Rekindle The Flames (The Men of CLE-FD Book 4)

by Toye Lawson Brown

  “Well, I promised your father I wouldn’t stay and tire you out. Get well soon, Megan. Maybe I’ll stop by again before your release from the hospital.”

  She blinked up at him, surprised to hear him use her name. Then he released a smile, showing off even teeth. “You do a lot of these rescue missions? You seem very at ease, considering what you must see.”

  “I have a few years under my belt, but when duty calls I don’t see the scars but the person that needs my help.”

  Her eyelids were too heavy to keep open. “Please visit me again, Ryan.” She drifted off to sleep before he could answer.

  “Good going, Ryan. I have faith she’ll recover her memory sooner than the doctors think.”

  “She has a long way to go. Man, I need a second job to cover her medical cost alone.”

  “Son, I know the hospital bills will be a burden for you and Megan. I’ve taken responsibility for Megan’s medical costs.”

  “No, I can’t have you do that, Mr. Jones. Megan is my wife and my responsibility.”

  “But she’s my daughter. It’s a done deal, Ryan. I want you kids to have a clean slate with no worries but getting your marriage on track and giving me a couple of grandkids.”

  “I envy Megan, Mr. Jones. My father spent his nights busy bedding his freak of the week. When he was around he never once said he was proud of me or any of his kids.”

  “I’m proud of you, Ryan. You rose above the scars and made a man of yourself and one to be respected. My daughter is very blessed to have you.”

  He shook his head. “That is if she remembers anything about me. I’m not going to give up. I will pursue Megan and make her fall in love with me again.”

  “I’m in your corner. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.”

  *****

  Three days after the accident Megan was able to get out of bed to take short walks to regain her strength. She held onto her father’s arm as he helped her to bed and hung her IV bags on the pole. “Thanks, Dad. I’m so winded that I feel weak.”

  He pulled the sheet over her legs and tucked her in. “Your lung is still healing. However, you did walk the whole distance of the hallway and back without me fetching a wheelchair. You pushing your IV pole gave you a workout.”

  Megan cracked a small smile. “I’m paying for it.” She took a sip of water and asked. “When is Mom coming home? Not to say you aren’t taking care of me, but I miss her. I know Grandma isn’t doing well, but I need her too.”

  “You’re hurting my feeling, Megan,” he joked. “She will be home soon. I have news that Connor is on his way to see you.”

  “Connor is leaving school to come see me? Wow, I must be hurt for him to miss his classes.”

  He sat on the side of the bed. “Megan, do you know what year this is?”

  She pursed her lips and hissed. “Yeah, I know what year it is. It’s, it’s...” Her mind drew a blank. “It’s 2011.” She paused and looked at him. “Or is it 2012?”

  James shook his head and handed her his cell phone. “Megan, the year is 2015 and the month is July. Honey, the car accident you were in caused you to lose some of your memory.”

  She took the phone, and the big bold letters of the date stared back at her. Could it be true? Had she lost bits and pieces of her life? “How come I remember you and Mom and Connor? I know my friends, what school I’m going to.”

  “Megan, what you have is called post-traumatic amnesia. The doctor explained that anything before the accident you could recall and anything recent or after the accident will be lost, temporarily.”

  She started to panic. “How long will it take me to get it back? Dad, will I ever get my memory back?”

  “Yes, it will come back, eventually. It will take time, Megan. Little things that you see, hear or even smell could trigger your memory to snap back.”

  Tears stung her eyes. This wasn’t real. It had to be a dream. Only dreams didn’t hurt, and she was hurting. Her throat stilled burned from whatever they did to her during surgery. She looked at her father as he wiped her tears away. “Dad, tell me what I’m missing? How did my accident really happen?”

  “Baby, concentrate on getting better. The accident was only three days ago, and you’re still weak. Too weak to have any more stress put on you.”

  Suddenly too exhausted to breathe, she laid her head back on the pillow and closed her eyes. She felt her casted arm being placed on a pillow and her father’s hand gently brush her hair away from her face. “Dad, I have to know if anyone died in the car accident. If it was my fault, I have to know.”

  “No one died, and you were a passenger in the car; not the driver.”

  “That’s a relief. I’m going to take a nap. Will you be here when I wake up?”

  “Go to sleep, Megan. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Ryan entered the breakroom of the firehouse. “What are you doing here?” Jon asked.

  “I’m on my way to the hospital, but I need to talk to you first. Do you have a minute?” Ryan asked.

  “Sure. We can use my quarters.”

  The other guys looked at him, and he said, “Guys, I’m not leaving you out because you all have shown me support but…”

  Nick raised his hand. “Hey, we all have that one person we lean on, Ryan. We ain’t sweatin’ over it. Go handle your business and know we’re here for you too.”

  “Thanks guys. When Megan gets home, the party is at my house. You all bring the food and beer,” he joked.

  Jon closed the door for privacy. “What’s up? Is Megan doing okay?”

  Ryan nodded. “She’s doing better than the doctors expected. They might discharge her next week if she continues to progress the way she is.”

  “That’s great, man. So what’s the problem?”

  “The problem is the doctors are keeping me posted on her recovery, but I haven’t seen her in three days. This shit is hard. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to do this.”

  “Still nothing is clicking in her memory? Gabby said this morning that she would be giving Megan a respiratory treatment today. Maybe that will trigger something in her.”

  “Nothing has come back to her yet. I’m dropping off photo albums to the psychologist for her session with him later today. I had to remove any pictures of me.”

  Jon crossed his arms over his chest. “That makes no sense since she remembers her childhood but not you.”

  “I don’t get it either,” Ryan said, “but they are the experts, right?”

  “That’s what they claim. How are you feeling, otherwise? When can you come back to work?”

  “I’ll be back for the next shift. I won’t take any leave until Megan is released from the hospital. I need to be at home to take care of her.”

  “Dude, she isn’t going to stay in the same house with you. She doesn’t remember. How is that going to work?”

  Ryan gritted his teeth. “Dammit! I didn’t plan for that. I’ll figure out something because she is not going home with Iona. That witch will not get a second chance to screw up my marriage.”

  “Mr. Jones won’t let that happen.” Jon laughed. “You know this damn firehouse may house super firefighters, but damn we got a lot of drama. There has not been one man to join lately that doesn’t have some baggage involving women.”

  Ryan’s lips curled into an unwanted grin. “But it always ends well, doesn’t it?”

  Jon shrugged his shoulders. “We have to wait and see how yours ends to determine that.”

  “Aha, I love pressure. I gotta go. I’ll see you on next shift.” Ryan slapped Jon on the shoulder and left.

  Ryan walked into Megan’s hospital room and found her with Gabrielle. She was finishing Megan’s breathing treatment. He looked at Megan, her face was flushed, and she seemed weak and exhausted.

  “Hey, am I interrupting.” It took everything in him not to rush to Megan’s side and hold her. Every protective instinct made him want to shield h
er from the pain and suffering and take it for himself. She looked weaker than the last time he’d seen her and smaller. There wasn’t much of her left to waste away.

  Gabrielle turned around. “Hello, Ryan. I’m finished. Give her second to catch her breath. She’s a little winded so don’t have her talk too much.”

  “How do you know, Ryan?” Megan asked hiccupping.

  Gabrielle stammered. “Umm, I know a lot of firefighters. I’m married to one.”

  “Gabby’s husband and I work at the same firehouse, too,” Ryan interjected. “Besides, the breathing treatment kicking your butt, how are you feeling?”

  “Physically, I’m healing. Mentally, I’m…eh,” Megan answered. “I’ve had enough of doctors pricking and poking at me. I’m ready to go home and sleep in my bed.”

  Gabrielle finished packing her cart and said to both of them. “I have another patient to treat.” She kissed Ryan on the cheek and whispered. “Be strong; it’ll be over soon.”

  Megan nestled her head on the pillow and arched her brow. “You two are chummy or, is that the way all firefighters wives greet you?”

  Ryan noticed a hint of jealousy in Megan’s voice or he might have been imagining it. Either way, Gabrielle’s kiss struck a nerve with her. “We are a friendly and close-knit group of people. A way a family should be. Speaking of family, where is your father?”

  She shrugged. “I sent him home to rest and get a decent meal to eat. He’s been here three days straight sleeping in a chair.”

  “He cares about you.” Ryan watched her move on the bed for a comfortable position. With her arm in a sling, she couldn’t pull her body upright in the bed. “Do you want help sitting up?”

  “Yes, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”

  “No trouble at all.” He went to the side of the bed that was clear of machines and IV tubing. He placed his arms under her legs to lift her. “On the count of three take a deep breath. One…two…three.” Megan was light as a feather as he moved her up gently on the bed. He heard a slight wince escape her lips. “Are you okay?” She looked up and him, and his heart melted.

  “I’m fine. Everything hurts no matter which way I move. Thank you for helping me. So, did you come to visit me or are you visiting someone else in the hospital?”

  Ryan fixed the sheets around her body tucking her in. “I came to see you. I told you I’d be back to visit. You didn’t forget, did you?”

  She released a deep exhausted sigh. “No, I didn’t forget that. Apparently, I have forgotten a lot of other stuff that has happened in my life.”

  Clearing his throat, he tried to keep the surprise out of his voice and off his face and asked. “What do you mean?”

  “I’m living in the past, Ryan. Until today, I didn’t know what year it was or that I was 25-years old. That must have been one hell of a knock upside my head I took in that accident.”

  He rocked back and forth on his heels, choosing his response carefully. “Megan, don’t fret. I’m sure your parents will fill in any blanks you have.”

  She giggled and gave him a sheepish smile. “It sounds so different when you say my name than when anyone else says it.”

  “How so?”

  “I don’t know. I think along with my amnesia, I might be a little crazy. But the way you say my name, sounds sexy. I know I’m bad.”

  Ryan felt a stir in his body. If he could get Megan to think about him more in a sensual way, it could trigger her memory of him again. He played along with her. “Why is that bad, Megan?”

  “It’s silly and embarrassing. I’m broken in a million pieces, and I’m flirting with you like a teenager; that, I thought I was before my father set the record straight.”

  He folded his arms across his wide chest. “I think it’s healthy for you. You aren’t dwelling on your aches and pains but on something more pleasant and enjoyable. I never did ask if you have a boyfriend or can you remember that?”

  Megan rolled her eyes. “I had a boyfriend in college. My father hasn’t mentioned Emin and he isn’t here.” She looked at her hands. “I see I don’t have on any rings so apparently I’m not married either.”

  The mention of Emin’s name struck a sour chord that traveled to the center of his core. She remembered that scumbag but not him. “You should probably ask about that.” He wanted to choke on those words.

  “If I was involved with Emin, he’d be here. He stuck to me like flies to flypaper. I couldn’t peel him away without ripping off my skin. Anyhow, what about you…oh wait, I see a wedding ring. God, I’m really embarrassed now.”

  He twisted the ring on his finger. “No, no, I’m not married. The ring belonged to my father. He left it to me when he died. I wear it as a good luck charm.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss, Ryan. But, you might want to put that ring around your neck. It could give women the wrong impression. When I was in nursing school, we had doctors…”

  Megan stopped mid-sentence and looked out the window. Ryan turned his head to see what caught her attention. There was nothing outside but bright sunshine and clear blue cloudless sky. Since she was on the fifth floor, she couldn’t see any activity going on down below. He could only assume her memory was firing a flashback and it stunned her.

  “Megan?” Her wild hair was spilled across the pillow. Her brown eyes that were vibrant minutes ago dulled in confusion. He wanted to tell her what was going on but promised the doctors he wouldn’t.

  “Um, Ryan, I appreciate you taking time out of your day to visit me but I’m getting tired.”

  “Yeah, sure. I should be going; I have a lot of yard work to do before my next shift. Would it be okay if I gave you a hug?” He wanted to leave his imprint on her. To make her think about him. That’s why he made sure to wear the cologne she had bought for him for his birthday.

  She seemed to balk but said, “That’s an odd request, but I do owe you a hug for saving my life.”

  Ryan leaned his large frame over the bed to hug her. He made sure not to squeeze too hard. The feel of her skin on his cheek felt good to him. The last time she was in his arms they made love all day and into the night stopping only to refuel with food and water. He nuzzled her hair, missing the scent of her shampoo. As he pulled away, he let his lips brush against her cheek in a sly kiss.

  “Take care, Megan. I’ll try to visit again.”

  Their eyes met as he stood up. Megan’s lips were slightly parted the tip of her tongue moistening them. Now that he had opened the floodgates, he had to be patient and wait for her to swim to him. A love as strong as theirs would prevail. He had to believe that.

  He broke their gaze and reached for the tiny pencil and pad on the table. He never understood why hospitals didn’t supply full-size pencils for patients to use. It was as if they sharpened the pencils and recycled them until there was absolutely nothing left of them.

  Writing down his cell number he pressed the paper into her hand. “If you need anything, just call me. I mean anything, Megan.”

  “Okay,” she said folding the paper in her hand.

  Ryan felt a pep in his step as he walked down the hall. He saw Dr. Arnett standing at the nurses’ station and waved glad things were finally looking up.

  *****

  Ryan pulled into the driveway of his house. He got out of the car and saw his brother walking up the drive. “Eddie, what’s up?” He asked bumping fists with him.

  “We got a problem brewing.”

  “Oh shit! What now?”

  “That Emin dude is back in town. I swear I was gonna go off him, but I contained myself.”

  Ryan froze with annoyance with his brother’s news but shook it off to ask. “How the hell did this happen, Eddie? You said he was gone for good.”

  “Look, I don’t know. He’s back, but I’m keeping tabs on him. So far, he’s only been to visit Megan’s mother.”

  “Fuck! He spewed. “They are plotting again. Megan is in a vulnerable state and Iona is gonna take advantage of that. I have to stop he
r before she destroys Megan again.”

  “Well, wait a sec, little brother. She did take money from him and didn’t deliver the goods. He could be here looking to recover his investment that went sour.”

  “That’s a possibility. I have to find out if that is the reason he would risk his life to come here.”

  “$3,000,000 ain’t nothing to sneeze at, Ryan. He is looking to collect that money before his parents drill him a new asshole.”

  Ryan nodded. “Sucks to be Iona. Hey, you want to come in for a beer?”

  “Hell yeah, it’s hot out today. Plus we can plot a strategy inside. You have nosy neighbors,” Eddie said motioning his head in the direction of Lolita’s house.

  Ryan caught sight of a shadow behind the curtains at the window. It still bothered him what he almost did with her. “I’m not worried about her.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Megan finally recovered enough to be moved from ICU to a private room. She was glad to have a television to watch and to see other patients walking around without the assistance of aides. It was hard for her to hear the cries of sorrow at the loss of loved ones.

  Flipping through the channels, she began to remember favorite programs she liked to watch. But, what stuck with her lately was the hug Ryan had given her. The smell of his cologne and the secure feel of his arms around her lingered far longer than she expected. If he was the same man from the park, why hadn’t she realized he was a firefighter? Oh well, it didn’t matter what he did for a living. She finally got her chance to meet him and what she had seen so far of him, she liked and a lot.

  A light tap on the door drew her from the twilight and back to reality. “Come in.” She hoped it was the kitchen delivering her food. She was hungry after a diet of clear broth and Jell-O for the last couple of days. Two women entered. Megan recognized Gabrielle but not the other woman.

  The tall, dark-skinned woman solemnly strolled over to her. “How are you feeling, Megan?”

  Megan turned off the television and said, “Besides hunger attacking my backbone, I’m getting better. Excuse me if I don’t call you by name, but I’m assuming we know each other.”