Operation Date Escape

the fire pole when calls come in?”
    “Sometimes,” he replied with a chuckle. “In fact, mine is one of the few firehouses in Columbus that still has brass poles. So we have the option of taking the stairs to the bay or the pole.”
    Billy returned, placing an oversized carryout bag atop the bar. “All set,” he said , handing Cole the bill.
    He reached down into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out his wallet. Then he pushed two twenties across the bar. “Keep the change.”
    “Big order...big tipper,” Nanci remarked with a playful smile as she reached for her glass. “I’ll bet you-”
    “Don’t even go there,” Kelsie warned, cutting her friend off. He watched as a deep blush stained her cheeks.
    “What?” Nanci asked in feigned innocence. “I was simply going to say that a big boy like him would probably have a really big appetite.”
    He had a pretty good idea where she was heading with that one. And judging by the color in Kelsie’s cheeks he’d lay money on it that it had something to do with sex.
    Grabbing the carryout bag from the counter, he said, “I’d better get this food back to the firehouse before they send a search party out to find me.”
    He wasn’t certain, but he could have sworn he detected a hint of a smile playing at the corners of the China doll’s glossy lips. Ah, progress.
    “Maybe we’ll see you around sometime,” the blonde said in a voice that was almost as bouncy as other parts of her.
    He wasn’t sure if the ‘we’ she was referring to was her and her friend, or her and her breasts. “Maybe so.”
    “Just in case,” she said with a smile, “I’m Nanci with an ‘ I’ and this is my friend Kelsie with a slight case of post-divorce man avoidance tendencies.”
    He barely managed to get out of the way as the drink her guy-shy friend had just taken exploded from her lips in a shower of red. She tried to talk, no doubt to apologize, but ended up in a coughing fit that had him tossing his carryout bag back onto the counter and moving in to help her.
    Taking the drink from her hand, he set it on the bar beside the bag and then patted her lightly on the back until the coughing fit passed. “You okay?”
    “Y...yes,” she managed to get out. She looked up at him, her green eyes watering. “Wrong pipe.”
    Her friend passed her a napkin, then in melodramatic fashion said, “I was just trying to point out that you are usually a very warm, welcoming person. Wouldn’t want you two to start off on the wrong foot.” Her gaze slid down the length of him and her smile widened. “You’re lucky he was here to come to your rescue. If you had passed out, he’s certified to give mouth to mouth.”
    “ Then he’d better stick around, because you’re going to need reviving after I finish strangling you,” the petite red-head muttered as she attempted to wipe the specks of wine cooler spray from her shirt and jeans.
    He gave a husky laugh at her unexpected response. It appeared the little China doll wasn’t nearly as fragile as her petite-stature led one to believe. That’s would teach him not to judge a book by its cover.
    “I hate to break it to you ,” he said with a grin, “but murdering your friend isn’t the best way to keep you on the good side of the law.”
    She sighed softly. “I suppose you’re right. I guess I’ll let her live for now. I’ll just cut out her tongue instead.”
    He arched a questioning brow.
    “She’s kidding,” Nanci said, not the least bit intimidated by her friend’s threats.
    “Umm , I think I’m fine now,” Kelsie said stiffly.
    He looked down at her. “What?”
    “Rescue complete,” she said, glancing at the arm still wrapped around her back.
    He smiled. “Well, if you’re sure you won’t be needing mouth to mouth...”
    “I’m sure.”
    Grinning, he let his arm fall away. “Then I’ll be getting these sandwiches back to the station.” Retrieving his order once more from the counter, he nodded. “Ladies.”

    Kelsie tried not to watch him go, but his backside proved to be a serious eye magnet. Damn it anyhow. In fact, she hadn’t found one thing wrong with him. Definitely the kind of man she wanted to avoid.
    Nanci jumped off the bar stool and grabbed for Kelsie’s hand, putting it to her throat.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Strangle me,” her friend ordered. “Quick!”
    “What?”
    “I want mouth to mouth.” She pointed to the door as it closed behind the departing fireman.