Light up the Night (Firehouse Three #2)(61)

“Yeah,” Belinda said, wiping her cheeks. “I know. But I promise you, I’m done.” And then she turned to Drake.

“Goodbye, Mr. Hammerfell. Have a nice life.”

“You, too, Belinda. Be happy.”

With a sad smile, she walked away from them.

“I feel sorry for her,” Everly said into his chest.

Drake couldn’t speak for a moment. After his lack of response, Everly looked up at him with a questioning look in her eyes.

“I’m just—” He cleared his throat. “I’m so Goddamn sorry, Everly.”

“For what? Saving my life? Saving the animals? I’m not really seeing the need to apologize here.” Her fingers laced through his, and she squeezed.

“This all happened because of me.” He closed his eyes for a long moment, the remembered fear and anxiety and the guilt combining into a noose that he just couldn’t slip. “I put you in this danger, and I don’t blame you if you never want to see me again.”

She shook her head vehemently. “No. This wasn’t your fault. This happened because someone went off the deep end. You’re not allowed to blame yourself for this.”

And she wrapped her arms tightly around him, and instantly, he was home.

Happiness filled him. “You’ve got the best heart of any person I know. And it’s part of the reason I love you so much.”

Her gaze flew to his, her eyes wide. “What?”

“I love you, Everly Pitts,” he said, standing so he could hold both her hands and look deeply into her eyes. “I’ve loved you for much longer than I even realized it. I was trying to tell you at the lake, but I couldn’t find the words, and then I got that call. And I almost lost you. So I don’t want to wait another minute to tell you that I love you, and I always will.”

“I love you too, Drake. So, so much,” she said, and she leapt into his arms, wound her arms around his neck, and kissed him.

As he kissed her back, he thanked his lucky stars that they were there, where they belonged.

Together.





Epilogue.

Six months later…

Drake stared at himself in the mirror as he carefully ran the razor over his chin. One last swipe and the stubble was completely gone.

Turning this way and that, he examined the shave job. Finally satisfied, he rinsed his skin and patted on some swanky aftershave.

Everly had given it to him last month. Just because. She liked the way it smelled, and he liked giving her reasons to snuggle up to his neck and breathe deep.

He took more time than he ever had before on his hair, on his clothes, hell, the whole nine yards. Fidgeting with his collar, he stepped back and looked in the bathroom mirror.

Yeah, he’d do.

Reaching into his pocket, his fingers curled around a velvet box. But before he could pull it free, there was a knock on the door.

“Babe? Do you see my watch in there?”

Drake dropped the box back into his pocket like it was made of pure flame. Idiot. Like she can see through the door. “Yeah, it’s here by the sink.” He picked it up and opened the door.

The love of his life was standing there, looking completely gorgeous in a simple, sleeveless little black dress. Her hair was pinned on top of her head, little tendrils swirling in front of her ears. Tiny gold hoops with diamond droplets sparkled in her ears—a birthday gift from him—and shiny black heels completed the outfit.

She looked like a million bucks, and he told her so.

“Really?” Her cheeks flushed pink, and she looked down at the floor. “You’re flattering me.”

“I only speak the truth,” he said, stepping forward to pull her into his arms. “You’re going to be the most beautiful woman at the concert.”

“I can’t believe Allison pulled this off,” Everly said as she began pulling on her coat. “A charity orchestra concert has got to be a weird fundraiser for a shelter, doesn’t it?”

“Nope,” Drake said as he pulled his jacket on. He took one last glance in the mirror. Leaning close, he frowned. His hair was out of place.

“What’s with you tonight? You never take this kind of time to get ready.” Everly came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his middle.

He stiffened as her hand brushed by his pocket. No, she couldn’t…

“No reason. I just don’t want to embarrass you.” He grabbed her hand and spun her around quickly, pressing a kiss to her surprised lips. “Shall we?”

Everly laughed, and nodded.

After they’d said goodbye to Arrow, Jacques, and Gossamer, Drake locked the door of the house they all shared. As they walked arm-in-arm to his pickup, a chill in the November air, he stopped.

“Drake?” Everly turned, a question in her beautiful eyes. “What’s wrong?”

He sighed.

“I can’t do this.”

“Do what? The concert?” She tried to hide it, but her face fell just a bit. “It’s okay, you don’t have to go. I need to be there, since it’s for the shelter, but you—”

“No, that’s not it at all.” Drake took a deep breath and plunged his hand into his pocket. “I just can’t wait any longer. I was going to do this at the end of the concert, but I can’t imagine going one more minute without doing this.”