Page 49 of Courageous Yearnings

I know. I just like playing with you.

And I like playing along with your games.

Must be one of those weird four-letter word things, huh?

It might be.

BRB… we’re here!

Psst – go check the bedroom!

What did you do?

Laughing, Blythe smiled at her phone and saw the last comment was unread. He was off the truck and on the scene working now – and it was sweet that he was checking on her. Kicking off her shoes, she padded barefoot toward the bedroom and saw the door was closed. Slowly, she opened it and smiled.

He'd made the bed that she slept in alone last night – and made a heart with rose petals on the comforter. The flowers from the hospital had been wilting something awful, and she had tried to throw them away last night, only for him to stop her.

“I’ll take it with the trash in the morning. Don’t worry about it…” he’d said – and now she knew why. The wilted petals had been plucked with care, and despite the curled edges, it was terribly sweet and romantic, which made her want to do the same for him.

She was going shopping – as soon as she ate dinner.

Three hours later, it was nearly nine o’clock at night, and she couldn’t be happier than she was right now. Everything went perfectly, and she found a few things that she hadn’t expected to pick up, but happened to be perfect for the two of them.

Pulling into the fire station parking lot, she saw a woman with wavy blonde hair walking out of the building and Lance. She felt something dangerous boiling over within her, only to see another firefighter jog out toward the woman and kiss her. Letting out her breath, she turned off the car and saw Lance’s face turn toward her in an instant as he started forward, looking slightly alarmed.

It was showtime.

Blythe had just opened the car door when he was there a moment later.

“Boop, is everything okay? What are you doing here?” The alarm in his voice made her feel good, almost special, and she couldn’t resist getting a small jab in because she’d seen that woman.

“Oh, you know, I was just in time to see my fiancée saying ‘bye’ to some other woman…”

“Her?” Lance blurted out, his eyes widening in shock before he got this look on his face that was almost pleased and laden with ego. “My sweet Boop, you weren’t jealous or thinking I would screw this up with some other girl, were you? I never imagined my sexy girl would be insecure. I mean, we’re getting married and discussing squishies - it’s serious for me, and I thought you knew that.”

“Hush,” she muttered, cursing her runaway tongue… and felt him reach out and pull her close. The scent of sweat, smoke, and other things tickled her nose, but there was something so incredibly heady about it, too. He was strong, built, and confident and yeah, it was terribly intoxicating to her. She never considered herself a damsel in distress, but he definitely made her weak at the knees.

“I missed you,” he whispered huskily before kissing her tenderly – and she responded. The feeling of his lips, the way he cradled her against him, it was all creating a web around her, one she wanted to be in forever. His lips parted as he tugged her closer, murmuring once more to her. “Need this…”

And she melted.

Her hands somehow cupped his face, blindly memorizing and recognizing the feel of his angular jaw and holding him close. The intensity between them had never been an issue. It was more of a surprising awareness that she hadn’t expected. She always thought he was handsome from the first moment she laid eyes on him, but now – after getting to know him – she couldn’t see a world without Lance in it.

It wasn’t a slow, deliberate build. It was more of a ‘Hey, I had no idea part of me was just sitting out there waiting to be found.’ They enjoyed being around each other and shared so many favorites, and the more she reached for him in her life, the more she treasured his very presence. Breaking the kiss, she stood within the enclosure of his arms and gently rubbed her nose against his. If she could climb inside just to be closer, she would.

“I got you something…” she murmured against his lips.

“If it’s any hotter than that kiss was, I’m not sure I’m going to be fit to talk for about an hour,” he chuckled huskily. “Have I mentioned how gorgeous I think you are?”

“Why no,” she laughed softly. “Actually, you haven’t…”

“I’m a horrible boyfriend,” he smiled tenderly before pressing his forehead against hers. “But I’m going to be an amazing husband.”

“Yeah, well, I’m trying to up my game as ‘wife’ too, you know…”

“Boop, your ‘game’ is spot on, and I’m trying to catch up.”

“Maybe I should just keep your surprise to myself then,” she taunted intimately, dragging a finger to his lips and shivering as he nipped at her fingertip.

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