Page 96 of Protect

“You in love with her?”

I let the question sink in for a beat as I toss my chain saw over my shoulder to move up the line. I take a second to wipe the dirt and sweat from my brow. “I wanna be with her every chance I get,” I say honestly.

“That’s a start.” Cal smirks.

I shrug. “I’m all in with her, I can’t explain it. It’s like I’m picturing things I’ve never pictured before.”

Opp moves a little closer to us as he digs. “Like what?” he asks with a grin. “Talking about T, right?”

“Fuck,” I mutter. “This doesn’t need to be a PSA.”

“You know what, bro? Don’t even worry about it, bring her around tonight and we’ll all be able to tell you if it’s true love after five minutes.” Opp grins.

“Absolutely fucking not. You assholes better be on your best behavior tonight.” I point to Cal, Opp, and Dixon, who all start chuckling.

Opp raises his hands in innocence. “I’m fuckin’ hurt King, whaddya take us for?” he asks with a grin that says I’m fucked.

By the time I get to Violette’s I’m still re-thinking taking her out with the boys. They’re a bunch of unhinged apes when they drink, and the last thing I need is them putting her on the spot or spooking her.

I know Hollie is already with Mae and Jack for the night, and even though I’m starting to get attached to mine and Hollie’s littleSuperPetsritual, the thought of having Violette all to myself has me already getting hard on her goddamn doorstep as I knock on the door.

I wait not so patiently for Violette to answer. Knock again, wait again. Five minutes on her porch and I start to get worried. Her car is here so I know she’s home. I turn the knob to find it unlocked, and now I’m really concerned. Nothing seems out of order in the foyer. There are no lights on in the kitchen or dining room to my right, but a soft lamp glows in the living room to my left. I kick my shoes off.

“Vi?” I call. No response so I make my way through the living room, she could be in the shower?—

The sight that finds me mid thought sends a warm, twisting feeling through my whole body. Violette is curled up on her sofa, still wearing her navy blue scrubs, her thick hair in a high messy bun. She’s wrapped up in a fleece blanket and she’s out fucking cold. Dead on her feet after the week she’s had. She’s had back-to-back rotations and a busy burn unit after a bad barn fire on Highway 4 earlier this week. I know it’s been a rough one, particularly because one of her patients is a kid not much older than Hollie. She even shed some tears over him the other night.

Suddenly, the last thing I want to do is haul this exhausted, incredible woman, mother, and nurse out onto the town.

A calloused thumb stroking along my cheekbone wakes me from the deepest sleep I’ve had all week. One that is still clouded with dreams of six-year-old Timothy Feldman, covered in third degree burns and crying for his mother. A mother who might not make it.

My eyes snap open to find Rowan, sitting on the floor, one arm propped up on the sofa beside me watching me sleep. He’s turned my gas fireplace on, I realize as I shiver. I left the windows open and it’s gotten cool.

“Hello, love.” He smirks.

I sit up and look for the time on my fireplace mantel.

“Shit, I was just so tired, I just wanted to rest my eyes, what time is it?”

“Shhh.” He smirks at me, sliding his hand down my arm. “It doesn’t matter. Change of plans tonight. I didn’t want to subjectyou to that group of miscreants and their twenty questions anyway, and you look exhausted, Vi.”

I’m supposed to be getting ready right now. I lie back down and take a breath, looking up at the soft shadows from the lamp on my living room ceiling.

“I am,” I admit. “It’s been a long week on our floor, and of course, Hollie has been bursting with energy. I just need a minute and I’ll go get in the shower, let them know we’ll be an hour late?” I mutter with a yawn.

Rowan shakes his head and leans in to kiss my lips. “Nah, I’ve got a better idea.”

He stands and makes his way into my kitchen. I look over my shoulder trying to figure out what he’s doing as I rub my tired eyes with my palms, willing myself the energy to get up and get going.

I love nursing. It’s the most rewarding part of my life aside from Hollie, but there are days— weeks even—where it’s really fucking hard. Truth be told, the last thing I wanted to do was go out for drinks and food with a crowd of people at the end of my shift, but I’d do it for this man who keeps showing up for me and Hollie again and again.

A few minutes later Rowan returns, a glass of red wine in one hand and a bottle of coconut lotion in the other. He pulls his phone out and puts his bluegrass playlist on, low enough that we can still talk.

I grin at him. “Wine and lotion? Things about to get interesting?” I ask with a little laugh.

He just smirks, making his way to the wing back chair in front of my fireplace and sits, setting the bottle of coconut oil down on the fireplace hearth. Looking at me expectantly, he spreads his legs and points between them. “Come sit,” he says, “and lose the clothes from your waist up.”

He holds the wine out for me and I understand immediately what he’s offering. I have no idea why, but I begin to tear up as I walk toward him, pulling off my shirt that still smells like hospital, then my cotton bra next. By the time I’m taking the wine from him and sitting topless on the floor between his legs, I’m desperately gulping back all the feelings that are crushing me. Gratefulness, adoration, fear of him leaving anytime to fight the next fire,want.I take a long sip from the glass of red he poured me as I sit and relax between his thick jean clad thighs.

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