Page 91 of Single Mom's Firemen

“Good. They need their rest. It was so awful for them,” I stop myself as a flurry of emotions threatens to turn the waterworks back on. It was such an emotional night and spending so many hours in the hospital afterwards didn’t make the experience any easier.

“Apparently, Sammy snores,” Wyatt says.

I give him a long look, admiring his tanned profile and the way in which the morning sun hits the green specks in his eyes. He’s exhausted. Wyatt and his brothers spent half the night with me in the hospital, the other half working out the investigation details with the police.

At least they’re all on the same page and there is no room for anybody to poke holes. Especially Harriet Nash’s lawyers.

“He does that when he’s exhausted,” I giggle.

“Let’s go home, baby.”

We reach the parking lot where his pickup truck awaits. I look back at the hospital building and take a deep breath. I didn’t get much sleep in there, but it was worth it to know the baby is okay.

“I can’t wait,” I tell Wyatt as I get in the passenger seat.

He turns on the AC once the engine roars to life and gives me a warm, loving smile. “Gosh, you look so pretty.”

“I look like hell,” I chuckle. “Don’t lie to me. They have mirrors in the hospital, you know.”

“Darlin’, you will never be anything other than beautiful to me.”

I perk up in my seat, feeling my cheeks flush.

It’s different between us. There’s a softness now that wasn’t there before, a certain sense of comfort that we all needed but was missing. Everything for this relationship to work in the long run now seems to have fallen into place. It was Colby and Harriet’s shadows that were keeping us from reaching this higher level. We’re there now, and the view is spectacular.

“Do we know where Harriet is now?” I ask as Wyatt drives us out of the parking lot and onto the main road.

I look out the window and watch the world go by—cute little store fronts and cafes; office buildings rising high into the sky with people going to work, latte in hand and headphones on. Life goes on and thanks to the Danson boys, the world has one less monster in it.

“If I’m not mistaken, in custody as we speak,” Wyatt replies.

“Whoa,” I gasp. “Already?”

“She had no idea we planted a bug in her office yesterday. After we left, she got on the phone and started yammering to her lawyers. Then, she brought some of her fixers in, barking orders at them, explaining how she wanted us extinguished. You’d shudder if you heard what she had planned for us.”

“Oh, God.”

He doesn’t sound that affected, though. In fact, he looks rather amused. “Harriet Nash thought she had the world at her fingertips. She thought that she could fix anything with money. When it became clear that her own precious flesh and blood would ultimately become her biggest liability, she went into survival mode. Her business sense went right out the window. She had to protect herself but she also had to nurse her wounded ego. She didn’t believe that we would actually chase her down and kill her if she retaliated.”

“I believe you. I’m just glad it didn’t have to get to that.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“So what now? How does this all work out? The investigation, Colby, the whole thing.”

Wyatt takes a deep breath. “Open and shut case on Colby. There’s enough evidence to prove all the charges that were raised against him and his death will be ruled self-defense. The cops picked Dwight up in the ER last night and got him to flip, so they’ve got that, too. It’s done, Halle. You won’t even have to show up in court for his case.”

“Good. At least there will be closure for those who lost their loved ones in that warehouse fire,” I say. Shivers run down my back. “I still can’t believe he did that.”

“I can. I’ve seen a lot worse.”

“And yet, you never let your inner light fade,” I reply, giving him a soft smile.

Wyatt keeps his eyes on the road, but every now and then sneaks glances at me. “Be honest, it’s what you love about me. Eric’s a goody two-shoes, future President of the United States type. Chase is the brooding mercenary with a soft spot. I’m the hot and funny one.”

“And modest too.” I can’t help but laugh.

Wyatt grins. “Oh, and another thing. You won’t have to worry about those photos going anywhere,” he says.

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