Page 3 of Rhett

Jodi picks up a piece of paper and looks at it. “They have and this looks like fun for them. If they do well, it’ll be good to send home with them.”

By the time lunch rolls around I’m exhausted. It’s a lot of fun doing what I do, but they also wear me out. The kids all get their mats out. “Okay, everyone. Get all comfy, cozy, and let’s close our eyes.” I turn on the white noise machine and turn the lights down.

They all settle in and I move to sit down with Jodi and Daniel at the table in the back of the room.

“So I was thinking about making my famous peanut butter cookies to take to the firehouse. You know, to thank the firemen who rescued me during the fire.” I look at both of them. “Or is that too stupid?”

“Please, guys love food. Those cookies are to die for,” Daniel praises. I made them for a cookout he and his boyfriend, Lonnie, had. “I think they’d appreciate them.”

I nod. “Okay, I’ll stop after work for the ingredients.” Looking between them, I smile. “Yes, I’ll bring you both some when I make them.”

They both smile like loons and then we eat our lunches before it’s time to wake the kids.

My phone beeps and I see I have a text from Haley, we work at the same place, and her fiancé is a firefighter at the same station. I’d talked to her before I left work to see if she would find out when Rhett, the man who carried me out of my apartment, was working this weekend to bring him the cookies. It’s not much, and how do you thank someone for saving your life?

Haley: Hey, girl. I just talked to Coop and Rhett will be there Saturday.

Sofia: Thank you so much for asking him. I wanted to take cookies to him and Cooper to thank them for saving me.

Ugh, what if she thinks that is a stupid idea. The black dots bounce, and my stomach turns when I begin to worry she doesn’t think it’s a good idea.

Haley: They’ll love it and that’s a really sweet thing to do.

I set the phone down and I begin to bake. My nerves assail me while I mix the dough. I figure I’ll need to make two batches because men eat a lot, and I’m sure he’ll share with his coworkers. Shoot, what if he’s allergic to peanuts?

Ugh, I need to stop. Focusing back on the cookies, I use an ice cream scoop to dip into the mixing bowl and plop it down onto the parchment paper covered cookie sheet. I use the other side of the scoop to flatten a little.

It takes me about an hour and a half to make the cookies. While they cool, I get the box ready, lining the bottom with wax paper. If it tells you how often I gift people with cookies, I had all of this on hand already.

It’s time to box them up, but I grab a couple for Jodi, Daniel, Mom and me. The cookies smell and look good. They’ve got chocolate and peanut butter chips, and Reece’s Pieces. Each cookie is as big as my hand. They’re worth every single calorie. I set the boxes to the side and now I just have to wait for Saturday to come.

3

Rhett

We pull into the station after a call we just got done with. It was chest pains and we got there before the ambulance. I had oxygen on him when the bus pulled up. Giving the paramedics, Jim and Dave, report, we got the patient on the gurney and loaded up on the ambulance.

For a Saturday, today has been a pretty slow day, but once night hits it’ll be the complete opposite. The boys and I have cleaned the station and washed the truck. Hawk, full name Grayson Hawk, and Fed, full name Silas Feddeler, are giving Oscar a bath in the blue baby pool we bought specifically for this reason.

Only a few of us went out on this call. We try to keep enough men back at the house in case another call comes in.

Hopping out of the rig, I shut my door behind me. Once my gear is put away, I double-check that the oxygen tank is shut off and replace the nasal canula we’d put on the gentleman. It went with him and the paramedics.

Oscar gives a bark and I turn toward him. I see a car park across the street in front of our neighbor, Granny Rose. She’s the sweetest, tiniest woman we’ve ever seen. She has always taken care of us and, in turn, we’ve done the same for her.

Hell, she likes to lecture us about meeting that special someone and settling down. I roll my eyes thinking about her, but to be honest a lot of my brothers have started falling in love. Marchy and Haley are already engaged and he’s “dad” to that kick ass little dude, Roman. Of course, that’s all my best friend has ever wanted. Hawk was the first to fall and that was with his girl Skye.

I couldn’t think of a better woman for him. They’re the perfect match for each other. A car door closes and pulls my focus back to the car. A woman grabs something out of the back seat and then shuts the door with her hip.

The moment she turns toward the firehouse, my heart starts to race. She is average height and curvaceous. Fuck, she works it too. Her hair is red maybe, or is it blond? I can’t see her eyes because sunglasses are obscuring my view.

All the men stop what they’re doing as she walks up the drive. She’s in cutoff jean shorts that show off long shapely legs. Her T-shirt is baby blue and hugs her tits. Cap walks out to her, she gives him a smile and starts talking to him.

He nods and then turns. “Hollywood.” He motions me to come to him. “Marchy?” We both make our way toward them. Stopping next to him, I smell peanut butter, and my mouth salivates. Guys, this is Sofia Morgan. You guys rescued her from the apartment fire two weeks ago.” He motions to us. “This is Rhett and Cooper.”

“I-I um… I wanted to thank you for saving me. I brought you these cookies, they’re homemade.” She’s nervous, and it is fucking cute.

I step closer. “It’s nice meeting you, Sofia. How are you doing?”

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