Chapter 3

      Sabrina held the receiver to her ear and listened to the phone as it rang. On the third ring, she was pretty certain that Mason Foley wasn’t going to pick up.

      Again.

      She had already left him two messages to confirm their appointment, but he hadn’t gotten back to her. Now, she had no clue if he was going to show that afternoon.

      “How unprofessional can a person be?” she muttered, and pulled the phone away from her ear to hang up. She halted. Had she just heard someone say something on the other end of the line?

      Quickly, she brought the phone back to her ear, still uncertain if she had heard anything other than the beginning of Mason’s voicemail greeting.

      “Hello?” said the groggy voice.

      “Oh, hi,” Sabrina said lamely. She had expected no response and wasn’t actually prepared to speak to the man.

      “Yes?” Mason said.

      “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I wake you?”

      She heard him yawn before saying, “It’s okay. Who’s calling?”

      Sabrina glanced at the clock on her computer screen. It was minutes after ten in the morning—a time when most people were up. But Mason was a firefighter, and she knew that they worked twenty-four hour shifts. It was likely that he had worked the night before and barely had a full night of rest.

      Either that or he had spent the night pleasuring a woman. She’d seen his picture, and just looking at his gorgeous face and immaculately toned body, she knew he was the type who had to fight them off.

      “Hello?”

      “Um, this is Sabrina Crawford,” Sabrina quickly said, wondering why her thoughts had ventured to Mason’s likely night of making love. “I’m the photographer working on the Firefighter’s Calendar. I’m sorry to call so early. But you’re supposed to come in today for your shoot.”

      “Yeah, that’s right.”

      What did that mean? “So you’re going to make it?” Sabrina asked.

      “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

      “Oh. Oh, good.”

      “Why do you sound surprised?”

      “Well, I wasn’t sure. I left you a couple of messages to confirm, and I didn’t hear back from you.”

      “Sorry about that. I’ve been busy with work. I meant to call you back, but didn’t get around to it.”

      “It’s fine,” she told him. At least she’d gotten through, because she had started to worry that he would be a no-show. “So today at three o’clock?”

      “Actually, is there a chance we can do it a bit later?”

      “How much later?”

      “Like four p.m. I had a late night due to a fire. You may have heard about it. The restaurant on Maple Avenue. And I’d like to head into the firehouse before seeing you. I need to follow up on something.”

      “Four o’clock will be fine. Again, I’m sorry I woke you up.”

      “No problem.”

      “Just to confirm, you’re bringing your fire gear including helmet, as well as your dress uniform.”

      “Yep. I’ll bring some tools, as well. Accessories for the shoot.”

      “Sounds great,” Sabrina said. “I’ll see you at four.”

      Sabrina hung up. She then loaded up a picture of Mason on her screen. It became all too clear why she had thought about him in bed. He was gorgeous, and everything about him oozed sex appeal, which would work out well for her shoot. She was certain that he would be an easy model to work with.

      With each of the firefighters, she had taken shots of them in her studio. She had also taken some photos at the firehouse with the engine and ladder trucks as backdrops but she had also utilized local parks, the waterfront, and the forest the bordered the eastern side of town. With Mason, she wanted to travel a little bit north along a stretch of the Pacific Ocean that had a beautiful rocky backdrop. She was certain to capture what would be stunning photographs there. She wanted the calendar to be pleasing not only because of the male models, but because of the lush scenery in Ocean City. It was what would make this particular calendar unique.

      And he had a feeling that Mason was going to be an ideal model.

      * * *

      It was just minutes before four o’clock when Nya entered Sabrina’s studio to announce that Mason Foley had arrived.

      “Oh, good.” Sabrina climbed down from the stepladder. She had just finished putting up the background she wanted to start with for the shoot. It was a cityscape of Ocean City at night. Turning to face Nya, she saw a huge grin on her friend’s face.

      “Nya, what is it?”

      “Giiirl.” Nya all but pranced toward her, the grin on her face growing even bigger. “I have seen some fine men in my day, but Mason— Oh, my Lord. He has got to be the finest man to step foot in this studio!”

      Sabrina looked beyond Nya’s shoulder toward the door that led out of the studio, in case Mason had followed her in. Not seeing him, she said in a lowered voice, “So the man is fine. Get a hold of yourself.”

      “That’s easy for you to say. You haven’t seen him yet! I’m just trying to prepare you!”

      “Okay, I get it.” Sabrina sounded nonchalant. She had photographed all sorts of people in her life. She wasn’t the type to lose her head over an attractive man. “Go ahead and tell him to come on back. I’m ready for him.”

      “Oh, you think you’re ready.”

      What the heck had gotten into Nya? “You know what you need?” Sabrina said, smiling sweetly. “You need a man.” It was obvious that her friend had gone too long since her last relationship, because her extreme reaction to this Mason guy was over the top. Sabrina only hoped that Nya had been professional with Mason in the reception area.

      “Maybe I can help you here while you do the shoot?” Nya offered.

      “Nya!” Sabrina made a face. “What’s gotten into you?”

      Sabrina shooed her silently, hoping that Mason had not overheard any of their conversation. She had to admit that this behavior was a little out of character, even for man-crazed Nya.

      And it wasn’t that Sabrina didn’t enjoy a good-looking man as much as the next woman, but she certainly knew how to be professional.

      “Go get him, please,” Sabrina reiterated. “And please be professional,” she added in a hushed voice.

      Once Nya left the room, Sabrina went over to the octagonal softbox light that she had set up, and fussed with it. She heard his footsteps, but still didn’t look