Read Online The Wedding Gift by Cara Connelly - Free Book Online

closer—
    Then above him, a thunder crack, and a jet engine’s roar. And down came the ceiling, blanketing them in flaming Sheetrock. A falling timber ripped the girl from his arms. Her shriek rang in his ears—
    â€œMick!”
    He fell on the screaming girl, covering her with his body as fire rained down on his back—
    â€œMick! It’s me!”
    Her voice was muffled now as he mashed her to his chest—
    â€œMick! Wake up!”
    He came out of the nightmare the way he always did, suddenly, with a massive gasp and a shudder, adrenaline pumping like a fire hose.
    â€œYou’re crushing me!” Jan’s voice beneath him.
    He managed to roll onto his back, arms still locked around her, pulling her over onto his chest. Sweat drenched his T-shirt, soaked the sheets.
    â€œMick.” She sounded calmer now. “It’s Jan. I’m okay. You can let me go.”
    He shook his head. The dream was still too real, the child too vulnerable. He had to keep her close. Keep her safe.
    Jan quit struggling. She rested her cheek on his chest.
    Long minutes passed. Gradually his heart stopped battering his ribs. He took a deep breath, let it out. Another, let it out.
    The AC kicked on, chilling him, and he started to shiver. Jan pulled the sheet up, covering them both. He kept shivering, and she wrapped herself around him, sharing her body heat.
    He loosened his grip a notch but held onto her. So delicate. So warm.
    Her palm cupped his neck, her thumb stroking his jaw. “Every night?” she asked.
    He nodded, his defenses in ruins.
    â€œHave you told anyone? Your chief?”
    â€œNo.” His throat was raw. “Did I . . . Did I scream?”
    â€œIt was more of a howl.” She rolled off his chest onto her side, but she didn’t move away. Her hand slid down to his chest, her sympathy expressed through her touch instead of her tone, which made it easier to accept. “I take it the dream doesn’t end as well as the real-life rescue.”
    He shook his head, found his voice. “The ceiling collapsed right behind us, but in the dream we’re still under it.” He couldn’t believe he’d told her, but his chest eased with the telling. “The fire lands on top of us. She gets ripped from my arms.”
    â€œJust a dream,” Jan said, smoothing her hand over his pec. “You’re okay. So is she. Even the puppy got out.”
    â€œI know.” He swallowed, tasting smoke. The dream was that real. And it wasn’t the worst of what plagued him. “I—I’m afraid next time I won’t be able to go in. I’m afraid I’ll chicken out.”
    He waited for her to roll away from him, to be as revolted by his cowardice as he was. But her leg wrapped more securely around his. Her hand curved around his shoulder and she hugged him tight. As if he wasn’t repulsive.
    â€œYou shouldn’t have gone in the first time,” she said matter-of-factly. “It was reckless, against protocol, and it defied common sense. But you didn’t think about any of that. You just reacted.”
    She sighed. “I’d like to believe that next time you’ll think twice. But you won’t. This nightmare will fade. You’ll go back to thinking you’re invincible. And your wife, whoever that poor woman may be, will go gray before her time.”
    He drank in her words, trying to believe them. “But what if it doesn’t fade?” he said at last. “What if I have this dream every night for the rest of my life?”
    â€œIf that happens, you’ll figure it out.” She spoke calmly, like it wasn’t the end of the world. Because she believed in him utterly. She always had.
    Then she said, “I’ll help you.” Three simple words that took his breath away. She’d stand by him unshakably. She always had.
    It was no wonder he loved her.
    Then she touched her lips to his skin,