Page 39 of Rescued Dreams (Last Chance Fire and Rescue #8)

THIRTY-EIGHT

R idge blinked and stirred awake, very much aware of the tightness in his chest. Three broken ribs, thanks to the bullet that had hit his vest and the tumble down the stairs. That was going to take some time to heal.

He tried not to move too much. Before he opened his eyes, he registered the bustle of the ER. He hadn’t been admitted, but he had been given meds that were apparently his Kryptonite. He’d passed out under their influence and slept…he didn’t know how long.

He blinked and the bay came into focus. Curtains on three sides. Only one person in the room with its low light. The usual brightness had been turned down to simulate night for the patients still here, and the staff were quieter than normal.

Amelia sat in the chair by his hospital bed, her head back against the seat and her eyes closed.

She was here.

He shifted so he was lying facing her, so he could take her in.

Hopefully not in a way that she thought was creepy.

Fact was, Amelia Patterson was the most amazing woman he’d ever known.

She’d survived what would have destroyed a lot of people.

She had left a horrible situation and saved herself so that she could fight another day.

Had all the conditioning she’d done over the years she’d been back in Last Chance County been not just about the job of a fire lieutenant but also about the belief that one day Nicholas would come back into her life?

She’d withstood his plans when he took her from the fire truck.

He hadn’t won. Now he was in jail, and he wasn’t getting out.

Right now, it was Ridge who needed to be reassured that the situation really was over.

He turned the other way and found his cell phone on the nightstand. Multiple texts from the twins, updating him on everything since they’d been released, because they might’ve been scared, but they hadn’t suffered injury.

More texts from Kane, updating him that they were all at the town house, safe.

He sent a quick reply, able to move long enough to do that before he collapsed back to the bed.

“I’m not sure you’re supposed to move.”

Ridge’s phone clattered onto the nightstand, and he found Amelia watching him, probably the same way he’d been watching her.

Her cheeks pinked.

“They gave you a clean bill of health?”

She nodded, very slightly, and touched the side of her head. “I’ll be out of work at least a week. But that’s time I can use to study for the lieutenant’s exam.”

“Think I’ll be out longer.”

Amelia shrugged.

“I’m glad you stayed.”

“I didn’t really want to go back to the cabin after everything.” She shivered. “And your house is a bit crowded right now.”

He smiled. Probably not the entire reason she’d hung around. He lifted his fingers and motioned her over, even though it made the needle in the inside of his elbow pull.

Amelia got up and came over, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Are you actually okay, or are you just pretending?”

“Whatever they gave me that’s making me feel like I could leap a tall building right now makes me think I’m okay.”

Amelia chuckled. “Okay, Superman.”

“Don’t you forget it.”

“Pretty sure I already knew.” She held on to his hand. “You came to find me. And the twins.”

“I’d have been there if it was only you. I was looking for you when the call came into the police department. Going crazy not knowing where you were or what was happening to you.” It was enough to make his breath catch in his throat. “I’m glad you’re all right.”

“Because you came to save me.” She leaned in and touched her lips to his.

Ridge wanted her to linger for more time, but she pulled back and said, “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me.” He shook his head.

“I want to. I get to say thank you if I want.”

He pressed his lips together, then lifted their hands and kissed the back of hers. “You’re welcome.”

“I prayed.” She ducked her head for a second. “In the heat of the moment, thinking Cherry and I were going to die. Thinking the twins were going to be hurt or…” Her breath caught. “I prayed for help. And you came.”

“With Kane and Maria.”

She nodded. “You’re the one I saw. In the house, looking for me. You were the one who tried to save me.”

“Sorry I didn’t manage to get you out of that noose.” Ridge couldn’t get the image out of his head. He had a new set of nightmares to contend with now, waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. The twins would as well, while they worked through what had happened and healed.

“Nicholas is the one to blame. You did what you could.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe that Cherry woman was in on it.”

“There’s a lot for the police to unpack. Like how Nicholas knew to contact Elam.”

Amelia said, “He did a deep dive into my background and found more than he bargained for.” She gave him a slight smile. “Jess came over and filled me in. She said Nicholas is talking, and they can’t get him to shut up now.”

Ridge shook his head. Evidently he thought telling them everything was in his best interest—or he was gloating.

“He realized he could get revenge and a payout, so he staged it all. Set Elam up with the robbery so that while everyone was focused on that, he’d be able to wire the explosive to the fire truck.”

“Only a firefighter knows our rigs and our procedure well enough to pull that off and kidnap you in the aftermath.”

She nodded. “Cherry was just someone who looked enough like me that he thought I’d be sympathetic toward her. It was just more mind games.”

“It’s over now.”

“I think I’m starting to realize that. It feels like it hasn’t fully settled in yet. Like I still need to keep one eye on my back, watching for him. Just in case.”

Ridge sat up a little, or tried to. The ache in his chest exploded. Even with the meds, he could feel it. He groaned.

“Easy.”

“You’re safe.”

“I know. I just need to convince my nervous system.”

“I know what might relax you.” He lifted his chin. “Come here.”

Amelia burst out laughing. “I feel like maybe you have a one-track mind and there will be a lot of kissing.”

It worked. He’d successfully distracted her. “You’ll get used to the feeling of being safe. In the meantime, I’ll be here when you do and when you don’t. I’m happy to be of service.”

“So selfless.”

“I really am.”

Amelia laughed again.

“You have a great laugh.”

“I like your smile.”

“Yeah?” He lifted his brows. “What else?”

“I feel like I’m going to be rolling my eyes a lot when I’m around you.”

“As long as you’re happy.” He ran his thumb over the back of her hand.

“We technically can’t date still, until we’re the same rank. We’ll have to keep it light and breezy until then. After I pass the test, we can make it official.”

Ridge said, “That’ll be good because by then I’ll be all the way in love with you, not just falling for you.”

He heard her breath catch in her throat. Her eyes widened, a whole lot of wonder in her gaze. Ridge was going to do his utmost to keep that look in her eyes as often as he could.

“You’re beautiful,” he said. “You’re an amazing firefighter, a great boss, and the strongest person I know.

” If she brought that strength and intentionality to marriage and a family, her husband would be a blessed man.

“You deserve the world. Everything you’ve ever dreamed of.

And I want to be the one to give it to you. ”

A tear rolled down her cheek. She touched his cheek like she didn’t even notice, then touched her lips to his. Ridge tilted his head to the side and captured her kiss, savoring it. Settling into the moment, like he had all the time in the world.

Maybe even forever.

Thank You.

God had drawn her to Himself, and He would continue to do that as Amelia chose to seek Him. He prayed she would even commit to following Him one day. Soon. That they could get married in front of God and their loved ones. Probably in the forecourt of the firehouse.

She leaned back a fraction. “I’m already in love with you. I have been for a while.”

Ridge didn’t want to seem too self-satisfied hearing that, but…

She rolled her eyes.

He laughed. “If someone as amazing as you can fall in love with me, then maybe I might be worth sticking around for.”

She blinked, shaking her head like she couldn’t believe he’d said that.

“You have so much love in you. Your family is amazing, and everyone at the firehouse thinks you’re great.

You saved my life. More than once, actually.

You go all out for the people you love. I never believed I’d have someone like you in my life.

It feels like a dream. Something else I guess I’ll have to get used to. ”

“We’ve got all the time we need.”

She nodded, looking so beautiful he couldn’t believe it.

He wanted to pull her against his chest, but that would be a bad idea. Instead, he settled for her snuggling up on the blanket beside him so they could hold hands and whisper about the future. Talking about anything and nothing, dreaming some more.

Because God had given them the desires of their hearts.

Now it was time to dream even bigger.