didn’t move at all, and then Don’s lips touched hers, and she knew she was done for.

“You only have another week or so left here, right?” she asked a few minutes later as they argued over the bill, both Don and Cooper insisting they pay.

“Yes, but we have some decisions to make about a career opportunity right here in Treasure Town,” Don explained.

“Yes, the position would be for the both of us, and we would have better hours than what we have in New York right now,” Cooper said.

“We’re both ready to slow down a bit now. We’ve been at this for years, first in the military and then the public sector. It becomes tiresome,” Don added.

It made her wonder how old they were exactly. She was still young and maybe the difference in ages could be a problem.

“You make us sound so old, bro. You’re scaring Catalina,” Cooper said and smiled.

Her belly fluttered, and other parts became aroused. God, they were so big, so sexy and masculine that she could get lost in their embraces, but she’d never been with more than one man before. If things went wrong, she could be ruined forever.

“Sorry. It’s just that you get to a point where you know in your career or profession that it’s time to move on. Interests change. You think about the future and the things you thought you wanted and still want.” Don took her hand from her lap and brought it to his lips as he kissed her knuckles and held her gaze.

“I understand what you mean. I’ve been debating about a possible career move, too. There’s a position offered in the hospital where I work now, and it has a lot of positives. I can work a regular eight-to-four shift, off on holidays, even weekends, and get bonuses, paid vacation, and a bunch of other stuff all because of my experience and because I took a bunch of special certification classes over the last two years.”

“It sounds great. What’s holding you back?” Cooper asked her.

“To be honest, I guess, like you guys, I’ve been thinking that a change is needed, but I was leaning toward leaving town.”

“What?” Don asked, squeezing her hand a little tighter.

“Well, it was my thought process for a while because nothing new was happening in my life, I’ve been working like a dog, have no social life, and it seems like everyone around me is moving on and expanding on their lives and achievements and I’m just standing still. I don’t know. It sounds lame, I’m sure,” she said, lowering her head.

“No, actually you sound a lot like we did a few months ago, and even how Cody and Jeremy sound now when they talk about leaving their jobs,” Cooper told her.

She looked at him. “They want to leave their jobs?”

“They’re involved with heavy, stressful careers that entail a lot of secrecy and bad stuff. You know, bad people,” Don added.

“I know. I was there when the men brought in Sophia, and I heard what Jeremy and the others did to rescue her. I could only imagine how dangerous their work must be.”

“It’s taken a toll on our relationship, too, in a lot of ways,” Don admitted.

The waitress brought back their change and set it down. They said thank you, and then Cooper stood up. “Come walk with us. We can talk more privately outside on the boardwalk.”

She stood up, grabbed her bag, and took his hand as the three of them left Sullivan’s and waved at some friendly faces. She couldn’t help but wonder what Don had meant when he said their jobs had taken a toll on their relationships. She wanted to ask, but maybe Don felt he shouldn’t have made that last statement. The waitress coming over was the perfect excuse to drop it and leave.

But then Don stopped at the railing to the beach where it was empty and quiet.

She stood there looking out at the ocean, loving the smell of the salt water and the sound of waves rolling onto the shore and seagulls singing above.

Don stepped in behind her and placed his hand over one of her hands and the other arm wrapped around her midsection as she held the railing. She felt his hard, warm body press up against her ass and back, and it aroused her. His large, warm palm felt so good as it slid along her quivering belly and then against her hipbone in a possessive manner. He was so big and masculine, making her feel safe, dainty, secure in his cage of warmth. She couldn’t help but to lean back, and Don kissed her shoulder, then her neck as Cooper came to stand right next to them, covering her other hand with his.

Being connected like this felt so good, and so right. It amazed her. She finally understood how her friends felt, the ones engaged in ménage relationships, and how content and happy they always looked. This was different, and the fact that it had happened so quickly, and instantly, amazed her.