Downing the remainder of my beer, I started walking off purposefully in the man's direction. Torren, she'd said his name was. That was a weird name. Who named their kid Torren?

Why not Paul, or Brian? Those were normal names. Then again, my name was different, too.

Once I got to within a straight shot of him, I started jogging. Then, when I was close enough, I jumped into his arms and wrapped my hands around his neck, and my legs around his hips.

He caught me, reflexively.

One hand going around my a.s.s as the other went up to protect his beer.

"Uhhh," he said as I stayed there for another couple of seconds. "Do I know you?"

I barely contained the urge to giggle.

He sounded so lost.

Then I became aware of the other men surrounding us.

I'd been so focused on the man, Torren, that I hadn't even taken account the circle of bada.s.s I'd broken with my entrance.

"Sorry about that," I said as I dropped down. "I thought you were someone else."

With that, I turned around and left, trying my hardest to forget what it felt like to be wrapped in his arms.

Iliana was grinning like a fool as I walked closer to her.

By the time I sat down at the table, this time purposefully facing in the opposite direction of the bar, she was practically crying in hilarity.

"Oh, G.o.d," she wheezed. "You should've seen his face!"

"He's not still looking at me, is he?" I worried.

Jesus, the man was hot.

Up close, I could tell his eyes were the color of a stormy day.

And the sheer size of the muscles of his arm were mouthwatering. The colors of his tattoos were even more magnificent up close.

"He's gesturing towards us with his head, talking to a waitress. I wonder what he's saying," Iliana whispered conspiringly.

I tried my hardest not to turn around and look.

It was a close call, but I managed it.

"Uh, oh. Here she comes," she whispered.

The young girl stopped at the table with a beer in her hand. "Hi," she chirped. "I was sent over here to give this to you."

When she placed the beer on the table, I waved it off. "No thank you, I don't drink."

She eyed the empty beer bottle that she'd brought me earlier, but wisely didn't comment.

"Dude, what the f.u.c.k?" Iliana gasped once the waitress left.

My eyes widened. "I don't know! It just came out of my mouth! I don't know!"

I was seriously freaking out.

I was such a dork.

I was literally a homebody.

I didn't do this sort of s.h.i.t.

I'd never even had a boyfriend!

I was still a virgin! I didn't know how to flirt!

I don't even know what the h.e.l.l got into me earlier.

"He's not looking at me, is he?" I was starting to freak out. "We should go."

I stood and threw my backpack over my shoulders. "Come on, quick."

I started pulling her, and she grabbed her own beer long enough to chug the remnants, and slammed it down onto a table as we poured into the parking lot.

"Hurry," I demanded as we started walking quickly to my truck.

"Oh, my G.o.d. He's in the doorway," Iliana said as she looked over her shoulder.

I yanked her arm hard. "Turn around. Eyes straight ahead. Get to the truck before he starts trying to talk to me."

I'd just made it to my truck when Torren's voice yelled out over the nearly empty parking lot. "I don't bite!"

I turned around, and, swear to G.o.d, I said, "I do!"

My hand went over my mouth and I looked at Iliana, wide eyed. "Did you slip me a roofie?"

She laughed. "Oh, my G.o.d. He's walking this way."

Wasting no time, I backed out of the parking spot and spun my wheels in my haste to get out of the parking lot.

"He's laughing," she said as she watched until she could see no more. "I do believe, Tru, that you now have yourself a s.e.xy firefighter admirer."

Other t.i.tles by Lani Lynn Vale:.

The Freebirds.

Boomtown.

Highway Don't Care Another One Bites the Dust.

Last Day of My Life Texas Tornado.

The Heroes of The Dixie Wardens MC.

Lights To My Siren.

Halligan To My Axe.

Kevlar To My Vest Keys To My Cuffs.

Life To My Flight.

Charge To My Line (April 2015).