Blazing Love
Page 19
“Thayne will be happy to hear that,” Laura replied. “I know he was worried about her.”
Nick stood. “I didn’t want to impose, but just thought you should know. The culprits are behind bars, and the city is safe, thanks to you. Concentrate on Thayne. I already transferred the reward money to your bank account.”
Laura shook her head. “Wait a minute. Reward money? I didn’t ask for that. I didn’t earn it. Smith practically confessed to me, and I didn’t want to believe he was guilty. I almost blew it.”
He shrugged. “But you didn’t blow it. Carlie insisted you get the money so I made it happen. We know how much medical bills will be, so I had my tech person hack into your account and put the money there.”
He has a tech person? One who can hack into banks? I’m glad I never got on Nick’s bad side. He’s even scarier now.
“Thank you,” she said, deciding it was best to be gracious. The money would help her and Thayne an awful lot. “And thank Carlie for me too. I don’t know exactly what you guys do, but I appreciate you taking care of this and getting the arsonists arrested and off the streets.”
“Oh, I could tell you what I do, Laura, but then I’d have to kill you.” Nick’s eyes crinkled in a definite grin, and he headed for the door.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Thayne struggled to complete the last ten steps along the supportive beams in the physical therapy room. Over the weeks, his body had healed with the skin grafts taken from his unburned flesh, but each step was still difficult. The tight skin felt funny, and the residual pain didn’t make things any easier.
“You’re doing good, love,” Laura said from a chair across the room.
He didn’t ask again if she was sure she didn’t want to go home and rest. Other than occasional trips away to shower and call Bonnie and Patrick, who had taken over Snips’s care until Thayne was released from the hospital, Laura hadn’t left his side. The hospital had even put a cot in his room once they released him from the ICU, deciding they wouldn’t be able to convince her to leave so she may as well be more comfortable.
“This hurts,” he complained, wishing he’d heal faster and not have to deal with the pain.
A disgusted snort sounded off to Thayne’s right-hand side. “At least you can walk, estupido pendejos. I’m stuck cycling, and let’s not even talk about my hands.”
Thayne chuckled and looked to where Frankie sat on a bicycle, forcing the pedals around slowly, a grimace of pain on the young man’s face. “I have to admit it, I’m glad you’re still around to swear at me in Spanish, partner. I thought you were a goner. I need to figure out what you’re saying, though.”
“He called you a stupid asshole,” the nurse helping Frankie said, laughing. “At least you have fight left in you, Frank. That’s the way to get back on top. You’ll be up and walking like Thayne before you know it.”
Thayne got the feeling that Cassie, the nurse, was more invested in Frankie’s recovery than Thayne’s, but he didn’t question it. After all, he had Laura in his corner, and that was all he needed.
Taking a deep breath, Thayne stepped to the end of the railing along the path and let go of the support beams. Though his legs trembled like leaves in a fall windstorm, he took a step Laura’s direction. Struggling, he pulled his left foot to the front, shifting slowly closer to her.
“What are you doing?” Her blue eyes flashed with concern, and she jumped from her chair.
“Stay there.” Thayne held his hand up with the palm toward her. “I’m coming to you. I’m sick of not being my own man. I won’t continue being an invalid.”
Laura flicked a worried glance to the side, likely hoping the nurse would put a stop to Thayne going off the physical therapy plan.
Not that she could. Thayne had been planning this moment for two weeks, and not even the blonde warden of physical therapy would stop him.
Ever so slowly, he reached Laura. Getting down on his knee would be problematic. He took Laura’s outstretched hand, knowing it was okay to let her help him the last little bit. He could always count on her being there to help him.
He kissed her lightly, the first time he’d done so standing up since the fire. “I love you, Laura, so much.”
“I love you too,” she said, “but you need to sit. You’re going to hurt yourself.”
He smiled but shook his head. She’d gotten stronger in the past few weeks, her panic attacks going away and her bossy side showing itself any time Thayne tried to overdo things. He liked it. It made her even more intriguing than before.
Using her hand to stabilize himself, Thayne sank down to his knee. The skin of his thighs screamed with protest, but he clenched his teeth tightly and bit back a moan of pain.
Laura’s eyes narrowed with disapproval, but she steadied him, likely realizing that he wouldn’t give up until he’d done what he wanted to. She did, however, mutter, “stubborn mule.”
“What are you doing?” she asked at a more normal volume. “Don’t set your recovery back.”
He smiled and brought her hand to his mouth, kissing her soft skin and then cradling it against his cheek. “This is part of my recovery,” he said. “An important part.”
Her eyes widened, and her hand shook against him. “Are you...?”
“Don’t spoil this, cat woman,” he said in his sternest voice.
With her free hand, she pretended to close a zipper over her mouth and nodded at him to continue.
“We’ve survived panic attacks, bar fights, arsonists, and even cheated death to be together,” he said, keeping his eyes firmly on hers. “Life with you is never boring, and I want it to last forever.”
Tears sparkled in Laura’s eyes, and she was nodding and smiling.
“Don’t nod,” he teased, grinning at her. “I haven’t even asked yet, so you can’t say yes.”
Across the room, Frankie barked out a laugh. “Better hope she says yes now, dumbass.”
Maybe having Frankie there for the proposal wasn’t the smartest idea.
“Laura Lyon, you are the most perfect, beautiful, crazy, loving, wild woman I’ve ever met. Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” She squealed and dropped to her knees, pulling him in her embrace.
Her lips crashed into his and Thayne’s shaky legs gave out, tumbling them to the ground. Not that he cared. His arms were full of his voluptuous cat woman. His fiancée.
“They make a cute couple,” Frankie said from behind them. “Guess you better get me walking soon, Nurse Cassie. There’s no question about it. I’m gonna be their best man.”
Laura broke off the kiss and smiled up at Thayne. “You’re the best man I know,” she whispered, “but we’ll let Frankie come to the wedding. We can’t leave out your annoying little brother.”
Thayne laughed and captured her mouth again, delighted by the knowledge she would be forever his.
No matter what happened in their city or the tragedies they’d faced—past heartbreak, people trying to break them apart, and now Thayne facing a long recovery and possibly never working as a firefighter again—he knew none of that mattered. Laura was his life, what he’d been searching for all along. Finding the love meant for him was worth all the heartache and suffering along the road to find her.
He had been right when he told Laura they were the sum of their pasts and those experiences brought them together. They’d earned a lifetime of happiness—and were lucky enough to find it in each other.
Author’s Note
Once again, we’ve reached the end of another story. I have to admit, I loved Thayne. He was a great hero. The name actually came from my daughter, who has decided her first-born son will be named Thayne (but she told me to use him as a hero first). The last name Bloodgood was one we heard at my son’s police swearing in ceremony. She and I both loved it immediately. Now, we have to find a Bloodgood for her to marry, so that my grandson has that last name – LOL.
Laura was given many of my own problems, and I’m sorry for the poor
girl. Panic attacks can be devastating and incapacitating. Luckily, I only get them a few times a year, but Laura has it rougher. I’m pleased with her growth and I hope you were too.
If you are interested in Nick and Carlie who had bit parts in this story but don’t know who they are, you can read about them in my previously released story, Love & Deception. They are a great couple and I really enjoyed their story. I was glad this book was set in their hometown so they could stop in for another visit.
Throughout writing this novel, I had to do a lot of research and watched many videos of what our firefighters go through in the line of their jobs and even just to train. It takes a special type of person to put themselves at risk to save others. I’m so grateful to all the men and women who work in the public service industry, the police officers, firefighters, EMTs and medics who risk themselves without a second thought, all to make our lives better and more secure. We are truly blessed to have them out there, working for us, and I appreciate them very much.
Thank you to all the readers who finished this book. If you are so inclined, I would love a review to hear what you think. Also, catch up with me on Facebook or join my street team. I’m always happy to speak with people who love reading just as much as I do.
My next big project will be to work on the McCallister Paradise contemporary romance series. I completed the first book back in May 2014 during my first Romance In A Month Class (put on by the fabulous Rachelle Ayala), but I decided to hold off on publishing since so many other projects came up. I’ll be working on the next two books the remainder of this year, and hoping to publish the first three all together in spring of 2015. I hope you’ll love the McCallister family and their little island paradise. I do.
Until then, happy reading and follow your dreams! Thanks for always supporting me!
~ Chantel (October 25, 2014)
Website: http://www.chantelrhondeau.com
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Also by Chantel Rhondeau
Agents in Love
Love & Deception
Love & Redemption
Standalone
Always & Forever
Crime & Passion
Murderous Lies
Season For Love (A Christmas Romance Novella)
Blazing Love
Watch for more at Chantel Rhondeau’s site.
About the Author
Chantel once thought a great mystery or fantasy book with strong romantic themes was the highest level of reading bliss. After reading her first romantic suspense novel, she never looked back. Before long, the need to create her own stories took over. She spends her daytime in the clinical profession of medical transcriptionist, but her passion is in the blissful hours she spends with her characters in the evenings.
Chantel lives in the western United States. When she isn’t writing, she loves playing cards with her family, bowling on leagues, and snuggling with her lazy kitties.
Read more at Chantel Rhondeau’s site.