Page 21 of Burning for the Billionaire 8

My team had been called by a fire department in Oregon to assist with a wild land fire. Things went to hell when one of my crew members, Mac, got injured, and I hurried to help him. That’s when I heard the ominous thundering of a tree getting ready to topple.

I knew I didn’t have time to move him, so I did the only thing I could. I threw my body over his.

Mac had better be okay. He has kids and his wife is pregnant, for Christ’s sake.

Grace appears in the doorway looking bleary-eyed and frazzled. The sight of her incites relief—that she’s still here after I’ve put her through the wringer for days, forgetting who she is. Iloveher and I need to let her know I remember.

Her gaze moves over me frantically. “Hey, you asked to see me? How are you feeling? Do you need something? Do you want me to—”

“Grace.”

She freezes.

“Calm down.”

“Right, yeah. I can do that.” She pulls in a deep breath. “I’m just so tired and on edge.” She blinks. “You sound...”

I smile. “Like me?”

“Yeah.”

“I, uh...” What I wouldn’t give to be able to sit up right now. “I love you, Grace.”

Her eyes widen.

“I kind of hate myself for forgetting.”

“Oh, my god,” she breathes. Then she laughs. It’s a sound of unmistakable joy and relief. “You remember.” She hurries over, arms outstretched, but then pauses, apparently realizing that diving into bed with me isn’t a good idea.

Instead, she bends to press her lips to mine. Glad I can move my arms, I caress her cheek with a finger. The slight contact feels amazing.

“I’ve missed you,” she whispers.

“Have a seat,” I tell her because she looks so tired.

Grinning, she goes for the recliner in one corner of the room instead of the chair beside my bed. I watch with a smile as she pulls the recliner up right beside me. She lays down and turns to me and it’s almost like we’re lying side by side.

Holding her gaze, I ask, “Why didn’t you sleep in here tonight?”

She shrugs. “You didn’t remember me. I didn’t want to freak you out by having you wake up to a stranger.”

Remorse floods me. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. It wasn’t your fault. I’m just so happy you remember now.”

“Apparently, I don’t remember everything. Did we get engaged?”

Grace pops into a sitting position, her face bright red. “About that—I had to tell everyone you’re my fiancé to get information. I’ve been standing in for Mel, who can’t be here every day. That’s how I got the nurses to allow me to camp out here most nights. Everyone believed me.” She lifts her shoulder. “It helps that my face has been plastered with yours all over the media.”

I still feel bad about that.

“I’m so sorry, Rowan. Are you freaked out by our fake engagement?”

I laugh even though it hurts. “Not at all.”

She grins, but it fades and her lower lip quivers. I think she’s about to burst into tears again, but she holds it together. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”

I don’t have to ask what she means. “Okay.” Then I realize I haven’t heard whether or not Mac survived. “Did you hear anything about Mac? My colleague?”

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