Mandy stood there, an overnight bag with her. “Surprise!”
“What are you doing here?”
“Mandy!” Gran clapped her hands together. “Oh my goodness, how did I get to be so blessed? Two granddaughters at once. It’s just like old times.”
“Move aside, sister,” Mandy swept by Diana. “You think you can go to a firefighters’ calendar photo shoot and not take me with you? You almost got away with it.”
“What about Mom? How did she let you go?”
Mandy threw her suitcases down and hugged Gran. “Don’t even get me started. The new consultant Mom brought in thinks that gray is the new white. Florina De La Cruz is her name. Sounds about as fake as her French accent if you ask me. And I caught Mom trying to measure me the other day.”
“No. For a wedding dress?” It had happened to Diana the year she’d met Bradley.
She’d turned around to find Mom with the tape measure right behind Diana. When she’d asked Mom what she was doing she didn’t even try to lie.
“Just like with you, she didn’t even try to cover. She said she’d seen the perfect dress and wanted to know my measurements. I told her I was never getting married, and do you know what she did? She laughed at me!”
“Why would she do that?” Gran asked.
“You need to talk some sense into your daughter,” Mandy said, giving Gran a quick hug and moving into the kitchen. “She’s got weddings on the brain twenty-four seven.”
Mandy grabbed a soda from the fridge. “So when do we get to see the Man Candy?”
“I’m leaving in an hour. And you better not hold me up!”
Mandy threw Diana an I-wouldn’t-dream-of-it angelic smile. “Not a chance.”
An hour later, Diana and Mandy were on the way to the vineyard owned by Scott’s brother, Billy Turlock.
“Are you going to tell me about Scott or do I have to suffer in silence until I get to see him in the flesh?” Mandy asked when they were two minutes out of Gran’s carport.
“What do you want to know? You’ll get to see him in a few minutes.”
“I want to know what you’ve been doing hanging out with him. And—running? Did I hear Gran right?”
Diana took her eyes off the road to glare at Mandy. “You heard right and don’t you dare make fun of me. I’m trying to lose weight. Being here with Gran has mostly been a sedentary activity. Plus, the bakery here is really good. And according to the Internet, I’m fat.”
“Stop it. You’re a full bodied woman. Voluptuous.”
“That’s just another word for fat.”
“No one thinks you’re fat. Puh-leeze.”
But it only mattered was Diana thought, and it wouldn’t kill her to have a smaller ass.
She’d been driving around for twenty minutes and still had no idea where to find the vineyard. “I’m officially lost. Pull out your GPS and get us to this vineyard.”
Mandy plugged the address in and Siri instructed a left turn, and then a right. “You know, Scott could be your rebound guy.”
“Why do I need a rebound guy?” She turned right at the stop sign as instructed.
“The rebound guy is a good looking charmer type that’s not settling down material. You sort of cleanse your palate with the rebound guy.”
“Maybe you do. My palate is fine, thanks.” Siri instructed a left and Diana faced an empty field. “Seriously?”
A dead-end. Nice metaphor for her life. A few minutes later, Siri got them back on track and Diana turned on Hummingbird Lane, following the single lane road to the top of a small hill. There was an access parking lot and Diana found a space and parked.
“What a view!” Mandy said as she got out of the car.
And it was a view indeed. A wide expanse of rolling hills filled with rows upon rows of vines. The green lush land and the terra cotta mansion that looked like a Villa reminded her of picturesque scenes of the Italian countryside. The heady scent of grapes clung to the hot July day.
She grabbed her bag and followed the group of people walking towards a cottage in the back. Diana spotted a pregnant blonde directing everyone. “Mr. January and Ms. February down here, everyone else up here.”
She noticed Diana approaching and waved her over.
“Hi, I’m Diana. And this is my sister, Mandy.”
“I’m Brooke Turlock. Nice to meet you both. Right this way to the photo shoot.” She led the way down a few steps to the cottage next to the larger manor house. “I used to live here.” Brooke pointed toward the cottage. She smiled dreamily and rubbed her large stomach. “Good times.”
“So I just go in there and watch the shoot?” Diana asked.
Brooke winked. “Tough job, but someone’s gotta do it. Right?”
Mandy inched forward. “I’m her assistant. I need to go in too. In case she needs assisting.”
“Of course,” Brooke said and waved them both in.
Inside, the photographer was setting up. There were cords lying on the ground in every direction, a large lamp, a white umbrella light, and several bottles of wine lined up on the floor.
Diana went over and introduced herself. “I’m writing the article for the website.” When Mandy pinched her again, Diana sighed and said, “And this is my sister, Mandy. My assistant.”
“Isn’t that great,” the photographer said, a man wearing a nose ring that made him look like a bull. “You write and you have an assistant. Meanwhile, I get to do everything. They give me an empty room and expect me to create magic. I’m only one person! I’m Evan, by the way.”
“I’ll help you,” Mandy said.
“You will? Great, but you might have to be in here all day helping me with make-up and lighting.”
“Oh, too bad but yeah as luck would have it I can do that.” Mandy smiled.
The photo shoot began a few minutes later, with Mr. January going first, one of the youngest recruits at twenty-two. He wore a helmet, a pair of work pants and not a whole lot more. During the shoot, Diana fired off a few questions, asking where he was from and how he’d decided to be a firefighter.
A few minutes later Diana turned to see a beautiful woman next to her, wearing a firefighter hat, short work pants and a bikini top covered in red hearts. “Hi, I’m Julie. Ms. February.”
She was thin, with her own rather impressive set of abs. “I’m Diana. I’m writing an article about the calendar.”
“I remember you,” Julie said. “I was there the night of the rescue. Hey, sorry about the video. Some people are jerks.”
“Thanks,” Diana said. “I think it will die down after a while.”
“Sure, someone will post a video of their talking dog or cat. You know how it is.” Julie laughed.
Mandy sidled up to Julie. “Tell the truth. How hard is it to get through the fire academy?”
“Are you thinking of applying?” Julie asked.
“Yes,” Mandy answered without hesitation.
“You can’t be serious,” Diana said.
“I am serious. There’s nothing funny about fire safety,” Mandy said with a frown.
Yet Mandy had once sobbed when she’d snagged her nail on a dress. Julie was interesting, though. A woman in such a male-dominated profession. Diana needed more time with Julie. “Can I make an appointment to interview you sometime? For the article I’m writing?”
“Of course!”
Diana’s thoughts next went to Scott, and she wondered where he’d be hiding. Her desire to keep things platonic didn’t mean she couldn’t have a good look at what was under his shirt. After all, he’d already seen pretty much all of her assets. It was high time to return the favor. After Julie’s shoot, which included some racy photos of her leaning over a fake fire hose while holding a bottle of Serrano’s Riesling, Evan threw up his hands.
“Great. I was just told that we have to get all the Christmas shit out now because Mr. December is tired of waiting and has to be back at the station. So, you know, let’s just make his life easier. Who cares abou
t me?”
Mandy, to her credit, hustled and got the Christmas stuff out in record time, helping Evan set it up. There were garlands and white twinkling fairy lights for background, a Charlie Brown tree and even fake presents. Diana heard what she recognized as Ty’s voice carrying through the room as he walked in.
“Ho, ho, ho, motherfuckers.”
He had on work boots, fireman pants and nothing else.
“Oh. My. Gawd.” Mandy said.
Diana glanced from Mandy’s lustful expression to Ty’s, zeroed in on Mandy. The two were locked in some kind of hoodoo-voodoo lust lock.
“Mandy, please go put the Santa hat on him,” Evan said from behind the camera.
“W-what?” Mandy asked.
“The Santa hat?” Evan repeated.
“You heard him,” Diana said, feeling one of the biggest grins she’d had in weeks coming on. “Go put on the Santa hat.”
Mandy leaned in and whispered to Diana, “I’m scared. He looks like he might eat me alive.”
“God be with you,” Diana said and shoved her sister towards the big hulk of a man.
Mandy put the Santa hat on Ty. At that moment, he brandished a cigar from his pocket.
“No cigar!” Evan shouted. “Sorry, but we’re pushing alcohol today, not tobacco products.”
Ty didn’t take the cigar out, but instead stared intently at Mandy, and seemed to be daring her to take it from him.
“Um, I need this?” Mandy put her hand on the cigar in his mouth.
He let her take it from his mouth, grinning mischievously. “I’ll need that back.”
Mandy scurried to Diana’s side with the cigar.
“Can I ask you a few questions about being a firefighter?” Diana asked as Evan set up the shot.
“Ask all you want. It doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”
Great. “What made you decide to be a firefighter?”
“I wasn’t pretty enough to be a model. But I don’t know. This could be my lucky break.” He smiled and winked at Mandy, looking a little wolfish.
Mandy went back and handed him a bottle of wine in place of the cigar.
“I guess you’re not going to be serious about this,” Diana directed to Ty. “I asked you a question.”
“And I gave you an answer. Next question.” Ty held the bottle of wine in a decidedly obscene way.
“Okay, stop that,” Evan objected. “Here, hand him a fake wine glass. Take the bottle from him. Hurry. Now.”
Mandy went back up to Ty, this time it seemed a little less fearful. They exchanged a few words which no one else could hear and Mandy took the bottle and gave him the glass to hold.
A few more photos later and Ty was excused. He ripped the cigar out of Mandy’s clutches. “See you all later. I’m sure there’s a fire somewhere.”
Diana glanced down at her notes. She had nothing. Rookie was fresh out of high school when he joined up in an open call. One of the lucky ones. Julie hadn’t been able to talk much, given that Evan had directed her every move the entire time, and Ty had been a jerk about the whole thing.
“What were you guys talking about when you went up there?”
“He asked me if I wanted to sit on his lap.” Mandy answered.
“What did you say?”
Mandy smiled. “I told him I would but what I want Santa can’t deliver.”
“You didn’t. Way to be professional. You’re supposed to be my assistant. Stop flirting!”
“Fine. You’re no fun, you know?” Mandy crossed her arms.
Evan covered his face with his hands. “Now they tell me Mr. September won’t take his shirt off. Did no one tell him it’s a firefighter’s calendar? I swear I’ve worked with divas that weren’t this much trouble.”
Mr. September?
“What do you want me to do?” Mandy asked. “Should I go find him and rip it off? I don’t mind, really.”
“No!” Diana said. “I’ll go talk to Scott.”
“Wait. Scott is Mr. September?” Mandy asked. “How do I not know this?”
“Go ahead, Diana” Evan said. “But try to hurry it up. I think I’ve got four months until we get to September.”
This didn’t make any sense. She’d never have pegged Scott to want extra attention, so something else had to be wrong. “There has to be a logical explanation. I’ll find out.”
She walked to the area where some of the firefighters were waiting their turn, but didn’t see Scott in the vicinity.
“If you’re looking for your prince, he went inside his brother’s house. It’s the owner’s suite right back there.” A smartass pointed.
“Thanks so much.” She’d seen the “Someday my Prince Will Come” video too. It was probably her favorite.
She knocked on the door to the suite and heard Scott call out, “Come in!”
Inside the suite was larger than it had appeared. It wasn’t wide, but it went deep. The front living area was spotless and beautifully decorated in splashes of color every few feet. A red couch, burnt orange drapes. She followed sounds toward the kitchen and found Scott near the counter, making a mess. A mayonnaise jar sat on the counter top with its top off, and a lunch meat packet half opened. He was reaching inside a bag of hoagie bread.
Like the others, he wore his fireman gear pants, khaki ones with the yellow stripes, and a plain brown t-shirt. Diana cleared her throat, both to get his attention and snap out of her lust haze. “Are you eating? Now?”
“I’m hungry. Brooke’s too busy out there to banish me from the kitchen, and I think Billy’s at practice with his team.” He slathered some mayo on a slice of bread.
She laughed a little. “Okay. Now I don’t know what’s going on here, but you do know they want your photo soon?”
“We have four months to go.”
“That’s going to go by fast.”
He nodded as he opened the fridge. “No worries. In four months, I hope to have this sandwich eaten.”
“So what’s this about? You won’t take your shirt off? You do know it’s a firefighters calendar? You have seen those before, right?”
“Sure. But maybe I don’t like being objectified.”
“All right. So you’re being a smartass. I don’t get why you’re being so difficult. Just take your shirt off and make everybody happy.” Including her, if she was being honest. Did she want to see him with his shirt off? Yes, one could say that about her.
He turned to her. “I don’t want to take my t-shirt off. I have my reasons, and they’re good ones.”
“Look,” Diana said, trying to find her courage, “The other night—let’s just say that I could tell you should be proud of what you’ve got under there.”
He took a bite of his sandwich and smiled through it. “Still not taking it off.”
“It’s not like you’re trying to hide it. I’m pretty sure if I’d stayed any longer I was about to see you with your shirt off. And I don’t think you were going to be shy about it either.”
“You’re right about that, but you can see me with my shirt off any time you like. That’s not an issue.”
“Are you saying you’re selective about who can see you with your shirt off?” This was getting stranger by the second. “Stop playing games and take your damn shirt off.”
He didn’t answer, but set the sandwich down and walked till he was just inches from her. The old Diana might have backed up, but oh no, he wasn’t going to push her around. No sir, no intimidation here. She had metaphorical balls, and she wasn’t going to let one hot firefighter guy let her forget it. Even if his standing so close to her, oozing his utter maleness, was turning her brain into swiss cheese.
“You’re a bossy one. Why don’t you take it off?”
Her mouth was suddenly parched. She wasn’t even sure what shirt he referred to anymore. Cripes, it was hot in here. “You want me to take your shirt off? Or do you want me to take my shirt off? Because the second one’s not going to happen.”
“I think they both sou
nd good.” He grinned.
Before she could say another word, he took her hand and led it to the hem of his shirt. She didn’t understand why he would play this silly game with her. Sure, it was fun, but there were people waiting. But then he was helping her slowly lift the shirt off. When it came off, he didn’t break eye contact. There was no shame in his eyes, not at all, but when her eyes dropped down she immediately noticed a large patch of scarring just below his right pec, which came down to the side of his abs. She wondered what battle it had been and whether or not he’d lost any friends. He was not going to talk about it, that much she already realized. No point in asking.
“Oh. Well, maybe this could be covered with make-up. For the photo shoot.”
For the first time since she’d been a victim of someone’s video camera, it dawned on Diana that she wasn’t the only one upset by all the attention. If he was anxious to hide his battle scars, he was not interested in being anyone’s hero. The scarring made him more attractive to her because it showed he’d lived a full life and as far as she could tell had no regrets. It was the kind of life she wanted to live and he’d already done it.
He threw the shirt on the ground. “Make-up? Hell, no. Look, I just don’t want it to start all over again.”
“What do you mean ‘it’?”
He grimaced and stepped back. “All the attention. When I came back from my last tour four years ago, people asked me about it all the time. It had been in the paper, so it was all people would talk about.”
“A roadside bomb?”
“Yeah. My team was mostly fine, thanks to the MRAP. This was just a spray of shrapnel when I— never mind. I don’t give a shit about it, except I don’t want any questions. I don’t want to look like some kind of a war hero, which I’m not.”
She could see why he didn’t want anyone to see it. It invited too many questions for someone averse to giving answers. But the scarring was easy to ignore and not at all unattractive, mostly due to the six pack abs and the man who owned them. It had become a raging inferno in this blasted apartment. She needed to change the subject before she wound up licking him slowly, starting at his neck and making her way down him like he was a giant Popsicle. Had she mentioned how hot it was in here?
Unforgettable You (Starlight Hill Series Book 4) Page 9