Page 91 of Burn Point

“How did they get out?” I whispered.

“Thoren and Cal drug them out.”

I nodded again and squared my shoulders. I wasn’t entirely at ease with how close Nate had come to being seriously injured but understood what the captain was telling me. Nate was a trained professional who was passionate about his job. He’d do whatever it took to come home to me, and when he couldn’t do it on his own, he had a team of brothers at his back that would do whatever it took to make sure he did.

“I’ll make sure I make them a special treat to say thank you.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

I gave him a little smile. “Yes, I do. They need to know how much I appreciate them. I’ll make sure I include you on that too.”

He clapped his knees and stood. “All right, let’s go check on Nate then.”

I stood and stepped into him, wrapping my arms around him. He froze for a moment and then hugged me back. He was a good hugger.

“Thank you, Captain, for taking such good care of these men I’ve come to care so much about. You’ve obviously done a great job at training them.”

He patted my back and cleared his throat as he stepped away from me. He blinked several times as he turned to open the door, leading me back down the hall. Pausing at Nate’s door, he squeezed my arm. “I’ll let you have some time with him.”

Nate was in the same position as when I’d first entered the room, shoulders hunched, fists curled on his abdomen. I pulled the guest chair next to his bed and took his hand, easing his fingers open so that I could have some kind of connection to him. My mind drifted to Sandi. How had she handled my dad’s accident? Because even knowing that Nate was going to be okay, seeing him connected to these machines broke my heart.

Having my independence had been my goal, and I’d achieved it. But it meant nothing if I didn’t have Nate in my life. Yes, his job came with risk. And that scared the hell out of me. But if I’d learned anything about myself over the last few months, it was that I could handle scary things. I couldn’t imagine walking away from him now. Not when I’d just found him. Found home. Found love.

A pull somewhere deep in my soul tugged at me, and I looked up to find his sky-blue eyes swimming with emotion, gazing at me like I was the most important thing in his world.

“Hi,” he mouthed under his oxygen mask, searching my face, squeezing my hand.

“I love you,” I blurted.

His throat bobbed on a swallow, and the oxygen mask fogged over his muffled voice.

I placed a hand to the chest that I loved so much, quieting him. “Just rest and heal. I’m not going anywhere.” I stood up and ran a hand over the curls that were plastered to his forehead, drinking in his presence, and the love that shone in his eyes. Letting it flow through me and sending it back to him. “I might step out to let the others know you are okay, but I’ll still be here when you wake up. It’s going to be all right.”

He nodded and his eyes drifted closed. The machines in the room beeped, and outside in the hall, voices carried. I found a rough paper towel and wet it, wishing I had something softer, and gently washed away the grime that covered his face. I fell harder for him with each pass of the rough towel.

This man was my soulmate. I knew it without a shadow of a doubt. Yes, he had a dangerous career. Yes, it was scary. But it was the core of who he was. He was born to help people, to save life and property. And when he looked at me with his whole heart in his eyes, I couldn’t deny that I knew he would give it all up if I asked him to.

As I watched him relax, watched whatever meds they’d given him do their magic, I realized that I would take him any way that I could have him. I would support him and stand by his side.

All the mornings where he came home and shared his day, he needed me to help him process and stay centered, just as much as I needed him to stay safe.

Captain Collins’s words finally sank in. He’d obviously had experience with not having support. I would not be the kind of woman who couldn’t handle this. I would be strong. I would trust in Nate and in his brothers. And I would show him every day what he had to live for.

Fifteen minutes later, the doctor came in and gave us an update. With a kiss to Nate’s forehead, I left him to find our friends and share the news.

In the waiting room, Mike, Leah, and Kylie were huddled together, Leah tucked securely under Mike’s arm. Captain Collins stood by the long row of windows, staring out at the engine parked in the drive. Thoren and some other guys from Nate’s shift were all sitting in chairs, everyone wearing worried expressions. My gaze traveled over the lot of them, and I wondered if Nate knew how loved he was.

“Hey, guys,” I said as I drew near, getting their attention.

“The doctor just came in. Nate is responding well. He’s going to be fine.” I met Captain Collins’s eyes and nodded. “Would someone else like to go back and see him?”

Chapter 27

Nate

Captain Collins was the first through the door after Leah left to update everyone. He clapped me on the shoulder. “Good job, son. Maybe next time don’t scare the shit out of me like that.”

Thoren passed through the door and came up on my other side, giving me a fist bump. “Yeah, no shit, Nate. I’m too pretty to get scarred up for your sorry ass.”

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