Operation Date Escape

knowing grin. “If you ask me, Cole doesn’t seem like the love them and leave them type. He’s definitely not Kyle.”
    “I know that.” Kelsie crossed the room to grab a paper bib and a pack of sterile instruments from the supply shelf.
    “Sometimes I wonder,” Nanci said, leaning against the wall.
    What was that supposed to mean?
    Settling onto her chair, she emptied the bag of instruments out onto the sterile tray beside her. Then she draped the paper napkin over them. “You make it sound like I avoid men. I date.”
    “Sure, you do. You’re a habitual non-dater. You go out, but you never really give any of those guys the chance to get to know you before you cut out.”
    That was not true. Cole knew her very well. Every inch of her as a matter of fact. She spun around in her chair to face her friend. “You’ve seen the guys my mother has fixed me up with. And yours haven’t been much better.”
    “ Hey, haven’t you ever heard that beauty is in the eye of the beholder?”
    “ Would you go out with them again?”
    “Hell no. But your mother didn’t set you up with Cole.”
    “No, you did.”
    “He asked you out,” Nanci argued.
    “Yeah, and you accepted for me.”
    “Then I guess you have me to thank for last night. You got to find out firsthand that the rumor’s true about firemen and their hoses.”
    “Nanci,” she warned, trying very hard not to think about Cole’s hose .
    “Sorry . Couldn’t resist.”
    “What happened between Cole and me isn’t funny,” she stressed. “Letting go, even if just for one night, was a major thing for me.”
    Her friend sobered up. “I’m sorry, Kels. I’m just so happy that Cole helped you get past that sexual wall you’ve put up.”
    “I really don’t want to talk about Cole or sex anymore . Especially, sex with Cole.
    “Point made. Just know that I’m here if you need to talk.”
    Kelsie offered an appreciative smile. “Thanks.”
    “I’ m going to start calling patients.” Nanci paused in the doorway. “Look, I know your mom and I can be real pains in the ass when it comes to your love life, but we care about you.”
    Emotion knotted in her throat. “I know that.”
    “You deserve to find the happiness your ex screwed you out of.”
    Literally, Kelsie thought with a frown.
    “So do me a favor. Don’t write Cole off completely.”
    “Nanci─”
    “And don’t argue with me. I’m your elder.”
    “By two months,” she pointed out.
    Her friend shrugged. “Older is older and that makes me wiser. All I ask is that you take some time to think things o ver before doing anything drastic where Cole’s concerned.”
    It was a little too late to worry about that. She had a serious thing for Cole Maxwell. It couldn’t get any more drastic than that.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

    Cole arrived at the fire station on Monday morning, more than eager to begin his shift. Focusing on work was exactly what he needed to divert his thoughts from Kelsie. Something he hadn’t been able to do since driving her home after their date that weekend.
    Joe met him in the hall, cup of coffee in hand. “Well, if it isn’t Stud Muffin. I thought for sure you’d be calling off today after such a wild weekend.”
    “You thought wrong,” he replied as he continued on down the hallway toward the dorm-style room he used when on duty, duffel bag slung over his shoulder.
    “A little on the cranky side today?” Joe asked as he followed him into the room. It was more a statement than a question.
    “Let’s just say I’ve had better days.”
    Joe leaned against the doorframe, sipping at his coffee. “I tried calling you yesterday.”
    “I was at the gym working out.”
    “So how did your date with Kelsie go?”
    So much for trying to divert his thoughts.
    Cole tossed his bag onto his bed and pulled off his t-shirt. “Good.”
    “Good, huh? Is that why you’re such a bundle of joy today?”
    “I really don’t want to talk about this right now.” About her. He pulled his uniform from his bag.
    His friend studied him for a long moment. “Something happened between the two of you. Am I right?”
    He ignored the question.
    His silence didn’t deter Joe in the least. “Don’t tell me your little Cupcake ended up making one of her famous escapes out the restaurant window .”
    “You mean Nanci hasn’t already told you all about my date with Kelsie? ”
    “No, why?”
    “I thought girls always talked about those kinds of things.”
    “They might, but I