Page 83 of Nanny for the Firefighter

I have a concussion, apparently, and that feels right considering the splitting headache I’m fighting.

“Glad you got back here okay.” I look over to see my chief walking over, and I offer him a tired smile, gripping his arm weakly as he claps it to mine. “Fire’s contained. We’ve got it circled, and there are crews out there taking care of getting it out. So don’t even think about trying to get back out there.”

“Oh, I think I’m good.” I grin. “Seeing as how I’m currently in a hospital bed, I think I’ll take the rest of the night off.”

“Damn straight you will.” Adam grins, patting me on the shoulder.

We both know how much of a fight I put up in the rig when they were driving me here, and I roll my lips between my teeth, feeling a bit guilty.

Concussions are very similar to being drunk in that way. I thought I was okay. Clearly, I was wrong.

“All right, Mason. I’ll let you get some rest. And take it for more than just tonight. I don’t want to be seeing you at that office tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.” I give him a sloppy salute, the IV hooked up to my arm dangling.

Adam rolls his eyes and then leaves me to it. And as soon as I’m left alone again, all I can think is, “Where are they?”

“Dada!”

Turning, I see Mia in Bridget’s arms, who’s pointing in my direction. Mia’s got a little blanket with her, and her hair is an absolute mess, probably from sleeping.

Bridget sets Mia down a few feet away from the bed, and I use everything I have to get down on my knees and catch her as she runs toward me.

Mia hits my chest in a solid thump, and I wrap my arms around her. My heart overflows, and I can’t stop the tears from slipping free as I hold her little body against my chest.

The thought of never seeing her again, of what else could have gone wrong out there today, hits me square in the chest and I grip onto my sweet daughter like she’s a lifeline.

“Mia, sweetheart. Ugh,” I squeeze her, “I missed you so much.”

When I look down at her, Mia is smiling from ear to ear, and she points back to Bridget as she slowly walks toward us.

“Grandma Bev’s house fun!”

It takes a second to understand that she’s saying grandma because it comes out ga-ma, but I smile back at her, nodding.

“Oh, good.”

“She was an angel. Like always.”

I look up at Bridget, hoisting Mia up into my arms and struggling to sit back down in the bed. My chest pinches as I stare at her, and then I’m grinning at her.

“I missed you, too.”

Bridget’s eyes glass over with unshed tears, and she hurries over toward me. As she does, I realize that several news reporters are filtering in through the door behind her and scoping out all the other firefighters who are being treated for burns and minor injuries.

“Dada.” I look down at Mia, and she puts her little hand on my cheek.

“Yeah, honey. It’s me. I’m okay.”

I hold her close, that perfect, familiar scent of hers grounding me. I’d be lost without this little girl, and I pull her tighter against my chest, burying my face into her neck.

Thank you. Whatever got me out of there today. Thank you.

A hand comes to my shoulder, and I glance up. Bridget smiles down at me, the tears freely flowing from her eyes.

Pulling her into the hug, I hold my two girls close to me and silently vow to never let them get away again.

My pulse flickers and I can feel it in my neck as my exhausted mind dwells on the possibility of dying today. Intrusive thoughts barrel in, and it is damn near impossible to keep them at bay right now.

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