Page 11 of Broken Hero
“You look like the kind of girl who likes cold and long with a bit of a kick.”
“That is impressive. Idolove a Mojito.”
“You know, the men that drink in here are going to be so happy. They're used to me drooling all over them, but now when they see you, they're gonna think it's their birthday!”
I roll my eyes. “Shut up.”
“I'm serious. You are bloody gorgeous - even a gay guy can see that. Prepared to be flirted with. Although, not sure the fire guys know how to flirt...”
I laugh as the door swings open, and Declan walks in, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and looking fine.
Tom leans into me. “This here is one of my favourites, but he’s always so brooding.”
“Hey, Sophie.” He winks at me and sits down on a stool at the bar.
My stomach flutters; did he just wink at me? “Hi. You coming to check if I turned up on my first night?”
He laughs. “Something like that. Can I have a Bud, please?”
My stomach does funny things. He has laughed and winked at me in the space of five minutes. Yup, definitely attracted to him. “Sure, Big Man, coming right up.”
I turn to look at Tom, who is frozen in place. “Can I get past you to get a beer, please?”
“Er, sure.” He looks stunned. I want to laugh.
I pass the bottle to Declan. “Here you go. Thank you so much for getting me this job. We’re even now.”
He takes a swig of his bottle and I stand and watch him do it, because well, hot. He swallows then notices I'm watching him.
He nods. “No problem. How’s it going?”
“Good, Tom here is showing me the ropes. He’s been telling me about everyone, giving me all the gossip, haven't you, babe?”
Tom nods numbly. He’s gone quiet all of a sudden.
“So, what are you actually doing here? I know it wasn't only to see me.”
Soph, stop flirting with the nice fireman.
He shrugs. “I'm meeting a few of the guys here after their shift.” He looks at his watch, “They finish at ten, so they're coming straight across.”
“It’s so great – that you're a fireman. What’s it like?”
“It’s good - not as exciting as everyone thinks it is. It's hard work, and you have to keep in good shape.”
Yeah, he didn't need to tell me that - I can see it, plain as day.
“But yeah, it’s good...satisfying. Some days it's visiting people’s houses, fitting fire alarms and shit, but some days it gets real.” He leans in as though he’s going to tell me a secret, and I get a whiff of his aftershave, Creed, I think. He smells so good. “Most of the time, it's fitting fire alarms and taking the truck to schools letting kids sit in the driver's seat.”
I give him a genuine smile. “Yeah, but still, you get to be a hero. Heroes don't just come in one shape or form, do they? You’re a hero to that little boy or girl that you lift into the driver's seat of the fire engine, telling them that they can be whatever they want to be.”
His eyes go warm, and they crinkle up at the corners as he smiles. “Yeah, I guess.”
“What made you want to be a fireman in the first place?”
Immediately, I can tell that I’ve asked the wrong question. Any friendliness in him dissipates, and his face closes down. “Nothing interesting. Time to shoot some pool. I’ll catch you later.”
Okay, I have no idea how that question could be offensive, but after that question, he has changed his body language, so I guess I offended him somehow. He walks over to the pool table.What did I say?
