Page 15 of Christmas Romance Galore!
The trucks parked up and a bunch of burly-looking firefighters jumped down from their trucks, their over-sized gear looking out of place on a normal city street. They walked towards Maureen who was practising her best official face, and then to my horror, she pointed towards me, before beckoning me over. I put my head down and crimson embarrassment leaked into my cheeks as I came face to face with no less than four firefighters, three men and one... Nicola Sheen. I blinked rapidly, my heartbeat thudding in my chest.
Not even in my wildest dreams had Nicola Sheen been a lesbian and a firefighter.
“This is the culprit,” Maureen told them, her pudgy finger pointed in my direction as if she was about to send me to the Tower for treason.
I smiled at the group. “Sorry — I usually watch my toast like a hawk,” I lied.
“Try to do so in future,” said Nicola, all business-like, as if attending a fire caused by your ex was an everyday occurrence. “Toasters account for a large amount of our call-outs, which is a lot of wasted time.”
I nodded and furrowed my brow.
Nicola still wasn’t smiling.
“Will do,” I said.
“We’ll go inside to do our check, then you can go back in,” said the tallest of the male firefighters, nodding towards one of his colleagues who followed him in. Maureen began chatting to the other man, which left me and Nicola standing in the sharp December cold, wind needling my face as I tried to remain calm.
“We really must stop meeting like this,” I said.
Finally, a semblance of a smile on Nicola’s red lips. “We really must. Ten years of nothing, and then twice in a couple of days.” She paused. “But then, you always did know how to make an impact on people, didn’t you?”
I gulped down air, probably looking like a manic seagull. Nicola Sheen had just told me I’d made an impact on her.
Shut the front door.
“You never said you were a firefighter when I saw you the other night.” I rubbed my hands together in a bid to keep them busy.
“We didn’t really swap much more than pleasantries, did we? I think Melanie was just freaked out we knew each other.” Nicola’s fire helmet was pulled down, nearly obscuring her eyes, but I could see they were watching me closely. “She wasn’t the only one who was surprised, though — you were the last person I expected to bump into.”
“I hope it was a pleasant surprise.” My tone was light, not giving away the fact I so desperately wanted her to be pleased. Please be pleased.
“Of course.” She was rubbing her thumb and index finger together nervously. “It was lovely to see you. A shock, but lovely.”
There was silence for a few moments as we assessed each other. Up close and without Melanie’s prying glare, I could study Nicola’s face properly — and she still held a certain something. Sure, she looked older, but age sat well with her — she seemed comfortable in her own skin. What’s more, she still possessed deep, knowing eyes and full, rounded lips. Yep, those lips were still appealing. I was looking at them when she spoke.
“We should get together anyway, catch up,” she said. “Me and Melanie, you and whoever. Are you seeing anyone?”
“Nobody special,” I said. “And it would be great to catch up.” I gave Nicola my widest smile.
In response, she took off her hat and ruffled her fair hair, which was shoulder-length but currently tied in a ponytail.
“Cool. I’ll see if I can work something out in between organising the wedding and working. If Melanie can’t make it, it’ll just have to be you and me, like old times.”
Which old times was she referring to? The one in the library, where we’d shared that kiss that changed my life? Just thinking about it made me want to do it all again, right there on the pavement before I’d even had my morning coffee. I felt a rush of desire spreading like fire through my body, which was ironic, seeing as Nicola was meant to put fires out, not start them. But she never had where I was concerned.
Oh Nicola Sheen, what do you do to me? Even after all these years.
“I would love that,” I replied. And I would love to kiss you again, feel you pressed against me.
“And next time—” Nicola said, stroking my arm with her right hand.
I jolted slightly at her touch. “Yes?”
“—Next time, maybe opt for porridge?” And then she gave me a wink.
If I didn’t know better, I’d say Nicola Sheen was flirting with me.
“I’ll do that,” I said before giggling like a teenager. Which in that moment, I was.
