Free Men of Firehouse 44: Colby and Bianca's Story by Elizabeth A. Veatch, Crystal G. Smith Page A

Crystal.” 
                  Bianca watched as Drew smiled, “nice to formally meet you.”  He held his hand out.  Crystal shook it but didn’t respond and didn’t look at him either.
                  “Can I assume you two have already met?”  Colby asked. 
                  Bianca was glad that she wasn’t the only one that noticed something going on with the two of them.
         “Briefly, I stopped in to make an appointment at her tattoo shop.” 
          Bianca felt some pity for Crystal, although she didn’t know what was going on.  “What can we do to help?”  Seeing the look of relief on her friends face, she knew that she had made the right choice.
         Carrying a lawn chair to the beach didn’t sound like a lot, at least not until she started down the path that was overgrown in places with sticker bushes.  It was obvious this place was not one that saw a lot of traffic. Colby walking in front tried to clear it and hold back the longer tree limbs that threatened to swing back to hit her, but he had his arms full with inner tubes. 
         Stepping off the path , she was amazed at the little piece of heaven he had led them to.  The clearing boasted of a picnic table with a homemade rock barbecue pit.  The beach beckoned her to sink her bare feet into the warm sand.  The water, glistening with the sunlight sparking off of it, promised a refreshing way to cool off.
         “Wow.” Crystal came to a halt next to her.
         “It’s amazing.”  Bianca gasped.
         Setting down the tubes, Colby relieved the girls of their loads and set the m up under the large shade tree.  Grabbing one end of the cooler that Drew had brought, they set it over by the picnic table.
    -Colby-
     
         “So what do you think?” Turning to Bianca, he already knew the answer.  He was proud of this little area.  It was basically the guys’ secret hideaway.  It wasn’t as nice as the other private beaches, but it was the first piece of property he had worked his ass off to buy. 
         “It’s beautiful.  I can see how you would want to keep the place to yourself.”   Bianca smiled.
         “The rest of the gang should be here soon. Do you feel like getting wet?”   He watched as her cheeks heated, the look of shock apparent in her eyes.  Yeah, she knew what he was really talking about.
         “As a matter of fact, I’ m ready to jump in.  It looks wonderfully refreshing. Crystal?” 
         “Uh yeah, let’s jump in.”
                  Colby knew what Bianca was doing.  She knew damn well he was watching and apparently was going to give him a show at it to. 
                  He watched as she took her time, slowly peeling her shirt off, keeping her arms arched over her head longer than necessary.  She arched her back and pushed her breasts forwards.  Then pulled her hair loose from her ponytail, she shook her head letting her red tresses float down to rest on her shoulders. 
                  He smiled as she turned to face the water and slid her short shorts down her hips, letting them fall to the sand where she flipped her foot and let her flip flop fly through the air. 
                  He felt his other half fly to attention.  He was ready to jump in, pull her back out and take her right there on the damn beach in front of all of his friends.
                  “Well, that was rather exciting.  Who would have thought all that was under those clothes.”
                  “Dude, you’re my best friend, but I will seriously kick your ass.”  Colby turned, staring his friend down until his friend smiled back.
                  Colby caught movement over Drew’s shoulder and watched as Brett and Elliott made their way down. 
                  “About damn time you two made it.  Thought we were going to party on our