Page 84 of Rookie (Bradford Station)

EPILOGUE 1

HaydeN

Danny’s armstighten around me as I try to roll over. A smile spreads across my face in the dark of the room. “I’m not going anywhere,” I whisper. “My leg is going to sleep.”

“Just don’t want to let you out of my arms.” He buries his nose in my hair, kissing the side of my neck softly. “Wasn’t sure you’d be here when we got back.”

This is one of the first times he’s admitted these feelings. Part of me knew it was bothering him. Since the ridge fire, he’s hardly let me out of his sight. On days he’s off, he comes into the bank. When he’s on-shift, he’s texting me multiple times. We haven’t spent a night apart either.

Not that I’m complaining, but I want the man I love to know I’m not going anywhere.

“Wasn’t sure you’d come back.” I remind him there were fears for me too. “But I hoped.” I hook our fingers together, bringing them to rest at my stomach. “Prayed I’d see you crest that hill with the rest of the guys. That week was one of the scariest of my life.”

He kisses the side of my head. “A lot of us are having a time about it,” he admits, “especially Gauge.”

“How’s he doing?”

“He’s been better. He’s going to need a few grafts on his arms. Ten percent was burned.”

Clearing my throat, I put voice to the feelings I’ve had since the fire. “I’m sorry for him, but I’m so glad it wasn’t you.”

“Me too,” he admits. “And I feel so goddamn guilty about it. We all do.”

“You’ll work through it,” I assure him.

“With you at my side, I can do anything. You keep the darkness away when it threatens.”

His even breath stirs my hair, but I can’t bring myself to move. I wanna be wrapped up with him forever. Those moments I wasn’t sure he was alive replay in my mind more than I care to admit. They were, without a doubt, the scariest of my life and I’m not sure I’ll ever forget that fear. It’ll live in the back of my mind, always there to remind me of how much I have to be thankful for. My boyfriend and my father made it out of a fire that took the lives of civilians and hurt a number of firefighters, killing one in a nearby town. Even Gauge got lucky. Although he was hurt, it could’ve been so much worse.

“Since the fire, we haven’t spent much time apart,” he starts.

There’s a sinking in the pit of my stomach. “I understand if you need to be alone…”

“No.” He hooks his fingers under my chin, turning me back to face him. “That’s not what I’m saying. You’re one of the only things that’s kept me from going crazy since this whole situation happened. Just let me get this out.”

I nod, clamping my lips together.

“You’ve been here every night, every day since the ridge, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.” His voice is soft, low, and dark. Everything I love about him. “The thing is…I want you here all the time. I want your shit on my bathroom counter, those pieces of lace you call panties in my dresser. Fuck.” He tightens his grip on my hair. “I’ll even give up my closet for you, babe. When I come home from shift, I wanna see that little Toyota waiting for me. To know you’re inside. Maybe you have food ready, maybe you’re laying on the couch watching awful TV. Either way, I just want to know you’re here. Move in with me,” he finishes, “make it official.”

My heart pounds against my ribs and happiness unfurls within my stomach, but I wanna make sure I’ve listened to everything he wants to tell me.

“When the time comes,” he continues, “I’ll put a ring on your finger and change your last name. But I don’t want to rush either of us. When it’s right, we’ll know. I love you.” He drops his forehead to mine. “And I wanna spend the rest of my life showing you.”

Reaching up, I dig my fingers into his hair. “I would love to move in with you. I’m just warning you right now, when that time comes, I might not be the best wife and mother. I don’t exactly have a role model,” I dig my teeth into my bottom lip.

“None of that matters to me. We’ll learn together. All I know is I want you to be the person I make the mistakes and learn life with.” He stops for a second. “I asked Chief.” He chuckles, but the tone of his voice says how much he respects my dad.

“Did you?” I laugh along with him. Regardless of how old I am, I’ll always respect my dad and the fact Danny went the extra mile makes me even happier.

“More like told him, but he took it well. I’ll give him that.”

I’ll just bet he did. “It’s hard for him to let his girls grow up.”

“Lucky for me,” he growls deep in his throat, “you’re all woman.”

Turning back over, I hook my arms around his neck. “And you’re my man.”

His lips crush mine, taking my mouth with the type of possession I’ve learned to expect from him. Easily, I melt into him.

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