Gil offered her a broken smile as she approached. In one hand he carried a portable radio that he had used throughout the fire to direct the various fire fighting teams. In the other he had his helmet, which dangled in his fingers by the leather chin strap. His blue eyes lighted up with pleasure as he met her worried gaze. Despite her exhaustion she looked beautiful. The white blouse she wore clung to her like a second skin. The wide red suspenders which held the black bunker pants up around her small waist looked out of place against the white material. Ordinarily he wouldn’t have displayed any kind of affection toward her in public. But it had been a hell of a fire and he had worried about her throughout the hours of the holocaust. Shoving the portable radio into his coat pocket, he reached out with his right arm and pulled her up against him.
Leah uttered a small cry and threw her arms around his neck, holding him tightly. “Oh, Gil,” she sobbed, “I was so worried about you.”
He laughed quietly. “Worried about me? God I was worried about you, lady.”
Tears streaked down her cheeks, making white paths through the grime. She drew away and gazed up into his strong, handsome face. “I was fine,” she choked out, her voice growing hoarse. “We got a lot of people out, Gil. I love working with Apache. It’s as if we read each other’s minds.”
He swept her back into the fold of his arm, relishing her closeness, the pliant curve of her body against him. “And I love you,” he whispered fiercely. “Come on, we’ve got to wrap up and then we can go home,” he murmured in her ear.
* * *
The clock struck nine inside the quiet farmhouse. The horizon was pale pink as the last light of the long day faded from the sky. Leah followed Gil through the house toward the bedroom. They had opted to get cleaned up at home instead of at the station. Technically, they still had the next day off. Turning on a light here and there, he led her through the bedroom and into the large bathroom.
“First things first,” he murmured, resting his arms lightly across her shoulders. “Let’s take a shower, eat, and then hit the sack.”
It sounded wonderful. Gil urged her to get cleaned up while he found some leftovers in the refrigerator to make a dinner for them. The hot, pummeling stream of water wiped the layers of sweat and grime off her body. It also relaxed all her sore, tired muscles so that by the time she emerged from the bathroom, she could barely keep her eyes open. Gil met her at the kitchen entrance and guided her to the table.
“Here, sit down,” he coaxed. He put a plate filled with a rich beef stew before her. “Eat,” he ordered. “I’ll take my shower now. When you get done, get into bed.”
Leah nodded, grateful for his attention. She watched him as he walked through the kitchen and disappeared into the living room. His shoulders seemed so wide that it looked as if he wouldn’t make it through the entrance. Shaking her head, she realized her mind was so muddled that she wasn’t seeing anything straight. She picked up the fork and forced herself to eat even though her appetite was nonexistent.
Gil had just come out of the bathroom in his light blue terry-cloth robe when she entered the bedroom. His dark hair lay plastered against his skull, gleaming wetly in the weak lamplight. There were shadows of exhaustion beneath his eyes.
Leah threw back the covers on the bed. “I don’t know who looks worse,” she muttered, “you or me.”
Gil grinned tiredly, draping the towel over one shoulder and running his strong fingers expertly through his hair to tame the strands into place. He came around the end of the bed, reaching out and pulling her into his arms. The terry-cloth robe was coarse against her cheek and smelled freshly laundered. She inhaled the scent of him, sliding her arms around his large torso to give him a long embrace.
“I love you,” she whispered. She closed her eyes, content to rest against his seemingly tireless body.
Gil leaned down, placing a kiss upon her hair. “I think you’re sort of special too, lady,” he murmured. He held her at arm’s length, his blue eyes dark and hungry with simmering desire. “I just have one question for you before we keel over.”
She tilted her head, her green eyes wide and lustrous with love. He was so warm, so vibrant. A soft smile curved her pink lips. “What?” she asked huskily.
Gil looked at her and then the bed. “You know, I sort of like having you around here.” He caressed her cheek fondly. “I don’t want to come home to the farm after putting in twenty-four hours at the station and be alone.”
Her heart filled with joy as she stared up at him. Her lips parted but words wouldn’t come. She saw him smile, his azure eyes warm with love. “But—”
“Say you’ll stay here with me forever,” he ordered quietly, cradling her face between his large hands. “Say you’ll be mine forever, Leah.”
Tears gathered in her eyes and her lips trembled. “Yes,” she whispered. “I’ve wanted to be with you since the first day we met.”
Gil groaned softly and crushed her to him. They stood there for long minutes in one another’s embrace. Finally he released her, his face revealing his happiness. “Listen, we’ve got to sleep,” he said. “I was going to ask you to marry me today before the fire.” A rueful smile pulled at his mouth. “I couldn’t sleep now if I didn’t know your answer. You’re important to me, honey. More important than anything else.”
She laughed throatily, burying her head against his shoulder. “But right now, we both need sleep desperately.” She reached up and kissed his strong, responsive mouth. She melted in his embrace as he ardently returned her impulsive kiss. A soft moan rose in her throat; a coil of fire moved quickly up through her body. His tongue tantalized her, tortured her with a sweet promise of fulfillment. She sagged heavily against him, her breath coming in uneven gasps. Finally he broke free of her, his blue eyes burning.
“Sleep first,” he growled in her ear. He placed a series of small nipping kisses down the length of her slender neck. A delightful shiver of urgency coursed through her. “When we wake, you aren’t going to be safe,” he promised thickly, guiding her to the bed.
Leah snuggled close to Gil, her body fitting perfectly against his, her arm and leg thrown casually across him. She closed her eyes, content with his nearness. So much had happened in the last thirty-six hours. She had made love to Gil. Two major fires had occurred. And each time, lives had been saved and nearly lost. And best of all, Gil wanted her for his wife…his partner for life. A small sigh escaped her as she burrowed against his shoulder. Her dark hair lay like a blanket across his massive chest, his hand cupping her face in the silken tangle.
Despite overwhelming exhaustion, her mind struggled briefly with problems that would still have to be faced. With the fire fighters’ acceptance of her as one of the team, her job would be easier and the pressure to perform would be less. Would the chief force her and Gil to work different shifts? How many husband and wife fire fighting teams were there? Leah slid her fingers across the wiry hair of his chest, unable to answer all her questions. It didn’t matter. It would all work out because she and Gil had the maturity to make the compromises that were necessary. Their love for each other would overcome any barriers.
With that thought, she gave in to the fingers of exhaustion that pulled her downward into slumber. When she awoke in the morning it would be the first day of their life together. Half-asleep, she felt Gil shift position and bring her closer. His warm, moist breath lightly fanned across her cheek. There was a wonderful reassurance in his nearness. He had been close to her since the first day they had met, and now that closeness had blossomed into the miracle of love. Love that was born too near the fire, but had risen like the mythical Phoenix to bring them glowing new life.
* * * * *
About the Author
LINDSAY McKENNA
A homeopathic educator, Lindsay teaches at the Desert Institute of Classical Homeopathy in Phoenix, Arizona. When she isn’t teaching alternative medicine, she is writing books about love. She feels love is the single greatest healer in the world,
and hopes that her books touch her readers’ hearts.
Look for Lindsay McKenna’s upcoming books—UNFORGIVEN, available October 2006 from Silhouette Nocturne, and BEYOND THE LIMIT, available December 2006 from HQN Books.
New York Times bestselling author
LINDSAY McKENNA
brings you into the line of fire with Operation Shadow Warriors…
The Alpha Platoon. A unit of Navy SEALs stationed in the unforgiving heat of Afghanistan…who just learned that their newest team member is a woman. But Bay Thorn has a spine of steel—and the chops to prove it. Without a team to back her up, however, she’s dead in the water. And her only ally is Gabe Griffin, a lone SEAL who is lethal, dangerous and unbearably attractive.
Between the open hostility from Bay’s team and the harsh Al Qaeda territory, Gabe is a lifeline for her. But mutual respect quickly grows into mutual attraction. And with each day and every assignment, the longing only deepens. They mustn’t speak of it. Mustn’t act on it. Because in this line of work, falling in love can get you killed….
Available wherever books are sold!
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Trained to kill, but built for love…
From New York Times bestselling author
LINDSAY McKENNA
Captain Morgan Boland is at the top of her game, as is navy SEAL Jake Ramsay, her former lover. Then a military computer selects them to partner in a special op. The mission can’t be compromised by their personal history—and they have truckloads of it.
But the Afghan assignment might provide the discipline they need to finally get it together—outside the bedroom, that is. A lot has happened over the two years since they last went their separate ways. And there’s way more to Morgan than Jake has ever given her credit for….
Available now!
www.LindsayMcKenna.com
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ISBN-13: 9781460334355
TOO NEAR THE FIRE
Copyright © 1984 by Eileen Nauman
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Too Near the Fire Page 14