Dane pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
He would have said more, but right then Kate and Tory came out of the house, Logan supported between them, an arm draped over each of their shoulders. There was no sign of Lambert.
Kate and Tory helped Logan all the way over to the rescue truck where Dane, Lexi, and Trent were. The paramedics from Rescue 57 immediately began getting oxygen into the detective. Kate pulled off her gloves, helmet, and fire hood so she could help the paramedics. Her face was etched with concern as she tried to calm Logan’s coughs.
The cop looked over and caught Dane’s eye, giving him a slow shake of his head. Dane took that to mean the detective hadn’t been able to reach the doctor in time to save him. Maybe Dane should have felt bad about that, but he had a hard time doing it. Lambert had killed three people, and tried to kill a fourth.
“How did you two find me?” Lexi asked, drawing his attention back to the woman he loved.
It took a second for that reminder to sink in, but when it finally did, Dane found himself grinning like an idiot. It might be a little early on in the relationship to say the words out loud yet, so he figured he’d better keep them to himself. But it still felt damn nice knowing Lexi was the woman he was going to be with for the rest of his life—assuming she wanted him around.
“It’s a long story,” he said. “I’ll tell you all about it later. Preferably tomorrow, when we’re relaxing and doing absolutely nothing.”
“Not gonna happen,” a voice said beside them.
Dane looked up to see Jax standing there, his SCBA mask hanging off and a big smile on his face.
“Why’s that?” Dane asked.
“Because Skye and I are getting married tomorrow, and not only are you the best man, you also have to walk Skye down the aisle.” Jaz jabbed a finger at him. “And don’t think that almost getting killed by some madman is going to get you out of either of those things.”
Dane chuckled. “Wouldn’t think of it.”
Jax only stayed around long enough to make sure they were all okay then he and Tory went back to fighting the fire.
That left him, Lexi, Trent, Kate, and Logan alone with the paramedics. Dane sat down beside Lexi and wrapped his arm around her, holding her close. She rested her head on his shoulder, one arm securely wrapped around his waist.
“You scared me there, you know,” he said softly. “I know we talked about your having every right to risk your life as much as I do, but I never intended that to include going up against serial killers.”
“That wasn’t really my plan, either,” she murmured.
“Good.” He tipped her chin up and kissed her gently on the lips. “Then let’s agree to never do that again.”
She smiled. “Okay.”
After that, they sat there quietly, watching their fellow firefighters battle the raging fire and appreciating the fact they were both alive, and together. Finally, the words he thought he should probably sit on for a while bubbled up to the surface, and he had no choice but to say them.
“Is it too soon to say I love you?” he asked softly.
“No,” she said.
“Okay then. But to make it official—I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she said against his chest.
Dane caught Trent grinning at him through his oxygen mask. Mouth twitching, Dane ignored the paramedic and went back to holding the woman he loved as he gazed at the fire that was going to keep burning for a very long time.
