Lover Boy (Blue Collar Bachelors Book 1)

by Cassie-Ann L. Miller

  "Where's Reese?" I demand. The pain in my throat is the least of my concerns.

  Charlie pushes a trembling breath. "She inhaled a lot of smoke. Nobody knows just how long she was passed out on the floor before you found her. Her toxicity levels were high—"

  I grind my teeth and speak through the pain. "Is she dead, Charlie? Was I too late?"

  He squeezes his eyes shut. "She's alive. Hanging on. But we don't know what the outcome will be. We don't know if she'll have brain damage."

  A doctor bursts through the door. "Leo. You're awake. That's good," the old man say propping an electronic tablet under his arm. "I'm Dr. Hecker."

  I try to lean my weight on my arms and sit up straighter but now I'm yowling in pain.

  "Slow down there. Slow down," the doctor commands, motioning with his arm for me to sit back.

  "Reese! How's Reese?!"

  The man takes on a diplomatic tone. "We should discuss your situation first before we worry about—"

  "Tell me about Reese. Please! "

  He glances at Charlie over the rim of his glasses and my friend nods, giving the doctor his consent to disclose the details of his sister’s medical condition.

  "Reese has been unconscious since she was found at the scene and although her vital signs are stable, her toxicity levels were very high. We're working to purge her body of those toxins and to decrease the inflammation. Thankfully, she wasn’t badly burned but I won't lie, she suffered a lot of internal damage and she's lucky to be alive. We're not sure what the long-term outcome will be."

  "I want to see her."

  The man sighs because he knows I'm going to fight whatever excuse he's about to give me. "You've suffered third degree burns on your hands. The risk of infection is very real. We can't have you traveling the halls all willy nilly."

  "Then slip some gloves on me. Tie my hands in plastic bags. I don't care. I need to see her!”

  The doctor’s face goes stern. “Mr. Montgomery—”

  I won’t have it. “I need to see her, doctor, because if anything happens to her and I don’t get to tell her how much I fucking love her, I’ll never be able to forgive myself.”

  Chapter 49

  Reese

  Even before I open my eyes, I can feel someone breathing on me. Their presence is heavy, oppressive, smothering, dripping their worry all over me. It can only be one person.

  “Vi-Vivian?” My jaw doesn't want to move and my voice is so scratchy I barely recognize it. I try to open my eyes.

  “Oh my god,” my sister gasps as she envelops my hands in hers.

  “Reese, you’re awake.” That’s Nova.

  I finally manage to pry my eyelids open and they’re both standing there. Nova looks downright giddy to see me.

  As for Viv, it’s obvious that she’s been crying but her relief shines through her smile. “Oh my god, I was so scared.” She lets go of my hands and pulls out her phone. “Mom and dad just went down to the cafeteria for lunch. I’m gonna text them. And Charlie.”

  I’m hooked up to all kinds of machines and my body feels like I just wrestled a baby alligator. My memory is spotty but pieces of it are bobbing in and out of my consciousness. “There was a fire…” I say hoarsely. I have the worst sore throat ever.

  She nods. “There was a fire at the cupcake shop. And you were caught inside.”

  “Doing the goddamned sales report,” I say bitterly.

  “I’m so sorry, Reese.” Her chest heaves and now the tears are falling again. Her voice is barely a squeak. “The building burnt down to the ground. If it hadn’t been for Leo, you would have died, Theresa.”

  “Leo?” I try to make sense of what Vivian is saying. “What does Leo…?” My voice gives out before I can finish the question.

  My sister hands me the glass of water sitting at my bedside. “He knew that you were in the building and he ran in to save you.” Her eyes go dreamy. “God—you got yourself one hell of a hunk. Why have you been hiding him from me all this time?!”

  Uh, because I thought you’d cut me.

  I shake my head, struggling to understand it all. “Leo ran into a burning building? For me?”

  Nova nods so hard it looks like her head might snap off. “He ran into a building for you, Reesie.”

  Confusion still swirls in my mind. When Leo and I last left off, he was pushing me away. He didn’t want anything to do with me. “Why would he do that?”

  “He loves you…” Vivian clasps her hands over her heart like she might swoon.

  My eyes are instantly heavy with tears. She’s wrong. “No, he doesn’t love me. He doesn’t.”

  “He does,” Nova says assuredly. “He’s covered in burns but over the past two days, he’s been at your bedside every chance he gets, going crazy with worry. The man definitely loves you, Reese.”

  “You don’t get it, Nova. Leo doesn’t want to be with me.”

  She sighs heavily. “Stop resisting it, hun. He’s a ridiculously hot ex-soldier who loves you just the way you are and would walk through fire for you. Isn’t that what you told me you want in a man?”

  “Well, you’re paraphrasing but…”

  “Just a bit,” she says, one corner of her mouth hitched up. “Leo’s the guy you’ve been waiting for, hun. And he wants you as much as you want him.”

  Doctors and nurses swoop in, subjecting me to a battery of tests. While they poke and prod, my insides tremble as I ruminate over Nova’s words. Could it be true? Does Leo really love me?

  The answer comes rolling through my hospital room door when my parents enter the room followed by Charlie who’s pushing Leo’s wheelchair.

  My family dives on me, sweeping me up in a wave of hugs and kisses. But all I want is Leo.

  He's not shy about telling them that he wants to be alone with me.

  As they're exiting the room, I call out to Viv because we have some business that can’t wait. "Yes?" She asks sweetly as she watches me.

  "Fuck your sales report," I rasp out. She looks alarmed by my sudden rebellion. I don't think she's ever heard me swear before. "We are going to reopen that cupcake shop. And we are going to hire helpers. Because I have a life and I won’t burn myself to the ground again doing tasks that are absolutely not my strong suit. And you deserve some time for yourself, too." I feel a beam of pride for finally standing up for myself.

  Her expression softens. "Yeah, you're right. Fuck my sales report." We share a smile. "And we'll hire helpers, okay? Now, rest up.”

  She flashes me a wink and disappears into the hall with the rest of my family.

  When I’m finally alone with Leo, he grips the railing of my bed and hobbles out of the wheelchair.

  “Look what you did to yourself…” I struggle to sit up in my bed and sweep my fingers across the bruise on his chin.

  He shakes his head, discounting his injuries. “I’m just glad you’re okay.” He reaches a bandaged hand out to touch me but then flinches at the pain.

  “Thank you for saving me,” I whisper, the words getting lost as my throat tightens and tears spill down my face.

  “I can’t imagine the rest of my life without you, Cupcake Girl.” His eyes are earnest, trying to convey the contents of his heart to me.

  Still, I need to hear him say it because I’ve been wrong about his intentions before. “Why’d you do it? Why’d you run into a burning building for me?”

  “I couldn’t not run into that building for you, Reese. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t have you in my life. These past weeks without you have been hell.” He sets his hand on top of mine. “I’m so sorry that I ever hurt you. I want to be with you. The three of us together—you, me and Brent.”

  He’s saying all the right things now, but I haven’t forgotten what happened in the past, the way he hurt me when he pushed me away. “You said that you don't need me…”

  His eyes glass over. “I don't need you to fix me, Reese. And I don't need you save me. But I do need you. Being without y
ou isn’t an option. I tried it. It didn’t work.” His eyes shine, they bore right into the centre of me as he pleads. “So just be with me. Okay, just be in my life. Because I love you.”

  My heart flies up into my throat.

  Those three little words.

  “Leo…”

  “No, let me say it. I love you, Theresa Hartley. I’ve never felt this way about another woman and I need you in my life. I love you.”

  Caution floats away on the wind. Nothing else matters. I give him my heart. “I love you, too.”

  Chapter 50

  Leo

  Charlie pilots the car along Main Street. Reese and I are in the back. She’s tucked against my side with her head on my shoulder. After six days and a battery of tests, the doctors have given us each a clean bill of health and discharged us from the hospital. And just in time too, because I have a big surprise for my girl today. Smiling to myself, I bury my nose in her hair and hold her closer.

  My friend keeps stealing peeks at us in the rearview mirror. “What?” I ask when our stares bump into each other.

  “You know you totally broke guy code by hooking up with my sister, right?” I can’t see his entire face but his eyes are pretty stark.

  I glance down at Reese just in time to see her roll her eyes. I throw Charlie a shrug. “I guess."

  His eyes narrow. “You know I should probably punch you in the nose right now, especially since you can’t fight back.”

  I bite down a chuckle. “I’m not sure that’s fair.” I wave my bandaged fist in the air.

  “Challenging another man to a duel over your sister?” Reese says snidely. “How Shakespearaen of you.”

  “You’re lucky your big, brave Romeo just saved you from a burning building or else we’d be sword-fighting in an alley right now.”

  “What am I? A piece of chattel?” Reese questions playfully.

  Charlie’s eyes soften and his expression goes compassionate. “No—you’re my big-headed little sister. And I love you, despite what you may think. And I don’t want to see anyone break your heart.”

  I fully understand where he’s coming from. “Reese is a very special woman and from now on, it’s my duty to guard her heart, to protect her, to love her. I won’t be the one to hurt her and if anyone even tried to threaten her, they’d have to get through me first.” I hold up my arm and flex my muscles. Reese makes an exaggerated swooning face and I burst with pride. “And I’m pretty tough if I do say so myself.” Charlie chuckles knowingly. I hold his stare in the mirror. “Your sister is safe with me.”

  A smile brightens his eyes. “I know, man. You’re the kind of guy my sister needs. I know that.”

  I nod solemnly, pulling Reese snug against me. My gaze moves out the window, watching the rows of shops as we near our destination.

  “Are we stopping for dinner or something?” Reese asks when Charlie drives past the street he’d have to turn onto to take us home.

  “Something like that,” I whisper into her hair and try to keep the amusement out of my voice.

  But by the time we’re near the park, she knows that something’s up. She pulls out of my grasp and leans forward, looking out through the windshield. “What’s with all the balloons?” she asks.

  “You’ll see,” I tell her as the car grinds to a halt on the curb.

  Her jaw hangs loose now. Her eyes bulge. “Leo…”

  People mill around, enjoying baked goods and iced tea. Nova waves at us from the makeshift cash register. The banner hangs between two huge oak trees.

  The Broken Cupcake’s presents Cupcake Sunday Bake Sale!

  I hear her gasp when she realizes what’s going on. Her head snaps to me. “What…?”

  “For you, my love…” With the help of all the people who love her—Charlie, Vivian, Nova, Sophia and of course, Brenton—I managed to organize a little fundraiser to support the reopening of the cupcake shop while I was stuck in my hospital bed.

  I know it’s going to take more than a little Sunday afternoon bake sale to get the Broken Cupcake back up and running, but this is my way of showing Reese my support.

  “You shouldn’t have done this, Leo.”

  “Why the hell not?” I challenge her. “You go out of your way for people everyday. It’s only fair that someone do something nice for you.”

  “It’s too much.”

  “It’s not enough.”

  “But…”

  "You don't have a monopoly on kind gestures in this town,” I quip. “Maybe taking care of other people makes you feel good but did you ever stop to consider that maybe taking care of you feels good to me?”

  I see her heart melt right then and there. “Baby…” she whispers in her bedroom voice.

  Oh yeah, I’m gonna get some action tonight!

  “You two look like you need some privacy.” Charlie tosses the keys into the back seat and practically leaps out of the car.

  Reese and I laugh together. “He’ll get used to it sooner than later,” I assure her and then cup her face, bringing my lips to hers. I kiss her and all my passion runs free. I cup her face with my big, bandaged paw and my thoughts evaporate like smoke when she moans the way she does.

  But it isn’t long before there’s an eager, little tap at the window. We pull apart. “Brenton!” I throw the door open and my boy jumps inside.

  “Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!”

  “Hi buddy!” He wraps one arm around my neck and squeezes hard before turning to Reese.

  “Hi Reese,” he says, almost shy.

  “Hey Brent. How ya doing?”

  The child grins. “I saw you kissing my daddy.”

  She blushes, her cheeks all red. “You did?”

  He nods excitedly. "Reese?" Brenton says in a small voice. "Can you please be my daddy's girlfriend?”

  I find myself laughing.

  “Well, if he asked me, I’d say yes.” She scrunches up her nose and lowers her voice as she cups a hand around her mouth. “But he hasn’t asked me.”

  Brenton gives me a stern look. “Daddy!”

  “Well, let’s rectify that situation immediately.” I laugh throatily. “Will you be my girlfriend, Reese?” I tickle her ribs.

  “Yes, yes I will.” She squirms and giggles in my lap. “Yes!”

  “Happy now?” I say, turning to Brent.

  He nods firmly. “Yes. I’m happy.” He leans back against my chest with his broken arm tucked against his little body. “Rectify…Rectify…” he muses to himself as if trying on the new word for size. I grin and ruffle his hair.

  I look at the both of them in my arms. They’re everything I need. Three months ago, I showed up in this town, in this rusty old Ford Escort, lost and depressed and confused. Now, I have everything. How did I get so lucky?

  I angle Reese’s face and put a kiss on her nose. “So, girlfriend—Where do we go from here?”

  She looks thoughtful. “Well, we haven’t officially been on a date yet. So maybe dinner and a movie?”

  “Or we could go dancing?” I suggest as I jerk my shoulders back and forth in perfect timing with a song only I can hear. Something techno. Because I’m cool like that.

  "You can dance?” she asks with a grin.

  I lean my forehead against hers. “Dancing is easy. I can do anything when I’m with you.”

  Chapter 51

  Reese

  I roll over in bed and Leo’s spot is cold. Panicked, I bolt upright in bed.

  Whenever he’s missing from bed at this hour, it means he’s spent the better part of the night having nightmares until they finally chased him out of bed and into the shadows of the back porch.

  My chest tightens as I pull a sweatshirt over my head. It’s been a few months since he had one of those night terrors. He’s been so much better since he and Brent moved in with me. I thought that he’d finally shrugged himself from the ugly grips of the disorder. I thought that we’d beat it. But PTSD isn’t something that ever really goes away.

  It’s managed
. It’s dealt with.

  It weaves and wanes and sometimes it fades until you can barely see the stains but it’s always there.

  I hate feeling so powerless. I hate that it’s something that I can’t fix. All I can do is support him, throw my arms around him. And that’s what I’m going to do right now.

  I tiptoe past Brent’s room and down the stairs. I step into Leo’s big shoes on the mat and slide the back door open.