Chapter 3

Stella

As I get into my car, I sigh as I turn on the aerated seats. It's hot as fuck in Laurel Springs right now, and this has been a shit-tastic day. I got puked on, felt up by a man old enough to be my father, and then the doctor I work for asked me out. Not for the first time, I might add, but he's so not my type. He's not rugged, he's not manly, and I'll never forget the way he ran out of the clinic when I was in the room with a guy packing a gun.

I don't want to be with the man who runs away from danger. No, I want to be with the one running to it. Like Ransom Thompson. A little smile plays across my face as I think about him saving me that day. He and I, we've known each other since we were babies, and he's always flirted with me, from the time we were old enough to know what flirting was up until now. The issue is, I never took it seriously. Until about eight months ago, when I started noticing that Ransom had grown up. Maybe it was the fact we'd both gotten to the "other side" of twenty-five, but one day he walked into The Café and I took notice. His jaw, which has always been strong, looked like it could cut metal. Overnight it appeared he'd bulked up and gained thirty pounds, and when had he gotten all those tattoos? Then I saw him at my grandparents, getting out of the pool, and it just solidified the obsession that seemed to pop up out of nowhere. When I asked Kels, she laughed and gave me a wink, nudging me with an "I wondered when you'd start to pay attention".

And start to pay attention I did. Which is why I used the fact he was the cop who'd rescued me to my advantage and asked him out to dinner. Only he hadn't responded yet. Leaning my head back against my seat, I let the cold air from underneath me and my vents cool me off. When you sweat walking to your car from a building – it's stupid hot. I'm attempting to grip my steering wheel when my phone vibrates in my cup holder. Giving up on the steering wheel, I grab the phone, grinning widely when I see Ransom's name and face.

R: So, 'bout that dinner? I'm finally free tonight if you don't mind to come here. Rambo got his shots and I like to watch and make sure he doesn't have a reaction.

Fuck me running, how hot can this guy be? I literally just melted because he's concerned for his dog. Immediately I'm typing back.

S: No problem! Let me go home, change, and then run to the grocery to get food to cook. Any preference?

R: Just your company.

And that's when I can't help the loud squeal I let loose with while beating my feet against the floorboard. Do I look like an idiot? Yes. Do I care? Not at all.

S: Be there in about an hour and a half, depending on traffic.

R: We'll be waiting.

This shitty day? Just turned right the fuck around.

* * *

"I thought you told Dr. Patterson no when he asked you out." Kels comes into my room, putting her hair up in a ponytail. She's giving me a look and eyeing me up and down as I come out of the bathroom, wearing a towel around my hair and have a robe covering my body. She coaches a group of seven-year-old girls in softball and had gotten the early shift today. While I'd been fighting off the advances of a fifty year old man, she'd been here, in our apartment, getting ready to coach.

"I did tell him no." I go to my closet, opening the door, trying to pick out the best outfit.

Her eyes narrow as she almost glares at me, then she sniffs the air. "Then who are you going out with? Because you don't use that expensive as fuck body wash unless you're thinking someone is going to get up close and personal – possibly even naked."

Groaning, I throw my head back, losing my towel. "Maybe I wanted to smell pretty for myself."

Kels tilts her head, the yeah right is left unsaid. "At seventy bucks a bottle? Need I remind you the title has the word carnal in it? You're definitely angling to take your clothes off tonight. C'mon, Belle, spill the beans. Who are you going out with, if it's not the doctor?"

Giving into the fact she's not going to let this go is frustrating, but I do it anyway. "Ransom's free, and he said tonight is a good night for the dinner I promised him when he helped us out."

A smile plays on her lips. "Dinner where?"

Turning back to my closet I do my best to ignore her as I flip through my clothes. Should I do a dress? That screams desperate. What about jeans? It's so fucking hot. "At his house, Rambo just had shots. He wants to be there in case he has a reaction or something. I offered to cook."

"His house? You offered to cook?" She stands beside me, crossing her arms. "Mmm hmmmm," she mumbles. "You two alone in that house of his with his California King-size bed. Totally innocent, am I right?"

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" I ask her, flipping through more clothes, trying to decide what will make me look sexy but also not like I'm trying too hard.

"I do," she giggles. "But this is too much fun. Seeing you squirm." She claps her hands. "Did you ask Renegade?"

"Why would I ask my dad if I could see Ransom? I'm a grown woman."

"Mmm hmmmm," she mumbles again.

I take the shirt I'm moving out of the way as a hard no, off the hanger, and throw it at her. "If you're not gonna be helpful, leave."

She catches the shirt laughing. "For real, I wouldn't tell my dad either or Caleb. I mean, think of how fun it could be sneaking around. Fucking in the back of his patrol SUV, maybe a quickie before work, after work if it's a late night, meeting him for lunch mid-shift - the fucking possibilities are endless. Literally."

Great, now she's got me thinking about it too. I inhale deeply. "I have an hour to get dressed, go to the store, and get over there. If you're not gonna help me, go coach some ankle-biters."

Kelsea Harrison may be the meanest best friend in the world as she turns to leave. "Two things." She grabs an empty backpack of mine she likes to use. "One, I won't wait up for you. Two, wear the cut-off jean shorts with the turquoise tank top. You have a killer tan, you've been working on your legs in the gym, and the tank top is loose enough it shows just a little bit of cleavage and the top of your bra. Wear the black lace one. You'll thank me for it later." She gives a grin.

"Three things." I stop her as she turns to walk out. "One, that's my backpack, don't forget to return it. Two, I'm glad you paid attention to what Ransom likes all these years. Three, we'll see about the waiting up part."

"Yeah," she laughs. "We'll see."

"Hey!" I yell out as she disappears into the hallway.

"Whhhaattt?" She drags the word out as she backtracks, sticking her head around the door, peering at me with a look on her face.

"Is Nick gonna be at the practice?" I reference my adopted brother with a grin of my own.

Tucking some escaped strands from her ponytail behind her ear, she looks down. "He may be helping."

"Mmm hmmmm." I give her back a little of what she gave me. "Don't drool too much."

"One day he'll notice," she says the words with more conviction than I think she really has.

I listen to her leave, and only when the door shuts, I speak to the empty room. "I'm pretty sure he already has."

But that's enough time wasted on the two of them. I have dinner with Ransom to prepare for, and damned if I'm gonna let this opportunity slip through my fingers. Grabbing the outfit Kels suggested, I go get ready.