Page 10 of Flame Kissed

After all, she might have just given her the number out of obligation. She hated the thought but just couldn’t ignore it once it was in her head. Leilani was just a firefighter and Adaze was clearly someone wealthy and important.

Not that Leilani thought of herself as any less, but since leaving the island, it had become clear that sadly, everyone was not equal.

Once she was clean, dry, and dressed in a new work uniform, she headed back into the lounge.

When she made it back to the others, Sierra was by her side in an instant. “So when are you going to call this Sugar Mommy?” she asked, tugging her to sit beside her on one of the sofas.

“Sugar Mommy, seriously?!” Leilani was indignant.

“I’m just saying what I see!” Sierra threw up her hands. “Surely she’s some kind of CEO or businesswoman. She looks like she should be running for president.”

“Hmmm. CEO, I think,” Leilani responded.

“She might be beautiful, but isn’t she about 20 years older than you, Leilani?”

“Well, I do like an older woman,” Leilani quipped back. “All that experience… mmmm!”

“Ha! I knew it!” Sierra laughed. “So, when are we calling Sugar Mommy?”

“Soon, but I want to give her time to relax, maybe sleep off some of what happened. I was thinking maybe tomorrow.”

“You’re going to wait that long?” she whined.

Leilani shrugged. “I don’t want to come on too strong. She’s been through a lot and probably needs a minute to catch her breath.”

“But think about how much faster she could catch her breath if you were there to help her.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

“I don’t want to pressure her. She went through a lot, and I want her to go out with me because she wants to not because of what happened or because she feels like she owes me or whatever.”

“You’re sweet, but I don’t think you need to worry about that. I saw the way she looked at you in your wet uniform.”

“Yeah, well, I am. Enough about me. How’s everyone else been? Sierra, did you end up going out with that girl you met at the farmer’s market?”

She sighed. “I did. I took her out to one of my favorite trails. She told me she liked hikes so I thought it would be a good first date. She sprained her ankle about ten minutes in and I haven’t heard from her since.”

“Shit, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I should have realized it was a bad place for a first date.”

“No, Sierra, it was an accident. It could have happened to anyone, and I doubt you just left her on the side of the trail.”

“Of course not! I helped her back to the car and wrapped her ankle for her. I offered to drive her home, but she said no.”

“Then it sounds like it just wasn’t a good fit. Yeah, it sucks that she got hurt, but you were on a hike, accidents happen. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Thanks.” Sierra forced a smile. “It’s good to hear that. I still don’t think I’ll take another girl out hiking for a first date.”

“Fair, but it’s honestly not a bad idea.” Rory knocked their shoulders together. “I know I’d be over the moon if someone suggested it.”

“Didn’t you once take a girl to the gym for a date?” Leilani grinned.

“It was one time! And we met at the gym. I thought it would be sweet!”

“Wasn’t it your one-month anniversary?”

She crossed her arms. “That’s why I thought it would be sweet.”

“I think it was sweet,” Leilani said. “She just wasn’t the right person for you.”

---