by Unknown
He opened the door to be almost knocked down by Maggie. She jumped in his arms. “Hey, baby, I’m home.”
He unpeeled her arms from around his neck. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I had a feeling you would be here. I went to your apartment to give you some information I have, only you weren’t there. Orlando, I got something to tell you.”
He frowned attempting to keep his voice under control. “Maggie, have you been drinking?”
She stumbled by him and into the living room. “I might have had a few drinks tonight. Hot damn,” she said in a loud drunken voice. “Your bougie girlfriend got taste! This shit is nice. Nicer than how we had it when we lived here.”
Orlando stood by the door glancing at the stairs making sure Regan wasn’t coming down. “Maggie, you need to go. I told you to say away from this house and Regan.”
“You wouldn’t listen when I warned she would hurt you. I saw your perfect princess today. She was walking downtown around midday. I have to say she was dressed nice. I couldn’t follow her since I was on my way to work and I don’t know what building she went into either, but you need to watch your back, Orlando.”
He put his hands on his hips knowing Maggie didn’t have a clue what she was talking about and he wasn’t going to give her any details. His face was set hard as he glared at her drunken disposition. “Did you drive here?”
Her hands went in the air waving in a sarcastic manner. “How else do you think I got here? I sure as hell didn’t fly. Now are you gonna listen to what I think the pampered princess was doing downtown today?”
His dark gaze was intense, and the expression in them was one Maggie was familiar with. Suddenly it occurred to him. Maggie was not after a second chance with him but the opposite. “No I don’t want to hear whatever you have to say about Regan and I’ll call you a cab since you’re too drunk to drive.”
She staggered to the sofa and flopped down laughing. “Yeah, like it wouldn’t make your day if I crashed and burned in a car accident. Yup, call me a cab, Torres; I’m not ready to make your day yet.”
He watched a streak of lightening through the windows fly across the sky. “Seeing you dead wouldn’t benefit me one bit. Maggie, I figured out what you are doing.”
Her eyes closed when her head slumped on the arm of the sofa. “What have you figured out genius?”
He sat next to her pulling her up to look at him. “You don’t want us back together. What you don’t want is to see me happy with Regan because you’re unhappy with your life. Lee is gone and I’ve moved on. Now you’re alone with no prospects on your radar.”
“You don’t know what’s going on in my life so keep your hypothetical thinking to yourself.”
Her red-tinged eyes clung to him almost drawing sympathy. Maggie wasn’t a bad person but misguided. With classes in charm and grace, she could make a man a good partner or spouse. Although, a man would have to have the endurance of steel to work with her.
He hesitated at first but touch her hand with his. Her skin was cool and soft. “You have to stop this self-destruction. Now you’re drinking to cover your pain. Maggie, you’re stronger than this.”
Her bottom lip trembled and tears fell from her eyes. “I just want to be loved. Why am I so hard to love, Orlando?”
“I’m gonna be honest…you choose to deceive instead of approaching a man the right way. Why do you have to use trickery to get what you want, Maggie?”
“Are you saying the tart upstairs didn’t deceive or try hard to impress you?”
“Leave Regan out of this; you asked me about you. Maggie, all you have to do is polish yourself and change your ways. You would be kicking men to the curb. You have the sex-appeal, the beauty. All you are lacking is the confidence to believe in yourself.”
She caressed his face. Running her hand around his thick neck, she pulled him into a kiss. Her soft lip pressed against his to dart a tongue inside his mouth. Orlando pulled his head away ready to scold her, but she put a finger to his lips silencing him. “That wasn’t a come-on.”
Hastily he moved from the sofa. He tasted the liquor she’d been drinking as he wiped his mouth. “Then what the hell was it?”
She eased off the sofa drying tears from her eyes. “A goodbye kiss and I mean it this time.” She sighed. “However, you are wrong; I am still carrying a torch for you. I messed up and let another woman tap your heart; I have no one to blame but me for that.”
“Maggie, we had no connection outside of sex. I have a deep connection with Regan. We enjoy doing things together whereas you and I did nothing together but argue. Once you find a man you really care about, you will see what I am talking about.”
She sucked her teeth. “Damn, Torres, you must really be in love with her. All right, call me a cab. Tell the bougie princess I’ll get my car tomorrow.”
He gave her a small warming but crooked, smile. Taking his cell phone from the table, he dialed the local taxi company. He’d memorized the number for this very reason. The guys could get carried away and drink excessively when they partied together and he would not allow them to drive. “I don’t know what the future holds but right now it’s looking bright for me and Regan. I hope you find the same.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not holding my breath.”
Securing the house once Maggie had left, Orlando showered and brushed his teeth. He eased into bed not wanting to disturb Regan. She rolled over to drape a heavy arm and leg across his body. “Is she finally gone?” She asked in a sleepy voice.
Surprised she was awake, he asked. “You knew Maggie was downstairs?”
“God, yes, the woman is not exactly a whisperer when she speaks.”
He found himself chuckling a lot from Regan’s sense of humor. “Why didn’t you come down and join the party?”
“No baby, you needed to handle that without me. Anyhow, I thought we would have our own private party once she left.”
Her fingers crept between the gap created by the bedding and clasped his semi-erect shaft. “Oh, baby,” he gasped, when her hand enclosed his thickness.
“After today I regret we didn’t do this more,” she told him, her tone sultry and soft as her hand began to move up and down his hardening length. “It is so true that tomorrow is not promised. I’m going to love you like it is our last days on Earth from now on.”
“Damn, baby, you got me thinking about marriage again,” he crooned as her hand worked magic on his body.
Her mouth found his consuming it in a kiss. Rolling her over on her back, he cupped her neck with his hand holding her head against the pillow to devour her neck. She writhed beneath him and cried out when he penetrated her in one thrust.
He was for sure this is what he wanted. He wanted to marry Regan Richards.
Chapter Twelve
The crowd around TowerCity had swelled waiting for the firefighter’s challenge to start. Numerous fire departments from around the city had entered the challenge. All the teams hoped to win a chance to break the record or set a new record for next year’s challenge.
Regan and Lincoln had a view at the front of the crowd. From where they were standing, they could watch the firemen loosening up and plotting strategy. Regan bounced nervously. “I hope Orlando’s team wins. I had no idea he would be competing against all these other departments.”
Lincoln fanned her face. The heat wave returned to reclaim its hold over Cleveland, and at ten in the morning the heat index neared eighty-five degrees. “Yeah, it is a lot of them and plenty of younger men.”
“That’s okay, our guys got this. They are in excellent shape and Orlando has the stamina of a twenty-one year old.
Rolling her eyes, Lincoln muttered. “He HAD the stamina of a twenty-one year old before you started rocking his world every night.”
“Sister dear, the rocking is not one-sided. I swore I would never compare another man to Mark in the bedroom, but Jesus! There is no comparison when it comes to Orlando.”
They tu
rned their attention to the activity in front of them as the firefighters lined up to enter TowerCity. The men and women of Firehouse 30, their personal cheering squad, released loud whistles and cheers as Orlando’s team passed by. Regan’s heart raced. “There they are! Wait, they have to wear full gear plus carry a heavy hose?”
“It wouldn’t be much a challenge without that stuff. Anyhow, get the stopwatch ready, I have a feeling we are going to be rocking Illuminations tonight,” Lincoln said dancing in place.
*****
Sweat trickled down the sides of his face under his helmet. His body heat doubled its average temperature thanks to the bulky turnout, bunker pants and boots. Taking a deep breath, he hoisted the 30 pound hose over his shoulder and took position in the middle of the pact with his two running mates. “Okay, guys, we got this right?”
Anthony tilted his helmet on his head. “We got this.”
Jon squared his shoulders. “We stand by our motto of being the supermen of Station 30 and we are determined to come out victorious.”
Orlando gave each of them a fist bump before mentally focusing on breaking the record by setting one of his own. The bragging rights for winning would be awesome, but the main prize he looked to collect waited outside to greet him after the event. He had made up in his mind he was going for it all tonight.
Three…two…one… The official got the race underway.
Orlando’s team took off passing fellow competitors wanting to be the first to reach the entrance of the Gray Lady. He didn’t think of this as a race but as an actual rescue with people depending on them to save their lives. The fire at the high-rise a week ago was a lesson in the amount of brute strength it would take to tackle the climb and let him gauge where his weakness lay.
*****
Regan watched the stopwatch as it ticked down.
“Where it is now?” Lincoln asked for the third time in five seconds.
“They are one minute into the race. I don’t know if I can stand this, Lincoln. Orlando is trying to do this in eight minutes. How is it possible to climb 804 stairs in eight minutes?”
“I’m assuming the idea of victory, the bragging rights, or all the money he’ll hand over to the charity. Come on, Regan; they are men! Their existence is to hunt and kill the enemy.”
Regan laughed. “You make it sound like an episode of Animal Kingdom.”
“Well, it is only these animals are on two legs. How many minutes are left now?”
Regan bit her lip. “Lincoln, there is only seven minutes left according to my timepiece. My heart is going to stop if he makes it and it will break if he doesn’t. How do I handle either?”
“Be happy, Regan. Either way those guys are winners.”
Regan watched the clock stop with no announcement from the officials. She was hoping her stopwatch was off a minute or two.
Then cheers from inside the building erupted.
Regan thought her nerve endings would become threadbare when officials gathered in a circle outside TowerCity to confer. “What are they doing now?”
Lincoln latched onto her arm. “I don’t know but the suspense is killing me.”
An official came forward to speak through a bullhorn. “Ladies and gentlemen, the first team of firefighters has reached the top and set a new record. We’ll announce where all the teams finished after the event is over. However, the first team to reach the top floor is Cleveland Fire. The team consisting of Lieutenant Orlando Torres, Firefighter Anthony Jenkins, and firefighter Jonathan DeMinico, who represent the supermen of Fire Station 30 reached the top in record time. The new record for climbing the 804 stairs is eight minutes and thirty-five seconds. Let’s make sure to give these speedy firefighters as well as all the firefighters who tackled the Gray Lady today, a hefty round of applause when they exit the building.”
Regan and Lincoln fell into each other’s arms overjoyed. “I can’t believe they did it!” Regan squealed.
“Believe it, girl. Look at the guys from the firehouse celebrating. They really are an awesome team.”
The last team of competitors reached the top floor officially ending the race. Regan and Lincoln joined the cheering squad to wait for team Cleveland Fire to exit the building. Several firefighters exited the building dragging their gear tired from the grueling task. Orlando, Anthony, and Jon exited together laughing and slapping each other on the back. They didn’t even appear winded, but then they had time to rest while waiting for the last team to finish the race.
Regan waited as Orlando stripped down to his t-shirt and tossed his coat in the truck. She went over to him and he gathered her in his arms. “Congratulations, baby. I am so proud of you—I’m proud of all of you,” she said hugging him.
“Thanks, baby. I couldn’t lose with you cheering me on. Winning feels great but knowing I had you waiting for me is better than winning.”
“Why did it take you so long to come out? They wouldn’t let you use the elevators until everyone finished?”
“We didn’t take the elevator, we walked down.”
“Are you serious? You ran up and walked down?”
“Hey we are supermen,” he said beating his chest. “Anyhow I have been waiting to do this all day.” He pulled her close and lowered his head take her into a passionate kiss.
Regan heard the heckling coming from her sister and others as she kissed her man. Yes, her man. The man she loved and didn’t care that they were putting on a public display or his body odor was killing her sinuses.
She broke the affectionate kiss after someone threatened to turn a fire hose on them. She wiped his mouth of her lipstick with her thumb. “How are you feeling besides being soaking wet and mighty ripe?” She asked holding a finger under her nose. Despite his musky smell, he was turning her on.
He reached for a cold bottle of water and dumped the content over his head. “Once I get my body temperature down, I’ll be fine. That was a tough run and my legs are starting to get stiff, but it was worth it to accomplish something this big. I probably won’t do it next year, but I think we set the bar pretty high.” He laughed. “And yeah, I know I smell. We have to do a quick interview for the local newspaper before we leave; I’ll shower at the station and meet you at your place later.”
“You mean at our place. I want you to move in with me.”
“Baby, are you sure you want us to live together?”
“It will be more like semi-living together since you’re only home three days out of the week. And yes, I want you to share your home with me. I’ll even let you have the basement to make into a man cave that I promise never to enter.”
He lifted his brow teasing her. “Seducing the landlord to get free rent….nice move,” he said clicking his tongue and winking his eye.
She batted her long lashes. “A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. Anyhow, you are being summoned by your teammates.” She heard Anthony and Jon calling for him. She gave him another kiss. “Don’t be too long at the firehouse, we’re celebrating tonight.”
Lincoln sashayed over to her. “He was smiling big time. What did you say to him?”
“We decided to take our relationship to the next step, Lincoln. I asked him to move in with me.”
“Whoa, Regan, have you thought this through? Dating and living together is a huge step and you are recently divorced. What about that job in South Carolina. What happened with that?”
Regan flipped her hand. “I turned that interview down. Lincoln I was hired by ABC. I’m going to tell Orlando tonight that I’m staying in Cleveland and with him forever.”
“Thank God,” Lincoln said holding her sister to her. “If we can lure mom and Carter back home, it will be like old times.”
“I doubt that will happen. Carter enjoys mom living with her. But if there are any weddings planned for the near future, they will definitely come home for that.”
Lincoln raised a dismissive hand. “Don’t look at me. I’m not ready to be a wife or change dirty diapers. I’m still a kid
at heart.”
“Well get ready, Lincoln. I think Anthony has plans for you. Well, let’s get out of this crowd before it causes a traffic jam. I want to go home and wait for Orlando.”
Lincoln nudged her sister on the back. “I know what you want to do when he gets home. Give the man a break and let him regain his strength.”
“You have a dirty mind, Lincoln. A dirty, dirty mind,” she said shaking a finger at her. She did want to consummate the new arrangement with Orlando but later after the party so it wouldn’t be rushed.
Chapter Thirteen
Later at Illuminations the men of station 30 that were able to attend the celebration with their spouses or significant others crammed around the bar and tables enjoying the celebration. The rumble of the conversation, some of it loud, filled the air. Several firefighters from other houses and neighboring suburbs had come to give their congratulatory rounds of high-fives, toasts and to party with them, as well.
Orlando broke away from a group celebrating to find Regan.
He found her sitting with Lincoln, Anthony and a few other people. He snuck behind her bending down to whisper in her ear. “I want to dance.”
Regan mouth spread into a grin. “You have enough energy left to dance?”
“Baby, I want to dance with you for the rest of my life.”
Orlando pulled her chair from the table and escorted her to the dance floor. Sergio and Marcella were dancing when he interrupted them. He tapped Sergio on the shoulder. “Sergio, I want you to meet Regan,” he said over the music. “Get used to her face because she will be around a lot if she agrees to marry me maybe next year.”
Regan froze where she stood. Sergio hugged her stiff body. “Welcome, to the family, Regan. This is my wife Marcella. We can’t wait to get to know the woman that has restored Orlando back to his normal self.”
Regan smiled weakly and greeted Sergio and Marcella once sensations returned to her body. She looked at Orlando. He stood gallant and sure of himself. Maybe sure of what her answer would be. “What did you just say to Sergio?” She asked.