Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
My whole chest hurts inside like I’ve got….
“Smoke inhalation…big surprise,” the paramedic drones as he looks me over, making me breathe in while he listens to my lungs and heart.
Ash growls when the guy’s hands get near my chest, but he’s just doing his job like he said.
“We should take you down to the St. Mercy hospital for a once over,” he concludes, but I can feel Ash already shaking his head.
“Are you a relative, buddy?” the medic asks, finally losing his patience and standing as tall as he can but still needing to look up to even see Ash’s face.
“She’s with me,” he grunts. “And if she wants to go to the hospital, it’ll be me taking her,” Ash says with a grim tone of finality.
I hear his knuckles crack, and the medic swallow, holding up his hands as he gives me a ‘whatever’ look.
“Okay then, no need to get your hose in a knot. She’s all yours, buddy,” the medic says, shaking his head, and moving off toward the office staff, who all suddenly look exhausted and overwhelmed from the shock of the morning.
“Got plenty of other people to check over anyway,” he murmurs to himself, and I feel better already being left alone again with Ash.
But his boss is quick to take the medic’s place, not even minding giving him a chewing out right in front of me.
“I told you, Ash. I ordered you to take time off, to not try and save the fucking world, remember?” he growls.
Surprisingly, Ash looks as if he’s taking it to heart, and I can see how much respect he has for his commanding chief.
“I know you did, Stack,” Ash says calmly, eventually shrugging as he casts his eye over me, making my breath catch.
“But this little lady needed me…she still needs me,” he rasps, making his chief crinkle his brow.
“You okay, miss?” his chief asks me pointedly, and once I nod in the affirmative, he carries on blasting what I can see is the best firefighter the city’s ever had.
“See? She’s fine, and yeah yeah, you saved the day…again. But for Chrissakes, Ash. I mean it, take some time off, or I won’t be so lenient,” he scowls, spinning on his heel and moving quickly for his age and stature, he carries on his barking.
The chief is shouting orders at the reinforcements, who are still lining up with hoses and foam, battling the blaze. Heroes, all of them. But just another day at the office for them, too, unlike mine.
“Are you okay, really, I mean?” Ash asks, looking down at me, tilting my chin up with his finger and thumb so he can see my eyes.
I don’t know how or even why. But the effect of his touch seems to draw out every emotion I’ve felt so far today.
I hurl myself at him, grabbing hold tight. Sobbing and crying like I never have before. It’s almost as though he knew I needed to. He holds me firmly against him to get it all out, reminding me in soft, deep tones that everything’s alright now.
The worst is over.
“I…I don’t know how I can ever thank you,” I blub, meaning it though, as lame as it sounds.
The man did literally just save my life.
I hear a low growl from his massive body against mine, vibrating all the way through me like a tremor from an earthquake.
“You could… Nah, I don’t think you’d wanna do that,” he chuckles to himself, leaning back a little to look at me but keeping his arms right where I want them.
Holding me close.
“Couldn’t what?” I ask, flushing hard and feeling my face grow hot.
Almost as hot as the space between my legs has been since the second I saw him.
Ash seems suddenly shy, even reddening a little himself. “I mean, we could grab a cup of coffee or something sometime. I’d like that,” he says, looking down and away.
Almost as if he’s afraid I’d say no.
“I’d like that,” I sniff. “I mean, I’d love that.” I correct myself.
Coffee? Hey. It’s a start. What I’d really like? How I’d really like to show my appreciation?
That’s a thought that gives me a different kind of chill inside. And I literally recoil at the thought.
“What is it?” Ash asks, frowning.
“Nothing,” I murmur. “I…I should probably go. There’s gonna be hell to pay with my boss, Karen.” I hear myself thinking out loud.
Followed closely by a little groan as I remember my worry-wart parents. Knowing they’ll blow all this way out of proportion.
“I meant what I said, Bridget,” Ash says firmly. “About you being with me now. I don’t get friendly with every girl I catch from three stories up,” he adds, looking more than a little hurt.
I know he’s being honest, but I can’t help suddenly feeling exposed. I’m worried about everything that’s going to happen to me now that all the drama’s over.