Chapter 5

Every muscle in her body was tense as they looked at her, this was worse than being on stage in front of a few thousand nameless faces. She took a deep breath and stepped out from behind Tommy so that she was now standing at his side.

"Hi"

She glanced at each one of their faces and could feel herself getting choked up. She wasn't sure how she was going to get through if just the mere sight of them was tripping her emotions.

"I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Renata and I live across the street in the building on the corner. I've been the one who has been dropping the food off while you've been out."

They were quiet for roughly a moment before the questions started coming, one on top of another and she wasn't quite sure where to start and who's question to answer first.

"HEY guys GUYS would you give her a minute."

Her eyes went to the older man in the white shirt leaning against the counter.

"You know it might be nice if we introduced ourselves as well."

He shook his head before looking up at her.

"I'm Chief Reilly and it's a pleasure to meet you and thank you for the food."

The others followed suit introducing themselves and thanking her for the food she smiled at each one of them feeling more at ease at the situation until she felt a hand settle on her lower back anda voice whisper in her ear.

"The Chief has been trying to teach them manners but as you can see it's a lost cause."

She chuckled slightly at his comment and looked up at the group again, knowing now how she would handle her explanation and get out of the house without her emotions showing.

"I suppose you are all wondering why I've been bringing you food."

They nodded and she watched each one of them as they focused on her, when her eyes found Franco she could feel just a bit of warmth penetrate a part of her that had been cold for so long.

I "Get a grip Renata, you are not a firefighter groupie and besides as far as they are concerned you are engaged." /I

"I wish I could give you one concrete reason why, but I can't and I'm sorry that I can't. I can tell you that what you do on a daily basis means a lot to me and I guess my cooking is just my way of saying thank you."

She looked at them and wondered if they would accept that, but a robotic voice echoing through the house announcing another call interrupted anything else they had to say. She moved instinctively away from the doorway, they nodded at her as they left with the exception of Franco who planted a kiss on her cheek on his way out the door.

"Franco wants to get in your pants."

Tommy walked in through the door and smirked at her.

"He can want to get in my pants as much as he'd like, it doesn't mean it's going to happen. Why are you still here?"

"Can't get rid of me that easy sweetheart. I've been off duty for an hour just stuck around to see if the food fairy really came back."

She nodded and then moved to gather up the pans that were stacked neatly by the sink.

"I should go, it was very nice meeting everyone."

Tommy followed her as she made her way through the now empty house.

"I'm going to walk you to your building. It's late and you shouldn't be out alone. Doesn't your fiancé worry about you when you go jogging at night? It isn't safe for a woman to be doing that sort of thing."

She shook her head and avoided Tommy's eyes, the last thing she wanted to do was get into a conversation about her fiancé with him.

"He knows I can take care of myself."

Tommy nodded and stayed silent on the short walk to her building's door, then he leaned up against the façade.

"You know Renata you can't bullshit a bullshitter."

She swallowed as she tried to balance the pans and dig out her keys.

"I don't know what you are talking about Tommy."

He took the keys from her and slid it into the lock opening the door and holding it open for her.

"What floor do you live on Renata?"