Operation Date Escape

guys my age are still out there sowing their wild oats.”
    “Are you?” Shoot! How had that gotten past her lips?
    His agitation turned to amusement. “Not at the moment.”
    Smart ass.
    He arched a brow, making her wonder if she had voiced her thoughts aloud.
    She looked away. “Forget I asked.”
    He chuckled. “I’m not seeing anyone. And not planning on doing so anytime soon if that’s what you’re asking.”
    Of all the arrogant... Kelsie twisted beneath the binding restraint of the seat belt to face him. “For your information I wasn’t implying that I’m interested. In fact, I’d never ever date a guy like you.”
    The humor retreated from his eyes. “What is it with you women?”
    “Excuse me?”
    “A guy could die being a garbage man, too.”
    Dying a garbage man? Where in the world had that come from?
    “I’ll have you know that I’m a damn good firefighter,” he continued, not giving her the chance to reply. “I’m well aware of the risks that come with my profession, but I have no intention of giving it up for you or any other woman.”
    Okay, now who was the crazy one?
    “I don’t recall asking you to give anything up for me. I think it’s great that there are men and women like you who are willing to risk their lives for others. I was merely pointing out that you are too perfect to ever consider dating. But after that last outburst...”
    “Too perfect?” he muttered, clearly dumbfounded by her reply.
    She nodded. “Your face, your body, the fact that you’re a caring person. Everything I’m determined to avoid.”
    “That doesn’t make sense.”
    “And your comment about dying a garbage man does?”
    “ It does when almost every relationship I’ve had in my past ended because the women couldn’t deal with my being a firefighter.”
    “The n you were dating the wrong women.”
    He studied her for a long moment. “And dating men who are far from perfect isn’t doing the same thing?”
    “ I risked my heart once on a man I thought was perfect and that relationship failed miserably. Dating men with flaws keeps me from making that same mistake ever again.”
    “ So if I confess to leaving the lid off the toothpaste on occasion does that put me back into your acceptable dating pool?”
    She laughed softly. “Sorry, not a big enough flaw to qualify for my ‘safe to date’ list.”
    “Damn.”
    He had no idea how tempted she was to bend her dating rules. Kelsie bit at her bottom lip to keep from saying something she would undoubtedly regret. Like YES! Turning, she fixed her gaze on the town passing by outside the passenger window and sat in silence the remainder of the way home.
    “I’ll see you to your door ,” her rescuer said when they pulled up in front of her apartment building.
    “No,” she blurted out , knowing she would be too tempted to drag him inside with her. And that would be a bad thing. “There’s no need. Thanks for everything.” She threw open the door, needing to get away from the temptation.
    “Kelsie...”
    Run! her panicked mind cried out. But she didn’t heed the warning. Instead, she turned in her seat to face the owner of that sexy voice. Mr. Perfect.
    Cole reached out to cup her chin and lifted her face to his, saying nothing. He didn’t have to. The heat in his eyes said it all as he lowered his mouth to hers. The kiss was slow. Passionate. Dangerously seductive.
    Firemen were supposed to put fires out, not start them. Yet there she was on the verge of going up in lust-induced flames.
    Thankfully, he pulled away, ending the kiss before she gave in to the overwhelming urge to play ‘Pin The Fireman To The Truck Bench’.
    Her mind still dazed from their passionate kiss, she slid bonelessly from the truck. To her chagrin, she dropped her keys twice as she made her way to her front door. Nothing like letting the sexy hunk behind the wheel of the big black truck know just how much his kiss had affected her.
    She glanced back over her shoulder just as th e tinted driver’s side window slid down to reveal Cole’s grinning face.
    “See you around, Cupcake !” With that, he drove away, leaving her standing there, her entire body still short-circuiting from his kiss. Irritatingly perfect man!

CHAPTER FOUR

    Cole was the last of his crew to give up the comfort of his overstuffed recliner and head for the dining area. The station had gotten more than the usual amount of calls that day and all he wanted to do was kick back and relax.