Page 5 of Tropical Heat

Carl, attractive, with a pleasant personality, is an adjunct professor of engineering at Carnegie Mellon. But he was interested in more than I could give. I don’t do romantic relationships any more.

When Dr. Paulson called to offer me the position at TKMC, I saw it as an opportunity to put some distance between us. Doris Paulson had been my faculty advisor during the final year of med school. The year I went into emergency medicine instead of orthopedics. The year Tammy died.

Doris was supportive of my decision and helped me get through the dark days. We stayed in touch during my residency. Even after she moved back to Florida to head the first and only level one trauma center in all the Keys. The chance to work for her was an opportunity I could not turn down.

My phone buzzed again, this time with a text message. Also from Carl. I pushed the phone away. Reading his message would only ruin my appetite, and Gabby's tacos were too delicious to waste.

Crunchy butterflied shrimp, breaded and fried to perfection, wrapped in a warm, pillow soft tortilla. Red cabbage and green apple slaw marinated in lime juice, salt, and sesame oil provided a tangy coolness. But it was the house made sauce, which brought it all together. Smokey, creamy and the right amount of spice.

Just as I took a very unladylike bite, I heard a familiar voice calling my name. Crap, it was Zak. Instead of turning around, I tried to swallow without choking. The idea of the sexy paramedic’s arms wrapped around me had crossed my mind once or twice, but it had never involved the Heimlich maneuver.

After a gulp of iced tea to clear my throat, I dabbed a napkin to my lips and turned to face him. He gave me a smile that sparkled all the way to his dreamy gray eyes. “I thought that was you.”

Out of uniform, his body was even more impressive than I imagined. His faded red tank top showed off a muscular pair of biceps.

The way he looked at me caused my shorts to dampen. I shifted on the bench, cursing my hormones for their betrayal, and pulled my eyes away. Indicating the lengthy line of customers queued at the service window, I asked, “Have you ordered yet?”

He nodded, and I invited him to sit down. “Thanks, I knew this close to sunset it would be crowded. But my shift ran late today, and it is my turn to pick up dinner.” I offered him a French fry and asked what had happened.

“A tourist on an E-bike collided with a couple of pedestrians on Big Pine Key. You would never catch me on one of those things. We get two or three calls a week, just like that one. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured this time.” It surprised me to learn he covered such a large amount of territory. Big Pine was twenty miles to the south.

He finished the fry and licked salt from his lips. My nipples stiffened, and I struggled to pay attention to his words. “LCEMS services all of Largo County, but Clive and I primarily cover the forty miles between Big Pine and Layton.”

“Wow, you must know the area really well, then.” I was thinking he might have some ideas about where I could find a place to live.

“I don't like to brag, but I am considered quite the tour guide.” He grinned and winked, so I knew he was joking. “I'd be happy to help you get the lay of the land. I know all the best spots, including a few only locals know about. When's your next day off?”

He asked so casually; I responded without thinking. “Saturday.”

“Mine too.” He smiled. “It’s a date then.”

Before I could object, the woman at the window called his name. “I hate to run, but my roommate gets cranky when dinner's late.” He scribbled his phone number on a napkin and told me to text him so we could work out the details.

Zak left, and I looked at the napkin. He had excellent penmanship. That and the fact his butt looked amazing in those shorts may have played a factor in what happened next. I picked up my phone, entered his number in my contacts, and sent a text.

I took another bite of taco, then re-read the message I had just sent to a virtual stranger. It made me cringe. What was it about this guy that had me behaving like some sex starved slut? Maybe it was because it had been a while since I last got laid. Either way, it was too late to take it back.

Four

Dante

I stepped out of the shower just as my roommate announced he was back with our dinner. After toweling off, I found him in the kitchen, bent over with his head in the refrigerator. “Do you want a beer?”

“Does a bear shit in the woods?” I mumbled, my eyes focused on the way his perfect ass strained the fabric of his shorts. It was enough to make my cock twitch. When he turned around, his eyes flicked to my crotch and lingered longer than you would expect from a man as straight as he claimed to be.

“Dang it, Dante. I've asked you not to walk around the house naked.” Zak is adorable when he gets flustered. “Now go get dressed, so we can eat.”

I knew my nudity was making him uncomfortable, but after what happened that morning, I felt he deserved a bit of discomfort. “I thought we could dine alfresco.”

“Alfresco means outdoors, not naked.” He gave an exasperated sigh. Despite his protests, I caught him sneak another peak when he thought I wasn't looking. In his defense, I am impressively large down there. “Go put some clothes on and I will change your dressing.”

“Sure you don’t want another look first?” I smirked before going to my room. Not for the first time, I wondered if my roommate was as straight as he claimed. When I returned to the kitchen in shorts and a t-shirt, I said, “I left this month's rent check on your dresser.”

Although Zak and I referred to one another as roommates, technically our relationship was one of landlord and tenant. We met a little over a year ago in a charity softball league. After the games, a bunch of us would go out for drinks and one night Zak mentioned he had a room for rent. He asked if I knew of anyone looking for a place to stay. I told him I did not, but would keep my ears open.

Unbeknown to me at the time, Blake, my boyfriend, with whom I lived; was fucking his martial arts instructor while I was at work. When I found out, I called Zak and asked if he still had a room available. He assured me he did, and we arranged a time for him to show it to me.

It is a stilt house at the far end of the island and faces the gulf. The upstairs bedroom, Zak’s room, has a terrific view of the Seven Mile Bridge. There are three bedrooms and baths all together.

---