My Fake Husband: A Secret Baby Romance (Rockford Falls 2) - Page 57

“Are you hurt?” I asked, assessing her for injury. I took off my heavy uniform coat and draped it around her, “Are you hurt?” I demanded. She shook her head mutely.

The other guys went in to check things out and turn off the gas. I was too busy looking at her weary face and the shadows under her eyes.

She didn’t say a word to me. I folded her into my arms, held her against me. She finally leaned into me, rested her head on my chest. I stroked her hair, then shrugged her away and tipped her face up. I cupped her cheek in my palm and kissed her. I kissed her so long I was breathless and didn’t care. I was sliding my tongue in and out between her lips, making her rise on tiptoe, making her clutch my arms. I could feel her start to melt for me, and I kept going, kept kissing her like my life depended on the slow, sexy slide of our tongues against each other, and the crackle of that wildfire chemistry kindling to life after way too long.

She was plastered against me as close as I could have her, and our mouths were fused together. I didn’t care that we were on the sidewalk, that a crowd had gathered when the fire truck veered onto the street. I cared that she was safe and whole and in my arms. I could tell her something with my kiss that I couldn’t put into words. This was what Brody had described when Laura was kidnapped. This ferocious need to protect, to possess. It thrummed in my blood. I drew back from that devouring kiss and looked at her, those big eyes dark with need, but the weariness, something like fear in her face.

“Are you hurt?” I asked again.

“Gas is off,” one of the guys said. “The tenant upstairs left her stove on. I guess the pilot light went out, but the gas infiltrated downstairs. It’ll be clear in a few minutes to go back inside.”

“No,” I said. “I’m going to flip the closed sign and lock up. I’m taking her to the hospital to be checked out.”

“I’m fine. I just got lightheaded, and I noticed the smell, and I called 911 and came outside. It’s no big deal,” she said. She was swaying on her feet, stubborn but weaker than she’d admit. I shook my head.

“Go get her purse and flip the sign,” I ordered one of the other guys, not even looking away from her long enough to see which one followed my instructions. I took her purse when it was handed to me and I found her car keys. “I’m gonna text the chief, tell him I’m taking off now and I won’t be in tomorrow. Thank you guys. I owe you a case of beer later on.”

I slid my arm around her and tucked her in against my side, walking slowly, matching my stride to hers until we reached where her car was parked. I opened the passenger door and eased her into the seat.

“This is like when you plugged in my phone and tucked me in,” she said, her voice watery.

I dropped to my knees on the pavement beside the car and knelt beside her, took her hand, searched her face.

“I could’ve lost you. Jesus Christ, Trix. I’m gonna throw your tenant out as soon as I rip the gas line out of the wall. Next one can use a fuckin’ hot plate for all I care. I won’t have you in danger.”

“It was an accident. It could’ve happened to anyone, really. Don’t blame her. And I need the rental income to pay you back.”

“Enough of that. You’re not paying me for anything. Stop. You’re working yourself to death. You’ve lost weight, you’re pale. You barely talk to me. Talk to me, please,” I practically begged, my voice hollow, my hand sliding up her arm to her shoulder and her hair.

She looked at me, eyes welling with tears and shook her head mutely. Tears slid down her face. I leaned my forehead against her shoulder for a moment, then gathered her against me, kissed her hair.

“What have I done? Tell me, dammit,” I said, but my voice was broken, sorrow showing through. “Everything was perfect. We were happy. I know we were. I don’t know what happened. You have to tell me so I can fix it. Please,” I choked out. She clung to me, sobbing, shaking her head, refusing again and again to speak.

She pulled away from me and turned her face where she wasn’t even looking at me. I reached across her and fastened her seatbelt, shut the door. I sat in the driver’s seat, adjusted it so my knees weren’t up around my ears because she had to sit up so close to the wheel. We would’ve laughed about that two weeks ago. Hell, I would’ve had her in my lap, riding me, that exquisite look of wonder on her face as I made pleasure blaze through her body. It hurt me physically to think of it.

Tags: Natasha L. Black Rockford Falls Romance
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