I resisted my possessive urges and took a step back. I wanted to fix the ceiling for her, but if this was what she needed from me, I would give that to her.
Lucy’s lips parted before transforming into a wide smile. “I think it just needs one more layer.” She pressed a kiss to the corner of my mouth before grabbing the knife and stepping back onto the ladder.
I immediately moved behind her, my hands going to her ass.
For stability.
She glanced down at me but didn’t protest as she finished up patching the ceiling.
“Now I just have to wait for it to dry before I sand it. At least that’s what the online article said.”
My hands hovered around her as she climbed down from the ladder.
“You did such a good job, sweetheart.”
Her sweet “Thank you” was the best gift in the world.
As I headed back to the firehouse a little while later, I realized I had once again failed to tell her the truth about me.
57
King
I got Wilder’s SOS textwhile in a meeting with Blackthorne Ventures. Lucy had been invited to schedule her internship interview, but according to Wilder, she was stressed about it. Leo was making an out-of-town flower delivery and Wilder was on shift, so it was up to me to support our girl.
I tuned back in to the argument happening around me. My lawyer and Blackthorne’s lawyer had been going back and forth on negotiating a specificsomething something…I hadn’t been paying attention because I truly couldn’t give a fuck. Everything I’d placed in the center of my life—work, image, others’ approval—had somehow been stripped of all its importance. I’d even found myself online shopping for custom nest pillowsduring a finance board meeting.
I stood and the room fell silent. “Excuse me, gentlemen. I have to leave for a family emergency, but I trust you have this under control.”
I didn’t look back as I strode out of the room to my car, each step lifting the weight I’d carried on my shoulders for the past decade.
The bell above thedoor chimed as I stepped into Spring in Your Stitch. The mere sound of it was enough to get my heart pounding because it signaled I was about to have my omega in my arms.
Lucy was deep in conversation with someone on the phone and didn’t notice me. I took the opportunity to just look at her. Would I ever get used to her beauty, or would she always steal my breath? Her gold hair was down today, held back by a pink headband that matched the pink embroidered flowers on her denim jumpsuit. She was halfhidden by bolts of fabric haphazardly stacked beside her, teetering precariously like they were seconds away from joining the piles of fabric on the floor.
It was a testament to how much I loved her that I found her messiness endearing instead of aggravating.
Holy shit.
I loved her.
Of fucking courseI did. Lucy was the center of my world. Joy filled my chest like a balloon and I wanted to blurt it out, announce it to the entire town.
She must have caught my scent, because she looked up and gave me a little wave. My heart fucking fluttered as I crossed the space between us and pulled her into my arms, not caring that she was still on the phone.
“Okay, I see. Right, well then, I guess I’ll see you soon. Thanks, Kat.” She hung up and leaned her face against my chest with a groan.
“What’s wrong, baby girl?” My hand trailed a path up her back until I got to her neck. I dug my fingers in, gently massaging away the tension.
“I special-ordered a fabric for a client’s custom dress order, but the fabric shop in Briar’s Landing called this morning to let me know it’s back-ordered for another six weeks. They thought they might be able to get it from a different supplier, but they just called back and said they can’t get it. The only thing they could recommend was that I come in and see if they have a different fabric in stock that I could use as a substitute. And the timing is especially tricky because now I have to go to New York.” She glanced up at me, her teeth digging into her lip. “Did Wilder tell you?”
“About the interview? He did. And it’samazingnews. You’re incredible.”
Lucy’s smile and murmured thanks seemed strained, and I understood why Wilder had been concerned.
“Do you think you can take time off to come with me to New York?” she asked.
How did she not understand that I would do fucking anything for her? “Of course. Especially since I’m supposed to be on leave from work right now, anyway. Not that anyone seems to remember that.”
