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His hand stilled. Had he heard her correctly? He placed his fingers under her chin and lifted her gaze to his. “Did you just say you love me?”
Her eyes glassed over and she looked so scared he felt her pain. Had she meant it?
“Cassie. You have no idea how that makes me feel. I love you, too.”
Tears pooled in her eyes and one slipped down her cheek. “Oh, Mike. You do?”
“Is that so hard to believe?” He caressed her cheek, his thumb following the track of her tear.
“I love you so much. I was afraid you didn’t feel the same.”
“I do,” he whispered. “I do.” He lowered his lips to hers.
The moment his tongue slipped into her mouth, the kiss turned hot. He licked and stroked and lost himself in it. She returned his passion, pouring every ounce of love she’d just confessed into their kiss.
After a long heart-shaking moment, they drew apart gasping. He pressed his forehead against hers. With one finger, he traced her lips. “I can’t believe what you’ve done to me. What I’m feeling. Cassie, I love you. With everything in me, I love you.”
“Promise you’ll never let me go.”
All his doubts and fears. All his worry over risking his heart and having a woman leave him. And here she was asking him not to leave her. He hugged her tighter.
“You’re not going anywhere. Not without me.”
“Good.” She burrowed deeper.
“Cassie? I have to ask you something.”
The tightening of her body cautioned him. But then, she half crawled onto his chest, propped her chin on her fingers and gave him a curious look. He had to address the elephant. The one that had plagued him most of his life.
“My career. I’m a firefighter.”
Her brow rose in confusion. “And?”
His chest squeezed. He took a deep breath and trudged on. “That won’t change. I’ll always be a firefighter.”
“Okaaay.” She drew the word out like she wasn’t comprehending.
Dammit. He may be cutting his own throat but he had to know if Cassie was in this for the long haul. “Can you handle it?”
She took a moment to consider before answering, twisting his gut every second she remained silent.
“Are you asking me if I expect you to stop?”
“It’s a dangerous job. But I’m trained. I—”
She covered his mouth with her palm. “Mike. I love you. I wouldn’t change one thing about you. Seeing you help others, knowing others depend on you, some for their lives … it amazes me. I admire you. I have every confidence in you.”
She studied him for a moment and the love he saw in her expression, grabbed him by the balls.
“I need to tell you something,” she said.
Good God, here it comes.
“Two years ago, my cousin’s house burned to the ground. Don’t look like that. It’s a story I want to share.”
That made him feel somewhat better.
“My cousin and her husband never had a honeymoon and on their tenth anniversary, her husband wanted to surprise her with a trip. I offered to stay with their son, who was eight. The fire was traced back to the dryer, so no one started it, but I woke to a room filled with smoke. I panicked. I tried to find my little cousin and couldn’t. I couldn’t even see. Thank God, he’d already made it outside and a firefighter carried me to safety.”
