“I love you.” My legs went rigid as another orgasm plowed through me. Nick clutched the top of my headboard as his body shook with his release. He collapsed next to me and pulled me into his side.
“Remember who said it first.” I kissed Nick’s chest as it rumbled with a laugh.
“You must think I’m nuts. I guess what you do never really hit me until last night. I saw the twenty-three on the truck and the flames coming out of the building . . .” My voice trailed off as I cuddled into Nick’s side. “I even called your sister to see if she’d heard anything. She absolutely thinks I’m nuts.”
Nick smoothed the hair off my sweaty forehead. “Is that when you realized you loved me?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I knew a long time ago; I just couldn’t—”
“Say the words out loud?” I peered at his raised eyebrow. “I knew for a while, too. I just didn’t want to spook you.” Nick’s lips brushed mine as his arm wrapped around my waist. “But you can’t be like this every time I go to work. This all comes with—”
“The territory, I know. I’ll learn how to handle it, I promise.”
“I know from experience with my dad. And you probably worry more about me because of what happened . . .” Nick shrugged as he trailed off.
“Do you mean after losing Jack?” I squinted my eyes and he nodded. “I was thinking about that last night, being as I didn’t get much sleep.”
“What were you thinking about?” Nick asked as his hand feathered down my cheek.
“Had I known he would have died so young when we met, I still wouldn’t have done a damn thing differently. You love who you love.” I shrugged. “I can’t promise I won’t be nervous when you go to work, but I’ll try not to go from zero to psycho like I did last night.” My lips curved into a smile.
“Being greeted like that after every night shift wouldn’t suck, that’s for sure.” Nick pulled me on top of him. “I love you.” He grinned as he kissed my lips. “And I’ll always come back to you.”
I nodded, even though that was a promise no one could guarantee. Was I dumb to fall in love with someone with such a dangerous job after losing my husband? Maybe. But there was no turning back. I’d woman up, stop watching the news, and trust Nick’s promise as real.
You did that when you loved someone.
“PETE?” I CALLEDinto the Bluetooth speaker in my truck as I drove to pick up Ellie and Jack. A random call from one of the guys from my old firehouse in Florida had my guard up. Pete was a good friend, and we traded short texts occasionally. The possible need for a phone call left me uneasy as hell.
“Hey, Nick. Listen I probably shouldn’t be calling you, but I think you should know, or rather you’d want to know. Kevin was in a bad accident yesterday.”
My heart fell into the pit of my stomach. My hands shook as I pulled over into someone’s driveway.
Even though his mother wouldn’t let me keep in contact, Kevin was in my thoughts quite a bit—especially since Jack and I became so close over recent months. I’d known him since he was eighteen months old when I first started dating Maddie. We werealltogether for four years. Saying goodbye to Maddie before I left Florida hurt, but telling Kevin I was ‘going away for a little while’ as his eyes flooded with tears damn near killed me.
My head dropped to my hands as a thousand awful scenarios ran through my head. “Is he . . .”
“Alive, yes. A drunk driver hit the SUV he was in with some of his friends. Rob and I were first responders. I saw Maddie and her fiancé at the hospital. He’s okay, but when we left last night, the doctors didn’t know the extent of his injuries.”
Thinking of Kevin with broken bones, or God forbid, paralyzed in any way, gutted me. Maybe I didn’t get the chance to really be his father, but I’d loved him like a son. That didn’t turn off because what I had with his mother ran its course.
“Well, thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it.” A momentary burn of anger ran through me at Maddie not letting me know herself. But, it’d been over a year, and although I hated the shit out if it, a clean break was best for all of us.
I hung up with Pete and dialed Maddie’s cell. Would she pick up? Fuck knew, but there was no way I couldn’t at least try. I worried about her, too. I’d seen firsthand the damage drunk drivers could do in my shifts on the ambulance. Cars twisted into themselves, families shattered, the drunk asshole usually walking away unscathed. Being on the other side of that was a torture I wished on no one.
“I knew Pete would run his mouth to you,” Maddie answered on the first ring. “You’re so damn honorable; it gets on my nerves.” Maddie’s exhaustion came through loud and clear on the phone, but I heard a smile in her voice.
“You know me, Mad. Relentless bastard. How is he?” My teeth sank into my bottom lip as I braced for her response.
“Beaten up, but okay. Broken bones, but no permanent damage. He may need a lot of therapy, but as long as he can move his arms and legs, we’ll deal.”
“How areyou?” I whispered.
“A lot better than I could be. There were three cars involved, and one didn’t have any survivors. They just moved him into a room; he’s up if you want to talk to him.”
Up until this moment, she wouldn’t even let me send a birthday card. I agreed and kept my mouth shut, as now was not the time to note the exception she was making.
“Nick?” Kevin’s groggy voice made my entire body exhale with relief.
