by Helen Lacey
Scott released Evie and raced toward the building, barking out instructions to Cameron to keep everyone back as he moved to scale the scaffolding as quickly as possible. When he reached the top he immediately saw the orange glow of flames through a closed window and heard boys running toward the door. They raced across the threshold in a frightened group, pushing and fighting each other to get through.
He was by the door in a second and instructed the boys to stay calm and file out one at a time. Through the doorway he could see the flames kicking into life, igniting painter’s drop sheets.
“Scott!”
Trevor’s shaky voice echoed in his ears and he grabbed the boy by the shoulders as he came through the door and hovered, clutching his computer. “Get out now,” Scott told him.
“Cody,” Trevor said loudly to be heard above the formidable rush of flames. “Cody’s stuck in there—he won’t come out.”
Once the last of the boys were through the door, Scott stepped over the threshold. “You go,” he demanded to Trevor. “I’ll get him out.” Evie’s son hesitated and Scott pushed against his chest. “Do what I tell you. Go!”
When Trevor finally turned on his heel, Scott moved into the long room. The flames were running along one wall, igniting the sheets on the floor. He covered his mouth with his forearm and headed across the floorboards. In the distance he heard sirens, and relief pitched behinds his ribs.
He saw the kid backed into the corner, clearly in shock. The flames were closing in on the boy, and Scott skidded across the floor. As he got closer, the fire changed direction, skirting the walls as it hissed and ran around in an arc, combusting a pile of old rags on the floor before it moved dangerously close to the terrified kid.
“Cody,” he shouted. “Move to your right and take a couple of big steps.”
The teenager coughed and remained where he was as Scott moved closer. The heat pushed him back momentarily and he heard the fire truck pull up outside. But he couldn’t wait for backup. The whole room would be engulfed soon. He had to get Cody out. There was no time to waste.
He darted to his left, flipping across a low line of fire that snapped at his heels. The heat smothered his skin and filled his lungs. When he reached Cody, the boy almost fell into his arms.
“Come on, kid,” he said as he hauled him over one shoulder. “Let’s go.”
* * *
Evie saw Trevor and rushed forward, oblivious of the fire brigade telling her to stay back. The fire crew worked their way up the building and helped the scared teenagers down the scaffolding.
As soon as she felt her son in her arms, Evie held on to him tightly. “You scared me, Trevor.”
“I’m okay,” he insisted. “But Cody...Cody’s still inside,” Trevor said shakily. “Scott told me to get out. He said he’d get Cody down. But he wouldn’t move. As soon as the fire started I yelled to everyone to run...but Cody...he wouldn’t listen...he wouldn’t...he just wouldn’t...”
A sob racked her son’s thin frame, and Evie hugged him close. Over his shoulder she looked up at the building. Thick smoke billowed from the top floor, and her heart thumped.
Beside her, Evie felt Callie’s terror and while she clutched Trevor with one hand, Evie laid her other palm over her stomach. The moments ticked over, every one seeming longer than the one before. And then she saw Scott, illuminated by the beam of torches from the firefighters and the bright shadow of the flames behind him. He carried Cody over his shoulder and strode along the scaffolding without missing a step. Three firefighters waited until he’d passed before heading inside the building.
He got to the ground and moved a safe distance away from the building before letting go of Cody. The paramedics were on hand and laid the boy in an awaiting stretcher. By now news of the drama had spread throughout the community and there were people everywhere. The police had now cordoned off around the building, and Evie was held back behind a tape.
Evie heard Noah mutter a relieved “Thank God,” and without thinking, she ducked underneath the tape and raced toward Scott.
He looked stunned to see her moving so fast and took a few steps to meet her near the front off the ambulance. “Evie, you shouldn’t be run—”
She clutched his shirt, hauled herself against him and kissed him on the mouth. A kiss to stamp herself as his. “You’re okay,” she breathed, and felt hot tears in her eyes as their lips parted.
He nodded, smiling. “I’m okay.”
And with that one look, Evie knew what she wanted. Because she saw...love.
“Thank you for getting Trevor out so quickly,” she said, clutching his arm. From the light beaming from inside the ambulance she got a good look at him. He had a black smudge on his face, and his T-shirt was scorched near the sleeve. “And for saving Cody.”
“It’s my—”
“Your job,” she said, cutting him off, and smiled. “Yes, I know. I’m glad you were here.”
He looked at her oddly. “You’re sure about that?”
“Positive.”
Someone called his name and he turned away for a moment. Cameron and another police officer were making their way toward them. “I need to talk to these guys,” he said, and touched her face. “Why don’t you take Trevor home and I’ll come by when I’m done?”
Evie didn’t want to let him go. “But—”
“Go,” he insisted. “I have to make a statement, and they might want to talk with Trevor later. I’ll see you at home.” He kissed her forehead and stepped back.
Home... The home she wanted to share with him as they raised their child together.
He turned away to join Cameron just as Evie said his name. He half turned back toward her. “What is it?”
And in that moment Evie gave up her heart. “I love you, Scott.”
He let out a ragged breath and stared at her, looking like a man who’d just received the most precious gift in the world. Whatever he was about to say didn’t come out because Cameron came up beside him and quickly introduced his colleague. He had business to finish and she needed to give him time to do it. And she was okay with that.
Evie gave Scott one last look before she swiveled on her heel and returned to her son.
* * *
When Scott arrived at Dunn Inn, it was close to ten o’clock. Evie had the door open before he’d pulled himself out of his rental car.
When he reached her she didn’t say a word and Scott simply took her hand and followed her up the stairs and into the big bedroom at the end of the hall. It was exactly what he expected—pure Evie—there was a soft printed cover on the bed, silky oak furniture and fresh flowers on the armoire near the window.
She shut the door behind them and walked into the middle of the room.
“It’s nice in here,” he said quietly.
“I should have invited you in here a long time ago,” she said quietly as she released his hand. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t consciously keeping it off-limits. But I’ve been alone for so long...I shut off part of myself and in here...” Her arms swept over their surroundings. “In here I could simply be me. The closed-off me who was angry at the world but was too reasonable and sensible to show it.”
She took a couple of steps and sat on the padded trunk at the end of the bed. “I had it redecorated after Gordon died. I painted the walls and hung new curtains and picked an outrageously girly bedspread. I guess I was happy in my misery, you know. And then one day you walked through that gate at the airport and smiled at me...and I knew I wasn’t as happy in my misery as I’d made out.”
Scott’s chest tightened. He loved this woman so much. “And now?”
“Now I want...I want to take the life we could have together. The life you offered me.”
He took an unsteady step toward her, wanting to fold her in his arms and hold her close. But they ne
eded to talk first, and he needed to be sure. “I have to know something, Evie. Tonight you said you loved me....” Scott swallowed the emotion clutching at his throat. “Was that really about me?” he asked.
“I don’t understand.”
“I mean that sometimes in extreme situations, when a person is pumped on adrenaline and he thinks someone he loves is in danger, the mind can make him think something even if it’s not real.” He came beside her and sat on the trunk. “Your son was in danger and this feeling you have could just be a kind of misplaced gratitude.”
He hated saying it, hated thinking it. But he had to know. Scott had seen it before—he’d seen the victims of accidents cling to their rescuer as if they were a lifeline. If she was only feeling appreciation and relief then he wanted her to tell him so.
And if it’s only gratitude, will I take it? Will it be enough?
“Of course I’m grateful,” she said, and his heart thumped inside his chest. “How could I not be?” She grabbed his hand and lifted his knuckles to her mouth, kissing him softly. “You saved my son’s life. You saved all those boys tonight.”
“It’s my job, Evie,” he said quietly, feeling the meaning in the words more than he’d ever felt them before. “Whether I do it in L.A., or here...it’s what I do.”
She clutched his hand tightly and Scott felt the connection through to his blood. “I know. I’ve always known. Tonight I realized something...and I don’t just mean because of the fire and saving those kids. I was here with your sister and Fiona and they said something to me that made me realize that perhaps I was wrong to imagine you’d be the kind of man who’d do something risky without thinking of the consequences.”
“Not intentionally, no.”
“And that’s really all I can ask of you,” she said softly. “I thought that I wanted you to stop being a firefighter and do something without risks.”
Scott’s heart settled behind his ribs. “There are no guarantees, Evie.”
“I know that, too,” she said. “I know what you do can be dangerous and there’s no way you can ever be sure you won’t get hurt...or worse. But I don’t need guarantees, Scott.”
“You did,” he reminded her.
“I was scared,” she admitted. “Scared that I’d lose you, I guess. Scared that I’d have to raise another child alone.” She touched his face. “But tonight, I didn’t see a man who took chances. I saw a man who was completely in control the whole time, who knew my son was in that building and still did what he had to do. Someone who kept people safe. And that...and that made me feel safe.”
Scott grabbed her hands and held them against his chest. “I’ll always keep you safe, Evie. You and Trevor and...” He looked at her slightly swollen belly. “And our baby. I’d protect you all with my life.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I know you would. And I love you with all my heart.”
He kissed her softly and let emotion rise between them. She grabbed on to his shoulders and clung to him, kissing him back so hotly, so lovingly, Scott knew he’d never feel as connected to another soul as he did to this incredible woman who’d given him her heart and love.
“Just one thing,” he said in between kisses. “I realized something myself tonight—I’ve been hanging on to this idea that I couldn’t have both—that it needed to be the job, or a life with someone. But I knew when I was going into that building that I wasn’t like Mike. I was like myself and I can do both, Evie. If you ever feel differently about this—if you’re ever worried or want me to stop and find another type of job to do, promise me you’ll tell me.”
“I will,” she said. “But you know what, I fell in love with you exactly as you are, exactly who you are. Young, gorgeous, fearless.” She grinned. “That’s what I thought that first day and I still think it now.”
“So you’re over your worries about the age difference?”
Evie pushed herself against him and smiled. “Ha—I figure I’ll just be thought of as the luckiest woman on the planet.” She touched his cheek. “Anyway, you wait until you’ve had months of night feeding and changing diapers—you’ll have aged ten years by the time this baby is a toddler.”
“I can’t wait,” he said honestly.
And it was true. The thought of raising a child with Evie filled him with such an overwhelming feeling of joy he could feel the power of it over his skin, through his blood, in the deep recess of his soul.
“We have to pick out names,” she suggested. “I was thinking William for a boy.”
Scott nodded. “I like that. It’s a good, strong-sounding name.”
“And Rebecca for a girl.” She kissed him again, lightly along his jaw, and whispered against his ear. “Rebecca Jones.”
Scott pulled back slightly. “Jones?”
Evie smiled. “Mmm,” she breathed against his skin.
“But you turned me—”
“I’m an idiot,” she said, and slipped to the floor in front of him. She perched herself between his knees. “Would you mind if I asked you instead?”
Mind? He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The woman he loved, the woman carrying his child was about to ask him the most important question in the world. Scott shook his head. “Not at all.”
She took a deep breath, grabbed his hands and held them against her breasts. “Scott, would you marry me?”
“Absolutely.” He kissed her, thinking it was the best moment of his life. “I love you, Evie.”
“And I love you. Always. Forever.” She ran her hands over his shoulders and across his chest, plucking at the smudgy marks on the fabric. “You’re a mess,” she said as she wiped her fingertips along his cheek. “So how about that spa bath I promised you a while back?”
Scott looked toward the beckoning ensuite bathroom. “Lead the way.”
She smiled and stood, taking his hands. “How about we go together?”
Now that was definitely the best moment in his life.
Epilogue
Evie loved Christmas. Especially this year. The big tree in the living room sparkled with colored lights and dozens of glass ornaments and there were so many gifts underneath she couldn’t stop grinning when she imagined the room come morning and how all that wrapping paper would be strewn across the floor.
“I do think this year the tree is the best it’s ever looked.”
Evie turned as Flora Manning came into the room. “Yes,” Evie agreed. “It’s all those extra lights.”
Flora raised a silvery brow. “That’s not it,” she said, and fiddled with a stray green frond. “It’s you.”
“Me?”
“You’re happy,” Flora explained. “Happier than I’ve ever seen. That’s why this big tree looks so special.”
Evie smiled. She was happy. She had everything she’d ever asked for and more—a wonderful son, an adorable baby and a husband she loved with all her heart. The tree was a bonus. And as it was their first Christmas as a complete family, Evie could barely contain her excitement. They would open some gifts tonight with her mother-in-law and the Manning sisters and tomorrow her parents were coming over to share the morning festivities with them. Later they would all go to Noah and Callie’s for a family celebration.
This time of year would always be special to her. She’d fallen in love with Scott during Christmas twelve months earlier and those memories were etched deep within her heart. They’d shared gifts around the tree and kissed beneath the mistletoe and this year would be the same. Only now, Scott was her husband and the tree and the plastic mistletoe had more meaning for her than ever before.
Once Flora left the room to find her sister, Evie spent a little more time trimming the tree and rearranging the gifts. She’d prepared her usual punch an
d fruit cake and had a tray of savories warming in the oven for later. A soft and familiar sound caught her attention and she turned around.
Her husband framed the doorway, holding their precious bundle in his arms.
“She’s supposed to be asleep,” Evie said gently, and walked across the room. Scott held their three-month-old daughter, Rebecca, against his shoulder as she pumped her chubby legs excitedly. Evie touched the baby’s soft hair. “She’ll be relentless tomorrow if she doesn’t sleep tonight.”
Scott smiled and kissed his daughter’s head. “She was awake in her crib, talking to herself. I think she said Dada again.”
Evie’s brows slanted upward. “You know she’s too young to speak, right?”
“Not my kid,” he said proudly, and cradled her head with his hand. “She’s advanced for her age.”
Evie knew there was little point insisting otherwise. “Yes, darling, of course she is.”
Scott grinned. “And she loves the Christmas tree lights,” he said, and waited while Evie flicked the switch and the tree illuminated in a kaleidoscope of flickering color. Rebecca’s blue eyes widened and she gurgled delightfully. “See?” Scott said, and smiled.
Evie watched her daughter and husband together and a surge of love rushed through her blood. He was such an incredible father to both the baby and Trevor. They’d been married for six months, and each day had been an incredible joy. Scott had joined the Bellandale Fire and Rescue Department and had settled easily into his new job.
Trevor loped through the doorway, looking very grown up at sixteen. “Are we opening presents?” he asked, and grabbed some cake.
“Soon,” Evie promised as the Manning sisters came through the door. “Once everyone is settled.”
Scott winked at her. They’d bought Trevor a fancy racing bike to go with his newfound interest in fitness and sports. The gift was hidden in the one vacant downstairs bedroom, and both she and Scott excused themselves at the same time so they could bring it into the living room.
