Here With Me

by Louise, Tia

  Sirens flash blinding red-and-blue lights as I stagger into the main room toward the entrance. Firefighters surge past me as I step through the shattered glass doors.

  A man catches me by the arm. “Sawyer, it’s me, Eric.” I’m light-headed, but I recognize him as an EMS worker I’ve met before. “Can you carry her over here?”

  I can do anything for her.

  Still, as I get closer to the truck, my head gets light. “Something’s wrong.” I start to say, and I’m surrounded by another, beefier EMS worker.

  He catches me under the other arm and helps me sit on the bumper of their truck. Eric takes Mindy into the back, and the new guy straps an oxygen mask onto my face.

  “Inhale deep. Chemical fires are more dangerous than regular smoke. They can bind to your lungs and cause them to swell and block oxygen.”

  He’s describing death by smoke inhalation to me, and I power through my own symptoms. I’m on my feet, but he stands just as fast.

  “Hold on, soldier.” I don’t even bother correcting him.

  Ripping off the mask, I explain, “I’ve got to get in there. I need to be beside her.”

  My balance is screwed, and I fall back against the door of the truck. The guy holds my arm, studying my face.

  Panic filters through my chest, and I try to lift my leg to climb inside. “I have to be near her.”

  Finally, he moves. He helps me to where Mindy is lying on her back on a gurney with an oxygen mask over her beautiful face. Her eyes are closed, and Eric is strapping monitors to her.

  “How long was she inside?” He’s clearly worried, and I feel panic gripping my insides.

  “I don’t know. We had a meeting scheduled for one.”

  “Her heartrate is good. We’ll have to see if she responds to stimuli.”

  The big guy hands me a bottle of water. “You need to drink.”

  “Thanks.” I take the bottle, thinking.

  I was only in there for five minutes, tops. She was in there at least five minutes longer… probably more. Falling to my knees, I rub my palm across my eyes.

  “Mindy?” My voice is hoarse, but I try to speak soothing words. “Wake up, baby. It’s me, Sawyer.”

  Reaching down, I slide my hand into her limp one. I put my palm against hers and lift it to my lips. “It’s me… I’m holding your hand like I said I would.”

  Eric puts his hand on my shoulder. “We’re going to take her to the hospital.”

  “I’m riding with her.”

  He nods, going to the back and shutting the doors. I hold Mindy’s hand the whole way, talking to her and stroking the hair off her forehead. My stomach is so tight, it’s hard to breathe normally. The guys in the van keep trying to put an oxygen mask on me, but I want to talk to her.

  “I love you,” I whisper in her ear, lightly touching my lips to her cheek.

  Guilt tears me apart inside. I should have taken care of her better. Dropping my forehead to the side of her bed, I pray. Don’t let me lose her now.

  Last night I was sure we were on the road back to each other. I can’t lose her, not like this.

  My eyes are hot. Her small hand is still firmly in my grasp. We’re twenty minutes into our high-speed race to the hospital when her fingers move in mine. My head shoots up, and I see her eyelids squeeze.

  She starts to cough, and Eric removes her oxygen mask, helping her roll to her side facing me. She coughs more, and he rubs her back. I look up at him worried.

  “Controlled coughing is actually a good way to clear the lungs.”

  My hand is on her shoulder, and I brace her as she struggles. “It’s okay, baby. I’m here.”

  Her coughing subsides, and she’s still for a moment. Then she blinks several times. Her brow furrows, and she seems to be trying to focus.

  “Mindy?” My heart is beating so hard. “Can you say something, baby?”

  She closes her eyes once more then opens them, slowly moving her gaze to mine. Our eyes meet, and my breath stills. My stomach clenches, waiting…

  “I’m not a baby.” She’s hoarse, and we’re all quiet at first.

  Then she smiles weakly, and I start to laugh. “You’re right. You’re not.”

  Rising onto my knees, I pull her to me, hugging her. Her arms are around my waist, and I close my eyes. “I’ve got you, beautiful. Just rest. I’m not going anywhere.”

  33

  Mindy

  “This is my favorite of the two.” I’m sitting in a hospital bed with my iPad pro on my lap and the stylus in my hand. My lungs are still weak, but they’re stronger than they were two days ago.

  The doctors make me do breathing treatments a few times each day, but they’re letting me go home this afternoon.

  While I wait to be discharged, Sawyer and I have the meeting we were supposed to have when my brand-new old office burned to the ground, destroying everything inside. I was pretty devastated, until I remembered I’d left my iPad pro in my apartment.

  That mistake was the one thing that saved my fledgling enterprise. It has all my contacts and concepts saved on it, and Sawyer bought me a new laptop the next day to use as backup.

  Him sitting beside me sends all kinds of tingling warmth through my body. His presence makes me want to get better faster.

  He raced into a burning building, down a narrow hall into a dark back room, defying sanity and his PTSD to save my life. Not only that, through the fog of what happened, I remember his words so clearly. I’m holding your hand… I love you…

  All of it has banished my hesitation. I only want to be with him, in his arms.

  “I agree with you. I like the anchor with the garland.” He traces his finger along the screen. “But can I be honest?”

  My eyebrows rise, and I nod. “Please.”

  “I don’t like any of these slogans.”

  Dropping my head back, I wrinkle my nose. “I don’t either! We can work out something new together.”

  As soon as I say the words, I realize how much I like them—literally and figuratively.

  The door opens, and a nurse quietly enters pushing a wheelchair. “I’ve got your paperwork. You’re all set to go.”

  Sawyer holds my hand, helping me off the bed. I’m wearing jeans and a long-sleeved sweater Noel brought me to wear home. She and Ma have been in and out the whole time I’ve been here, but Sawyer has never left my side.

  If they weren’t aware of something between us before, I’m pretty sure everyone’s onto us now. He pushes me slowly down the hall, decorated in Christmas trees and tinsel garlands.

  “It feels silly to be the one in the wheelchair,” I mutter.

  “You just take it easy. Your lungs are still healing.”

  To be honest, I do feel like I’m just getting over a really bad case of pneumonia. I get weak really easily, and if I start coughing, it sounds like I’ve been smoking two packs a day for twenty years. The doctor says I need to drink lots of water and take steamy showers and all kinds of lung-cleansing rituals.

  We’re finally outside the hospital, and Sawyer takes my hand again, helping me out of the chair. He holds my hand all the way to his waiting truck in the circle drive, but before he opens my door, he turns my back to the cab, leaning closer. I love the feel of his body pressing against mine.

  “I’m taking you home, but I’m not leaving until you’re one hundred percent, okay?”

  Smiling up at him, I tilt my head to the side. “What if I want you to stay longer?”

  “I’m sure we can work something out.” Dipping his chin, he kisses me briefly, but I slide my hands higher to his neck, bringing him closer for a longer kiss.

  I want him to know I’ve changed. I want this now as much as he does.

  We hold hands the short drive to my apartment, and he grabs my small bag out of the bed of the truck before helping me down and leading me to my door. He knocks on the door then gives me a funny look.

  “What are you doing?” I shake my head putting my key in the lock.
<
br />   The door opens before I have a chance to turn it, and my heart almost stops when everyone yells Surprise! Inside, my apartment is decorated with balloons and streamers. A big banner says Welcome Home, and I almost start to cry when I see on my desk a brand-new Apple computer and a small stack of office supplies.

  Noel races forward to hug me. “Jeff said the insurance check is on the way, but this should get you started.”

  Looking over her shoulder, Ma is right behind her waiting for a hug. Taron is by my bookshelf holding Dove. William is in the kitchen waving, and Deacon is beside him with his hands in his pockets. My sister Tamara is here with her little daughter Boo, and even Mrs. Irene is in a wheelchair with Ramona and Miss Jessica standing beside her.

  “You all!” Tears are in my eyes as Ma hugs me hard.

  “I’m so glad you’re back on your feet.” She straightens, and I see she’s been crying. “To think I could have lost you. And my hero!”

  She steps to the side, pulling Sawyer into a tight squeeze. “You saved my baby.”

  “I’m just glad we had that meeting scheduled.”

  Deacon hands me a card signed by the Dallas crew. I hug him and William.

  “Don’t worry, darling, I booked an Airbnb a few blocks away.” He nods toward Sawyer. “I expect you to be spending all your time with the hero.”

  I smile, feeling my heart expanding with joy. “You didn’t even give me a chance to worry about what I lost.” I slowly make my way around the group, hugging everybody. “Y’all are the best friends.”

  We hang out a few hours until I start to get tired. Mrs. Irene jokes I’m turning into one of them.

  “Only temporarily!” I cry, hugging her as Ramona wheels her to the car.

  She leans closer and whispers loudly, “Your aura is glowing purple. It’s time.”

  I feel my cheeks turning pink, and I give her another hug before straightening.

  Deacon shakes Sawyer’s hand. “Take care of my best client.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve got her.” I’m glad to see the two of them acting a bit friendlier.

  Ma gives me the tenth hug of the evening. Then does the same to Sawyer. “I feel better knowing you’re here.”

  I’m not sure she’d say that if she knew all the naughty things I hope he’s planning to do with me tonight.

  Noel pinches my arm, and I squeal. “Ow! Way to treat the injured.”

  “You’re going to tell me everything about this, and I mean everything.” She nods toward her brother. “When, where, how long… Why I didn’t know.”

  I give her a hug and pull her hair. “I’m not telling you everything.”

  “Break it up. Glad you’re okay, Min.” Taron leans down to kiss my cheek then slaps Sawyer on the back. “I knew you had it in you.”

  The final greetings are done, they’re all gone, and it’s just the two of us in my room full of party decorations and presents.

  I thread my finger in a cord of string lights. “Did you organize this?”

  He looks at me, and my heart swoons. It’s the first time I can say publicly this man is mine. He’s standing there in dark jeans that hug his tight ass, in a black shirt that stretches nicely across his broad chest, and he’s looking at me with so much love.

  “Actually, it was Noel, but I helped.” He grins, and that dimple pierces his cheek.

  We meet halfway, and I’m in his arms. Satisfaction floods my chest. This is exactly where I’m supposed to be, with my hero. The man I’d trust with my life.

  Reaching up, I trace my fingers along the line of his jaw. “You raced into a burning building to save me.”

  “I always will.” He catches my hand and kisses my palm, and so much warmth floods my stomach.

  I smile, threading my fingers in his hair, and his expression grows serious.

  “After Dad…” His voice tightens, and my eyes heat. “I couldn’t say I needed help. It wasn’t what leaders did. Not what heroes do.”

  I place my hand gently on his cheek, meeting his eyes with all the love I feel in my heart. “Sawyer, you love us, you’re devoted to us. You can’t have all this light inside you and darkness too.” Looking down, I do something I’ve done since we were children. I thread our fingers, pressing my palm against his and holding tight. “Light chases the darkness away. If it comes back, I’ll hold your hand and lead you to the light again. Better yet, I’ll hold you in the light. I’ll never let you walk alone.”

  Placing his thumb under my chin, he lifts my face. “This is how our story ends. You’re staying here with me, because I love you. You’re connected to me, and I’m never letting you go.”

  My lips curl into a smile, my voice sultry. “Are you always such a cave man?”

  “I thought I was your hero.” His grin is cocky-sexy. I could drown in the heat of his gaze. Leaning closer, he traces his lips along the line of jaw, whispering. “This is what happens when I let you come first.”

  “You always let me come first.” My voice is thick, heated by the path of his fingers rising lightly under my shirt, higher to cup my breasts over my bra.

  “Are you ready to come now?”

  My nipples harden, and I rise to my toes, nibbling at his lips, desperate for his kiss. “Yes, please.”

  “Sure you don’t need to rest?”

  “I’ve never had so much energy.”

  Rough hands pull my sweater over my head. My bra is gone equally fast, and he lifts me under the ass, carrying me to the bed. Covering his lips with mine, my fingers fly down the buttons of his shirt, finally ripping it over his shoulders and sending the remaining ones flying.

  A low rumble rises from his chest, and he drops me back, gazing at me with heated eyes. It’s been so long it’s like a torch against my skin. I squirm in the bed using my toes to kick off my shoes, unbuttoning my jeans as he watches, a smirk of approval on his lips.

  I love the way he looks at me. I want to make him desperate for me the way I am for him. Lifting my hips, I slide my jeans down, showing I have nothing on underneath. My legs cross, and I’m so wet as I watch him unfasten his belt, dropping to his knees.

  “Come here.” It’s somewhere between an order and a growl, and he catches my ankles, pulling me to his mouth.

  Holding my legs apart, he rises higher to kiss my stomach. I whimper and arch my back, meeting his lips, so desperate for him, so hot. His hands trace along my thighs, and two fingers pierce me, sliding inside and curling, finding the spot that makes my eyes roll back, blinding me with sensation.

  “Sawyer!” I cry out, as loud as I want.

  His mouth covers my pussy, and he pulls, licking and sucking my clit as currents snake up my thighs. I can’t take it. It’s been too long. He knows my body so well, he plays me like an instrument, every touch skilled, every stroke timed for ultimate pleasure.

  “Oh, God!” I gasp as the orgasm shakes my body. I try not to squeeze my thighs against his head. I pull on his hair, barely able to stand it. “Please, Sawyer…”

  He rises quickly, shoving his jeans aside. Rough kisses against my stomach, rough sucks on my nipples. I’m on fire, twisting in the sheets until he pins me, thrusting his cock deep in my clenching core. He works me hard and fast, holding me down, covering my mouth with his.

  Lifting my head, I chase his lips, doing my best to keep up, longing for every bit of him. Our bodies move in time. Our sounds are animal—groans and whimpers, moans and sighs. Our hands and arms are everywhere, pulling pushing, gripping and embracing.

  The closer he gets, the faster he moves, drawing me right along with him until we combust. My arms tighten around his shoulders. His body stills with a hard thrust, pulsing and pushing me higher in the bed.

  We hold each other as we shoot through the stars, riding out the electric waves of bliss, shooting through eternity together, until we come down, breathless and spent, looking at each other like we’ve reconnected pieces of ourselves wrongly separated.

  Turning our bodies in the bed, he pulls
me to his chest like always, spooning me against him, kissing the back of my neck.

  “I love you, Melinda Claire.” The sound of his voice thrills me to my curled toes. “You’re never leaving me again.”

  Laughing, I lift his hand to my lips for a kiss. “I love you Sawyer Louis. You’re never leaving me again.”

  “You’re right.” His strong arms are around me, and it’s the greatest feeling on the planet.

  We fell in love as children, holding each other through our darkest times. Now we’re here, adults who’ve been damaged and who’ve changed. We’ve found out who we were, and now we’re together knowing without a doubt, this is the life we want.

  Whatever storms come our way, he’s my anchor, and I am his. We’re in the light now, and it’s where I’ll stay forever.

  Epilogue

  Sawyer

  “The chance of a hard freeze is a hundred percent.” Ed Daniels sits in the Denny’s sipping weak coffee and looking grim. “It could do some serious damage.”

  An April freeze is the worst thing that can happen in this area. The young fruit is so delicate, we could lose our entire harvest, which not only kills our bottom line, it kills the festival. And the festival, as I’ve previously noted, draws vendors and tourists from all over the world. It’s a huge loss for the entire community.

  “Time to test out the heating system.” I stand, adjusting the cap on my head.

  Twelve years ago, I prepared for this. I watched a program where farmers installed small heaters throughout the rows to filter heat along the ground, and giant wind turbines were used to pull it up surrounding the immature fruit. We don’t have a ton of them, but we have enough to save our crop—as long as nothing goes wrong.

  “I’m willing to sleep in the rows tonight, but I’m going to need help to monitor the entire crop. To make sure the heaters don’t go out or the windmills stop turning.”