Fuck. Fuckfuckfuck.
That was the general tenor of Caden’s thoughts as he and his partner pulled out of the bay in response to the call. He couldn’t believe…so much. That Makenna had come to see him. That he’d had her right there in front of him. And that they’d been interrupted before he could say even one of the things that needed to be said.
And before she could tell him why she’d come. Curiosity curled through his gut. Why had she come to see him? After all this time? He was dying to know, but wasn’t sure what the next thirty-six hours of his double shift might entail for him given the shit show bad weather usually created. And he didn’t want to leave anything up to chance. Glad he wasn’t driving for this one, he pulled out his phone and shot off a text.
It was damn good to see you, Red. Do you maybe want to get together Friday night to talk? I’m serious about keeping my promise.
Not just the one he’d made to call her, but the one he’d made to himself to live with no regrets.
He hit Send and nearly held his breath.
Makenna responded in less than a minute. I have an on-site meeting in Loudoun County on Friday and won’t get home until late. Saturday morning? It was good to see you, too.
That last line made him smile, even though having to wait an extra night was going to kill him. The only reason he hadn’t driven right from the Pittsville FD to Makenna’s apartment the day before was because he’d wanted to touch base with his therapist first. Just to make sure he’d thought all this through the right way. Because when Caden went to Makenna, he wanted it to be for keeps. If by some miracle she was willing to give him a second chance, he didn’t want to do anything to fuck it up. Ever again.
He texted back. Saturday morning works. Your place, or?
My place. Be careful, Makenna replied.
You, too, Red. Caden’s fingers itched to type more. But he’d wait. Because now he knew exactly when he’d have his shot to get the life he most wanted.
And this time, nothing was going to stand in his way.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The traffic on 66 was heavy but moving as Makenna made her way home on Friday night from the off-site meeting she’d had out west of D.C., which was surprising given the snow and freezing rain they’d had on and off all day. Being from Pennsylvania, Makenna wasn’t uncomfortable driving in the snow, whereas people in D.C. tended to either crawl along or drive like maniacs who didn’t think frozen surfaces and black ice could possibly affect them. But so far, so good.
Makenna’s stomach did a little flip. Only one more sleep until she’d see Caden tomorrow and finally get to tell him her news. Their news.
As if she wasn’t nervous enough, seeing him on Wednesday night had confused the hell out of her. His compliments, his touches, his kisses. The text he’d sent saying how good it was to see her. What did all of that mean?
And was she being a complete and hopeless idiot for wanting it to mean that he still had feelings for her? Because she would’ve given almost anything for that to be true. Even after everything.
It didn’t seem to matter what she told her heart, because it wouldn’t stop wanting the sweet, sexy, damaged man she’d met in the darkness.
A song came on and she hummed along until she couldn’t hold back from singing the catchy tune on the chorus. Paying close attention to the road, her gaze shifted from the cars in front of her to her rear view mirror as she sang.
A tingling sensation in her belly. Again.
Makenna didn’t think anything about it.
Until it happened again. Harder. Like… Oh, my God! Like something moved inside her.
Could that have been the baby? She was suddenly sure it was.
“Was that you peanut?” she asked out loud, a smile breaking out on her face like she hadn’t felt in weeks. She nearly held her breath for the sensation to happen again, because the first fluttery feeling of her baby moving inside of her was one of the most amazing things she’d ever felt. “Do that again, you little bugger.”
The rest of the song played out, and the baby didn’t move again, but that didn’t keep Makenna from grinning until her cheeks hurt.
Slam!
Something hit the rear quarter-panel of her car on the driver’s side, and Makenna barely had time to make out the shape of a dark SUV spinning out of control before she was struggling to control her own car. The impact of the other vehicle sent her Prius into a slow sliding circle. She turned her steering wheel in the other direction, trying as hard as she could to keep from losing control.
“No, no, no, no, no.”