Wet(18)
He glanced at the clock as he worked on a new seafood primavera sauce. It was nearing lunch and he was hoping to take a break and catch Katy at the Seafarer. A noise behind him drew his attention, and he spun around to see Katy standing in the doorway, dressed in her sexy, fifties-style uniform from the restaurant. She held a tray with coffee and muffins and her wide smile showcasing perfect white teeth took his breath away.
“I thought you’d run away,” she said, her eyes bright, alive and playful when they locked on his.
He shook his head, and without thinking said, “I’ve never run out on you before.”
Katy frowned and he instantly realized it was a poor choice of words.
“Didn’t you get my note?” he hurriedly said, not wanting to put a damper on her visit.
The corners of her mouth turned up. “Yeah. Just like old times.”
He dropped his spoon and closed the distance between them. He pitched his voice low and said, “Katy, about last night.”
Her smile dissolved and a worried look came over her face. “What about it?”
“I’d like a repeat of it tonight.”
She grinned, and looked so damn beautiful it was all he could do not to take her right there. He leaned in and dropped a soft kiss onto her mouth, and took pleasure in the new, easy intimacy blossoming between them.
She kissed him back hungrily, then said, “It’d be my pleasure, but…”
Trent shook his head. “No buts, Katy.” When she got quiet for a moment, her blue eyes narrowing with concern, he asked, “Okay, what is it?”
She paused, and seemed to weigh her words carefully before blurting out, “Well, it’s just that Granddaddy Errol told me business was down at the Seafarer and he thought I could come up with new menu ideas to attract more tourists. I’ve been working on a menu and need the kitchen tonight after closing to try them out.”
He shook his head, perplexed. “Business is down?”
Katy handed him his coffee and they both sat at the table. “Yeah, I know. I thought the same. But why would he lie about such a thing?”
Trent shrugged, not really sure, and took a slug of the rich brew. “Maybe there are things you don’t know.”
“I suppose.” She opened a napkin and laid out the muffins. She crinkled her nose and added, “Look, he asked me not to say.”
Always priding himself on trust and honesty, Trent shook his head and pressed his fingers to her lips. “Hey, did you forget who you were talking to?”
Her smile turned sheepish. “Sorry.”
He took a moment to mull over Errol’s concerns. As he considered them, he couldn’t help but recall the voice on the other end of his cell, the one that had warned him of the trash-can fire. Something wasn’t adding up, but now wasn’t the time to be dwelling on such things, not with Katy sitting next to him, smelling like honeyed candy and looking so damn sweet and sexy, she had his cock thickening to the point of pain.
He redirected the conversation. “So if not tonight, tomorrow?”
“I’ll be counting down the minutes,” she answered, a spark dancing in her eyes as she bit into her muffin. “And besides, aren’t you on shift tonight?”
He cocked his head and questioned, “How’d you know that?”
She grinned. “Maybe I really do know more about you than you think.”
“Maybe,” he said, then frowned. “But soon the world is going to know everything about me too.”
Expressive blue eyes met his. “I really don’t know what the sudden interest is all about? And I don’t know who tipped the media off or even why anyone would do such a thing.”
“Did they follow you here?”
“Yeah, but I managed to ditch them before sneaking in the back door.”
He leaned into her, and brushed a muffin crumb from her mouth. “You always were very stealthy, Katy.”
She arched a manicured brow. “Is that why I was the only girl you let climb the trees with you?”
“Among other reasons.” When heat suffused her cheeks, he added, “I’m just glad you were able to ditch them. I hate all the attention.”
She chuckled and waved her hand over her bubble-gum-pink uniform. “Yeah, well ditching them with this on was no easy task.”
When Trent laughed, she pursed her lips and in a sober voice asked, “Have you been watching television?”
“No.” The last thing he wanted to see was himself splashed across the screen.
“Well, the media is making me out to be America’s sweetheart, and you, the heroic firefighter, my teenage crush who once again swept me off my feet. Apparently people are eating it up.”