Blind Date from Heaven

I shouldn't be here. Why do I let Leah talk me into her crazy ideas? I want to go home, take off these heels, and chill. Eat ice cream and feel sorry for myself that I'm home alone on a Friday night again.

I look at my watch. I might not want to be here, but at least I'm on time, he's 20 minutes late! Bet I get stood up, and my waitress keeps looking at me in sympathy every time she walks by. Like she knows the deal. I'll give him a few more minutes and then I'll leave and drown my sorrows in chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.

The bell over the door rings and I look up to see who came in. In walks the most sinfully sexy man I have ever seen. There have to be laws against looking that good. He's at least 6'5", with kind of long dirty blond hair that I want to run my fingers through and he has piercing blue eyes. Tight black jeans that leave little to the imagination, and a black t-shirt that's so tight I can see the outline of his washboard abs. I bet they are oh so lickable. I'd be down for that, but no way that's my blind date.

He looks right at me and then walks toward me. Maybe my luck is changing! I don't think I've ever been this nervous.

When he gets to the table he says, "Hi, my name is Casey, it's nice to meet you," and holds out his hand.

"Emma," I said. I reach out to shake his hand. Instead of shaking it he brings it to his lips and kisses it, smiling at me. No one has ever kissed my hand before; I forget to breathe, and I break out in goosebumps.

He slides into his seat as the waitress approaches. "Can I get you something to drink?"

Casey asks, "What are you having?"

"Merlot."

"We'll take two, thanks."

"So this is a little awkward, isn't it?" he says.

"Maybe just a little. I don't mean to be rude, but how old are you?"

He laughs, a deep rumbling that gives me more chills. The waitress sets our wine down and winks at me. "Worth waiting for," she whispers.

"I'm 38, old enough to have a glass of wine with a beautiful woman."

What was Leah thinking, he's years younger than me. I blush and grab my glass to take a sip. "What do you do?” I ask.

"I'm a fireman."

Oh wow can he get any hotter? I think I'm in trouble.

"We were out on a call, thankfully we got all the people out. Had to clean up when I got back to the station, that was why I was late. Again, I'm so sorry you had to sit here alone. I promise to make it up to you," he said smiling.

I can't stop the mental picture running through my head of him soaping up those abs and I blush again.

"What were you thinking just then? I was talking about going back to the station…Were you imagining me cleaning up? Or maybe making it up to you? Hopefully both?"

"Of course not!" My face is now a deep shade of red. I'm mortified.

"I think you're protesting too much." He holds up his glass. "Let's toast to two adults having an excellent glass of Merlot and good conversation."

I say cheers as the glasses clink together and his fingers brush against mine. More chills and he's staring straight into my eyes. I think to myself, what am I hurting? We're just having a drink and talking. He's definitely easy on the eyes. Right, just drinking and talking, I can handle that.

"Just drinking and talking?" he says.

I groan, "Please tell me I did not say that out loud."

"I'm afraid you did. What about more than that?”

My brain shorts out. "More?" I can barely get the word out.

"I've only known you a few minutes, but every time you blush I get incredibly turned on. I want to know if the rest of you turns pink too." He gives me a rakish grin and I look down at the table as my face heats again. It looks like blushing is my new permanent thing, at least around him.

"No hiding from me,” he said as he touches my chin and raises my head until I'm looking in his eyes.

The bell over the door rings and I glance over, my face going pale.

I groan and Casey says, "What's wrong beautiful?"

"My ex just walked in, maybe he didn't see me." No such luck, he's coming over.

Casey hesitates and says, "Why don't we make him jealous?"

"Oh, that could be fun! I’m game."

"Ok, play along," he says as he grabs my hand and holds it over the table.

"Emma is that you, how are you? Haven't seen you in so long. Who's your friend?" He doesn't even give me a chance to answer. "I've got a business meeting I'm a little early for, was going to go sit at the bar."

"Would you like to join us while you're waiting?" Casey asks. He stands up and points towards his seat. I look at them standing together; Casey is at least six inches taller than Michael and so much hotter. Michael doesn’t even compare.

Casey slides in beside me and puts his arm along the back of the seat, draping it around my shoulder, and resting his fingers just under my ear. He holds his other hand out to Michael and says "I'm Casey, Emma's boyfriend."

Michael's head turns towards me, but shakes his hand and then says "I'm Michael, Emma and I go way back."

Casey says, "Well I have to thank you."

Michael looks confused and says, "For what?"

"If you hadn't done whatever stupid thing broke you guys up I wouldn't have met this incredible woman and fell in love. So thanks." As he says this he twists a lock of my hair around his fingers, making it look like he's not even aware he's doing it.

He brushes his fingers along my neck and I lean slightly into his hand. This is just pretend, but I want more of this. The motion sends tingles down my spine.

Michael just stares and doesn't say anything.

I take a deep breath. All I have to do is get Michael talking; he's good at talking about himself. Then I can sit back and enjoy the sensations Casey is making me feel.

"So Michael, where are you working now?" I ask. "You're always going to work somewhere new and exciting."

Casey's fingers move to the back of my neck and trace slow circles on my skin. I can't concentrate. All I can think about is how wonderful this feels.

Michael goes on about how important his work is, how much the projects are worth. I'm not really listening, but get the gist – he still has to be the most important person in the room, looking down his nose at everyone else. Then I realize Michael has stopped talking. I guess we're being a little rude practically making out in front of him.

Michael doesn't look happy, he's not used to being ignored. Michael looks at Casey and says "And what do you do?" He's sure Casey's job isn't as important as his.

I turn Casey's face to me and gave him a light kiss on the side of his mouth. I really wanted to suck on his bottom lip, but I manage to hold back. "Casey's a fireman. He was on a call just before he came here. How many people did you guys pull out th1at burning building today?"

"Thankfully we got all five out, and the elderly lady I rescued begged me to go back for her kitten. I took it back to the station until the owners get sorted out. Wrapped it in one of my shirts and it was asleep on my bed when I left."

I can't lie, I was jealous of a poor defenseless kitten. I want to be wearing his shirt in his bed. No, scratch that, I just want to be in his bed, no shirt! I know he can make me feel things I haven't felt in a long time.

I whisper in his ear loud enough for Michael to hear, "I didn't know about the kitten, you get extra dessert tonight." Casey's hand covers mine and he slowly runs his fingers up and down my arm. Then he looks at me with a hypnotic gaze like I am the dessert and he wants me now. I hear nothing going on around me, I forget Michael is sitting there; all I can do is stare into Casey's eyes. His hand moves to cup my neck and he pulls me toward him.

I hear a throat clear twice and I jerk back. Michael says "My business meeting is about to start, so I'm afraid I have to say goodbye."

"Oh, we didn't get to catch up," I said.

He looks at me and plasters on his fake smile. "Maybe another time when you aren't so distracted. He ignores Casey's outstretched hand, says "Goodbye Emma," and stalks off.

Casey says, "He didn't look very happy, I think we might have made him a little jealous."

"And it feels good." But not as good as you made me feel.

"Emma, I have a confession to make,” he says.

I groan inside, here's where he tells me he's married with two kids. I pull away and say, "What?"

He takes my hand and traces his thumb in circles along the top. "When I walked through the door you were the first and only thing I saw; you took my breath away. I only suggested that juvenile game to make him jealous so I would have an excuse to touch you. And I'm not the least bit sorry."

He raises my hand to his mouth, but at the last second he turns it over and kisses my palm. "Do you want to know what I'm thinking right now? I want to say dirty things to make you blush. I want to watch that cute pink spring to your cheeks and know you’re reacting to me. I want to wind your silky hair through my fingers, pull your head back so I can kiss down your throat and follow the blush wherever it takes me." He puts my hand against his heart and says, "I want to get to know you."

"Where did Leah find you?" I ask.

"Leah who?"

"My best friend Leah who set us up."

He looks at me with confusion in his eyes. "My friend Dave set this up. Said he knew you from his law office, you had blond hair and would be wearing red."

"I don't work at a law office, I own a bakery. Are you telling me that I'm not even on the right blind date?"

He pulled me to him, ran his tongue along my bottom lip, took a gentle bite, and groaned. "I'm pretty sure this is the first and last blind date I'll ever go on."

At that moment, I feel like I'm on fire and I know who I want to put out. He is a fireman, after all. Something tells me this fire won't be easy to extinguish.

I said, "How about we go get you that dessert?" And I blush again.

He groans and stands up. He takes my hand and gently pulls me up. I land against his rock hard body and put my hands on his chest for support. Yep, they definitely feel lickable.

"I'll never turn down dessert from you," he says.

I look over at his tight backside as we walk out the door, and think to myself I wonder if there will be seconds?