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)
And not a moment too soon.
I shudder to think what would’ve happened if I hadn’t been there today. Pushing that kind of thinking to the back of my mind, I make sure my ID is showing over my jacket as I make my way to the emergency department.
It’s not unusual for us to have to speak with someone after a fire or any kind of emergency, so getting Bridget’s details is a cinch.
She’s doing fine too, by the way. Went home with her Mom not long ago.
If there’s really nothing wrong with you, the hospital is pretty quick to get you home.
Amen to that. It means she’ll be in my home…Our home before she knows it.
It’s okay if she’s gone on home ahead of me too. Gives me some time to think of a reason for just turning up at her house unannounced.
And as for her Mom?
Well…I’ve gotten myself into and out of tighter jams than dealing with future in-laws.
And as much as I hate to admit it, I’m already disappointed once I see the address. It’s out in the burbs, sure. But not the side of town I’d like to see a girl like Bridget living on.
There are good streets in any neighborhood, I know. But seriously, that part of town isn’t for the faint-hearted.
I’m no snob, but when I have kids, they’re gonna know they’re safe and in a good area. And they’re gonna have a father they’ll feel proud of.
It’s a sluggish drive to get out of the city. Wish they’d just fix the damned roads when everyone’s asleep. But I’m on the expressway soon enough, the turn off to her area creeping up long before I’ve even come up with a reason for going there that I can say in front of her parents.
I’m assuming she lives with them. The way her Mom reacted at the fire, it’s easy to see how much she cares about her daughter.
And by the time I find her street, slowing and parking a few doors up, I can see from the empty driveway that I’m either at the wrong address or Bridget’s not home yet.
Or her Mom dropped her off? Just go knock, ya dummy.
I feel okay about waiting, I think.
But knocking on the door?
If she’s home all alone….
I growl at the thought. The familiar pulse of arousal in my pants, thinking about the things we could do.
But I need to know she feels the same way. I thought it was a done deal after she jumped, but maybe Bridget does like a little thrill of the chase too?
There is no time to really dwell on that, and the only way to find out is to go see her.
So plucking up my fireman’s courage, I get two-thirds up her driveway when the sound, then sight, of a familiar car approaching makes my heart swell, and my gut tighten.
Nerves, but the good kind. The best kind.
Until I see it’s just one person driving, no passenger.
It’s her Mom.
But there’s no Bridget.
I feel my cheeks blowing out air as if feeling deflated wasn’t bad enough. My lungs literally empty themselves.
If she’s not with her Mom, then where the fuck is she?
“Can I help you?” Bridget’s Mom calls out. Being sensible when she sees a guy my size approaching her front door.
I feel my mouth widen into a smile. That friendly, professional smile that starts as a way to stop screaming when you’re a rookie. But when you’ve done this as long as I have, it’s naturally just easier to smile and be nice to people.
“Uh, hi!” I call back, fingering the lanyard and holding up my ID.
“I’m Ash?” I hear myself saying, sounding unsure of who I even am anymore.
Bridget’s Mom isn’t budging as I take just a few steps closer.
“Bridget’s mine...,” I stammer, still smiling as I try to make sense.
Smiling like a lunatic. What the fuck is wrong with you, Ash?
“…I mean…haha…,” I chuckle, looking at my feet for a moment. “I meant to say I helped Bridget during the emergency today. I’m with the fire department.”
It takes a second or two for my words to sink in, but peering at me for a moment longer, and then deciding I’m the real deal, Bridget’s Mom winds her window down.
“Oh. Ummm, well. Bridget’s not here right now, and I was just…,” she starts to say, looking curious now as to why I’d be at her house.
A fair call.
“Where is she?” I ask, cutting her off and making her look more suspicious than curious.
“Excuse me?” she retorts, giving me a shocked look but also the eyes of a woman who’s not to be taken lightly.
“I mean…Ma’am. We have some paperwork we need to be filled out, and I just need a little time with Bridget to go over a few things. Things we couldn’t do at the fire scene,” I explain.