Page 6 of His Curvy Woman

Chapter 3

Whitley

What the hellwas that last night with Hunter and I? He’s not the same person he was when he left. Before he was quiet and easy-going, but this new Hunter is cocky and assertive. I laid awake tossing and turning for hours, finally falling asleep around two-thirty. When I did sleep, I dreamt of Hunter clad in his Emerald Isle Fire Department uniform, the shirt tight against his chest and his thick, muscular arms covered in those colorful tattoos. When I knew him all those years ago, I never would have imagined him covering his arms in all that ink, but I can’t say I don’t like it. I woke with my hand between my thighs, the dream still fresh in my mind. I tried unsuccessfully to make myself come, but I wasn’t quite able to get myself there.

Walking into my job at the Emergency Call Center of Carteret County, all thoughts of Hunter disappear as I prepare for my shift as a 911 operator. Tina, one of my best friends and who also works the same shift as I do, is already sitting at her desk with her headset on. We’ve worked the same day shift from eight to five, Monday through Friday for the last couple of years that I’ve worked here. It’s a satellite office with less than ten of us working each shift.

I began working here after I graduated high school when my dad let me know there was an opening. Being the Fire Chief in Emerald Isle, I’ve listened to many of his stories over the years, and I’d hate to say it, but I’ve become desensitized to the horrors that often take place in this small town. It only seemed fitting to try my hand at working in the Emergency Call Center. Once I started, I figured out I actually had a knack for it. I love working here, and instead of going to college to get my degree in physical therapy, I switched majors, and I’m currently working towards my bachelor’s degree in emergency management.

“You look like shit,” Tina comments when I walk in, holding two large iced coffees, both with extra cream and sugar.

“Thanks,” I mutter, as I hand over her coffee and go to my desk.

With only a couple hours of sleep, my head feels fuzzy, and I’m starting to get a headache. I hope this coffee kicks in fast because if it doesn’t, I’m in for a long day. Once I log in, and I’m situated for the day I turn toward Tina who’s humming a tune and staring at her computer monitor. I toss a crumpled up napkin at her and raise my eyebrow at her once she looks up. She sticks her tongue out at me and goes back to humming her version of Old Town Road. God, I’m so tired of hearing this song.

Every once in a while we’ll hit a lull in calls for a few minutes, but it doesn’t last very long. And just like that, a call comes into the center, and Tina takes it. Not more than a minute later, another call comes through that I end up taking since I’m next in line. We work tirelessly for the next two hours and thank God, the caffeine kicked in shortly after my first call and I perked right up.

At ten after ten, we take our fifteen-minute break and head over to The Coffee Bean, which is only a few minutes’ walk from our building and grab a snack. While waiting for our drinks to be made, Tina nudges my shoulder.

“What happened last night? Tell me you found a guy at Beach Bums that took you back to his place and did all kinds of dirty things to you.”

I roll my eyes. Tina knows of my virgin status and has been teasing me about it since she found out. I guess in today’s world, being a virgin at twenty-one is rare, but I’m sure I’m not the only one who has chosen to wait for someone that she loved. Usually, when she asks about the nights, I go out with my brother and his friends I’m quick to reply with a no, but I can’t really tell her that this time. “Not exactly.”

Her eyes light up. “Oh? Tell me more.” She says and wiggles her eyebrows.

“It’s nothing. He’s just this guy who used to live here and go to school with Ramsey.”

“That doesn’t sound like nothing.”

I consider what to tell her and decide on the truth. What’s it going to hurt. It’s not like she knows who he is. “His name is Hunter and-”

“Oh, my God. Who the hell is that with Trevor?” Tina asks, interrupting me.

I turn and see Trevor walking in with Hunter, both of them decked out in their Emerald Isle Fire Department uniforms, and so do all the other women sitting in The Coffee Bean. Hunter is so freaking hot it isn’t fair. He looked good when he was a senior in high school, but he’s got nothing on the Hunter of today. He must think I’m a total nutcase after the way I freaked out last night. My palms begin to sweat, and my heart races. The sounds around me fade, and all I see is Hunter getting closer and closer to me. Trevor waves at Tina and I, that’s when Hunter notices me. His eyes heat instantly, and I feel my stomach flip in my middle. Instead of walking up to order, Hunter walks straight to me and gives me a cocky grin.

“I told you last night I’d be seeing you today. Didn’t know it would be this soon though.”

My cheeks burn. I keep remembering the way he pulled on my hair when he kissed me last night. The soft caress of his tongue against mine. The gasping feeling, I had when I pulled away from the kiss of all kisses. And then of course how I woke up only hours before. I’m afraid to speak, worrying if I do, I’ll tell the man that I’m in love with him after only one kiss.

His brows knit together, and he looks concerned. “You okay, baby?”

I nod, but I have no idea what to say to this man. Luckily, Tina interrupts by butting her nose in. “Hey, you must be Hunter. I’m Tina, I work with Whitley at the Emergency Call Center.”

Hunter gives her a polite smile then turns back to me. “Ramsey mentioned that you were working there. How long have you been a 911 operator?”

I clear my throat. “Since I graduated high school.”

“I thought you wanted to be a physical therapist and work with athletes.”

“You remember that?”

“Baby, I remember everything we’ve ever talked about.”

“What? Why?” I ask, completely taken off guard by his comment.

His smile vanishes “There’s so much we need to talk about Lee. Can I take you out for dinner tonight?”

“Lee,” Tina says, emphasizing Hunter’s nickname for me. “Would love to. She likes Mexican, sushi, and American. I’ve tried getting her to go for Chinese with me, but she refuses.”

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