Page 125 of Nanny for the Firefighter

“Hey, it’s okay.” Mason pulls my chin up to look at him. “You didn’t do this. Jai did. You protected her. Got him away from the house.”

Mason’s throat betrays his emotions, and his eyes are glossy with unshed tears.

“I…I never should have let it get this far, but…thank you, Mason. I…” I look at Mia in my arms. “I’m still here because of you.”

He joins me at the back of the ambulance, sitting down and ruffling a hand through Mia’s curls.

“I’m just glad that I got here in time. The fact that I was almost…I don’t know what I would have done if something worse…well, you saw what I was about to do.”

The tension is so damn thick, and I remember the look in Mason’s eyes. He was ready to kill Jai back there, and I should feel some type of way about that, but I’m just grateful.

Mason wanted revenge for me, and I get that. Jai wanted to control me, to kill me in the end, and there’s no question which of those is worse.

“I don’t think I’ll ever stop being angry that I wasn’t here for you, Bridget.”

I reach out for Mason’s hand where I can reach it pass Mia.

“Try. The only reason I’m okay is because youdidget here. You’re the one who’s always protected me.”

“Always? That seems like a stretch.” Mason smiles, the relief and exhaustion intense in his eyes.

“You’ve helped me so much these past couple of months. I’d like to think that I’ve been here for you with the trauma of the fire, with that hurt you felt because of losing your dad.

“But you’ve done so much more than I could have ever asked for, Mason. Coming home doesn’t feel like a mistake because of you. You’ve allowed me to be strong enough to face my demons, to finally say something about Jai. I will be forever grateful for that.”

“The thought of losing you, Bridget…I don’t know what I would do.”

I don’t bother to hold back the tears, and when I angle toward Mason so that we’re holding Mia between us, Mason smiles.

It’s when the tears stream from his own eyes that I appreciate how serious he is. My heart hammers and my chest pinches as I grip his hand.

“Don’t ever leave me, Songbird. I don’t think I’d survive watching you leave a second time.”

I shake my head. “I told you. I’m not going anywhere. This…this is where I want to be. I wish that I’d made the right decision all those years ago. It was always you, Mason. Always.”

He leans forward, touching his forehead to mine. Mia squirms, not understanding, and I sit back, laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation.

“I made the wrong decision back then, and it tookworkto get back on the right path. The universe made me jump through so many hoops to find my way back to you. But I’m so grateful that I did. For as long as you’ll have me, Mason, I’ll be here.”

Mason’s hand comes up and cups my cheek. He grins at Mia and then meets my eyes again.

“I love you, Bridget. I want you forever.”

My breath hitches in my throat, and I gasp softly. The tears pour harder, and I drop my head against his chest despite Mia’s protests.

“I love you, too. Always.”

Lifting my head, Mason kisses me, and Mia’s little hands find my face before she plasters her own version of a kiss on my cheek.

It’s slobbery and silly and the best damn thing in the universe.

With a gentle laugh, I look up into Mason’s gray eyes. “Is it really over?”

He nods, stroking my cheek. “They’re arresting Jai for breaking and entering, assault, and attempted murder. We’ve got some testimonies ahead of us, but yeah. It’s over.”

As we sit there, the chaos around the little family I’ve found fades into the background. That is until my phone rings, and Mason rolls his eyes before pulling it out of his pocket.

When he looks down at the screen, Mason’s eyes go wide, and he nods. “It’s Hudson. You’ll probably want to?—”

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