Fireman Daddy - Taryn Quinn Page 0,20
one who talked to Maitland. What was I supposed to think?”
I gripped the edge of his bed. “Your firefighters told on me? Like I was doing something wrong?”
“What was I supposed to think?” His voice was rusty, as if he’d been coughing for days. “You keep telling me you’re leaving.”
I shut my eyes against the threatening flood of tears. “You’re right. Then again, I’m new at all this stuff. I don’t move at the speed of light like you do. I’m a normal person who needs to think things through a little.”
“Yeah? So, why are you coming in here—” He started coughing and lifted the mask to suck in a few lungfuls of straight oxygen.
I pushed the hospital table out of my way. “Jake.”
“I’m fine.”
I pushed the mask over his mouth again. “You sit there, Jake Mills, and let me do the talking this time.”
He grinned behind the mask and gestured for me to continue.
I shook my hair back. I could see the streaks of white paint in my wild curls from my periphery. God only knew what I looked like right now, but I didn’t care. “I told Maitland to keep driving—not to even park his big fancy car. I told him Sharkey’s was mine. I’m not going anywhere.”
Jake’s eyes were wary.
“I love you, Jake. I’ve always loved you.”
He tried to sit up, but I pressed him back.
He shoved the mask away. “You can’t say that to me and think I’m going to be laying down the first time you fucking say it.”
He pulled me down with his good arm and covered my mouth with his own. He smelled like smoke and wet ash. I tunneled my fingers through his hair and held on to him.
Some of the anger bled out of me. He was hurt and I was yelling at him, but God, I’d been so scared. I’d just figured out I wanted him, and I’d almost lost him at the same time.
His grip was just as tight as mine. “I’m fine, Freckles. My guys got me out. They always do, because I fucking trained them to be the best in the area.”
I pressed my forehead to his. His hair was singed along his hairline, and it was just one more reminder of how close the fire had come to him.
He hoisted me up onto the bed and tucked me along the side of him. “I’m good, baby. I swear it.”
I turned my face into his chest and let the tears come. I didn’t sob and break down, just let out a few that had been hovering. “You can’t leave me.”
“Never. I’ll never let you go again.”
“I’ve got plans for us.”
He kissed the top of my head.
“Put your mask back on.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I clung to him in the cramped bed. I didn’t mind the tight quarters. It was my spot with him. My spot had always been by his side. I’d just been too stupid to reach out for it before.
I wouldn’t be again.
Kayla peeked around the curtain. “Is it safe to come in?”
I hid a smile against the furnace that was Jake’s chest. “Yes, it’s safe.”
Jake held out an arm for his little sister. “I’m okay, Cupcake.”
I laughed. “I guess I’m not the only one with a nickname.”
Kayla’s cheeks reddened. “I hate it.”
I laid my hand on his chest by my cheek. “Yeah, it’s not so bad.”
The tromp of boots and male voices created chaos a few minutes later.
Over a dozen firefighters came in to see him throughout the evening. Luckily, Jake was in a solo room. I got a few snarky comments and cold shoulders until the gossip chain had caught up to my news of telling Maitland to take a leap into the lake.
Literally or figuratively, his pick.
Soon after, my parents came in to see Jake, and then headed home. Kayla fessed up about her job situation, and I told him we were hatching a plan.
Finally, everyone cleared out.
Jake shoved at the flat pillow behind his head with a snarl. “I don’t understand why I can’t go home.”
We’d been informed that the mansion was definitely a lost cause. Thankfully, the fire hadn’t spread to the next property. A welcome spring rain had helped out there.
And my guy was acting as if it had been just another day at work.
“Says the man who has had so many coughing fits your abs probably hurt.”
He lifted his ill-fitting hospital gown to show off his very impressive torso. “As you can see, my abs are quite fine. So is the