Hearts on Fire 7: Claiming Catalina (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  “They don’t live in New Jersey, never mind anywhere near Treasure Town. It would never work out. Plus, only Cooper and Don were at the Station last night. We talked, and I’m on nights all week.”

  “Well, that didn’t stop you from kissing Cooper, from what I heard.”

  “Jeesh! Did everyone see the man kiss me?”

  “Oh my God, you like him. I knew it. So when are you going to see them?”

  “Duh. I’m not going to. It’s a waste of time. I can’t get involved with some one-night stand or some free-for-all sexcapade.”

  “Catalina, you like them, and they like you. Maybe it can work. Ice told me that Cooper and Don were offered these great jobs with the county running the fire training facility and programs for every fire house. It’s a pretty great opportunity. They might move here, then what?”

  “Well, I’m happy for them, but considering that they both asked me to go home with them last night, and I hardly know them, I’d say they weren’t looking for the commitment-type of woman.”

  “Damn, they asked you that straight out? It must have been a hell of a kiss,” Serefina said, and Catalina exhaled as she leaned back against the small couch.

  “It was freaking incredible. I swear if I were easy, or didn’t think I would ever see them again, I would have said yes.”

  “Damn, that’s amazing, but maybe it’s not what you think. Maybe he just blurted it out because he was so very attracted to you.”

  “But then Don came over and added the same thing. It just seemed like that’s what they do—like a woman, feel an attraction, and then take her home to screw her. I’m not like that and never have been. I want more, Serefina, and it’s starting to feel like I’m never going to get that around here.”

  “Hey, don’t say that. When the time is right, you’ll meet the right guy or guys. Just hold steady. How is work going, anyway?”

  “Well, I heard about this new position. It would mean no more night shifts. I could actually get a tan.” She chuckled.

  “Is it in the hospital or elsewhere?” Serefina asked, and Catalina could tell she was worried. As much as Catalina thought about moving and starting fresh somewhere, she loved the town and the people too much.

  “It’s here and with the ER still, and entails a lot of responsibility, but the benefits seem awesome.”

  “So you’re going to apply for it?”

  “Maybe. I’ll decide soon.”

  “You should go for it. Maybe this is the change you need, and it can free up your nights so you can go out more.”

  “I’m thinking about it. A change could be a really good thing right now. We’ll see. I’d better get going. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  “You bet. Be safe.”

  “Always,” Catalina said and then disconnected the call.

  The second she did, the door pushed open.

  “We just got a call. Five victims, multiple-car pileup, on their way now,” one of the other nurses told her. She immediately stood up, tossed her half-full coffee cup into the garbage, and headed out the door to the ER. Time to go back to work. Her fifteen-minute break was now over.

  * * * *

  The phone rang several times, but no voice message came on. Don looked at Cooper. “Are you sure she gave us her real cell number?”

  “Bro, she was right there when it went off. It’s hers. Maybe the voicemail is full,” Cooper said as they both sat at the table in the kitchen.

  “Or she’s avoiding our call again. It’s been a week. Last night should have been her last night shift.”

  “Maybe if we go to the Station tonight, we’ll see her there with her friends?”

  “Maybe. I guess we’ll head out to Sullivan’s for lunch and then check out those two houses for sale. If we’re seriously going to consider moving, I want to have a nice place and all the details planned out so that when we talk to Cody and Jeremy, they can’t say they’re not interested.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Let’s go.”

  As they headed down the road in their Jeep, Don thought about why Catalina was avoiding them. Sure, if things got serious, it would be hard to have a long-distance relationship, but the woman wasn’t even giving them a chance. Why was that? Had something happened to her to make her decline their interest? Maybe he was reading into things. Or maybe he felt a bit off-kilter and insulted because not once in his life had a woman declined an offer of coming home with him, a date, or even a kiss. Shit. She wasn’t even their woman, and she was making his head spin.

  As Cooper pulled along the curb and into an open parking spot, Don spotted some guys talking to a blonde. Her back was toward him, but he could tell she had a great figure in the slim-fitting blue sundress she wore, and she was carrying a large bag on her shoulder. When she turned away from the one guy closest to her, Don caught sight of the low V of the dress and how her breasts nearly poured from the top, yet the outfit looked stylish and classy, like something a model would wear.

  “Holy shit.” He took in the full sight of her and then her face. Despite the dark black sunglasses she wore, he could tell right away that it was Catalina.

  “Is that Catalina?” Cooper asked as he got out of the Jeep.

  “Sure as shit is.”

  “Who the fuck is she with?”

  “I don’t know, but looks like she’s not with them. She’s trying to pass by them,” Don said, and he and Cooper made their way closer.

  From Don’s perspective, Catalina appeared annoyed as she placed her hand on her hip and started raising her voice.

  “I said I’m not interested, so take a hike.”

  “That’s our cue,” Don said. “Hey, baby, we’ve been looking all over for you. We were worried.” Don moved right between the guys there, practically knocking them over. Cooper stood with his arms crossed in a mean, protective stance.

  “Are you bothering our woman?” he barked.

  Catalina gasped, but Don pulled her close and squeezed her hip as he wrapped an arm around her waist, bringing her closer to Cooper and him.

  “Your woman? Shit. If she were mine, she would never be left alone,” one guy said, and he sounded a little drunk.

  “Well, she isn’t yours, so get lost. The lady isn’t interested.”

  The four men looked at Catalina.

  “See you around, doll, when your muscle-head boyfriends aren’t around,” one of them stated.

  “Hey, you fucking ever come near her again and you’ll answer to me. Got it?” Cooper stated firmly as he stepped toward them, ready to fight.

  The one drunk guy raised his hands up. “Whatever. We’re out of here.”

  They started walking away, and Don couldn’t help but to pull Catalina close and hug her. “Are you okay?” he asked, and she nodded.

  “I was just coming from the phone store. I was walking out, and these guys followed me and starting bothering me. It was so weird. I’m sorry that you had to get involved.” She began to pull away.

  He held her by her hips and stared down into her eyes. “We were pissed when we saw you talking to those guys.”

  “Yeah, especially since we called and left multiple messages on your cell phone asking about getting together,” Don added.

  “You did? Oh God, I’m so sorry. My stupid phone got broken on Tuesday night at work. The ER was super busy, and when multiple victims of a car accident came in at once, it was pandemonium to get to everyone in a timely manner. As we were working, one of the new nurses hadn’t locked the gurney and it started to collapse. I grabbed onto the corner as the others helped, but my cell phone popped out of my back pocket and broke. Working all these night shifts all week, I hadn’t had time during the day to bring it to get fixed because I was sleeping. So, sorry.” She finally exhaled.

  Don leaned forward and softly kissed her lips. “You’re forgiven,” he whispered after he pulled away.

  She pulled back. “Don, I told you guys that this wasn’t a good idea.” She was obviously taken aback that he’d kissed her like t
hat.

  “We think otherwise. Besides, it’s fate us meeting like this again.” He winked then released her from around the waist and took her hand.

  “I agree, and we missed a whole week we could have spent getting to know you. We’re headed to Sullivan’s for lunch. Want to join us?” Don asked as Cooper took up position on her other side.

  “I really shouldn’t.”

  “Oh, yes, you should,” Don said as he looked over her breasts in the dress she wore and then moved his gaze to her lips and eyes.

  “Please? It’s our treat,” Cooper added and winked.

  “You two are definitely persistent, and you did just save me from getting into a confrontation with four drunk guys.”

  “That we are. Just wait,” Cooper teased, and the three of them headed to Sullivan’s to eat lunch.

  * * * *

  Catalina was a bit embarrassed as they entered the restaurant and saw so many of her friends and, of course, Cooper and Don’s new friends, now that they had been teaching and training at the fire training building. Everyone said hello and shook hands, gave hugs, and, of course, assumed they were an item. Truth was, she didn’t mind fantasizing it was true at all. Cooper and Don were gorgeous and extralarge. Their muscles had muscles, and they were seriously attractive. Being this close as they sat at a small table and the men flanked her on either side, she saw the deep similarities in them.

  “Are you two twins?” she asked them. Both of them smiled at the same time and exactly the same. She chuckled. “That is very cool.”

  “Yep, I’m older,” Cooper told her as he reached up and pressed a strand of hair away from her neck and her breasts. He looked her over and then pulled his bottom lip between his teeth as if looking at her was driving him wild. Well, looking at him and Don, feeling them this close, was pretty damn arousing, too.

  “By two minutes, Cooper. That’s nothing,” Don said as he placed his arm over the back of her chair.

  “Two minutes is a lot of time,” Cooper added.

  Catalina chuckled. “So, do you two tend to fight a lot?” she asked as the waitress came over to take their drink orders. They all ordered sweet tea and then continued talking.

  Catalina was laughing a lot. She was so surprised at how comfortable she was talking with Cooper and Don. They ate their lunches continuing to talk non-stop.

  “How is the fire training program you both are running, going?” She took a sip from her sweet tea, leaning back against Don’s arm. He caressed her shoulder, and she didn’t mind one bit. In fact, she felt that tingling sensation move along her spine and even between her legs.

  “It’s been going very well. There’s a lot of information and techniques to teach, but everyone seems really diligent and focused,” Cooper stated.

  “Well, almost everyone,” Don said, then took a sip from his glass. She looked at him, at his dark brown eyes and the serious expression on his face.

  “Oh no, that sounds like you have a few students who aren’t quite listening,” she said to him.

  “We have a handful of rookies and some seasoned firemen who think they know everything, but we’ve been taking them down a small notch at a time,” Cooper said.

  “Well, believe me, in every profession we have our share of the weaker links or people who think they know more than anyone else, and that actual experience matters. Like the story I told you guys earlier about my cell phone. This one particular nurse really thinks she knows it all. Another nurse and I have both told her to check the locks on the tables multiple times. She waved us off and, of course, nearly caused an accident that could have hurt a patient worse.”

  “Never mind your phone, which led us to believe you were blowing us off.” Cooper reached up, cupped her chin, moved his lips closer to hers, and then kissed her lips softly.

  Her eyes were still closed when their lips parted, and when she opened them, she caught him staring at her.

  “God, Catalina, you’re so beautiful and sweet. I’m so sorry if I came on too strong last week at the Station. I just, well, I never felt so much so instantly, and I let my stupid mouth say what flashed through my mind,” Cooper admitted.

  “We did, but we know you’re not some easy woman or just some fling. We want to get to know you better. Today has been a lot of fun, and we feel comfortable,” Don said as she looked at him.

  He used his thumb to caress her lower lip, held her gaze, and began to lean closer. It was a moment of pull back or just let go and feel to see where this led. She didn’t move at all, and then Don’s lips touched hers, and she knew she was done for.

  “You only have another week or so left here, right?” she asked a few minutes later as they argued over the bill, both Don and Cooper insisting they pay.

  “Yes, but we have some decisions to make about a career opportunity right here in Treasure Town,” Don explained.

  “Yes, the position would be for the both of us, and we would have better hours than what we have in New York right now,” Cooper said.

  “We’re both ready to slow down a bit now. We’ve been at this for years, first in the military and then the public sector. It becomes tiresome,” Don added.

  It made her wonder how old they were exactly. She was still young and maybe the difference in ages could be a problem.

  “You make us sound so old, bro. You’re scaring Catalina,” Cooper said and smiled.

  Her belly fluttered, and other parts became aroused. God, they were so big, so sexy and masculine that she could get lost in their embraces, but she’d never been with more than one man before. If things went wrong, she could be ruined forever.

  “Sorry. It’s just that you get to a point where you know in your career or profession that it’s time to move on. Interests change. You think about the future and the things you thought you wanted and still want.” Don took her hand from her lap and brought it to his lips as he kissed her knuckles and held her gaze.

  “I understand what you mean. I’ve been debating about a possible career move, too. There’s a position offered in the hospital where I work now, and it has a lot of positives. I can work a regular eight-to-four shift, off on holidays, even weekends, and get bonuses, paid vacation, and a bunch of other stuff all because of my experience and because I took a bunch of special certification classes over the last two years.”

  “It sounds great. What’s holding you back?” Cooper asked her.

  “To be honest, I guess, like you guys, I’ve been thinking that a change is needed, but I was leaning toward leaving town.”

  “What?” Don asked, squeezing her hand a little tighter.

  “Well, it was my thought process for a while because nothing new was happening in my life, I’ve been working like a dog, have no social life, and it seems like everyone around me is moving on and expanding on their lives and achievements and I’m just standing still. I don’t know. It sounds lame, I’m sure,” she said, lowering her head.

  “No, actually you sound a lot like we did a few months ago, and even how Cody and Jeremy sound now when they talk about leaving their jobs,” Cooper told her.

  She looked at him. “They want to leave their jobs?”

  “They’re involved with heavy, stressful careers that entail a lot of secrecy and bad stuff. You know, bad people,” Don added.

  “I know. I was there when the men brought in Sophia, and I heard what Jeremy and the others did to rescue her. I could only imagine how dangerous their work must be.”

  “It’s taken a toll on our relationship, too, in a lot of ways,” Don admitted.

  The waitress brought back their change and set it down. They said thank you, and then Cooper stood up. “Come walk with us. We can talk more privately outside on the boardwalk.”

  She stood up, grabbed her bag, and took his hand as the three of them left Sullivan’s and waved at some friendly faces. She couldn’t help but wonder what Don had meant when he said their jobs had taken a toll on their relationships. She wanted to ask, but maybe Don felt he shouldn�
�t have made that last statement. The waitress coming over was the perfect excuse to drop it and leave.

  But then Don stopped at the railing to the beach where it was empty and quiet.

  She stood there looking out at the ocean, loving the smell of the salt water and the sound of waves rolling onto the shore and seagulls singing above.

  Don stepped in behind her and placed his hand over one of her hands and the other arm wrapped around her midsection as she held the railing. She felt his hard, warm body press up against her ass and back, and it aroused her. His large, warm palm felt so good as it slid along her quivering belly and then against her hipbone in a possessive manner. He was so big and masculine, making her feel safe, dainty, secure in his cage of warmth. She couldn’t help but to lean back, and Don kissed her shoulder, then her neck as Cooper came to stand right next to them, covering her other hand with his.

  Being connected like this felt so good, and so right. It amazed her. She finally understood how her friends felt, the ones engaged in ménage relationships, and how content and happy they always looked. This was different, and the fact that it had happened so quickly, and instantly, amazed her.

  “Coop and I have always been inseparable. We share everything, and we like it that way,” he whispered as he kissed her neck and along her earlobe. She tilted her head up as his hand moved along her waist, as if wanting to feel her body, caress it, leave his imprint on it, before squeezing her against him as their lips touched. A moment later, Cooper was releasing her and Don was pulling her into his arms and kissing her deeply. It felt so good, and it was wild how she so naturally, easily, went from kissing one man to the next. It didn’t feel strange or scary but, instead, empowering, sexy, and inspirational.

  Don released her lips slowly and then stared down into her eyes.

  “Baby, what you do to me.”

  “And me,” Cooper added, pressing against her back and caressing her shoulders then down her arms.

  “I feel it, too,” she whispered and then wanted to kick herself for admitting that aloud, so soon, making herself vulnerable to these two men she barely knew.