Page 24 of The Naughty List

"I'm brave," Carson proclaims, puffing his chest out. Drake chuckles, the sound filling the back of the ambulance and calming me even more.

"I know you are. And I'll have a surprise for you when we get done here, how does that sound?"

Carson's eyes light up and he nods his head excitedly.

Drake turns his attention to me once more. He kneels down in front of me, skimming one hand up the calf of my left leg and holding it up slightly so he can work on my scraped knee. I swear I feel his touch everywhere. Another shiver works its way through my body, but I try my best to ignore it.

The big, burly firefighter is solely focused on tending to my wounds. He cleans up one knee and then the other, wiping the skin with the gentlest of motions. I didn't think someone as large and masculine could be capable of such tenderness, but he's handling me like I'm the most precious thing in the world. I almost start crying again, but I manage to rein in the crazy.

"There we go," Drake says, looking up at me from his position on the floor. His eyes catch mine before they dart down to my lips briefly. He clears his throat and stands up, helping Carson and me off the stretcher.

"Th-thank you," I manage to squeak out.

"Of course, Melissa," he says with a soft smile. God. Swoon.

No, dammit. Unswoon. Unswoon, right now. This isn't part of any plan.

"Surprise now?" Carson says, jumping up and down. Drake grins, and good God, he's going to kill me with his sexiness.

When we step out of the ambulance, I'm relieved to see the crowd has mostly dispersed. Drake jogs over to the firetruck and digs around in the front seat for something. When he returns, he hands Carson a teddy bear with a firefighter's hat. My son squeals in delight and hugs the bear.

"What do you say, Carson?" I ask, apparently finding my voice just in time to make sure my son remembers his manners.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Drake!"

"You're welcome, little man. Make sure to take good care of your mom tonight. Be a good boy for her, okay?"

Carson nods, the earnestness in his eyes making my heart swell. He really is the sweetest kid, despite the rough beginning he had in life. Good thing he was too young to remember any of it.

When Drake's eyes meet mine once more, I'm completely caught up in his gaze. I see so many things swimming in those stormy ocean eyes of his. Concern, kindness, and is that longing? No, it can't be. I'm a freaking mess and a single mom, no less. I know I'm not exactly a catch. Especially to someone like Drake.

"Thanks again," I repeat, unable to think of anything to say.

"I'll always take care of you," he murmurs.

My eyes go wide. No way did he just say that. I must still be frazzled from everything. He looks like he wants to say something else, but then clears his throat and looks away from me, rubbing the back of his neck.

He gets called away, but he gives us one last lingering look. Once his back is turned, I hobble my way to my car, with Carson in tow. I buckle him in and slide into the front seat, taking a second to gather my wits about me.

I need to call work, reschedule appointments for the afternoon, pick up lunch for Carson, and a myriad of other things I wasn't planning on doing today. Normally, this kind of interruption to my routine would have me breaking out in hives. Granted, I managed to have a pretty impressive breakdown, but now that the excitement is over, I can't help but feel like Drake is the kind of unplanned interruption I need in my life.

CHAPTER TWO

DRAKE

Ihaven't thought of anything but her all damn week.

Melissa.

The angel barely said two words to me, but I know she's mine. When she fell to her knees and hugged her son, I wanted nothing more than to wrap both of them up in my arms and promise them the whole fucking world.

My reaction to her hit hard and fast, making every muscle in my body tense. My heart stopped and then pounded painfully against my rib cage. I swear to God the damn thing was trying to escape and join hers.

I was confused at the sudden possessive ache that overtook me, but all of my doubts and questions evaporated as soon as I had her in my arms. Holding her soft, curvy body against my chest was the sweetest kind of torture. My dick sprang to life for the first time in years. I was beyond grateful that the thick pants of my uniform hid my arousal.

I felt like an asshole for having such thoughts about a woman who was probably married, but then I noticed she had no ring on her finger. There wasn’t a tan line or anything, which I hoped meant she wasn’t already taken. Then again, even if she had a boyfriend, he was a real piece of shit for not showing up here for her and Carson. But somehow I knew she didn’t belong to anyone. Yet. She’ll be mine soon enough.

Melissa was hurt, vulnerable, and her kid was right there. It certainly was not the time to be making a move on her. But God, did I want to. Cradling her head in my hands was almost my undoing. I felt the weight of her pain, her sadness, her loneliness.

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