Falling for Mr. Right: Still the One ; His Proposal, Their Forever

by Michelle Major

  He jumped out of the truck and headed for the shelter. Obviously, his command only applied to her. Her fingers trembled as she pulled up Steph’s number.

  After Steph promised to call the other vets and staff, Lainey stepped out of the truck. The air was hot, thick with smoke and tiny ribbons of ash. She walked a few paces in a daze as firefighters ran from the building, cages or animals cradled in their arms.

  She saw Ethan near one of the trucks, clearly arguing with Sam Callahan, Brevia’s new police chief. He threw up his hands then turned away toward a firefighter holding the leash of the golden retriever she’d photographed earlier.

  The gravity of the situation hit her. She was watching her mother’s dream—her father’s legacy—literally go up in smoke.

  “No!” she screamed, although no one heard her over the roar of water gushing from the hoses.

  She ran forward, scooping a trembling tabby cat out of the arms of a firefighter.

  Ethan was at her side in an instant. “I told you to stay back,” he yelled over the noise. “It’s too dangerous.”

  She shook her head, her eyes filling with tears, both from the heavy smoke and pure adrenaline. “We have to help get the animals out.”

  His mouth pressed into a thin frown, but he nodded. “The fire’s in back. We have empty kennels in the clinic and barn. Put the cages in my office.”

  Without a word, she turned and ran toward the clinic. Back and forth she raced, her chest burning from the smoke and heat. She’d come to know many of the shelter animals and whispered words of comfort between coughing fits.

  Soon Steph and one of the other vets arrived, setting up a triage unit in the barn’s tack room.

  As she moved across the property, a tendril of dread crept up her spine, as if she were forgetting something. She walked into the barn and looked around wildly.

  Steph glanced up from where she was cleaning a burn on the leg of a black Lab. “You look like you saw a ghost.”

  Lainey whipped around and tore back across the lawn toward the shelter. The fire was finally under control, although small towers of flame still rose into the sky at the far end of the building.

  Ethan walked toward her, arms outstretched. “The kennels are empty. They’re all out.”

  “Pita,” Lainey gasped. “Have you seen Pita and the puppy?”

  Ethan glanced to either side. “I’m sure she’s here. She wasn’t locked up. Probably got spooked and took off into the woods. We’ll look for her after—”

  “No!” Lainey cut him off. “You don’t understand. Chip—the puppy—was shut in my mom’s office. I brought him in because Pita spent all day outside his cage in the main kennel. I moved his bed from the studio to the office before we went to dinner. She would’ve never left him.”

  Ethan looked over his shoulder at the smoldering building, smoke billowing around it like a blanket. “Vera’s office was near the back of the shelter.”

  He used the past tense. The back of the building looked like a mass of charred kindling. A half dozen firefighters clustered around, still spraying small areas of flames.

  She sucked in a shallow breath. “No,” she repeated.

  “Lainey.” Ethan reached for her but she ran full speed toward the building. He caught her against his solid chest. When she fought, he wrapped his arms tight around her.

  “Let me go. I need to find her. She’s still in there.”

  “If she’s...” His voice was rough against her ear. “Nothing could survive that.”

  “No!” She flailed her arms, but he pinned them against her sides. She couldn’t bring herself to imagine Pita in the office as the walls burned around her. Rage and guilt filled her at the thought of the terror the dog must have felt.

  “I can’t lose her like this. Please, Ethan,” she begged, not sure what she was asking. “Please.”

  He set her away from him, and her shaking legs were forced to hold her up. “Stay here,” he commanded. “I mean it, Lainey.”

  She wiped the back of her arm across her face. “What are you going to do?”

  He didn’t answer, just stalked to the shelter’s front entrance. At least where the door had been before the fire crew bashed it in to get to the animals.

  She saw Sam grab Ethan’s arm as he got closer. Ethan said something she couldn’t hear, pointing at the shelter then glancing back at her. The two men talked for a moment before Sam took a flashlight from one of the other officers standing nearby. Sam nodded at the young deputy then followed Ethan into the building.

  Lainey felt an arm curl around her shoulder.

  “Steph called me,” Julia said softly. “I got a hold of the hospital and told them not to let Mom know. I’m so sorry.”

  Lainey’s eyes never left the gaping hole where Ethan had disappeared.

  “How are you holding up?” Julia tried to draw her away. “Where’s Ethan?”

  Lainey pointed toward the remains of the shelter. “Pita’s still in there. He went after her.”

  Julia went still. “He couldn’t have. That part of the building is about to come down.”

  As if on cue, a terrible cracking reverberated through the night, and the back of the shelter caved in on itself.

  “Ethan!” Lainey screamed and twisted out of Julia’s grasp. Her lungs burned from the smoke and from trying to gulp in air. One of the firefighters grabbed her as she ran past. She fought against him, struggling with all her strength.

  What had she done? Ethan would have never gone into the shelter if not for her pleas.

  “Let me go,” she screeched. She kicked and scratched at him, anything she could do to wrestle free.

  She saw a shadow out of the corner of her eyes. The firefighter released her and she stumbled forward, landing on one knee, her eyes riveted to the front of the shelter.

  From the smoke a figure emerged. Ethan staggered out of the building, cradling Pita in his arms. Two firefighters ran to him. One tried to take Pita, but Ethan didn’t let go. Sam Callahan came out a moment later, Chip tucked under one arm. Ethan’s gaze crashed into hers.

  By the time she got close, a crowd of firefighters and emergency workers surrounded him. Lainey pushed people out of the way and threw her arms around his neck. He held Pita but leaned in close.

  “Thank God,” she whispered and pressed her mouth against his. She didn’t care who saw, didn’t think about anything except that he was safe.

  She felt Pita shift and looked down. The dog’s normally fluffy fur was matted and damp. Patches of red skin showed where fur had burned away.

  “My sweet girl.” Lainey smoothed debris off the dog’s head. “Is she hurt?”

  “I don’t think so, but I’m worried about smoke inhalation.” Ethan bent his head on a round of choking coughs.

  “Give her to me,” Lainey told him. “You need to be checked by the EMTs.”

  “I’m fine. Just need water.” He coughed again. Lainey knew he’d have to be on his deathbed before he let go of the dog.

  “Come on.” She took his arm. “Sam, can you bring the puppy?”

  “I’ve got her.” Julia answered. She stood next to the police chief, her hand on his back as she cradled Chip to her chest.

  Harlan Knox, the fire chief, stepped in front of them as they headed for the clinic. “Next time, Ethan, leave the rescuing to us.”

  “Will do, Chief.”

  They walked arm in arm. “Since when did you become such a damn hero?” Lainey asked, her voice thick with emotion.

  “Since you needed one,” he answered without breaking stride.

  She lost her footing for a moment before righting herself. “Is she really okay?” Lainey opened the side door. “She’s so still.”

  Ethan maneuvered Pita onto the examination table in the back room. The dog tried to lift her head, but the effort seemed too much
for her. “It’s the smoke that’s her problem. The whole place was one black cloud.”

  A small sob broke from Lainey’s lips.

  He met her gaze, his eyes serious. “I will take care of her.”

  “I know.”

  Julia came into the room at that moment, trailed by Steph and the young vet, Paul Thie.

  “This puppy is shaking so hard I can hear his teeth rattling.”

  “Yours would, too, if you’d just been trapped in a burning building.” Steph reached for Chip but the little dog clung to Julia for dear life.

  “Are you ready to be a dog mom, too?” Steph asked. “He’s definitely attached to you.”

  “I think I’ll have my hands full,” Julia answered but snuggled Chip closer before pulling him off and handing him to Steph.

  Lainey saw Ethan glance at Julia, a small smile curving one side of his mouth. She swallowed hard.

  “I’m going to check in with Harlan,” she said, her throat raw.

  “I’ll come with you.” Julia turned for the door.

  They found the fire chief and Sam huddled together near Sam’s police cruiser.

  Harlan straightened as the two women walked closer. “Where’s Ethan?”

  “Taking care of my...of the dog he brought out of the building. What’s going on?”

  Harlan glanced between Lainey and Julia. “I know what this place means to your mother. I’m sorry, girls.”

  Lainey nodded, but she could tell there was something he wasn’t saying. “Do you know how the fire started?”

  Harlan shook his head. “We’re trying to figure it out—should know more by morning. Are the animals settled?”

  “Almost,” Julia answered. “Luckily, none of them were seriously injured.”

  “It’s a good thing your mama had that sprinkler system installed. Tell Ethan I’ll come by in the morning.” Harlan rubbed his forehead as he surveyed the property. “If he has another place to sleep tonight, that would be good.”

  “He can stay with me,” Lainey said then blushed as she felt three pair of eyes on her. “In the spare bedroom at Vera’s.” She offered Sam a smile. “Thank you for your help with the puppy.”

  He nodded. “My pleasure.” His gaze strayed to Julia. “Let me know if there’s anything else.”

  Lainey and Julia started back toward the clinic. “I think Harlan knows more than he’s letting on.” Lainey pushed her hair out of her face.

  “Don’t go looking for trouble,” Julia told her with a level gaze. “It will find you all on its own.”

  Ethan and Steph were still bent over Pita while the puppy watched intently from his bed in one of the smaller kennels.

  “Chip is okay, then?”

  Ethan looked up. “When we found them, Pita was lying on top of the puppy, shielding him from most of the debris and heat.”

  Lainey bent her head close to Pita’s face. “You are such a good girl,” she whispered. Pita licked at Lainey’s tearstained cheek. “He’s your baby and you are the best mother.”

  Emotion threatened to overtake her. She straightened, praying she could hold it together.

  Julia cleared her throat. “I’m going to check on everyone in the barn and then head home. Lainey, I’ll see Mom in the morning.”

  “I don’t want her to know until we find out how bad it really is.”

  Julia nodded. “I’ll do my best.”

  “I’ll walk out with you.” Steph turned to Ethan. “Unless you want me to stay.”

  He shook his head. “Go home now. Paul and one of the techs said they’d stay overnight. We couldn’t have done it without you, Steph.”

  Steph gave Ethan a quick hug. Lainey saw him wince, but before she could say anything, Steph’s arms wrapped around her. “We’ll fix this,” her friend whispered. “We can make it right again.”

  Julia started for the door. “Get some rest tonight, you two.”

  “Thanks, Juls,” Ethan answered. “You, too, Steph. For everything.”

  Lainey rounded on Ethan as soon as they were alone. “You’re hurt.”

  He shrugged. “A few scratches, a couple burns. Nothing major.”

  “You should have let the EMTs take a look.”

  “I’m fine. I’ll finish here, check on the other animals before I go.”

  She wanted to argue but didn’t. He looked exhausted, but she knew he wasn’t going to slow down now.

  “I’ll be fine at the lake house.” He kept his attention focused on Pita. “I don’t have to come to your place.”

  She didn’t hesitate. “I want you to.”

  He met her gaze. “Thank you.”

  “I should be thanking you.” One side of her mouth curved up. “Again.”

  The puppy whined. Pita tried to stand but Ethan held her steady. “He’s okay, Pita.”

  “Can we take her with us?”

  “I think she’ll be happier here.” Ethan picked Pita up off the table. The dog shook her head and stretched the leg Ethan had bandaged. She limped over to the kennel with Chip and pushed against the metal gate. “Paul can give her more oxygen if she needs it.”

  Lainey bent and patted the dog’s fur, nuzzling her face into Pita’s neck. “You want to be with your baby, don’t you?”

  Lainey wiped at her wet cheeks and ruffled Pita’s fur. Her heart clenched with unfamiliar emotions, emotions she imagined a mother could feel putting her young child on the school bus for the first time or watching years later as that grown child left for college.

  “Go on, Pita. Stay with him.” She gave a self-deprecating laugh. “He needs you more than I do.”

  Pita watched her a moment longer then stepped slowly into the kennel. She turned around several times and sank to the floor, her bandaged paw stuck out in front of her. Chip scrambled over her back, tumbling to the front of the cage. Pita barked softly and the puppy waddled back, curling into a ball at her side.

  Lainey closed the door to the cage and took several deep breaths before standing. “Maybe we can find a home for them together,” she said casually.

  When Ethan didn’t answer, she glanced over. He stared at her, hands on his hips.

  “What?” She slammed shut a cabinet door. “She needs a real family, people who will take care of her.” A tremor snaked through her body. “Not let her get stuck in a burning building,” she muttered.

  “It wasn’t your fault.” Ethan’s arms wrapped around her waist. “She needs you,” he whispered into her hair. “Just like I do.”

  She knew she should pull away. Like the fire had engulfed the shelter, her emotions were stripping away the careful defenses she’d built around her heart, burning down her walls until she was left exposed and vulnerable. Instead, she buried her head against Ethan’s neck. “I was so scared,” she said, her voice raw. “For you, for Pita—of losing you both.”

  “I’m here.” He smoothed his hands along her back. “I’ve always been here.”

  The clinic door banged open and Harlan’s voice rang out in the quiet. “Ethan?”

  “In the back.” Ethan dropped a quick kiss on Lainey’s forehead.

  She sagged against the desk as Harlan walked into the room. “We’ve done all we can tonight.” He rubbed his thick fingers along his neck. “I’ll be here first thing tomorrow. Sam, too.”

  Lainey’s head snapped up. “Why will Sam be back? Do you suspect arson?”

  Ethan put his hand on her arm. “We’ll talk in the morning. Thanks for everything you did tonight.”

  She nodded. “Yes, thank you.”

  Harlan turned for the door. “Night y’all.”

  When it clicked shut, Lainey glanced at Ethan. “Why did you stop me?”

  He trailed his hand down her arm and laced their fingers together. “It’s almost midnight. Everyone is exhausted. We’ll have time to
piece it together in the morning.”

  “You’re right, but I don’t understand how this happened.”

  He tugged her toward the hallway, flipping the lights off as he went. “Say it again.” He led her out into the darkness.

  “Say what?” The smell of smoke still filled the air, burning her eyes as they walked to his truck.

  “That I’m right.”

  She grinned, amazed he could make her smile even after the night they’d had. “If you want, we can take my car. I’ll come back in the morning, too.”

  He squeezed her hand before letting go. “Let me grab a change of clothes,” he said and moved toward the trailer.

  For a moment Lainey wondered if she was doing the right thing but pushed her doubts aside. After what they’d just been through, tonight she was following her heart. No matter what.

  Chapter 13

  Ethan stepped into the stream of hot water and plunged his head under the spray. Dirt and grime slipped away, but nothing could wash off the outright terror of watching the shelter he’d helped build burn before his eyes.

  The door to the bathroom opened and he pulled his head out of the water.

  “Ethan? Is it okay if I wait in here?” Lainey’s voice was hesitant. “The house feels too quiet.”

  “Sure.” He opened the shower door just an inch. She’d changed into a pair of pink-and-yellow polka-dot boxers and matching sleeveless pajama shirt.

  “There’s room in here for two,” he said, then cursed himself. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her off.

  To his surprise, she answered with a small, “Okay.”

  His eyes widened.

  “I keep thinking of you and Pita, of the noise from the animals trapped in the building. I changed clothes, brushed my hair. The smoke smell is worse than before.”

  Ethan wiped his face clear of water and looked at her more closely. Her shoulders shook in an obvious attempt to control her emotions.

  “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” She tried to laugh but it came out as a moan. She bent forward. “I can’t...stop...crying,” she said between sobs.

  He threw wide the shower door and hauled her in, pressing her head into his neck. His back took the brunt of the shower spray to protect her from the streaming water. He whispered words of comfort against the top of her head, using a strength he didn’t know he possessed to assure her that everything would be okay.