Page 62 of Saving Jared

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"It’s okay."Willa grinned. If only she hadn’t done that. Jared’s heart filled with dread knowing he was about to kill that hint of smile. "He kind of—"

Jared swooped his head down and brushed his lips across hers, stopping her from saying more. It was hard not deepening the kiss, especially when her little moan vibrated against his lips and her heavily gloved hands went to his head. But he couldn’t. He needed to set things right between them. So, with a lot of reluctance, he reached up and pulled her hands from him, while lifting his mouth away from the softness he wanted to revel in.

"Not for that," he whispered, holding her gaze and lowering her covered hands to press against his heaving chest. Seconds of silence passed between them. Then he closed his eyes—blocking out the dawning realization mixed with hurt shadowing hers. Her hands in his tightened, before loosening and pulling them away. His own fell to his sides

Had he just lost her all over again?

"I’m a bastard," he muttered while opening his eyes to her taut features. The deep breath he took filled his senses with the woman saturated in the scent of smoke standing so quietly in front of him. Now wasn’t the time for this conversation. Not when she’d just been through hell. Not when everything about her spoke of exhaustion.

But right time or not, he had to tell her the one thing she had to know.

"I should have believed in you."

Nothing about Willa spoke of deceit. She was an inherently kind person—full of love, integrity, and selflessness. It’s why she excelled at her job.

It’s why it hadn’t come as a surprise when he’d found out Willa had been one of the firefighters charging into the building housing Emma’s Delectables—as crazy as it had made him. If she’d believed her friend might be in danger, she wouldn’t have hesitated to go in—not that she wouldn’t have gone in for anyone in else. She would have. But Emma and Mathilda Flowers were people she cared deeply about. So, she would have risked her life for theirs without hesitation.

Someone like that wouldn’t lie or cheat. A truth he should never have questioned. In not trusting her, he’d done her the greatest disservice he could.

"Hmm…" Her lips pressed together in a straight line as she took a step back. "I wish you had believed in me too. I know you’ve been burned, but I’m not Ma—"

"I know you’re not."

"Taggert!"

Willa’s gaze flicked past him toward whoever had called her name. "I need to get to the ambulance and let them check me out." Her focus slid back to him—her wary, beautiful eyes holding steady, with only a quick glance down his body and back. "I have to be cleared to get back to work. And you’ve got to get cleaned up. I’ve gotten you dirty." Her brow crinkled as she tilted her head. "Did you mean it?"

"That I’m sorry?" He reached out and brushed away one of the many stray curls that had come loose from her bun—this one stuck to her dewy cheek. "More than you’ll ever know."

Her eyes softened. "That’s good to know. But I meant the other." She bit at her bottom lip—the softness in her eyes turning uncertain. "When you said that you loved me."

Jared’s heart rate ratcheted up as he closed the distance between them. He didn’t care she was layered in soot. He wanted to feel all of her, but the thick, shapeless, protective gear covering her from the neck down made that impossible. It swallowed her up.

It had also kept her safe and brought her back to him.

He cupped her warm, rose-tinged cheeks in both hands and pressed his forehead to her sweat-dotted one, his thumb brushing over where her teeth had worried her full, bare, lip. "Even more than you’ll ever know," he murmured. "And if you’ll let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life showing you what you mean to me."

Her breathe stuttered, as her head turned up. Then his own breath hitched at how she brought her lips a whisper away from his.

"Taggert, come on!"

She pulled back and shouted, "On my way, Pierce," over his shoulder. "I have to go." Her eyes searched his. "We’ll… We’ll talk later."

"I’ll be here."

"I know." Having her grin at him was better than a kiss. Almost. Then he watched her jog away. Maybe they—

"And just so you know," she called out while turning around, her backward steps slowing—her gaze holding his. "I love you too." Then a touch of mischief lit her features under the large portable lights surrounding the ambulances. "And be prepared. I expect lots of groveling."

Before he could react, she’d pivoted back around and headed the other way. A slow smile spread over his face as his gaze trailed after the brave woman preparing to go back into battle.

And groveling?

He’d do whatever he had to, because he was one lucky son of a bitch.

"She loves me."

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