by Lucy Rinaldi
I know what it's like to love your child more than anything in this world. I also know what it's like to lose that child. Don't worry, my son didn't die. He just turned out not to be mine. And trust me, losing my boy was like losing him to death. The pain I've felt since the day I found out he wasn't mine, has been like grieving for a dead child.
I don't even think at this point that it will never not feel this way. I think about him all the time. I wonder if he misses me at all. I was his father for three years of his life, surely he wouldn't forget me right away?
Maybe it's better if he does, I can't bear the thought of that little boy crying for me, asking when I'm coming back. Even though Maya made sure he knew I was never his father.
I stand in the doorway and clap my hands. Baby girl spins on the spot, sees me, laughs, and runs into my arms. Of all my nieces and nephews, and I have a lot of late, Echo is the one who loves her uncle Greg the most. It might have something to do with the fact I'm hardly ever around so I don't see much of the others. Or, I didn't until I came home.
But Kory usually brings Echo and Aimee with him when he comes to Seattle, so I see a lot of this beautiful little girl the image of her daddy. We have a special bond.
“Morning, Greg. It's nice to see up and showered.” Aimee smirks at me. “Come sit down, I'll serve breakfast.”
I nod and sit Echo in her chair and sit beside her. Aimee hands out plates of eggs and bacon with toast, and I eat like I haven't eaten in a week. Wait... I haven't.
I eat heartily, my hunger seems to have come at me with a vengeance. It's not like I can't afford to put the weight back on that I've lost. Plus, my sister-in-law makes a mean breakfast.
Jesus, I really have let myself go if I think bacon and eggs is a damn feast.
After breakfast, I make my way to town on foot and sign up at the gym owned by my brother-in-law, Bryton, my youngest sisters husband. While I'm there, I work out for two hours straight. God, did I ever need that. Weights, treadmill, cardio, you name it, I did it. I've even run along the waterfront. I swear I feel ten times better, my head is clearer. Things don't seem so hopeless anymore. I'll get through this, I know I will.
I'm walking past the firehouse, two paramedics are standing beside their ambulance talking, laughing. I recognize one of them, Enzo Ryker, married to my sister Della's best friend, her husband's little sister, Paige.
The woman beside him, I don't recognize. She's stunning even in her uniform. Long wavy brown hair tied up in a messy bun, blue eyes like I've never seen in my life before. They're so pale it's almost unreal. Her lightly olive tanned skin is flawless. She may be wearing her regulated paramedic uniform but it's not hard to see that she has the body type I cannot resist on a woman. Pert breasts, slim waist, full hips, and thick thighs. Christ, I've never seen a woman that beautiful, yes, beautiful, in my entire life. And I've known beautiful women.
I haven't seen her around here before. I know I've been away for a few years, but this is a small town, I grew up here, I know everyone. Who the hell doesn't?
But this girl must be new in town.
I have no idea why my feet are carrying me toward her, but I can't seem to stop myself. I don't know what it is about her, she's not even looking at me, but she draws me to her.
I've been drawn to many women in my life, my ex-wife included. I'm a lover of women. A playboy once upon a time. But none ever captivated me the way this paramedic has. My heart is beating too fast, I'm sweating from the heat outside and the fact this woman, just looking at her, is churning me up inside.
What the fuck is the deal with this shit?
“Afternoon, Enzo.”
Enzo turns with a smile on his face, his hand held out to me. I take it and shake. “Nice to see you up and about, man.”
“Thanks.” I haven't taken my eyes off the exotic beauty staring at me, smile on her face.
“Greg, this is my partner, Danika Ashford. Dani this is Greg Harper.”
“Nice to meet you, Greg Harper.” She smirks as I take her outstretched hand. The electric that flows through me is instant. By the gasp and the look on her face, I'd say the feeling was mutual.
“Nice to meet you too, Danika Ashford.”
She swallows hard and tells me, “Call me Dani, everyone else does.”
“Dani.” I smile.
She pulls her hand out of mine and turns to Enzo. “We need to get going.”
“We do?” He looks confused standing there with his arms around his chest. They haven't been sent on a call, she just wants to get away from me. She felt that spark as much as I did.
But she's right to get away from me, I'm no good for any woman. And Dani doesn't strike me as the kind of girl interested in one night. She doesn't seem like the kind of girl a man would be satisfied spending only one night with either.
“Yes. We do.” I chuckle under my breath at the sight of her wide eyes and the tip of her head toward the ambulance. She so wants to get away from me.
I'm not sure if I should be offended or not, I've only said a handful of words to her.
“Yeah. I guess we need to go. Good to see you, Greg.”
“You too.”
I watch them jump in their ambulance, the engine starts before I turn and jog away. There's something about that girl. I can't put my finger on what. I won't use her to forget the past, but that's not to say I wouldn't like to get to know her.
We'll see.
Available and Coming Soon Books By Lucy Rinaldi.
The Safe Series.
The First Three Books In This Series Should Be Read In Sequence. The Books That Follow Are Standalone's. But Can Be Read Alone.
Silent: Thane & Libby
Quiet: Thane & Libby
Louder: Thane & Libby
Devoted: Aston & Felicity
Addiction: Blaine & Nickole
Fixed: Bradford & Gabriella
Honor: Preston & Blue
Always: Blair & Lilah, A Safe Prequel.
The Kids From The Safe Series Will Be Appearing In Their Own Stories As Grown Ups Very Soon ;)
Rift: Ana & Tanner.
Truth: Ed & Casey
Trust: Evan & Krystal
Hardcore: Andrew & Melissa
Sacrifice: Grace & Trent
Tracked: Harmony & Brock
Fact: Lincoln & Tammy
The Skeleton Series, Parts 1, 2, 3 & 4 The Finale.
Skeleton Spinoffs
Yours: Lauren & Giovanni
Forbidden: Hope & Xavier
Roman Angel: Giannah & Harley
Forever: Emma & Brayden
The Archer Series: Out Now
Believe: Benton & Sara
Hero: Brandon & Jenna
Lost: Nate & Raine.
Caught: Chance & Paris
Hidden: Kirby & Nevaeh
The Twin Series:
Shattered: Jason & Maisie
Revenge: Blaise & Maddie
Fortunate: Warner & Victoria
Coming Soon
Diamond Snakes MC
Shepard: Prez
Stryker
Tank.
Hammer.
Jet: VP
Hawk.
Draven.
Wrench.
Roman.
Trace.
VJ.
Oak Springs Series: Out Now!
Dancer A: Chase & Emilee
Scarred: Hudson & Callie
Caution: Enzo & Paige
Traced: Bryton & Roya
Torn: Kory & Aimee
Crossed: Greg & Dani
Standalone's Coming Soon.
Beyond The Fire: Bryan & Lyric
Haunted: Drew & Natasha
Fallen: Hunter & Evie
The Prince In The Attic
Bound By The Alpha
About The Author
Lucy Rinaldi was born in Birmingham, England, in the 1980's. She has lived all over the world in places including New York, California, Italy and France. Lucy began writing fiction in her early t
eens after meeting a soldier in a London coffee shop, where he shared his army adventures with her. Lucy was so intrigued by him and what he was telling her that she began to write down his adventures. Lucy wrote them as memoirs and to this day they have pride of place on her bookshelf.
Lucy often finds inspiration to write from those around her. Lucy finds people and their lives fascinating. Lucy is also an avid reader of Adult Romance. She hasn't read one male lead that she hasn't liked this far. Lucy has one or two favourite authors at the moment, authors who write stories where she can lose herself within them. Lucy fully believes that books are our escape from the world around us. Books are a place where we can lose ourselves in someone else's imagination, a place where it's not wrong to believe you're the one finding the happy ever after with the one person who understands you better than anyone else.