“Good morning.”
He shot his head up, and she nearly gasped at the sight of him. The man was gorgeous and her reaction had surprised her until he spoke.
“Listen, honey, I’ve had a long night, go find some other firefighter to hook up with.”
She was completely shocked by his assumption. And so turned off by his attitude she gained back her sanity.
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, but I’m not here to hook up with you. I’m here to take your food order.”
He snapped his head up and looked her over. When his deep blue eyes cascaded over her body, she could have sworn she felt it as if he touched her. She licked her lower lip and his eyes zeroed in on them.
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, well, maybe some coffee might help clear your head?” she suggested, and he nodded. Serefina walked over to the coffee bar and Lester was there.
“Shit, Ace looks all pissed off. It must have been a bad night at work. He likes his coffee black with two sugars.” She nodded and made the coffee then brought it over to him. She placed it down and he leaned back in his chair.
“I’m sorry.”
“Yes, you said that. Are you ready to order?” she asked, and he raised his eyebrow at her attitude. Well, la di da. Not everyone had to swallow shit for a living.
He didn’t even glance at the menu, which told her he was familiar with it.
He rambled off his order and she wrote it down and then started to walk away when the other guys called her over.
“Serefina, have you gotten a chance to go to the bar the Station?” one of them asked. She shook her head.
“You have to come by. Think about meeting us there tomorrow night?” he asked and the guys were all staring at her. She had that funny feeling in her belly, but this one was for a different reason. She knew that a lot of guys were into ménage relationships around town. She saw some firsthand since arriving back, and it seemed more and more people were into it. She didn’t want these five guys to think she was interested. Her mind frame wasn’t even considering dating in general, never mind that type of relationship. She was doing her best to not think about other men, but since meeting that nice guy on the beach the other day, she couldn’t seem to forget him. Plus, this guy Ace, despite his piss-poor attitude, he reminded her of the guy from the beach.
“I don’t think so. I’m really not into hanging out at bars. Plus, I have plans with my friends.”
“Then bring them along. It’s a fun place. It’s not like other bars.”
“I’ll think about it,” she said, and the guys smiled and then asked for the bill.
She walked over to the computer and noticed the other guy, Ace, Lester called him, was watching her. He had overheard that entire conversation. If she had said yes to meeting those guys, he would probably think she was a fire buff and out to land a fireman. If he only knew. Why do I care what he thinks anyway? She shook her head and entered the order into the computer. A few minutes later she walked over to offer him more coffee.
“When did the owners hire you?” he asked her.
“Oh, just in the beginning of the week. Do you come here a lot?” she asked him. When he crossed his arms in front of his chest, she could see the tattoos more clearly, that were on his large biceps. The one on his right looked a lot like the one on the guy’s arm from the other morning. She glanced down at her ankle as if feeling a tinge of pain and a reminder of him. How silly.
“I thought they had plenty of staff.”
“They were in a bind. Some people didn’t show up. But it worked out okay. I’d better go check on your order.”
She walked away and couldn’t help but to glance back at him. When she saw that he watched her, it made her belly quiver. She shouldn’t be feeling this way. She shouldn’t be attracted to two different guys. What about Matt? Nine months, and so quickly I could forget about him and what could have been? She felt scared and nervous as she rubbed her hands together and grabbed the check for the guys. She walked it over and then headed back to the kitchen.
* * * *
Ace had never seen the young waitress before. If he had, he definitely would have remembered her. She was very attractive, and had grabbed the attention of a group of guys from Engine 10 across town. He kind of felt like a dick assuming she was a fire buff. He had insulted her and she was annoyed at him. That was obvious. He thought about his conversation with Ice and Bull. They were annoyed with him, too.
Since Marco’s death, he had been overly protective of them. He understood their frustration, but why couldn’t they understand his? It was how he handled the entire thing. The four of them were close, and they had grown up doing everything together and as a team.
They joined the service together, they served in war together, and they worked in the firehouse together. Losing Marco was like losing a major part of his life. Weren’t his brothers feeling it?
He wondered what he could do to make things right? If this kept up, his brothers were going to hate him. Where were the things that used to bring them closer? The little shared emotions and experiences, or reactions to something or someone? Why were they losing touch?
“Are you okay? Would you like some aspirin or something?”
He looked up to find the pretty, young waitress staring at him with concern. Maybe he was imagining things? Why would she feel concerned for him when he had been such a jerk? He ran his hands through his hair.
“Sorry, I’ve got a lot on my mind.” He leaned back as she smiled and then placed his platters of food down in front of him.
He stared at her.
“What’s your name?” he asked her.
“Serefina. And yours?” she asked.
“Ace.”
“Your call sign, huh?” she asked, placing her hand on her hip. The move caused her blouse to part a little more, revealing a delicate lace-trimmed tank top and a nice amount of cleavage. The petite little thing was built well.
“I guess we get so used to it.”
“Of course. Well if you need anything else, just let me know. I can get that aspirin if you like.”
“I’m good, although I might need some help eating all this food.” he glanced at the abundance of food in front of him.
“I guess the cook knows you. He definitely hooked you up with that burger. Looks incredible.” She walked away and he watched her, appreciating the shape of her ass, and the sweetness about her personality. It hit him all of a sudden. She was so not even his type. But then again, did he really have a type? It had been a year since he had been with anyone. Hell, he was pretty sure that was the same for Bull and Ice. He paused before he took his first bite of food. That was it. He found her attractive, and he immediately thought his brothers would, too. It was just like Marco said it would be. They would all meet the woman they could share, that they could further bond with, and she would ultimately lock them together.
He continued to watch her. He felt excited, kind of happy at the prospects of the epiphany. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt like this. He needed more information on her. He had to tell his brothers about her. Ace felt almost panicked. But then he realized she worked at their parents’ place, so finding her again was not going to be difficult. Now he had to find out if she had a boyfriend.
Hell, he felt jealous and sick all at once at the possibility. She couldn’t. He stared at her.
She could.
She was stunning, sweet, sexy, and classy. He could tell. Being in his thirties he was a good judge of character. Then he felt a bit unsure of himself. She looked to be early twenties if that. Oh shit, what if she wasn’t even twenty?
His cell phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. Glancing down, he smiled. It was Bull. Was it coincidence or what?
He answered the call.
* * * *
Bull had been worried about the argument Ice and Ace got into the other morning. Ice had been acting funny since the morning he showed up late to the house and then w
ork. Of course Ace had covered for him with the chief, but it pissed Ace off. Especially since Ice didn’t explain why he was late. The three of them were drifting apart and he didn’t like the feelings he had. Then Ice told him that he was going down to the boardwalk instead of getting some rest.
When Bull asked him why he was sneaking around, it led to an argument about why he had been late the other day, and Ice confessed about meeting a young woman on the beach. He didn’t give great details but he was definitely interested in her. Bull didn’t know how he felt about that.
When Marco was alive, they had talked about finding one woman to share. One special person who could complete them. They had done everything together. After years in the service and going through some heavy situations in the war, they had suffered with trust issues and opening up to people. If they could, the four of them would be most content by themselves instead of having to pretend confidence and independence in the public eye. There was this special link, a bond between the four of them. Everything was perfect when they were together.
When Marco died, killed by the arsonist, it started tearing them apart. They were all on edge, all ready to break down. It was getting worse, and now that Ice seemed to be really distancing himself from them, he was worried. So he called Ace to tell him that Ice went looking for this woman down by the boardwalk and beach.
“Does he have his cell phone on him?” Ace asked, and he sounded funny. When Ace had answered Bull’s call, he sounded excited, and that didn’t sit right with Bull considering they left work pissed off at one another.
“I think so. Why?”
His brother Ace whispered into the phone.
“Listen, try texting him and telling him to meet us at Sullivan’s. I’m here now, and I think you guys need to meet me here.”
“Why? What’s going on?”
“I don’t want to say, I just want to see something. Just get here.”
“Okay. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Bull hung up the phone and texted Ice as he headed out the door. He should be sleeping right now, getting ready for the change in work shift, but now his brother had his curiosity growing. He hoped this wasn’t some lame excuse to get the three of them together in front of their parents. The last thing they needed was for Mom and Dad to know they were fighting and growing apart. His mom might try talking to them about counseling again.
No freaking way was he doing that.
* * * *
Serefina was cleaning up a table just vacated by some young women when another customer entered the café. She looked up and was shocked to see another really big guy, with dark crew cut hair, and brown eyes, who looked so much like Ace it was shocking. He, too, had a set of tattoos on one arm but was dressed in camo pants and a black T-shirt that said Engine 19. She felt her stomach clench. That was her father and her brothers’ station house.
He stared right at her and stopped walking as he looked her over. “I’ll be with you in a minute,” she said, balancing the dirty dishes in her hands. He said nothing. He just stared at her and she quickly headed toward the kitchen. As she passed by Ace’s table, she saw him staring at her so seriously it nearly made her drop the dishes.
* * * *
“Who is she?” Bull asked as he sat down next to his brother.
Ace didn’t smile, he just stared at Bull. “Did you feel it?”
Bull stared at him. “Feel what?”
“Don’t tell me fucking ‘feel what.’ I saw you. You were shell shocked by her.”
“She’s gorgeous and petite, has a really sweet smile, but what are you getting at?” Bull asked, and then his eyes widened.
The door to the café opened and Ice entered looking pissed off and annoyed, just as the waitress walked out from the back. Ice stopped dead in his tracks and stared at her. She hadn’t looked up yet as she pulled the pen and pad from her apron while approaching the table.
“Breanna?”
She snapped her head up and looked shocked. Ice walked over quickly, and now his pissed-off expression turned into a smile.
“Ivan?” she whispered.
“Brianna? I thought your name was Serefina?” Ace interrupted. Ice looked at him and then back at her and the pretty little waitress’s cheeks were a nice shade of red.
* * * *
Serefina thought she might pass out. These three men knew one another. They looked so similar, yet different by perhaps years, besides bodies. Why she stared at them and felt aroused and attracted, she wouldn’t accept right now. She needed to pull off casual and unaffected. These guys, obviously firefighters from her father’s engine company, were staring at her as if she were their next meal.
Ice reached out and touched her wrist.
“How is your ankle?” he asked, glancing down at it.
“Oh, that’s fine. Thank you. Thanks again for your help the other morning.” She slowly pulled her hand back.
He squinted at her as the other guy spoke. “This is the woman you met?”
She looked at him as Ice did, too, and nodded his head.
“What’s with lying about your name?” Ace asked, arms crossed in front of his chest, and staring at her with such authority and attitude she actually was intimidated.
Then Ice reached up and gently rubbed his thumb along her cheek and jaw.
“That’s okay. Why did you lie about your name?” he asked.
“I’m sorry Ivan. I didn’t know you at all, and after you carried me up the beach, I was feeling a bit nervous. My real name is Serefina.”
“You carried her up the beach?” Bull asked.
Ice smiled and then explained the story while she stood there feeling silly.
“Well, like I said, I appreciated the help, and my ankle is fine. Just as small scratch now. So are you joining your friends? Can I get you a menu?” She asked.
Ice smiled. “My brothers,” he corrected and then took a seat.
She squinted her eyes, her brain not catching up with what he meant until Ace and Bull smiled as they looked her body over.
Oh God, they’re brothers.
“Okay, how about drinks while I grab those menus?”
“I’m Bull, by the way, sweetheart, and I’ll take a water for now.” He winked at her.
“Okay, and you, Ivan?”
“Same for me, Serefina, and don’t worry about the menus.”
“Wow, the three of you together for lunch? A mom’s wish come true!” Florence yelled out as she entered from the kitchen. Serefina moved out of the way as the realization hit her.
“Hi, Mom,” the three grown men stated as Florence gave them each a hug hello.
“So you met Serefina? Isn’t she sweet?”
“Sweetest thing I’ve ever seen,” Bull said as he held her gaze.
“Excuse me while I get those waters.” Serefina walked away feeling completely out of sorts. She was suddenly sweating, her hands clammy, and so damn nervous she felt like crying.
One look at Lester’s wink and smile and she snapped out of it.
“What’s that smirk for?” she asked him.
“You are just filled with surprises. I knew when you started working here that things were going to get interesting around here.”
Just then another group of men walked in, a crowd of ten. They all called out her name and waved, making a ruckus.
Lester chuckled. “See what I mean. They’re coming out of the woodwork to see you.”
“Oh stop. They are not. Besides, I’m not interested in dating or getting involved with anyone. I’m just trying to work and get my life back together.”
“Sweetheart, looks to me like Florence’s sons have gained an interest.”
“What?” When she turned, around the three of them were watching her, and they looked very serious.
She grabbed the two waters. “I’d better get back to work.”
“Watch yourself. The two firefighters closest to the door wearing the blue shirt and the green shirt are a bit flirty. They got a lit
tle raunchy with the other waitresses. You let me know if they try anything,” he told her, and she nodded her head.
“I will.” She took the waters over to the Ice and Bull, whose mom said she would take care of them. Serefina was relieved but from the expressions on her sons, it didn’t seem like they were.
She walked over toward the men, and they cheered her name, drawing loads of attention toward her. By the time she had taken all of their drink orders and food orders, more than just the two guys at the end of the table near the door were flirting and getting raunchy.
She tried to ignore them as she went about putting the orders into the computer and going back and forth around the table, catering to their every little request for more things. She figured they just wanted her to stay there so they could flirt. A few glances toward the table where Ice, Ace, and Bull sat, and she could see them getting annoyed. When Ice called over to the table of guys and asked them to cool it, it hadn’t gone over too well. That led into a few mumbled comments and then a few louder insults.
“Hey, can you please calm down. This is not the kind of place for causing fights.” She told the one guy in the blue shirt who grabbed her hand after telling Ice that he could flirt with the pretty little waitress all he wanted to. That drew over Lester, and of course caused Ice, Bull, and Ace to stand.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. If you would just come on over here and sit on my lap, then I’m sure it would calm myself and my buddies down.” He winked and tried pulling her onto his lap.
It happened pretty quickly. Chairs fell over, people were yelling in the background, including the guy’s friends for him to cool it, when the guy pulled Serefina onto his lap. He dipped her over, making her shirt rise up, revealing her belly and the piercing as he pointed out to the crowd of friends, and she reacted by smacking him.
Hearts on Fire 1: Serefina (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 6