by E. L. Todd
Chapter Two
Rae
Cameron stared at me for an entire minute without blinking. His eyes were glued to mine, and not in a romantic, intense way. In a straight up creepy way. “You’re so pretty.”
I gripped the menu just so I had something to do. “Thank you.” I looked down at the selections even though I knew what I was going to order. Perhaps if I ignored him long enough, he would stop staring at me like I was a hidden treasure. The heat from his gaze still burned my skin, so I looked up.
“You must get hit on all the time.”
Getting a compliment was always nice, but this excessive infatuation was getting annoying. He never had anything to say unless he was commenting on my appearance. “Uh, I wouldn’t say that.”
“You’re just being humble.” He grabbed the menu but didn’t look at it. His eyes were reserved for me.
What the hell was Jessie thinking setting me up with him? “Do you like being a firefighter? From what I hear, it sounds pretty thrilling.” Maybe a change of subject would make this night a little less uncomfortable.
“It can be,” he said. “But most of the time, we just sit around in the firehouse. Due to the rain, we don’t have many fires.”
“But firefighters do other stuff too, right?”
“Yeah. We get called out to accidents from time to time. But even that is rare.”
I had a feeling the topic had been exhausted but I wanted to keep it going so it wouldn’t return to me. “Do you ever drive the fire truck?”
“Sometimes.”
“That must be a wild ride.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I like turning on the lights and speeding through all the intersections. Wish I could do that all the time.”
“Don’t we all,” I said with a fake chuckle.
“Did you know the fire truck doesn’t require a key?”
I shook my head.
“You just press a button on the dashboard.”
“Really?” I asked. “Doesn’t that mean someone could steal it?”
He grinned. “Don’t tell anyone I told you that.”
When he wasn’t being obsessive, he was actually interesting. Instead of focusing on me, he put the spotlight on himself and revealed more of his depth. “I’ll keep your secret.”
The waiter came to our table and took our drink order. I ordered a glass of wine but wished I could get a few shots instead. The dating game was exhausting after a while. Now when I went on a date, I prepared for the worst rather than the best. When we placed our dinner order, Cameron ordered for both of us.
“My beautiful date will have the chicken piccata.”
Ugh.
“I’ll put the order in for you, sir.” The waiter took the menus then attended to the other tables.
How long would it take him to bring the wine?
I needed wine—now.
“Did you ever consider modeling?” Cameron asked without preamble. He just blurted it out like we had just been talking about it.
“No…” I got my master’s in chemistry and played college basketball. If I had it my way, I would only wear jeans and a hoodie. I grew up a tomboy, and I will always be a tomboy deep down inside. “Cameron, I mean this in the best way possible, but could you be a little less forward?” Saying that would make the evening awkward, but whatever, it already was awkward.
“Forward?” he asked. “What do you mean?”
“It’s just…when you constantly comment on my appearance, it makes me a little uncomfortable.”
“Oh.” A blank look was on his face, like he had no idea what I was referring to.
“You know, saying I’m pretty and stuff like that.”
“Well…I think you’re pretty,” he said with a shrug. “Don’t girls like stuff like that?”
“Of course,” I said. “But everything in moderation, right?”
He leaned back in his chair and had a sour look on his face. “I didn’t realize it made you uncomfortable.”
“I guess I’m a little self-conscious about my appearance.”
“Why?” he blurted. “You’re a perfect ten.”
I was liking this less and less. “Not once have you shown any interest in me personally. You don’t care about my interests, my hobbies, or anything else. Maybe you’re looking for a relationship based on physical appearance but I’m not.”
He rolled his eyes from across the table.
“I’m sorry,” I said sarcastically. “Am I annoying you?”
“I’m just trying to be a nice guy, and then you snap at me.”
“I didn’t snap. I just asked you to stop repeating yourself like a damn parrot.”
His eyes narrowed on my face. They smoldered like coals coming to a blaze. “Fine. You want me to tell you that you’re ugly?”
“Now you’re just acting like a child.”
“And you’re being rude.”
“Me?” I asked incredulously. “How would you feel if I kept saying how hot you were all the time?”
He grinned like a fool.
“Never mind,” I said quickly.
“Look, I’m just really attracted to you. Is it that big of a deal?”
I tried to remember his compliments came from a good place. He didn’t comment on my chest or anything else perverse, so it really wasn’t that bad. Perhaps his words bothered me because I wasn’t attracted to him in the same way. I wondered what my reaction would have been if Ryker said all of that to me. I had a feeling it would be much different. “You’re right. I apologize.”
“And I accept your apology.”
“Great.” I fidgeted with my hands in my lap and felt the tension settle in the room. It burned the back of my neck and made me feel a constant twinge of anxiety.
Where were those drinks?
The waiter finally brought my wine and his beer. I snatched it from him quickly and took a long drink, needing a buzz to get through the rest of the night. Now I wish I’d just taken Ryker’s offer and joined him in his apartment. The sex would have been great, and I would be satisfied right now.
***
Cameron walked me to my door, and before I could even say goodnight or reach for my keys, he was all over me. He pushed me against the door and crushed his mouth to mine. When he kissed me, it wasn’t in an aggressive or sexy way. His tongue practically licked my face before it stuffed itself inside my mouth.
I gasped for air. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing?” He shoved his tongue into my mouth again, and slobber actually dripped down my chin. How he transferred so much saliva into my mouth that quickly was beyond my understanding.
I pushed him away then wiped my mouth. “Thank you for dinner. I’m turning in for the night.”
Cameron didn’t mask his disappointment. “How about I join you?”
Did he just invite himself into my apartment? “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Good night.” I slipped my key in the door. For the first time in my life, I was grateful my brother was living with me. If I needed help, he was there.
“Come on.” Cameron came closer to me. “What can I do to change your mind?”
“Nothing. My brother is here.”
“He lives with you?” he asked in surprise.
“Yeah. And he’s very protective of me, so you should go.”
He stepped back slightly. “You can always come to my place.”
Would this date just end? “I have to get up early in the morning. Good night, Cameron.” I finally got the door open and quickly shut it behind me. After the door was locked and the chain was hooked in place, I breathed a sigh of relief.
That’s when I noticed the sound of moaning coming from the living room.
I walked in and saw Rex sitting on the couch watching porn. He was fully clothed, and his arms were over the back of the couch. The scene was right on my TV screen. “What the hell are you doing?”
He flinched when he realized I was there. “What?”
&nb
sp; “Why are you so disgusting?”
“It’s not like I’m touching myself.”
“Then why are you watching it?”
He shrugged. “It’s soothing.”
I wanted to rip my hair out of my skull and scream at the top of my lungs.
“Besides, I thought you would be gone all night. Didn’t you have a date?”
“Yes, but it was terrible.” The scene still played on the TV, and both actors were breathing hard and moaning like they were having the best time of their lives. “Can you turn that off now?”
“Why? It’s just porn.”
“And it’s my TV. Watch it in your room.”
He rolled his eyes and turned it off. “There. Can you chill out now?”
I threw my purse on the table and didn’t retrieve my phone from inside it. I didn’t want any further contact for the night. All I wanted to do was go to bed and forget this day ever happened.
***
I was a researcher for COLLECT recycling company. My job was to decrease the amount of waste being deposited into our landfills by creating products that were either recyclable or biodegradable. Environmental science had always been my forte, and to say I was passionate about my job was an understatement.
The first year I started working here, I reduced the amount of waste by five percent. That might not sound like a big number, but over the course of the year, it was thousands of tons of garbage.
Most people didn’t think twice about the garbage they put into their waste cans or where it went, but it was a serious problem. I knew I couldn’t fix every issue we came across, but I did my best to make a difference.
Right then, I was working on biodegradable food storage packages. Egg cartons, deli meat containers, orange juice jugs, and everything else that Americans bought on a daily basis. If I could figure out a way to make it completely degradable, it would be revolutionary in waste management.
But that wasn’t something I would figure out overnight.
Jenny came to my workbench, wearing her white lab coat without her protective goggles. “Did you hear the news?”
I paused the experiment inside the chemical hood and put the specimens down. After I pulled off my nitrogen gloves and tossed them aside, I looked at her. “What news?”
“Mr. Price is retiring.”
Mr. Price was the CEO of the company. He built it at a very young age and had run it ever since. He was getting old, and I suspected his health was poor judging by the way he sometimes walked, but I wasn’t expecting this. “He is?”
She nodded. “I can’t say I’m surprised though. He’s pretty old.”
Mr. Price was one of the greatest bosses I ever worked for. He was generous and compassionate. Even though I didn’t see him often, I loved being in his presence. He was like the father I never had. “That’s too bad.”
“Yeah.”
“How did you find out?”
“They’re sending memos to all the departments. My friend in accounting told me.”
It would be weird not having Mr. Price around. Who would take over? What would they be like? Would I still have a job? “Is the company being sold?”
“No. But I’m quitting anyway.”
“You’re quitting?” I took off my goggles. “But you love it here.”
“I know,” she said with a sigh. “It’s going to be hard to leave this place. But I’m not putting up with the playboy that’s taking Mr. Price’s place.”
“Playboy?” I asked.
“His son is taking over the company. From what I hear, he’s some rich asshole that’s never worked a day in his life. He graduated from Harvard then lived off Daddy’s investments until he was asked to step up. There’s no way in hell I’m dealing with some jerk like that.”
“But you haven’t even met him…”
“I’ve heard enough.”
“And would Mr. Price put his son in charge if he didn’t think he would be successful?” I was usually the voice of reason between Jenny and me.
“Parents are always blind when it comes to their kids.”
“Maybe you should stick around and see how it goes first. If he’s really that lazy, he probably won’t change anything.”
“Or he’ll cut all our salaries so he pockets more of the dough.”
“Again…you’re conjecturing here.”
She raised both hands in frustration. “It’s never going to be the same. Everything here was so great, and I’m not willing to see it change.”
“Just don’t be hasty. Give it a chance before you submit your resignation. And if not, at least wait until you find another job.”
She crossed her arms over her chest.
“Jenny, everything will be fine. Now take a deep breath.”
She rolled her eyes but did as I said.
“Let’s take it one day at a time—together.”
Chapter Three
Rae
I found the girls sitting at a table in the bar. “I have a bone to pick with you.”
Jessie’s face lit up when she saw me, and the alcohol she’d consumed had turned her cheeks red. “Look who’s here! Ray of light!”
I dropped into the chair and glared at her.
“How was your date?” Kayden asked, completely oblivious to my pissed look.
Jessie threw her hands in the air like it was time to party. “You’re welcome, girl. I bet he rocked your world good.”
Jessie was only fun when she was drunk when I was also drunk. “Cameron was terrible. How could you set me up with him?”
“Terrible?” Jessie asked. “What are you talking about?”
I started to imitate him. “You’re so beautiful. Do you know how pretty you are? Man, you’re gorgeous.” I rolled my eyes so hard it actually hurt the front of my face a little bit. “Does he know how to say anything else?”
Kayden held a pink cosmo in her hand. “Sounds sweet to me.”
“It was sweet—when he said it the first time. But then he kept repeating it over and over. I wanted to shove crackers down his throat to make it stop.”
Jessie laughed and bit the olive off her toothpick. “There are worse things.”
“He was so desperate,” I said. “And then when I asked him to stop, he turned it into an ordeal—”
Jessie raised her hand to silence me. “You’re so picky when it comes to guys. If you just had an open mind, maybe you’d find someone you really like. If you keep cutting them out every time they do one little thing, you’re going to die alone.”
“I haven’t even gotten to the worst part yet.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Ooh…this sounds good.” Kayden downed the rest of her drink.
“When we got to my door, he shoved me against it and decided to play Operation with his tongue. He stuck his tongue everywhere, and it even went up my nose.”
Kayden cringed. “Eww!”
“Gross,” Jessie said.
“Slobber actually dripped off my chin and fell on the floor. I heard it splash.” It was the worst make out session I ever had, and I’d been to sixth grade camp. “He was the worst kisser ever, and he acted like it was some of his best stuff. I don’t care if he’s a hot firefighter. That guy is one cleverly disguised freak.”
“Wow…” Jessie abandoned her drink, clearly not thirsty anymore. “Damn, that does sound bad.”
Kayden shivered. “So gross.”
“So, I’m not seeing him again.” I shot them both a glare. “And it’s not because I’m picky.”
“We hear ya,” Jessie said.
“We accept your decision,” Kayden said.
I massaged the back of my neck because I felt a kink coming on. “So, what’s new with you guys?”
“I heard COLLECT is getting a new show runner,” Jessie said.
“What?” I blurted. “How did you know about that?”
“I read it in the paper. And I have to say, the new guy is H-O-T.”
“He is?” Jenny never mentioned th
at.
“Yeah,” Jessie said. “He looked hot in the photograph. At least you’ll have someone pretty to take orders from.”
“I just hope he’s not as terrible as my coworker made it sound,” I said.
Jessie shrugged. “It didn’t really say anything in the article, but from what I’ve learned, anyone who grows up with money is usually a bit of a jerk. Self-made billionaires are the humble ones.”
“True,” Kayden said. Her long, blonde hair was in big curls and trailed down over one shoulder. Her sparkling blue eyes made her look like a porcelain doll.
“When does he officially start working?” Jessie asked.
I shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know. In the research lab, we don’t usually deal with anyone besides each other. So, whether he’s good or bad, I probably won’t have to deal with him much.”
“Unless you’re screwing,” Jessie said.
I shot her a glare. “I would never sleep with my boss—no matter how good-looking he was.”
“I would,” Jessie said. “That’s how hot this guy is.”
“I need to see him for myself,” Kayden said. “I don’t get too many lookers in the library.”
“Because it’s the library,” Jessie jabbed. “Get out and live a little.”
Kayden raised her empty glass. “Thank you very much.”
***
When I came home from work, Zeke and Rex were there.
“I can’t believe he’s back in town.” Zeke’s voice came from the living room. “We haven’t seen that guy in…at least ten years.”
“I know, right?” Rex said. “The second he graduated, he took off. Wanted to get as far away from this place as possible.”
“What are you guys talking about?” I set my purse on the counter then grabbed a beer from the fridge.
“Ugh,” Rex said. “The monster is here.”
“The monster was about to bring you another beer, but forget it now.”
Rex quickly changed his mind. “I mean, the greatest little sister ever is here.” He made his voice high-pitched. “Yay.”
“Better.” I walked into the living room and handed him the bottle.
Zeke’s eyes followed my every movement. “Hey, Rae. How’s it going?”
“Good.”
“How’d that date go?” Zeke took a drink of his beer.
“Horrible.” I sat on the couch beside him and relaxed into the cushions. In the lab, I was on my feet all day long. Whenever I sat down, my ass actually felt happy.