When I turn back toward the bedroom, I’m stunned by the sight of her as I lean in the doorframe of the en suite. She is splayed out on her bed, golden hair fanning around her gorgeous face, looking like a debauched version of a pin-up model from my wet dreams. “I could wake up to this view every morning, a chroí.”
She pushes up on her elbows, making eye contact with me. “There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“This sounds important.”
“It is.”
My gut sinks at the seriousness in her tone, and I search her face. It doesn’t look like she’s pulling away. She just told me she loves me… surely, she’s not ending this?
I’m halfway across the room when I hear a buzzing on the floor. Leaning down, I pull my phone from the pockets of my discarded pants and see dozens of missed calls from Hardy and Sawyer. “Shite.” I hand her the washcloth as I scroll through my phone.
“What is it?”
“There’s a bad accident up near Highland Ridge. Three vehicles involved, one went off the side of the cliff and is on fire. They need all hands to help contain it so it doesn’t start a wildfire.” I pull on my clothes as I type back one-handed that I’m on my way.
It kills me that I can’t be here, cleaning her and holding her after we made love, but duty calls, reminding me of another reason why most of my relationships haven’t worked out.
“I had a tubal ligation. I can’t have any more kids.” She stares at me, like she can’t believe what she’s just blurted out.
My phone rings again, and I curse my luck when I see it’s the chief.
“I have to go, I’m so sorry.”
CHAPTER 22
LUCKY
When I call Bella, she answers after one ring. “He’s on his way.”
“Lucy? Are you okay? Who’s on his way? What’s wrong?”
“Mike.”
“Oh?”
I pull the phone back from my face as if we were on a FaceTime call and I could see her. Did he lie to me just to get out of here? Surely, he didn’t.
“Lucy?”
“I’m here.”
“You said Mike’s coming here?”
“He said something about a crash and a fire?” I say weakly. “He got called in. Hardy was looking for him.”
“Oh! I’m sorry, I was confused. Hardy’s at the station. He texted me to see if I thought Mike was with you, but he didn’t say why he was looking for him.”
“So there was a crash?”
“Probably. What’s going on? Are you spiraling?”
I clutch the phone, feeling like my chest is getting tighter as spots dot my vision.
“Lucy?”
“Yeah?” My voice is shaky, on the verge of breaking.
“Shit. I’ll be there in five.”
